DEATH, DIGNITY AND GRACE
By Peter Vuono


     In August of 1966 I saw my first wrestling match at age thirteen at the Ridge Arena in Braintree Ma. The main event was Bruno Sammartino vs. Angelo Savoldi. Savoldi was not originally scheduled for the main event but filled in due to an airplane strike. Savoldi worked well with Sammartino and thrilled the crowd. I was hooked on wrestling and enjoyed seeing Savoldi wrestle many times on TV from the famed National Arena in Washington DC.
    Angelo Savoldi was born Mario Fornini and came to America in 1919 from Castrocielo, Italy. In 1935 he became a pro wrestler and was given the ring name of Angelo Savoldi from famed New York promoter, Jack Pfefer. Angelo mainly wrestled on the undercard and retired from the ring in1968 whereupon he became a road manager for the WWWF.
   Angelo, later, in 1984 put together a very successful wrestling independent called International Championship Wrestling with his sons. A great deal of wrestling talent entertained in this league such as Joe Savoldi, Dusty Wolfe, Kenny Timbs, Ox Baker, Black Jack Mulligan, Kevin Sullivan and Mark Lewin.
   I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Savoldi twice and the thing I remember most was his graciousness, kindness and humility. A kid never forgets how he's treated when he gets to meet one of his heroes.
   Sadly on Sept. 20, 2013, Angelo Savoldi passed away at age 99. It is a shame that Angelo did not attain the same status as someone like Hulk Hogan or Ric Flair because the manner in which he conducted his life spoke volumes. Unlike so many wrestlers and so many athletes from other sports, Savoldi lived his life with the utmost of integrity. He never abused drugs, alcohol or steroids. He was never involved in domestic disputes nor was he ever on the wrong side of the law. Rather he was a devoted husband to the same woman(Mary) for 74 years and a loving father to 4 wonderful children.
   In martial arts Angelo would have been called a"Shidoshi". Interpreted from the Japanese, it means "Teacher of the Way".  His life was  a message of great dignity. A message that every young person needs to hear.