Joseph Roland DeGregorio

DeGregorio, Joseph Roland

passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024. The first of 7 devoted children of the late Roland and Victoria, Joe, a man who impacted countless lives in positive ways during his 77 years, was proud father of Charles, and "Pops" to his grandson Henry, who he deeply adored. Loving brother to Anita (Steve) Scales, Francine DeGregorio, Paul (Kerry) DeGregorio, Roland DeGregorio, Tina (Terry) Crouppen and John DeGregorio. Joe leaves behind his angel on earth, devoted fiancee' and constant companion Christen Martin, for whom his family and friends will be eternally grateful for her love and care during his 8-year battle with cancer. Joe will miss and be missed by his labradoodle Pepino, who brought him joy. Joe also had a special bond with his many aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and cousins and other relatives.

Graduating in 1970 from his beloved University of Missouri-Columbia in Broadcast Journalism, and in 1979 earning a Master's in Public Administration from Long Beach State University, CA. Joe served his nation during Vietnam as a chaplain's assistant in South Korea. He had a 30+ year career as a Federal Agent, rising to the rank of Regional Director of the Defense Security Service (now the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency). Joe specialized in the protection of classified programs, counterespionage, counterintelligence, counterterrorism and related disciplines.

A native of the famed St. Louis Italian neighborhood known as "The Hill", in 2005, Joe took over the tours of the Hill his father Roland had led for 25 years. He later expanded his repertoire to include the Dogtown and Bevo Mill/Bosnian neighborhoods.

Joe made significant contributions, both on-camera and off, to the well-received 2020 Documentary, "The Hill, America's Last Little Italy", which was broadcast on national television, and the 2020 book, "The Hill, St. Louis' Italian-American Neighborhood". His last endeavor, "The Hill, A Walk Through History," was a fitting capstone to his career.

Joe was a member of several Italian-American organizations, the American Legion, Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, Disabled American Veterans, and the St. Louis Professional Tour Guide Association. From 2015-2020, he was a Board member of the National Federation of Tour Guide Associations. Joe authored numerous articles on tourism, Tour Guides and, of course, The Hill.

Services: His Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday, August 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m. at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 5130 Wilson Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110 with visitation at the church from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Jefferson Barracks at a later time and will be private. In lieu of flowers and pasta, donations may be made to the Hill Neighborhood Center, 1935 Marconi, St. Louis, MO 63110. Donations can be made through Hill 2000 (https://www.hillstl.org/). A full version of Joe's obituary can be found at www.calcaterrafuneral.com