Joe Ristaino
Eagle Scout 

Following a family tradition of scouting, Joseph Anthony Ristaino was awarded the Boy Scout of America’s highest rank, Eagle Scout, on his 17th birthday on August 26, 2006 during a ceremony at Cardinal Gibbons High School.  Joe is the son of Jean Beagle Ristaino and Andre Gerard Ristaino, both of Cary NC. As the 51st Eagle Scout for Troop 216, Joe officially earned his Eagle Scout rank at his Eagle Board of Review on April 12, 2006 at the age of 16.

Scouting has played a prominent role in the Beagle family through three generations. Both of Joe’s maternal grandparents were involved in scouting. His grandmother, Josephine D. Beagle served scouting as a Cub Scout den leader, a Brownie leader and an assistant Girl Scout leader.  Joe’s grandfather, Joseph Beagle Sr., was a boy scout in the 1930’s and marched in a parade to celebrate the Scouting Jubilee at the Shrine in Washington, DC. Joe’s grandfather was also an assistant scoutmaster with Troop 298 in College Park, Maryland for over 10 years. Cousin Ryan Andresen, of Millersville, MD is an Eagle Scout, and his Uncle Joe Beagle, Jr is a Life rank scout and his cousin Tom Beagle is a Star rank scout. Joe’s mom, Jean and Aunts Joyce Beagle Donovan and Joanne Beagle Andresen were all girl scouts.

Traveling from Silver Spring, MD for the ceremony were Joe’s grandmother, Josie, and his Aunt Nan and Uncle Joe Beagle.  His cousin, Christine Beagle, who resides in Raleigh also attended the ceremony.  In all, there were more than 45 relatives, friends and scouts at the ceremony.

The rank of Eagle Scout is only achieved by approximately 4% of all the boys who enter scouting. In order to earn this rank, the scout must plan, develop, and give leadership to others while providing a service to the community.  For his project, Joe designed and led the construction and installation of a new set of benches for the Cardinal Gibbons baseball field dugouts and replaced the existing aging, inadequate benches.  Curt Kennedy served as Joe’s Eagle advisor and Boyd Poisel was his construction design guide.  During the planning of this project, Joe had to negotiate with school administrators and coaches to design and build a project the school could use and enjoy.  On October 1, 2006 more than twenty scouts and parents from Troop 216 and several members of Cardinal Gibbons baseball team worked together to build and install the benches in the dugouts.

Several Troop 216 scouts participated in the Eagle Ceremony. Fellow Eagle Scout Michael Kennedy served as Master of Ceremony; Eagle Scout Andrew Walters and Star scout David Szilezy were members of the honor guard and Life scout Gary Meyer delivered the invocation and the closing prayer.  George Mills, 3rd Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus Council 6650 was also present. Joe received a plaque from Windy Hunter, retired Police Chief of Cary, NC and a close family friend.  A flag, which flew over the United State’s Capitol Building in Washington, DC on July 4, 2006, was presented to Joe by his uncle, Joseph Beagle Jr. Letters of commendation were received from many dignitaries including President George W. Bush, former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, Vice President Dick Cheney, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, UNC President Erskine Bowles, Michael Jordan, George Lucas, Paul Tagliabue and Cardinal Gibbons High School President Daniel Kenna.

Joe began his trail to Eagle in 1996 when he joined Pack 316 at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Apex, NC where he completed the ranks of Bobcat, Wolf, Bear and Webelos. He earned numerous belt loops, 5 silver and 2 gold arrows, and the World Conservation Award. The Arrow of Light was awarded in March 2006 and he bridged to Boy Scout Troop 216 in the spring of 2000.

As a member of Troop 216, Joe served the troop as troop historian and was a Patrol leader twice. He was inducted into the Order of the Arrow in April 2003 and attended summer Boy Scout camp at Camp Durant and Camp Daniel Boone. Among highlights in scouting was a rafting outing and a trip the troop took to St. Augustine, Florida.  Joe also completed 31 merit badges, 21 of which are required to advance to the Eagle Scout rank.

A senior at Cardinal Gibbons High School, Joe loves art, practices Chinese Kung Fu at the Gold Eagle level, and performs as the drummer with the band FunkBlasts.  He plans to attend college and pursue a degree in Art.