Stefano Cazzaro

Basketball was the family sport for Stefano Cazzaro. His mother Rina Zane was the first Italian champion with Reyer Venezia in 1947 and later manager of a local basketball club, together with her husband. At age 7 Stefano joined the Reyer Venezia club, a team where he played until age 18. At 16 he first attended the mini-course for referees while on 18 January 1970 he officiated his first official game. After having officiated in minor leagues, on 8 October 1982 he made his début in the Top League with the game Italcable Perugia vs Rapident Livorno, along with his fellow villager Paolo Zanon.

Cazzaro refereed for 22 years, officiating 596 games with 99 playoff games and nine finals for the Italian title. He became an international referee in 1986 and was in charge at two World Championships as well as two European Championships, two European Cup finals, two Olympic qualification tournaments, and at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where he officiated two semifinals. After ending his career on the floor, Cazzaro began a managerial job in refereeing in Italy and Europe.

Graduated in economics and commerce and a banking executive, among his awards Cazzaro received the Reverberi Prize in 1982, the Martiradonna in 1992, and was named a referee of honor by FIBA and by the Italian Federation.