Joe Koff, the former chief operating officer of Ring of Honor, lost his life at the age of 73 due to cancer on October 15, 2024.
He was battling cancer but decided to discontinue his treatment in August 2024 to spend some quality time with his family.
Highlights
- Joe Koff, the son of Dr. Jacob Koff and Natalie Koff, was born in 1951 and grew up with his sister, Barbara Perlmutter, in New York.
- He married Lynne Koff and shared two children, Benjamin Koff and Zachary Koff. Later, he became the grandfather of five grandkids.
- He had loved wrestling his whole life, and his wife had been very hard on him regarding his wrestling efforts.
Joe’s wrestling world dates back to the 1980s, and he joined Sinclair as a senior vice president of training and development in 2003.
Later, he joined Ring of Honor and served as the COO from 2011 to 2022. His time in ROH gained him massive fame, and they co-promoted their G1 Supercard event with NJPW at Madison Square Garden in 2019.
They launched HonorClub, held monthly pay-per-views, and had a weekly television show.
Moreover, they were praised for following safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic and running their company in difficult times so their crew members would still have a place to work.
ROH COO Joe Koff Spent His Last Moment With His Family
ROH COO Joe Koff was the son of Dr. Jacob Koff and Natalie Koff, born in 1951 in New York. He attended WWWF events with his father in the original Madison Square Garden.
Joe had confided his illness and didn’t want anybody to feel sad for him. He always felt he had a great life and accomplished far more than he could have hoped in wrestling.
The AEW & Ring of Honor Family, along with the wrestling world mourn the passing of Joe Koff. Our thoughts are with his family and his friends. pic.twitter.com/0pFBXyd5mP
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) October 15, 2024
According to PWInsider, he was privately battling cancer but discontinued the treatment to live his remaining time happily with his family.
His sister Barbara Perlmutter, wife Lynne Koff, sons Benjamin and Zachary Koff, and five grandchildren, Zoe Koff, Yael Koff, Noa Koff, Naomi Koff, and Ivy Koff, survive him.
He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. However, his wife was very hard on him regarding his wrestling efforts.
The wrestling world mourns his tragic loss, and his obituary services will take place on Sunday at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, Maryland 21208.
Major League Wrestling tweeted, extending their condolences to Koff’s family, highlighting his integrity, honor, and passion.
MLW is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Ring of Honor COO Joe Koff. On behalf of MLW, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Joe always led with honor, integrity, and a passion for the sport we all cherish. His legacy will live on in the hearts of everyone he inspired. Thank you, Joe, for your contributions and unwavering dedication to wrestling. Rest in peace.
MLW’s tweet.
Steve Bagwell, a former wrestler and colleague, expressed Joe’s contribution to wrestling and highlighted his passion for wrestling.
Similarly, Dynamite Thoughts, a popular wrestling podcast, discussed his legacy and the impact he had on ROH, especially during the Sinclair Broadcast Group era.
Additional Information
- Joe Koff stepped away from the Ring OF Honor (ROH) after AEW president Tony Khan purchased it in March 2022.
- ROH is a professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida, and is a sister promotion to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
- Ian Riccaboni, who worked under him, and ROH became the second-biggest wrestling promotion in the U.S. under his watch.
