Camden People - Joseph Valeriano aka Joe Reno

Joseph
Valeriano
aka
Joe Reno

JOSEPH VALERIANO was born June 3, 1916. Growing up in South Camden he was working for his uncle Frank Valeriani, who owned the Valeriani Bottling Company at 414 Pine Street as a teenager and young adult. Like many other Camden boys of his era, he took up boxing, and by the time he was 20, Joseph Valeriano had turned professional, fighting as Joe Reno. He began his career with two wins, over local opponents Al Narcisso and Eddie Michaels. It is known that in April of 1938 he lost two matches in Washington DC by decision, to Carl Dell and to El Brookman. He is not the same fighter who defeated Roxie Allen in 1928, who also fought under the name Joe Reno. Besides boxing, Joseph Valeriano played semi-pro football, also as Joe Reno.

Joseph Valeriano served in the United States Navy during World War II. He secured a position with the Camden Police Department, beginning his career on May 11, 1944. He served as part of Camden's mounted police unit, prior to its disbanding in 1947. He later served as a Detective. He was living at 829 South 3rd Street when the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled. He later moved to 713 South 4th Street where he was living in 1959. He was still on the police force in 1962, when he won an award. After retiring from Camden's Police Department with 30 years of service, Joseph Valeriano worked as an investigator with the Camden County Prosecutor's Office for 15 years.

A resident of Marlton NJ in his later years, Joseph Valeriano passed away July 15, 2002

Camden Courier-Post - August 7, 1936
JOE RENO MAKES FANS TAKE NOTICE South Camden Italian Now Regard as Coming Star in Boxing Circles

Officer Joseph Valeriano

January 10, 1947
at the
Police Department Stable

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To Supersize Image

Camden Police Department - 1962 Report

Presentation of Awards

From Left: Joseph "Joe Reno" Valeriano,
unknown, unknown, Sergeant Tom Kelly,
Detective Nate Jones, unknown,
Chief William Neale,
Detective "Pete" Sunkett, unknown

Page 39

Camden Courier-Post - July 14, 1967

Martin W. Baskow - Joseph Valeriano - William Kelly - Raymond Paradise - Thomas Ewanichak

Camden Courier-Post - July 15, 1967

...continued below...

Martin W. Baskow owned and operated the Nine-Thirty-Nine Bar at 939 Market Street in Camden NJ in the 1960s. He was brutally murdered in his bar on the morning of July 14, 1967. This case remains unsolved, almost 39 years later. If you have any information concerning this crime, please e-mail me. Your identity will be kept confidential and there is a reward for information leading to an arrest.

phil552@comcast.net

Camden Courier-Post - July 16, 2002

VALERIANO (RENO), JOSEPH
On July 15, 2002 of Marlton, NJ age 86 years.
Beloved husband of the late Rita C. (nee Galante). Dear father of Joseph Valeriano, Roseanna Stewart and her husband John, Thomas Valeriano and his wife Kathy, all of Marlton. Grandfather of John, Michael, and Alissa. Uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Joe was a Navy Veteran of WWII. Also known as Joe Reno, he was a Camden City Professional Welter Weight Boxer and a Semi Pro Football Player.
Joe's professional career was in Law Enforcement. He was a Camden City Police Officer for 30 years, than an Investigator/Detective for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office for 15 years.
Relatives and friends of the family will meet for his viewing and funeral on Thursday morning from 9am to 10am in St. Mary's R.C. Church 2001 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.
Arrangements by THE BOCCO FUNERAL HOME, 1300 N. Kings Hwy., Cherry Hill, NJ

Camden Courier-Post - July 17, 2002