Joseph Patrick Hand Sr.

Joe Hand, Sr., 87 years old of Holland, PA passed away surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, August 1, 2024. Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1936 to the late Joseph Patrick and Elizabeth Cecilia Hand (Ronan).

Joe, Sr. was raised in the Lawncrest section of Philadelphia. In June of 1957, Joe met the love of his life, the late Margaret Hand who passed away in June of 2023. He joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1959 where he served for 18 years before retiring. After retiring from the police force, Joe focused his attention on a business opportunity from Cloverlay Corporation whose purpose was to support, subsidize, guide and manage the boxing career of the then U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist, Joe Frazier. Because of his association with Cloverlay, Joe, Sr. became an integral part of the management team that led to Joe Frazier winning the Heavyweight Boxing World Championship.

In 1971, Joe, Sr. formed his own company specializing in sports promotions, known as JOE HAND PROMOTIONS, INC. Today, Joe Hand Promotions is distribution partners with UFC, WWE, PBC, Top Rank, Sela, AEW, ESPN+, Netflix, DAZN, Barstool Sports, DIRECTV and has become the largest distributor of live out-of-home sports and entertainment for bars, restaurants, casinos and theaters.

During Joe, Sr.’s lifetime, he received numerous awards and recognition for his work, including inductions to the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, the Philly All Star Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. He was named WBA Closed Circuit TV Promoter of the Year, Man of the Year by the Ring One Veteran Boxers Association, and he received the Wanamaker Award from the Philadelphia Sports Congress for Community Service. Joe, Sr. served on the Advisory Board of National Penn Bank and Northeast Catholic High School Alumni Association. Joe, Sr. was also inducted into the Northeast Catholic High School Alumni Hall of Fame.

Joe, Sr. was known as the “boxing promoter and closed circuit TV pioneer,” the Founder and Chairman of Joe Hand Promotions. He would want to be remembered most for his love of family, his career as a Philadelphia Police Officer, his charitable contributions to the community, and the success of Joe Hand Promotions. Joe Hand, Sr. built Joe Hand Promotions from the trunk of his car into a thriving organization with a 25,000 square-foot corporate headquarters housing over 50 employees. This headquarters also includes the Joe Hand Wellness Center and the Joe Hand Boxing Gym, both of which were sources of immense pride for him. His dedication and hard work transformed a small venture into a significant enterprise, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to impact the community. Joe, Sr.’s remarkable journey and achievements were a testament to his unwavering commitment and vision. He will be greatly missed.

Joe, Sr. was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Margaret Mary Hand (Joyce); and survived by his son, Joseph P. Hand, III and his wife Linda of Doylestown, PA; daughter, Margaret Cicalese and husband Vincent of Richboro, PA; sisters, Patricia A. Hand and companion Kathleen Greger of Ocean City, NJ and the late Elizabeth Ann Voss; grandchildren, Joseph Hand, IV and his wife Stephanie, Peter Hand, Vincent Cicalese and partner Ashley, Elizabeth Beck and husband Peter; seven great grandchildren, Joseph V, John James, Vincent, Peyton, Graham, Nathan and Margo; nephew, Jason Joyce and his wife Ivette and grandnephew, Jason L. Joyce.

Family and friends are invited to greet Joe, Sr.’s family on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 from 10am to 1pm at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Road, Holland, PA 18966. A funeral Mass will follow at 1pm. Interment will be private to the family. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made in Joe, Sr.’s name to his favorite charities, Joe Hand Boxing Gym, 213 W. Street Road, Feasterville, PA 19053, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which offers programs to Parkinson’s Disease patients, special needs children, autistic adults and breast cancer survivors, or online at https://joehandgym.com/giving-back or the Survivors Fund of Philadelphia FOP Lodge #5, 11630 Caroline Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154 or online at https://fop5.org.