Dr. Joseph Anthony Sgro

Joseph Anthony Sgro, age 78, died on July 16, 2016 at his home in Asheville, North Carolina. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, he graduated from The Hopkins School in 1955. He earned a BA from Trinity College (CT), an MS from Lehigh University and a Ph.D. from Texas Christian University. He was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership society), Psi Chi (psychology honor society), and Sigma Nu Fraternity. Dr. Sgro was an industrial psychologist and member of the faculty at Virginia Tech for 33 years. He served as chairman of the Psychology department at that University for fourteen years. A passionate educator, he felt that being an advisor to undergraduate students was his favorite role in his long academic career. He served a term as President of the Virginia Psychological Association and was appointed by Gov. Linwood Holton to the Virginia Psychological Board of Examiners. He served a term as President of the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology, an association of all Universities offering graduate education in psychology. He was the author of numerous articles and books. Passionate about athletics, Dr. Sgro was head women's basketball coach at Virginia Tech from 1969-1974. Following his wife's appointment as Secretary of Education in Virginia in 1994, he assumed with enthusiasm and joy the new role of spouse to a political figure. He was an engaged attendee at many political events and always had colorful commentary. In 1999, he retired as Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech and moved to Asheville, where his wife had accepted the position of Head of School at Carolina Day School. Dr. Sgro pursued a new passion for Italian pastries. He took numerous classes at Asheville-Buncombe Technical College in the area of baking. He enjoyed hearing other much younger students talk about their dreams for a career in baking. He regularly made elaborate pastries that he shared with friends and the faculty at Carolina Day School. Dr. Sgro recently served on the board of the Western North Carolina Communities Foundation. A big personality, Dr. Sgro enjoyed golf, food, Italian language and culture, political commentary and Virginia Tech athletics. During the fall, he attended Virginia Tech football games for almost fifty years. Dr. Sgro always had time to hear other people's life stories and was ever ready to provide encouragement, support and often very direct advice. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dr. Beverly Huston Sgro; a son, Dr. Anthony Huston Sgro and his wife, Faulkner Bagley Sgro, of Rabun Gap, Georgia; a daughter Ms. Jennifer Sgro Orfield and her husband, Robert Orfield, of Richmond, Virginia. He has one grandson, A. B. Bagley Sgro, and two granddaughters, Huston T.S. Sgro and Grazia F.F. Sgro. He has one brother, Fred Sgro, of Wilmington, Vermont, and two very special cousins, Marie DeFelice and Norma Pellicio of Guilford, Connecticut. He was predeceased by his parents Fred and Tulia Sgro and infant sister, Maria Sgro. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 19, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. at the Chapel at Christ School in Arden, North Carolina. Immediately following the funeral, friends are invited to greet the family at a reception at Biltmore Forest County Club. Burial will occur at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the pediatric oncology unit at Mission Health System, 890 Hendersonville Road, Suite 300, Asheville, North Carolina, 28803. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.