Joe Barone, the Italian-American general director of the ACF Fiorentina soccer team owned by Mediacom Communications chairman Rocco B. Commisso, died in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday at age 57 after falling ill before a scheduled match Sunday against Atalanta in Italy's Serie A. The cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest.
"The Commisso family and everyone associated with Fiorentina are utterly devastated by the terrible loss of a man who showed great professionalism and gave his heart and soul to restoring the historic Italian club to prominence," Thomas Larsen, senior VP of government and public relations at Mediacom, said in a company announcement on Tuesday. "He was a treasured friend who always stayed strong in the happiest and, above all, the most difficult moments. Please join me in sending heartfelt condolences to Joe’s wife Camilla, his children, and the entire Barone family during this time of immense sorrow."
