‘I couldn’t have done it without the education I received’: Joe LoTempio to be honored with Buffalo State Senior Service Award at 50-Plus Club Luncheon

At the upcoming 50-Plus Club Luncheon on July 13, Buffalo State will honor Joe LoTempio, ’66, ’68, with the Senior Service Award, which recognizes an alumnus who has distinguished themselves through college and community service in support of Buffalo State’s mission. 

LoTempio, affectionately known as “JoLo,” is a lifelong Buffalonian. He grew up on Buffalo’s West Side and attended PS 76 and PS 45. A 1962 graduate of Lafayette High School, LoTempio was all-high in basketball, football, and tennis, and was later inducted into Lafayette’s Athletic Hall of Fame. 

When it came time for higher education, LoTempio knew he wanted to go to Buffalo State.

“I wanted to be a teacher,” he said. “It’s a fantastic school for teachers.”

After completing his bachelor’s degree in exceptional education, LoTempio stayed at Buffalo State and earned a master’s degree. After graduation, he became a teacher at Father Baker School in Lackawanna and later served 10 years as the school’s principal. Even when he entered the financial services industry in 1978, LoTempio remained on the board of directors for Father Baker School for 16 years.

LoTempio is longtime supporter of Buffalo State and its athletic programs. During his time as a Bengal, LoTempio played basketball, tennis, and several intramural sports, and was inducted into the Buffalo State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. LoTempio is a lifetime member of the Bengal Club. and a consistent major contributor, donor, and participant for the Bengal Club’s Golf Classic fundraiser.

LoTempio said it was his positive experience at Buffalo State that has inspired him to remain involved with the university.

About the 50-Plus Club
The 50-Plus Club honors Buffalo State alumni who have passed the 50-year landmark since graduation. This year’s annual luncheon, held in the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center, takes place Sunday, July 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The price is $25 per person. Please register through the Alumni Association website.

“I just was very thankful,” he said. “It was a great experience, and the teachers were very good. I enjoyed my time there.”

Not only does LoTempio give back to Buffalo State, but he also participates in philanthropic and volunteer work within the community. He served as director of Children’s Services for the Association of Retarded Children and continued to support the association long after his tenure as director ended. One of LoTempio’s longest affiliations is with the Butler Mitchell Boys’ Club, which he joined in 1948 in support of continuing the legacy of these role models for the benefit of boys and girls in Western New York. LoTempio actively serves with the Butler Mitchell Alumni Association through volunteering, fundraising, and providing insurance and investment expertise.

“I kind of went into it after I had started at Buffalo State and saw how nice it was,” LoTempio said. “I couldn’t have done it without the education I received.”

LoTempio is a proud father of four, two of whom are also Buffalo State alumni. He currently enjoys his role as "Grampa Joe" to three grandchildren.

Top image by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer; inline image courtesy of the LoTempio family.