Longtime Daily News golf columnist and former Los Angeles Angels and UCLA basketball play by play announcer Joe Buttitta died Sunday, July 25 at his home in Simi Valley after more than a decade battling cancer and Parkinson’s Disease. He was 79.
Buttitta’s popular golf column, “Fore Tees,” was a must read for local golfers in the Valley for almost 25 years. After leaving sports broadcasting, he turned his talents fulltime in 1991 to golf, becoming a teaching pro at Westlake Golf Course for nearly 40 years.
Longtime Daily News golf columnist and former Los Angeles Angels and UCLA basketball play by play announcer Joe Buttitta. Courtesy photo
A graduate of San Fernando Valley State College (later to become Cal State University Northridge), Buttitta also served as the school’s sports information director.
Buttitta was best friends with former Matador baseball coach and athletic director, Bob Hiegert since the two met in 5th grade playing on the same kickball team. Both were inducted in CSUN’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better teammate, frat brother, golf partner, steady shoulder to talk over issues, and friend than Joe,” Hiegert said. “He always had my back.”
“He was an amazing man and the best dad I could ever ask for,” said his daughter, Debbie Buttitta. “He loved family more than anything.”
Youngest son, Joey, morning anchor and executive producer at KEYT-TV in Ventura County, said his dad “never missed a game or a practice or even a newscast of mine. He was so supportive no matter what.”
“The love of my life will be watching over me now,” said his wife of 43 years, Teri Buttitta. “Great dad, great husband. God broke our hearts to prove he only takes the best.”
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Survived also by son, Tony Buttitta, and four grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Sam, Dominic, and Everett, a memorial service will be Friday, July 30, at 1 p.m. at St Jude’s Catholic Church in Westlake Village, 32032 Lindero Canyon Road.
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