Joseph J. Giancola, former director of trade development for the Maryland Port Administration who was a transportation industry executive, died Sunday of cancer at his Timonium home. He was 72.
Mr. Giancola was born and raised in the Bronx, N.Y. He was a 1955 graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, and was a graduate of the Academy of Advanced Traffic in New York City.
He served in the Army from 1955 to 1957, and the next year, he went to work in the New York City office of the Western Maryland Railway, where he solicited import/export freight that would be shipped through the railroad's Port Covington facilities in South Baltimore.
In 1963, he joined the MPA's New York office, rising to manager in 1965. In 1972, he was transferred to Baltimore when he was promoted to the agency's director of trade development.
After leaving the MPA in 1978, he joined the Canton Co., where he was a sales executive and consultant. He subsequently worked in a similar capacity for John T. Clark & Son of Maryland Inc.; Ramsay, Scarlett & Co.; and Shipside Marine & Marine Freight Co.
At his death, he was working part time for All Freight Transportation Co. His professional memberships included the Propeller Club and the Traffic Club of Baltimore. He also had been a member of the old Merchants Club.
Mr. Giancola enjoyed reading and completing crossword puzzles, and was a lifelong New York Yankees fan.
A memorial service will be held at 12:45 p.m. today at the Catholic Community of St. Francis Xavier, 13717 Cuba Road in Hunt Valley.
Surviving are his wife of 21 years, the former Cynthia Eckes; three sons, Thomas Giancola of Owings Mills, Timothy S. Giancola of Hunt Valley and Joseph R. Giancola of Austin, Texas; two brothers, William T. Giancola of Virginia Beach, Va., and Chuck Antony of Ocala, Fla.; and six grandchildren. An earlier marriage to the former Norma T. Calzada ended in divorce.
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