Saint Sebastian- Patron saint of athletes and soldiers

By Peter Vuono

     During the time of the Roman empire, the years between 303 and 311 proved to be the most severe and bloodiest  years of Christian persecution. Between 3,000 and 3,500 Christians were slaughtered in the arena in what was called the Diocletianic Persecution.This was a period started by former cavalry commander, the Emperor Diocletian and continued by Maximius and two more successors.
     The captain of  Diocletian's Praetorian Guard, which was an elite band of soldiers created by the Emperor Augustus to bodyguard the emperor, was a soldier named Sebastian.Unbeknown to Diocletian, however, Sebastian had become a Christian and it wasn't enough for him to remain so anonymously. Sebastian had converted a prefect known as Chromatius who, when converted, released all his prisoners, gave up his post and retired to another country. Chromatius' son Tiburtius would also later convert and become a Catholic saint.
     Enraged by the "treason" of both converting Chromatius and becoming a Christian himself, Diocletian ordered that Sebastian would be taken to the archery field and the archers,"Would shoot enough arrows as to make him resemble an urchin". The execution was carried out unsuccessfully and Irene of Rome, who would later be canonized a saint, took Sebastian to bury him. She immediately realized that he had survived the attack and she took him to her home and nursed him back to health.
     At the home of Irene, there lived a young woman who was blind. When he was able to speak, Sebastian asked the girl if she wanted to know God. As she replied"Yes", Sebastian made the sign of the cross on her forehead restoring the girl's sight immediately.
     Sebastian, however, could not ignore Diocletian's persecution which continued to rage. Sebastian publicly confronted and harangued the tyrant, demanding that the carnage cease. Diocletian ordered that his  soldiers club Sebastian to death on the spot as an example to others who may feel the same way.
     Sebastian was venerated a saint in the time of Saint Ambrose approx. in the late 300's. His remains are said to have been buried in Rome. Other sources name France. Because of his tenacity, courage, endurance and devotion to doing what is right, he was made patron saint of both soldiers and athletes. Although it is somewhat of a mystery as to where his actual remains lie, the fact remains that the spirit and example of Saint Sebastian, are with us always when we deem it necessary to call for his help.
    

WRESTLING IN THE SHOES OF JACOB: The story of Father Sergio Guttierrez Benitez

A version of this story was  published in The Anchor Catholic Newspaper of Fall River, Ma. on June 22, 2007.

"So Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him till daybreak". Genesis 32:24

     During Father's Day weekend of 2006, movie goers  spent 27 million dollars to watch the agile antics of comedian/actor Jack Black in his starring role in the movie Nacho Libre. Few of them knew, however, that the basis for this movie which had been previously told in a more dramatic way in 1991 as "The Man in the Golden Mask",  was the life of a Catholic priest(known as Fray Tormenta- Brother Storm), whose life and vocation embody the magnanimity of another Mother Teresa.
     In 1961 Sergio Guttierrez Benitez, one of 18 children, roamed the streets of Mexico City. He was known as "The Crook" to his fellow gang members, smoking grass and hanging out with pimps and prostitutes before getting hooked on drugs. When he could bear no more, he went to confession telling the priest that he didn't deserve forgiveness. Whatever dialogue was exchanged between young Sergio and his confessor was enough to make him want to change his life around.and walk through "The narrow gate".
    Benitez was ordained in 1969 and was sent to both Rome and Spain. He was later taught Philosophy and History at universities in Mexico with the goal of teaching in mind but the 22 year old Sergio knew he would be unhappy as a teacher.
     After a chance meeting with a homeless child sleeping under a bridge in Veracruz, he sought permission to found an orphanage and was denied. He abandoned the Scholastic Order and joined the Diocese of Texcoco. Prior to the people of Tiotihuacan raising money for his orphanage, Father Sergio had a flock of 14 children, seven of whom would sleep in his car at night, the other seven would sleep on the ground with Benitez.
     He later secured St. Michael's, a four hundred year old church in Xometla, a village about an hour's journey Northeast of Mexico City. His enrollment burgeoned to over 80 children. Some were runaways, some abandoned. Others were children of prostitutes or drug addicts. Conditions remained oppressive with only toilet and one shower amongst over 80 orphans. As many as 16 boys would sleep in Fater Sergio's room. Over 30 would sleep in a cramped adjoining room. Over a dozen girls slept in two small rented rooms across the street.
     Fees for duties in Mexico have always been paltry to say the least. These fees, which were sometimes as little as $7.00 were not nearly enough to meet the over $1,000 per month food bill. Luckily, all clothing was donated. In a metropolis of 20 million people, the Diocese of Mexico City could not afford to help.
     Then one day, Benitez watched pro wrestling(lucha libre) on TV. He had heard about the large sums that the wrestlers(luchadores), received; about $40.00 in the 1980's. Sergio thought that it was something he could do and do anonimously in order to provide the much needed revenue. He would need a teacher but like in America, pro wrestling in Mexico is very compoetitive and it would be very difficult to get one's foot in the door.
     Finally, a luchadore calling himself  "The Leader" volunteered to train Benitez. For one year, Father Sergio was taught the art of lucha libre and entered the ring under the name of Fray Tormenta  which is translated as Brother Storm. Masked professional wrestling in Mexico carries with it both great history and pride. It stems from the Mexican culture dating back to when the Aztecs donned the masks of jaguars and eagles in fighting off the invading conquistadors. Tormenta was eventually "outed" by a parishioner who recognized his voice at Mass. This only served , however, to bolster his popularity and donations.
     Fray Tormenta became one of Mexico's most beloved heroes and luchadores. He took on the personna of a "good guy"(technico). In America the term used is "baby face" or simply"face"and was often handed donations by the lucha libre patrons after vanquishing the "bad guys"(rudos), or "heels" in the American jargon. After 23 years of wrestling, matches tapered off due to a diabetic condition. His final match to date was fought on July 3, 2011. One of the orphans was trained in luch libre and carries on the name and tradition as Fray Tormenta Jr.
    To this author's knowledge, there were no royalties from the movie but Father Sergio is in demand for personal appearances on behalf of St. Michael's. Though he may no longer wear the mask of Fray Tormenta, he continues to walk in the shoes of Jacob.

REFERENCE: Reilly, Rick. "A Ring and a Prayer". Sports Illustrated Vol. 67 No. 27 Dec. 21, 1987

Joe Zarella- Warrior of Women's Rights

     The first time I saw Joe Zarella was at my first powerlifting meet in Jan of 1973. I had never seen him but his name was often posted in Strength and Health and Muscular Development Magazines as a meet director for many of the first New England power meets. As I sat there in the hall of the Nashua YMCA, a place that would later become  historic for women's rights, I watched 3 teenagers sneak in without paying the mandatory $1.00 door charge. In seconds this massive 300 lb man came over dressed in a bright red sweat suit resembling a buffed up Santa Claus. He questioned the three,"Have you got a buck? Have you got a buck. Have you got a buck?" They all responded,"No", to which Joe answered,"Then get out of here! What do you think this is, a charity?" I was almost too frightened to lift. Little did I know that this man would become one of the best friends that I've ever had, the Godfather to my kids and a pioneer and champion of women's rights.

This story had originally been published in the newsletter of the Oldetime Barbell and Strongman in April of 2009 and on line in Powerlifting Watch.

Joe Zarella- Warrior of Women's Rights
By Peter Vuono

     The 1976 National AAU convention was held in Phoenix, Arizona. At attendance was Cindy Wyatt Reinhoudt who, in 1965, became the first woman to compete in a powerlifting meet of any kind. Reinhoudt, a gifted track athlete who was once mentored by the immortal Tommy Kono, requested that a women only meet be sanctioned by the AAU. Her request was summarily turned down by the male dominated governing body.
     Serendipitously sitting next to Cindy, however, was the pugnacious Joe Zarella, winner of the Silver Star for Bravery in the Battle of Okinawa. Zarella asked Cindy,"Are you going to take that?" To which Cindy answered,"What can I do/". No machine had been invented that would measure the contempt that Zarella had for bullies. He knew full well what to do.
     Being the New England Powerlifting Chairman, Joe received an NEAAU sanction for an idea of his which he would solely produce and pay for; the All American Women's Open Powerlifting Championships. This historic athletic milestone was held April 17,1977 at the Nashua NH YMCA on Prospect Street.It consisted of 27 women who were judged by international referees Joe Zarella and Denis Reno. The event was by no means a glorified local contest.
     Cindy Reinhoudt did more than test her might in receiving the outstanding lifter trophy for the heavier classes. Jan Todd lifted with a contingent from New Germany, Nova Scotia. Ohio's Stephanie Moody competed to make her the first African American woman to compete in a national weightlifting tournament of any kind. The much talked about Rebecca Joubert was present in addition to a wide assortment of talented athletes from all over the country. This, however, was not the end but only the beginning. When Terry Poston's comely photo appeared in Life Magazine of her competing at this event, women's powerlifting took off.
     In 1978, Zarella held the women's national championships on April 16th at Saint Stanislaus Hall in Nashua. Seventy-four lifters competed including a contingent brought from Australia by Roz Basile. Again, Cindy Reinhoudt won the outstanding lifter trophy for heavier classes and Jan Todd's record 453.25 deadlift marked the first time ever that a powerlift had been recorded for television.
     In 1979 sixty-eight athletes lifted at the historic Nashua "Y" over two days on May 19th and 20th. Ann Turbyne became the first woman to total 1000lbs. with an 1118.8 total and this was the first power meet to be televised in it's entirety with Olympian Donna DeVerona doing commentary for NBC Sports World.
      By this time, women started to get involved in bodybuilding and Olympic lifting contests of their own. It's hard to believe that the hirsute, 300lb Zarella would become a godfather of women's rights when he looked more adept for ursine grappling. However, a women's rights advocate is what he became in his final testament  for fostering equality for women.
     Again, Zarella sanctioned, produce and paid for the first Women's World Powerlifting Championships May3rd and 4th 1980 at the University of Lowell in Lowell, Ma. Eight countries were represented including Japan and Australia. NBC Sports World again covered the meet. A Who's Who of strength legends such as John Grimek and Bob Hoffman attended and it marked the first US appearance of strength legend, Bev Francis. Forty-nine women competed in what could not have happened if it were not for Joe Zarella's chivalrous response to Cindy Reinhoudt's intrepid plea for equal rights.
     In his brilliant account of the contest in Powerlifting USA Magazine, author Tony Fitton quotes Eugene Ware in saying,"All glory comes from daring to begin". Joe Zarella dared to begin and in doing so he gave women a venue to manifest their strength of body and soul to the world furthering their quest for equality much in the same way as the immortal Susan B. Anthony had done so many years before.
     Inside the commemorative program of the 1984 Women's World Powerlifting Championships there is a well deserved article on Cindy Reinhoudt. The article starts out by saying,"Though there is much discussion about who is the Godfather of Women's Powerlifting". This author contends that there is no discussion. The Godfather of Women's Powerlifting is Joseph Raymond Zarella.

"The key to immortality is by living a life worth remembering"- Bruce Lee

MAN OF STEEL

I dedicate this short piece to the memory of  George Reeves and Christopher Reeve who made me a better man. Also to my Special Needs students and to another hero of mine; my son, Mike who does not possess any of my faults.

MAN OF STEEL
By Peter Vuono

     Every boy needs a hero. I was no exception. Growing up in the mid 1950's, I was drawn toward anything that projected strength. I loved dinosaurs and Superman. George Reeves was the perfect hero; big, handsome, strong and heroic. When he passed away in June of 1959, I was greatly saddened but looked to others along the way to fill the void such as Steve Reeves. Then, in the late 70's, a new hero had arisen.
     Like his predecessor, George Reeves, Christopher Reeve was the perfect Superman; tall, muscular, good looking and behind the scenes, a true man of integrity. In his early years, he was quite involved in the Special Olympics, the Save the Children Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Here was a hero that the public needed. What also impressed me about him was the fact that he was trained by former British weightlifting champion, Dave Prowse who would also be immortalized on the screen as Darth Vader!
     Recently, my son had played a movie trailer for the upcoming remake entitled, Man of Steel. I had seen it many times before and had previously thought nothing of it. However, this time, as the trailer rolled, my son, Mike, made a comment saying,"It's too bad about Chris Reeve; isn't it dad?" Instantaneously, my heart dropped and my eyes welled up to capacity.
     I hadn't forgotten Reeve's accident in 1995 and his struggle with being a quadriplegic. I thought of his death in 2004 and the passing of his wife, Dana, soon after. But at almost the same moment, I had an epiphany.
     As I started to maintain my composure and pull myself together, I realized that Chris Reeve's life taught me a lesson that I should have learned from all my Special Needs students but never did. Reeve showed us that our lives do not have to be derailed from the path that we were so passionately following just because of an illness, accident or disability.
     Reeve, after his accident, went on to direct both an A&E and HBO movie. He wrote two books and appeared in a segment of Smallville. He later starred in the remake of Rear Window and in doing so, received a Golden Globe nomination and a special award from the screen actor's guild. He made numerous appearances and speeches on behalf of stem cell and spinal cord research and together with his wife he created the Chris and Dana Reeve Foundation which operates even today.
     All within the time of a one minute movie trailer, I learned through Chris Reeve's life that illness and disability don't cause life to end but only to change. It was at that very moment that I ironically realized that Christopher Reeve truly was a Man of Steel.

Peter Francisco- The Strongest Soldier That Ever Lived

 This tale is dedicated to all veterans.

This story was originally published in the June 14, 1987 edition of the Brockton Enterprise long before the internet.

Peter Francisco- The Strongest Soldier That Ever Lived
By Peter Vuono

     In 1765 a small boat docked on the shores of Virginia. One of it's passengers was a 5 year old orphan who was handsomely dressed but had no identification except the initials "P.F." on his shoe buckles.Word had it that he was originally captured by sailors from his homeland in the Azore Islands.He was adopted by the kindly judge Anthony Wilson who raised the boy on his Buckingham County, Virginia plantation.Using  the "P.F."  initials on the child's shoe buckles as a guide, Judge Wilson named him Peter Francisco.
     The child worked hard on the plantation and like a weightlifter, cultivated his muscles working as a blacksmith. The young man  grew to a height of 6'8" and weighed a solid 260lbs. With his size came a gift of inhuman strength.
     To entertain his friends, Francisco could put a full grown man on the palm of each hand and press them until his arms were completely extended overhead. He was also able to lift a saddled horse over a 4' fence on the plantation. His great strength was obvious but his courage would later be tested.
     Peter became a member of George Washington's Continental Army. During the Battle of Camden in South Carolina on August 16,1780, he performed a feat of heroism and strength that has since been rarely equaled, The Colonists were greatly outnumbered by the British and a horse drawn field cannon which was crucial to the battle was made immobilized by the Red Coats. The horses were shot , the caisson splintered and the 1100lb. cannon barrel was mired in mud.Francisco, realizing the value of the field piece, tipped the cannon up on end. He then allowed it to fall across his tremendous shoulders and squatted under it. He then proceeded to carry the gun 200 yards to a more strategic position.
     In spite of Peter's valiant efforts, the Colonists were forced to retreat. In doing so, Francisco saved his commanding officer from certain death. The Colonel never forgot the act and willed a 1,000 acre tract of land to Peter. Francisco, however, felt that he should humbly decline since he was not a blood relative. He also, on two other occasions, turned down an officer's commission saying that he lacked the education for the job. Although Francisco did not advance in rank, he would do so in fame.
     He was later overheard by General Washington that his sword was too light to handle. The General then ordered a magnificent 5 foot long excalibre  made for Peter which no man except he could wield with one hand. The sword would later become as  legendary as Peter after his next daring campaign.
     On March 15, 1781 at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, in North Carolina, the giant Francisco rode upon horseback armed with the 5 foot sword. Almost immediately, a British soldier caught him by surprise and drove a bayonet right through his right thigh into the horse. Undaunted, Francisco extricated himself from his attacker whereupon he immediately lashed out with the excalibre.Enraged, he proceed to cut down 11 of the Queen's Guards like a one man regiment. Bloodied and exhausted, Francisco was left for dead. However a soldier by the name of Robinson found Peter and took him to safety. He recovered from his wounds and was off to battle as soon as he was able.
     Another of Peter's exploits of brawn and bravery occurred during Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Eve. at Trenton to surprise the Hessian Soldiers.Unfortunately for the General there were not enough boats for all his men to cross on and Washington's plan came to a halt. A farm boy informed the General that there was a flat boat hidden one mile away in tall grasses. Francisco traveled a full mile with the boy and found the boat just as he had said. Peter carried the boat  by overturning it and letting it rest upon his head and outstretched hands. He then singlehandedly carried the 900lb. vessel a mile back to the sight of the crossing. This enabled all of Washington's men to make the famous trek.
     By now, every campfire in the Continental Army made mention of this prodigious warrior in the war for freedom.
     Francisco was given a roving commission by Washington to fight the Red Coats wherever and whenever he saw fit. Peter felt that his efforts were most needed in Amelia County Virginia where the troops of Generals Tarleton and Cornwallis were literally ravaging the land, burning farms and villages.
     One evening, Peter was sitting alone inside a tavern known as Ben Ward's. A gigantic troop led by Tarleton, 400 strong, rode along the highway toward the tavern. Nine of the troops went ahead as scouts and entered the tavern. Seeing that he was a colonist soldier, they took him prisoner. As they did so, Peter drew his long sword and severely injured two of the soldiers. The other seven fled back to the regiment. As Peter gave chase, he realized that any further acts of aggression would mean certain death for him against this throng of soldiers. Peter then decided to use his wit along with his reputation to thwart Tarleton. He ran behind the tavern and yelled into the woods, "Come on my brave boys- now's your time! We will dispatch these and attack the main body."Tarleton recognized the famous Francisco and thought that he would have to do battle with a complete regiment led by Peter. Rather than risk this,the cavalry retreated. This deed of bravery was etched on canvas and the original now hangs in Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
     The Battle of Guilford Courthouse is commemorated by a giant granite marker enshrined to Peter's bravery standing on the very spot of the battle. There is also a Peter Francisco Square in New  Bedford Ma. a city who is proud of this great soldier. Peter's greatest honor, however, came in 1976 when his picture was inscribed on a postage stamp celebrating the bicentennial. It shows Peter carrying the 1100lb. cannon barrel in the Battle of Camden.
     Peter Francisco was a folk hero come to life who was perhaps the strongest soldier that ever lived. His size, strength and daring courage were overshadowed only by his love of country and burning desire for freedom.

REFERENCES- Strength and Health Magazine- July 1938
and Strength and Health Magazine- March 1980.

Walter Kowalski- A Legend Not Lost

     I owe so much to professional wrestling. In 1966, I sat on my bed reading Wrestling Revue and the story I was reading was about wrestler Ernest Bemis who was better known in the WWWF as "Mr. Kleen". He was quoted as saying,"Every young boy should own a set of weights". That was all I needed to hear. I started in 1967 and never stopped.  I came in 2nd in the 1974 Eastern States Powerlifting Championships. I mentioned it to Messrs. LaBranche and Phinney in my interview for my first teaching job. They were genuinely impressed and thought I'd be a good role model for the Special kids that I would teach. This career went a span of 35 years and if I helped any of those kids it was because of a pro wrestler inspiring me to better myself. This story is a homage to all those that fought in the squared circle and in particular to one hero who touched me deeply.


Walter Kowalski- A  Legend Not Lost,
by Peter Vuono
     The sport of professional wrestling oftentimes suffers the burden of scandal.  At the same time, however there is always a hero who acts as a buffer and stands head an shoulders above all controversy. Walter"Killer: Kowalski was such a man. Kowalski, whose name is synonymous with "Legend" passed away August 30, 2008 in Everett, Ma. due to a massive heart attack he received August 8th. He was 81.
     Kowalski was born Oct. 13, 1926 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He later moved to the Detroit area and took up weight training at an early age because of a heart murmur. After high school he enrolled in the prestigious Assumption College in Worcester, Ma. but was forced to drop out after his Freshman year because his dad, a Polish immigrant, could not afford to continue funding Walter's schooling.
     Kowalski worked at the Ford Motor Company as an electrician's apprentice. He continued to train at local gyms and succeeded in building  a tremendous muscular confirmation. Walter, who would attain a height of 6'7" and eventually weigh 265-275 lbs.drew the attention of local wrestlers who asked him to join them in their training. This led to frequent trips to St. Louis and it was here that Kowalski had to decide on whether to stay with Ford or wrestle. He decided to depart from the company and was trained by the immortal Lou Thesz. It was here that a wrestling legend was born.
     Because of his height, Herculean physique and good looks, Kowalski, who was born Edward Walter Spulnik, chose the name "Tarzan" Kowalski. However , in 1954 in a match in Montreal, a misplaced knee accidentally tore the cauliflowered ear off Yukon Eric and Kowalski was later dubbed by reporters-"Killer".
     Kowalski, who is the only professional wrestler in the New England Sports Hall of Fame, enjoyed a career that most wrestlers can only dream about. He garnered no fewer than 19 different titles, most notably the WWF World Tag-Team title with his former student, the late John(Mitton) Studd. Kowalski wrestled in the Far East, Australia and Africa. He took on every  contemporary wrestler, most notably, Bruno Sammartino. This author personally witnessed Kowalski wrestle Sammartino in July of 1968 at Fenway Park in front of 17,500 fans long before the tool of cablevision was used for hype.
     After a match in Providence in 1977, Kowalski retired and opened the Killer Kowalski Institue of Professional  Wrestling at the Young Men's Christian Union on Boylson St. in Boston which was the very same training quarters used by strongman John Y. Smith decades before. This school turned out superstars John Studd, Matt Bloom, Chyna, Mike Shaw and WWE champion Triple H.
     In a marvelous March 2, 1986 interview with Jerry Mikorenda of the Boston Herald, Kowalski was quoted as saying, "Scientists will tell you that it is physics that makes the world and universe revolve, but they are wrong, dead wrong. It's love. Everything in this planet responds to it."
     Kowalski was right. For the great physical presence and integrity that he projected served to inspire generation after generation of young men and women in their quest for physical and spiritual perfection. A process that will continue for many more generations to come. A wrestling hold that will never be broken.

"And there was one that  wrestled with him until daybreak"- Genesis- 32-26

Woman of Iron

by Peter Vuono

     In my life time I've seen some incredible women of iron. I was fortunate to see the very first women's national powerlifting tournaments in the early 70's in Nashua and the first women's world powerlifting championships at the Univ. Of Lowell. I saw woman raw bench press 250lbs and do squats and deadlifts of over 400lbs. This inspired me to write about women of iron that I had not seen in Powerlifting USA Magazine. I wrote about Princess Aiyaruk, a 15th century Tarter Princess who wrestled and pinned over 100 men. I wrote about Barnum and Baily circus performer Katie Sandwina who could juggle small cannonballs and I wrote about Dr. Cindy Reinhoudt, the first woman to ever enter a weightlifting contest.
Indeed, I've seen women perform amazing feats.  However, the strongest woman that this author had ever met was a teacher who never picked up a weight in her life.
     I graduated from Massasoit CC in 1974. At the time I graduated, Massasoit had hired Professor Laura Yellen to teach English. She later would gravitate toward helping children who had the most needs in both the LATCH and Helping Hands Program. I continued to work for the athletic department up to 1995 and that is where I had the good fortune to meet this extraordinary woman.
     Laura was a great sports fan but more than this, a fan of her students and students in general. She attended every men's and women's soccer and basketball games with few exceptions. This is how I got to know her and one of the easiest things that I've ever done in my life and certainly one of the most rewarding was becoming Laura's friend.
    As time went buy, Laura, without my ever having to ask her,  afforded a miasma of kindnesses toward me which spanned decades. As I was scoring for the soccer team, I would watch Laura read a children's book to my young daughter, Amy and then give it to her as a present. She mentioned in the school magazine, The Associate, about my having an entertainment business and then proceeded to book me for at least 3 magic shows at the college. She wrote references  to secure for me a teaching job with adults in night school. She even invited me to the school to lecture to all her classes about some of the techniques that I used while teaching. The list is endless and  what is equally amazing is the fact that Laura constantly did these things not only for me; but for everyone she knew!
     At a recent memorial in her honor, a former athlete, Christopher Horn, retold the tale of how he had broken his arm in a soccer game that Laura had attended. Horn, a foreign student, had no family living close by  and it was Laura who spent the 5 hours with him at the emergency room. Some people say that acts like these write one's name in heaven. If this be true, there is a billboard in heaven with Laura Yellen's name on it the size of Mount Rushmore.
    One may ask then, why is this woman the strongest woman that I've ever met? The answer is quite simple. Laura had the power to make smile every single person that she came in contact with and the ability to make that same person instantaneously achieve better self esteem. She had the magical charm of making a person's most somber day become bright.
    When I last spoke to Laura, she told me that something was going on inside her that needed attending to. I had no idea that she was fighting leukemia. When she didn't show up at my son's graduation in early June of 2010, I knew that something was seriously wrong.
     In Laura's final hours she decided that she did not want to partake of certain treatments which would help to improve her condition. She wanted those treatments to go to someone who was younger than she  and who had children. Her last act of kindness was selflessly given to someone that she would never even meet.
     I tried to think if just a few words that would encapsulate Laura's life. Thanks to my cousin Stephanie, it was obvious that Mother Teresa's words were the perfect choice."Three things in life are important; the first is to be kind, the second is to be kind and the third is to be kind". I never met anyone who more passionately lived this creed than Laura Yellen; and it is doubtful that I ever will. She was truly, a woman of iron.
    

The World's Strongest Man in More Ways Than One
by Peter Vuono

     I've been lifting weights since 1967 and I competed in powerlifting from 1973-2017   I've seen a lot of impressive sights and have met some amazing, godlike people. I spotted for Ted Arcidi in Nashua when he bench pressed a raw world record of 630. I spotted for Steve Sanderson when he, in Boston, squatted a rock bottom 920 squat. I saw many men and women who could have easily inhabited Olympus but what I really wanted to see was one athlete who possessed character in proportion to great strength. For 25 years, I had displayed in my classroom a poster which read."Strength on the outside comes only after strength on the inside". I wanted to meet the person who exemplified this combination and I did so when I met Frank Ciavattone Jr.
    When he was in his teens he worked on  a construction sight where he on a whim pushed a fully loaded dump truck! He then took this prodigious strength to the Olympic lifting platform where he won both the state championship and New England Championships at least 10 times each! When I witnessed him winning the New England Strongest Man contest, he did so while suffering torn psoas muscles and a strep throat!
     From here, Ciavattone entered  the Scotland based world's strongest man contest winning a plethora of times and setting up record after record. His 500lb plus ONE  HANDED deadlifts were legendary not to mention his lifting, without straps of the famed Donald Dinnie Stones. Dave Prowse, eat your heart out!
    The Ciavattone basement is a Smithsonian Institute of trophies and memorabilia commemorating an amazing career. Everywhere are hundreds of sparkling trophies, magnificent medals and stunning excalibers
all won for exhibiting his great strength. The irony of the whole thing, however is the fact that there IS NO trophy or medal for Frankie's greatest victory other than his essence.
   On two occasions in his life, he faced, took on and defeated cancer giving him the distinction of being THAT athlete who had an equal proportion of strength and character.  Frank serves as a beacon whose shining star can be looked up at by the rest of us mere mortals  to tell us that we too can face, take on and defeat both physical and emotional oppression to a point where we  have become just like the world's strongest man.


"A hero is judged not by the size of his strength but by the strength of his heart"- Zeus

 Hi, I'm Pete.
     On Sept. 22, 2012 a beautiful 22' high 4,000lb. statue of Rocky Marciano which was a gift of Mexico's WBC was proudly unveiled at Marciano Stadium. Rocky was a deserving recipient of this award as is his family and the citizens of Brockton whose pride swelled at this event which drew 7,000 people. I couldn't help but think, however, about an old friend of mine from Brockton who was equally successful in his chosen sport but somehow escaped receiving any accolades.
     The last time I saw Al Turner was at Shaw's supermarket and I went over and happily shook his hand. I said"Al, how are you?" He responded, "I have leukemia." Both my jaw and demeanor dropped. Sensing this, Al said"It's all right; I can still kick your ass!". That's how I like to remember Al; tough and defiant in the face of one of nature's worst killers- leukemia.
    This obituary was previously published in Iron History.com and in Denis Reno's Weightlifting Newsletter.

Arm Wrestling Legend, Al Turner Passes Away
by Peter Vuono
     Arm wrestling has always been a dichotomy. It never achieved the type of notoriety that other sports have gotten and yet it's practiced by everyone from school children to pro athletes. On June 4, 1998, one of arm wrestling's greatest legends, Al Turner passed away at the age of 67 from a year long battle with leukemia.This unique sport which he dominated for so many years spawned only a few legendary figures. Mac Batchelor, Moe Baker, Cleve Dean and Jim Dolcini were among them. Al was certainly part of this prestigious list. The former Marine who sparred with Rocky Marciano, won the world arm wrestling championships 11 times! Just amazing was the fact that he did not start competing until he was 41!. Al was by no means s "back yard" competitor. Many of his titles were won outside New England and the United States. In 1979 his world title was won in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1980- Brazil and in 1981- back in Canada. Al won hundreds of titles and hosted the nationals in Brockton in the late 70's. Also, in 1978, Al had a full length feature published on him in Sports Illustrated.Although Al is sadly gone from us he left behind the memory of his unparalleled raw strength and courage.

BOB BACKUS- The Olympic torch Forever burning


  . In 1676, Isaac Newton wrote to Robert Hooke,"I f I have seen further it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants."
This story is about a friend of mine who was a giant of body and character who passed on in 1999. I hope you like it. It was first published in the Assoc. of Old Time Barbell and Strongmen Newsletter


The strength world was saddened on June 30th 1999 by the passing of Bob Backus who succumbed to a lengthy illness at age 72. Backus, a Tufts graduate, competed in the hammer throw in the 1952 Olympics. He was also Pan American champion in the same event in 1955. Bob will also be remembered for an extraordinary career in weight throwing.
     He held the world record in the 56lb. weight throw from 1954 to 1965. After finishiing this reign with a toss of 46ft. 6in., he had garnered 9 national titles!  He was equally proficient in the 35lb. weight throw. Here Backus accrued 8 national titles and held the world record from 1954 to 1960 finishing with a distance of 68ft. 2in.
     In a survey conducted of track and field coaches in April of 1982 by the Mobil Oil Co., Backus was selected as the greatest weight thrower of all time. He was also mentioned in strength historian, David P. Willoughby's book The Super Athletes.
     Bob Backus mentored and befriended true kings of strength in his Pembroke, Ma. gymnasium such as Dave Draper, Ken Patera, Harold Connolly, George Frenn and Steve Sanderson.
     The one quality of Bob Backus that this writer will most remember, however, was that Bob had a sincere and genuine enthusiasm for even the smallest gain made by the youngest neophyte at his gym. Bob would be every bit as delighted with a 5lb. gain made by a youngster as he was by a 100lb. increase made by many of the saurians who trained under his auspices.
     This caring and enthusiasm is a special kind of love which has stayed with me and countless others ever since. In this way, Bob's spirit will live forever.

"Out of the strong, came what is sweet". Samson from Judges 14:14
    

Swifter, Higher and Stronger with God
by Peter Vuono

     I've always been a fan of the Olympics ever since I saw 4 time Gold Medal winner, Al Oerter carry the American flag into the stadium in Mexico City in 1968. The games left such and impression on me that watching it became a staple of my training regimen in my quest for improvement in the little known sport of Powerlifting. I often thought about some of the great names and performances that I have seen and thinking about them, it spurred me on to train all the harder. However on a warm Friday night in August of 2012 at the London Olympics, I watched a diminutive Ethiopian athlete who could not have weighed more than 100lbs. make a statement that contained more ins

piration and emotion than any Olympic event that this author had ever seen.
     The broadcasters frequently talked about the Kenyan runners in the women's 5,000 meter run and I was about to keep an eye on them until I noticed that in lane one, the petite Ethiopian runner, Meseret Defar, made the sign of the cross three times. The Kenyans led the pace for much of the race but toward the end in the last 100meters Defar pulled away from the pack and crossed the finish line first in a stunning upset to win the Gold Medal.
     Defar was overcome with emotion  with tears and sobs streaming down like rain. However, she struggled toward the camera and made it clear that she had a statement to make. With the sobs continuing, Defar took from beneath her team shirt a folded photograph of Mary, the Mother of God with the Infant Jesus and displayed it to the TV cameras not saying a word. She didn't have to. This tiny Olympic champion very plainly showed the world where every talent and every gift whether it be Olympic sized or small, emanated from. The Olympic motto had never been expressed so perfectly.