Joe Pistritto
17, Woodbury
Senior
Nonnewaug High School
Joe Pistritto knows how to break the ice. With an easy going air and his impish smile, the 17 year old Nonnewaug High School senior may just break into character and give you his impression of George W. Bush, a tact he recently employed during a stint as student representative at a Region 14 Board of Education meeting.
Pistritto will also try to wow you with his knowledge of American Commander-In-Chiefs by giving you the name of each of our 44 Presidents -- all in chronological order.
“It’s a passion of mine,” Pistritto says, adding that it’s an exercise he and his father, also an avid fan of presidents and history, began when he was just five years old.
Pistritto is a young man of many talents. In addition to his love and knowledge of history, he will also try to bowl you over with his impressions of other famous Americans, real and fictitious, including Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, Forrest Gump and the Godfather.
It was these talents, plus an all-around comedy act that landed Pistritto the runner up spot in the coveted Mr. Nonnewaug contest in February. The all-male talent and beauty contest at Nonnewaug High School raised more than $1,000 to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
When he is not in character, Pistritto serves as the Senior Class President. He has held the student council president position for each class throughout his career at Nonnewaug High School. He has also been a member of the National Honor Society since his junior year.
As a member of the Indoor Track team at NHS, Pistritto, who was captain this year, has qualified for the class M championships three times. He takes his love of running outdoors in the spring where he runs the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter, the 4-by-1 and throws the javelin for the Chief’s Track and Field. Pistritto’s prowess in outdoor track has twice landed him at the Berkshire League championships.
“Joe is a wonderful student-athlete,” say Track Coach and NHS teacher Arleigh Duff. “He works very hard and is a leader by example.”
Off the field, Pistritto takes to the great outdoors in his role as Eagle Scout. For his recent Eagle Scout project, Pistritto built an informational kiosk and installed mile markers on the trails to direct people clearly to Woodbury’s Nonnewaug Falls.
Pistritto credits his 11-year scouting career as a building block for the young man he has become.
“My scouting career has influenced my life immensely,” he says. “I have learned the importance of helping people all the time. Over the years it has become a large part of my life as I have taken on more and more leadership roles within the troop.”
Pistritto says he was able to take the scouting oath to heart, and also apply it to school, where it has influenced each part of his career as a student and his roles as each class’ president.
“The oath teaches me to do my very best no matter what and to work you’re hardest to achieve your goals,” he said.
Lorie Ferreira, NHS principal sees Pistritto’s leadership qualities clearly and says the senior class president is motivated, caring and “wise beyond his years.” Pistritto, she explains, “continually strives to improve his school community, and all indications are that he will continue to be a contributing member of the local and global community.”
Pistritto, who will graduate this June, has plans to attend Seton Hall University as a business major in the fall. Law School and government work are also in his future plans.
“I have always liked government and the legal stuff,” Pistritto says. “Eventually I would like to work for the government and a background in law is really valuable.”
Those around him realize his amazing leadership qualities and feel Pistritto will take to the real world and do very well.
“They say character is judged by when you don't know people are watching,” Track Coach and teacher Duff says. “If you are watching him, he is either helping someone or giving good advice. I have been fortunate to coach Joe.”
Ferreira also gives him her added vote of confidence, proclaiming that if Pistritto ever decides to take his love of all things presidential and run for office himself, “He’ll have my vote for president.”
