Joe Glorioso of Mount Sinai has been helping seniors stand steady for 17 years

Joe Glorioso is dedicated to helping Long Island’s seniors lead “balanced” lives.

The Mount Sinai resident, who is certified as a personal trainer, said he has been volunteering as an adult fitness instructor for the past 17 years at the Rose Caracappa Senior Center in Mount Sinai, where he teaches free one-hour classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The classes, which are set to music, are also broadcast online via the software program Zoom.

“I’m a big believer in balance training,” Glorioso said. “I tell seniors all the time: We don’t know what God has in store for us in life, but preventing falls is one thing that you can have some control over. I feel like by getting them stronger and giving them balance, it helps.”

Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico commended Glorioso for his efforts: “He is friendly, energetic and truly enjoys helping the community stay healthy and active.”

Glorioso, 74, worked for nearly 30 years for the Long Island Rail Road, which honored him with its Engineer of the Year Award in 1994, he said. He also said he served multiple stints in the U.S. Army Reserves starting in 1969 — including a six-month stay in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War in the early 1990s.

Glorioso said he requested to re-enter the reserves during that time in an effort to spare the lives of young soldiers.

“I felt obligated to do it with all these young kids going there,” said Glorioso, who at the time was in his early 40s. “I got to tell you, some of the greatest kids in the world I met there. I was so proud of these kids. I was one of the oldest guys there. The drill sergeant couldn’t believe how old I was.”

After returning home, Glorioso said he was diagnosed with Ménière’s disease, a chronic inner ear disorder that can cause dizziness and difficulty hearing. The condition ultimately caused him to retire from the LIRR in 1999.

Since then, he said he has mostly focused on his fitness classes at the senior center. In his spare time, he is also a catcher with the Men’s Senior Baseball League in Melville.

Glorioso’s other volunteer work has included dressing as a clown to entertain children at Stony Brook University Hospital, transporting patients to activities at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook and painting faces at events hosted by the Special Olympics.

“Joe is a beloved resident who is well-known for his warmth, caring nature and sharp wit,” said Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner, who presented him with a proclamation for his work at the senior center in 2014. “He has a unique gift for bringing joy and energy to every gathering, leaving a positive impact on everyone he meets. His ability to connect with others and brighten their days makes him a true hometown hero.”

Glorioso, meanwhile, said the best compliment he can receive is when one of his class participants says that he has helped improve their day-to-day life.

“My biggest reward I’ve gotten through the years is when a senior comes to me and tells me that their doctors have noticed an improvement in their general health or that they have lowered medications due to taking the class,” he said. “This makes it all worthwhile to me.”

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.