Joseph Viverito, a Mineola resident known for his passion for long-distance running and work as an advertising executive, died in his home on Dec. 25 at age 87.
Viverito was also a veteran, serving in the Army from 1956 to 1957, and father to four sons.
Viverito made headlines in 1972 when he decided to run nearly 20 miles from his home in Manhasset to his job in Manhattan during an LIRR strike. As he set out to prove, the traffic caused by the strike was so bad that he could get to his office more quickly on foot than by car.
Combining his interest in long-distance running with his public relations expertise, Viverito contacted newspapers and radio stations to get the word out about his exploit. Reporters followed in cars as he completed the 18.6-mile run in 2 hours and 16 minutes on Dec. 5, 1972.
“I wanted to demonstrate the plight of the commuter and how he’s being inconvenienced. I wanted to show the anguish and frustration,” Viverto explained in a 1972 interview with Newsday.
Because of the stunt, Viverito not only made front-page news in area newspapers but also found a love for long-distance running. Over the subsequent years, he ran in over 100 marathons, including the Long Island Marathon, which the race’s founder, Paul Fetscher, personally invited him to after reading about his publicized run to work. Viverito also competed for the Long Island Athletic Club and the Warren Street Social & Athletic Club, running about eight miles during his lunch break every day.
Viverito’s body was cremated, and a memorial service will be held in his honor in June.
Born on June 6, 1933, he attended Villanova University on a football scholarship after graduating from Chaminade High School in 1951. He went on to spend over 40 years in the advertising industry, eventually starting his own firm, Viverito and Associates, in 1993. The Manhattan-based company dissolved upon his retirement in 2014.
“He was a quiet individual, and extremely sincere. What he taught to his sons just through example was to always be humble,” his son Bill Viverito said. “He was just one of the true good guys, and he certainly did lead by example in that.”
In addition to Bill Viverito, Joseph Viverito is survived by his wife of 60 years, June, and their other sons, Joseph III, Peter and Matthew.
