Giuseppe Castrogiovanni is the Ocean Breeze Member of the Month for October 2026!

Giuseppe joined Ocean Breeze because his son, Antonio, encouraged him to do so when he turned 60. The staff thoroughly enjoys watching them request a ping-pong paddle set at the front desk; it has become a small routine between the two, complete with a dance move and a duet of "Ping-a-Pong, Ping-a-Pong." Unsurprisingly, the upstairs table tennis arena is their favorite room in the facility.

Giuseppe also walks the track, cycles, and lift weights - preferring fewer reps with heavier weights, especially 40-lb bicep curls. He credits his son with being the mastermind behind all their adventures both inside and outside the complex.
When this father-son duo is not at the facility, they are gardening, playing or watching soccer, and editing videos for YouTube. Giuseppe also finds joy in watching his son wrestle.

Born and raised in Torretta, Sicily, Giuseppe grew up farming and working hard on his family's land. As a young adult, he immigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, where nearly everyone in his neighborhood spoke broken English. He later married his devoted wife and raised five beautiful children. His career as a gardener, custodian, and construction worker spanned decades to provide for his large family.

He is inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and John Cena, as he feels they exemplify loyalty, respect, and hustle. He is also inspired by his own perseverance, hard work, and discipline.

Nothing brings him greater joy than breaking bread with family over spaghetti with fresh tomatoes, pane e panelle, and pani ca meusa on the weekends. Speaking of cooking, his fondest memory so far at Ocean Breeze was bringing in fresh, homemade food for the staff and seeing their reaction to the exquisite taste of Italy

Congratulations, Giuseppe!