Joseph A. “Joe” Angotti, a respected journalist, educator, father and husband, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026.
Joe was born December 14, 1938, in Gary, Indiana, the son of Art A. and Pauline (Janott) Angotti. He was raised and educated in Gary, Indiana. Joe learned the value of hard work early, helping his family at Art’s Quality Bakery. He carried those lessons into his education at Indiana University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and began a lifelong commitment to journalism, learning, and service. He was inducted into the Indiana University School of Journalism Hall of Fame in 2007.
He married Karen Bowman in Monmouth, Illinois, on December 28, 1962, and she survives.
Joe served with the United States Army.
Joe devoted his professional life to telling the truth with integrity and helping others understand the world more clearly. He served as the producer of The NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and later became the senior vice president of News Europe at NBC News, where he oversaw major national and international coverage during some of the most significant moments of the late twentieth century. Known for his calm leadership and editorial rigor, Joe played a key role in shaping NBC’s news operations and mentored countless journalists throughout his career.
Before and during his tenure at NBC, Joe worked in local television and national network news, collaborating with some of the most trusted voices in journalism. His work earned numerous professional honors, including a national Emmy Award for a series on world hunger. Colleagues remember him as thoughtful, steady, and deeply committed to ethical reporting.
After leaving NBC News, Joe continued his vocation as an educator, teaching and mentoring students at institutions including the University of Miami, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, and Monmouth College. He believed deeply in preparing the next generation not only to tell stories well, but to do so with compassion and responsibility.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Joe was committed to serving others in tangible and lasting ways. Along with his wife, Karen Angotti, he co-founded Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Riding Center in Monmouth, Illinois, an organization dedicated to providing healing, empowerment, and joy through equine-assisted therapy. This work reflected Joe’s lifelong belief in dignity, inclusion, and caring for the whole person.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Angotti; his sons, Mark Angotti, and Andrew (Kim) Angotti; grandchildren, Jessica Magana and Nick Sparks; sisters-in-law, Barbara Angotti, Sally Bowman and Mary Ann Bowman. He was a devoted husband and father, and his family was a source of great pride and joy throughout his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Fr. Joseph Angotti, Jr.; his sister, Phyllis Parker and brother, Arthur Angotti.
Joseph Angotti will be remembered for his integrity, generosity of spirit, and enduring belief in the power of truth, education, and community. His legacy lives on in the many lives he touched — as a journalist, teacher, advocate, and loving family man.
A celebration of life will be announced and held at a later date. McGuire and Davies Funeral Home and Crematory, Monmouth, Illinois, is in charge of the arrangements. For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit www.mcguireanddaviesfuneralhome.com.
