Joseph was born in Pietrabbondante, Italy, and came to this country at an early age, settling on the east side of Youngstown. Joe and Angela were both proud graduates of East High School. The two eventually met at a dance at Idora Park even though they lived around the corner from each other. Joe was able to attend and graduate from then Youngstown College in 1949 because of the GI Bill due to his service in the Army-Air Force during World War II.
He then attended and graduated from the Youngstown College of Law while continuing to work at the Erie Lackawanna Railroad. Judge Donofrio served as the Youngstown City Prosecutor, Judge for the Youngstown Municipal Court, and Judge for the Seventh District Court of Appeals of Ohio. He also became the first part-time faculty member at YSU’s Criminal Justice Department when it was created in 1969 and taught there for 24 years. Joe and Angie valued faith, family, and friends, and the importance of education to them and their love of YSU.
This scholarship was created to support student(s) majoring or minoring in criminal justice with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to those planning to attend law school or become an enforcement officer.