Caliendo was an instrumental figure in PDCA’s Professors’
Driven Pile Program (PDPI), a “teach-the-teacher” professional
development initiative that served to educate university professors
about driven pile so that they could in turn pass that information
to the next generation of deep foundation engineers.
“Many in the industry think that the PDPI was one of the most
important programs PDCA developed and delivered,” said Steve
Hall, former executive director of PDCA. “Joe supported the program
from its inception. He accepted the responsibility of organizing
each program – including establishing dates, developing
the curriculum and assembling the course material, finding and
securing all program instructors, obtaining the contractor, equipment
and materials for the field exercises, advertising through the
United States Universities Council of Geotechnical Education and
Research, reserving the classrooms and overnight accommodations,
scheduling meals and so much more.
“If it were not for Joe Caliendo, the PDPI would never have been
as successful as it was – and due to Joe, it was extremely successful.”
The PDPI program ran in 2002, 2003 and then every other year
until 2015. Caliendo himself told PileDriver that the PDPI was a
highlight of his career.
For his contributions to the PDPI program and support of the
driven pile industry, PDCA awarded Caliendo the Presidential
Award for Distinguished Service in 2013.
“It was about a 10-second decision to honor Joe with the
Presidential Award,” said Dave Chapman, PDCA’s president when
Caliendo was selected for the award.
More than his career, Caliendo was a dedicated family man and
loved his wife, Joyce, and five children above all else. His children
blessed him with 13 grandchildren; it was important to him that he
spend time with each of his family members – even better if that
quality time could be outdoors.
According to his family, during the last weeks of his life,
Caliendo ran, biked and kayaked with his kids and grandkids, and
he said “I love you” to everyone in his family.
Caliendo’s passing on Aug. 15, 2019 was sudden and unexpected
as he performed his near-daily exercise on Old Main Hill in Logan,
Utah. He will be greatly missed for the wonderful person he was.
“Joe welcomed me not only as a representative of PDCA, but
also as a friend,” said Hall. “It did not take long for me to realize that
Joe was a special person – renowned and respected as a professor
at USU, in the academic world and within the engineering community.
He was dedicated to his profession and passionate about
teaching. Joe had a great sense of humor but was an extremely
humble guy. Joe was a special friend and I, along with so many others,
will miss him terribly.”
PDCA extends its sincerest condolences to the family, friends,
colleagues and students of Joe Caliendo. The driven pile industry
will be forever grateful for the impact that he made. t
The Marv n’ Joe
IN MEMORIAM
USU College of Engineering Facebook page, February 2015
To honor Joe, consider having a Marv n’ Joe sandwich next time you
sit down for lunch.
What you need:
• French Bread
• Garlic Salt
• Butter
• Pepper
• Tomatoes, sliced
• Provolone cheese slices
• Parmesan cheese
• Oil
• Vinegar
Spread soft butter on a thick piece of French bread, and then sprinkle
with the garlic salt and pepper. Place two or three tomato slices
on the butter to cover the bread and pour a small amount of olive oil
and vinegar overtop – just enough to give the sandwich a little bit of
a kick. Layer the provolone and parmesan cheese on the tomatoes.
Place the sandwich in a broiler until the cheese is bubbly and starts
to brown. The sandwich is done when the cheese is sufficiently
browned, and the edges of the bread begin to crisp.
During every PDPI that George Goble attended, he presented Joe
Caliendo with a gift of beef jerky. This little ceremony was a running joke –
Joe was a vegetarian.
136 | EDITION 6 2019 www.piledrivers.org
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