Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech Athletics is deeply saddened to announce the passing of former Faculty Athletics Representative Joseph "Joe" Tront.
Tront passed away at his Blacksburg home on August 10, 2026, at the age of 75. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, teacher, mentor, and friend, Joe approached life with boundless energy, humor, and enthusiasm.
A passionate supporter of Hokie athletics, he served as Virginia Tech's Faculty Athletics Representative to the ACC and NCAA, supporting Tech's student-athletes. Whether through engineering, athletics, or university service, Joe was deeply invested in the Virginia Tech community. Teaching was simply part of who Joe was and he never missed an opportunity to explain something or turn an ordinary moment into a lesson.
Dr. Tront spent an extraordinary 47 years as a professor in the College of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech. A pioneer in computer engineering, he was also a dedicated teacher and mentor who influenced generations of students. He served for a number of years as Assistant Dean for Computing and was active in advancing the role of computing in engineering education around the world.