Joseph M. Marchello, Old Dominion University's fourth president, died Aug. 10, 1999, at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. A resident of Hampton, he was 65.

Marchello, who served as president from August 1985 to December 1988, had taught in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering since leaving the presidency and taking a semester's sabbatical at NASA Langley Research Center. He returned to the classroom after more than 15 years away from teaching and research. His areas of specialization included air quality, pollution prevention and waste minimization.

During his presidency at Old Dominion, the university opened higher education centers on the Peninsula and in Virginia Beach, and received an $8.4 million endowment for oceanography. Marchello also led drives for the development of a fine arts center and expansions of Webb Center and the Child Study Center.

He is survived by his wife, Louise C. Marchello; two daughters, Sallie Marchello of Hampton and Katy Marchello of Maple, N.C.; a granddaughter; a sister; and two brothers.