At the request of then Marist president Dr. Linus Foy, Catanzaro initiated the Marist Crew program, serving as the program's first coach from 1961-64.

Coach Joe, as his athletes called him, took a young, inexperienced group of men during those first years, and laid the groundwork for the successful Marist Crew program. A 1950 graduate of Kutztown State University in Pennsylvania, Catanzaro spent his entire life in the service of others. From 1944-1946 he served under General George Patton in the 3rd Army, 90th Division, earning the European Theater Battle Star and Occupational Division Battle Star.

Catanzaro began teaching Art and Humanities at Poughkeepsie High School in 1951, a position he would hold until 1981. Over the first ten years of his tenure at Poughkeepsie, Catanzaro coached the crew team, winning the National Championship in 1956 in the Senior Four National Regatta. Catanzaro's quest for knowledge continued during his days at Poughkeepsie High School. He did sabbatical studies in painting and sculpture at the University of Perugia, Italy, in 1959 and Humanities at Williams College in 1969.