Joseph DiBella

Joseph Patrick DiBella (born March 15, 1940) is a former Coast Guard officer, business executive, and long-time athlete known for his involvement in various fields, including coordinating a U.S. Coast Guard and U.S Navy rescue operation, founding a property and casualty insurance company, and being a semi-finalist for a berth on the 1964 U.S. Olympic Wrestling team.

Early life and education
DiBella was born on March 15, 1940, in Rome, New York. He became a Bronze Eagle Boy Scout at age 16 and played chess with an International Chess Master, Al Horowitz, at age 17. He attended Rome Free Academy (RFA) High School, where he excelled in athletics and academics. He won the “Joseph Borden Award” for athletic excellence and set the school’s record time for the mile run. He was also active in extracurricular activities, serving as the Rome Hi-Y Club president. DiBella went on to attend the United States Coast Guard Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962. He later obtained an MBA from Columbia University in 1968.

Career
After graduation, DiBella worked as a manager at Eastern Airlines and presented an information and control system for component production at a national convention for U.S. airlines in 1970. He also taught quantitative and computer sciences as a "Community Professor" at a Florida International University.

U.S Coast Guard Disaster and Rescue Operation
DiBella coordinated and controlled a U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy rescue operation off the coast of New Jersey on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 1964. The operation saved 25 lives after the Israeli liner S.S. Shalom collided with the Norwegian vessel Stolt Dagali, resulting in 33 crew members being dumped into the ocean. DiBella's coordination and control of the rescue operation earned him a Letter of Commendation from the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

Bermuda Triangle
DiBella was involved in a search and rescue case in the Bermuda Triangle, where an aircraft flying from Miami to Bermuda went missing. DiBella coordinated search efforts that ultimately led to the safe discovery of the aircraft and its pilot, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Nading, who had landed on a golf course in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, after running out of fuel. Nading had no idea that he was on the east coast of the United States. He had lost his navigation instruments when he entered the Triangle.

Spying in the Pacific and at the Berlin Wall
DiBella was involved in two incidents where he was accused of spying. In 1963, he directed his Coast Guard, Cutter Blackhaw, into a Russian testing site for Russian missiles. The Coast Guard ship passed through a Russian missile testing site. DiBella was the operations officer. They were on the straight, northerly path to Honolulu, the home base. The ship never received a “Notice to Mariners” to stay out of the area. Incidentally, a U.S. Navy ship was in the area monitoring the Russian exercise and told the Coast Guard how to go around the exercise. In 1966, he and a Coast Guard academy classmate were arrested by the Russians in East Berlin but were later released when their U.S. citizenship was confirmed.

Wrestling career
In 1960, DiBella posted a 9-0 record in his regular matches and won the 130 lb. New England Championship. He became the first Cadet in Academy history to capture the trophy by winning the award. DiBella was a semi-finalist for a berth on the 1964 U.S. Olympic Wrestling team and was inducted into three wrestling halls of fame: the New England Wrestling Association Hall of Fame, the United States Coast Guard Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Rome Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. He challenged American professional wrestler Hulk Hogan on the "Hogan Knows Best" TV show. Hogan jokingly bowed out when he grabbed his knee and said it was too sore to wrestle.

Business endeavors
DiBella founded a property and casualty insurance company, which he organized and built into an A-rated carrier. He has appeared on national TV, including "60 Minutes," and has been an expert witness in Florida and New Jersey insurance departments. He has published several articles on insurance on various platforms. In 2005, DiBella was recognized by A.M. Best for his ratemaking model and patent.

Personal life
DiBella is married to Francoise Catherine Chatanay and has two children, Alexandra Chatanay DiBella Norcross and Melissa Chatanay DiBella Miller.