Joseph Rollino (March 19, 1905 – January 11, 2010) was a decorated World War II veteran, weightlifter, and strongman. The son of Italian immigrants, Rollino dubbed himself the world's strongest man in the 1920s, moving 3,200 pounds (1,500 kg) with his back during the prime of his career.[1]
Rollino was born and raised in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, one of 14 children. Only 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) tall and weighing 150 pounds (68 kg), Rollino allegedly began lifting weights in the 1920s and trained for a time with Warren Lincoln Travis. He also took up boxing and toured the US as a boxer, fighting under the name Kid Dundee.
Rollino also became known as a strongman, moving more than a ton, bending nails with his mouth and coins with his bare hands. He often appeared on the Coney Island Festival in the 1920s and 30s, being dubbed the world's strongest man. Rollino boasted of lifting 635 pounds (288 kg) with one finger.[1] He once lifted 450 pounds (200 kg) with his teeth.[2]
After retiring from active performing, he worked as a longshoreman and once worked as a bodyguard for Greta Garbo. Rollino was a lifelong and "devout" vegetarian.[3][4] During his later years, he was known for his winter swimming activities. Rollino was part of the Iceberg Athletic Club, a now-defunct swimming club, for more than 20 years.[5]
Military serviceedit
He fought in the Pacific during World War II, and was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star Medal, and three Purple Hearts.[2] "He saw that his men were really hurting, getting injured during a battle", Pete Spanakos said, "so he ran onto the field, grabbed two men under one arm, two under another, and brought them back behind the lines. And he did this several times."[5]
Retirementedit
Rollino lived a life of relative obscurity, rarely giving interviews or appearing in public. In a 2008 interview, he claimed to have been "born strong". He was married briefly early in his life and then divorced. He later lived with a niece. According to friends and family, he was in very good shape and was still able to bend quarters with his teeth as of his claimed 103rd birthday.[1]
Deathedit
On January 11, 2010, Rollino left his home and was hit by the driver of a vehicle in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. He died at a hospital several hours later, aged 104.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdFernandez, Manny; Schmidt, Michael S. (January 11, 2010). "At a Mighty 104, Gone While Still Going Strong". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
^ abColvin, Jill; Parascandola, Rocco; Siemaszko, Corky (2010-01-12). "Losing the Fight of His Life". Daily News. p. 12. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
^Colleen Long (2010-01-11). "Joe Rollino Dead: 104-Year-Old Strongman, Dies After Being Hit By Car". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
^Puskar-Pasewicz, Margaret. (2010). Cultural Encyclopedia of Vegetarianism. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 254. ISBN978-0-313-37556-9
"Joe Rolino: At 103, Still Fit, Fiery" by Robert Mladinich, March 23, 2008
Barrilleaux, Doris (January 2009), "The Great Rollino; The Most Amazing Man I Ever Met", Iron Man
January 01, 1970
rollino, joseph, rollino, march, 1905, january, 2010, decorated, world, veteran, weightlifter, strongman, italian, immigrants, rollino, dubbed, himself, world, strongest, 1920s, moving, pounds, with, back, during, prime, career, born, 1905, march, 1905coney, i. Joseph Rollino March 19 1905 January 11 2010 was a decorated World War II veteran weightlifter and strongman The son of Italian immigrants Rollino dubbed himself the world s strongest man in the 1920s moving 3 200 pounds 1 500 kg with his back during the prime of his career 1 Joe RollinoBorn 1905 03 19 March 19 1905Coney Island Brooklyn New York USDied 2010 01 11 January 11 2010 age 104 Dyker Heights Brooklyn New York USOther names Kid Dundee Great Joe Rollino Mighty Joe Rollino World s Strongest Man Occupation s Strongman weightlifterHeight5 ft 5 in 1 65 m External imageBodybuilder Joe Rollino Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Military service 3 Retirement 4 Death 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and career editRollino was born and raised in Coney Island Brooklyn New York one of 14 children Only 5 feet 5 inches 1 65 m tall and weighing 150 pounds 68 kg Rollino allegedly began lifting weights in the 1920s and trained for a time with Warren Lincoln Travis He also took up boxing and toured the US as a boxer fighting under the name Kid Dundee Rollino also became known as a strongman moving more than a ton bending nails with his mouth and coins with his bare hands He often appeared on the Coney Island Festival in the 1920s and 30s being dubbed the world s strongest man Rollino boasted of lifting 635 pounds 288 kg with one finger 1 He once lifted 450 pounds 200 kg with his teeth 2 After retiring from active performing he worked as a longshoreman and once worked as a bodyguard for Greta Garbo Rollino was a lifelong and devout vegetarian 3 4 During his later years he was known for his winter swimming activities Rollino was part of the Iceberg Athletic Club a now defunct swimming club for more than 20 years 5 Military service editHe fought in the Pacific during World War II and was awarded a Silver Star a Bronze Star Medal and three Purple Hearts 2 He saw that his men were really hurting getting injured during a battle Pete Spanakos said so he ran onto the field grabbed two men under one arm two under another and brought them back behind the lines And he did this several times 5 Retirement editRollino lived a life of relative obscurity rarely giving interviews or appearing in public In a 2008 interview he claimed to have been born strong He was married briefly early in his life and then divorced He later lived with a niece According to friends and family he was in very good shape and was still able to bend quarters with his teeth as of his claimed 103rd birthday 1 Death editOn January 11 2010 Rollino left his home and was hit by the driver of a vehicle in Dyker Heights Brooklyn He died at a hospital several hours later aged 104 1 References edit a b c d Fernandez Manny Schmidt Michael S January 11 2010 At a Mighty 104 Gone While Still Going Strong New York Times Retrieved 2010 01 12 a b Colvin Jill Parascandola Rocco Siemaszko Corky 2010 01 12 Losing the Fight of His Life Daily News p 12 Retrieved 2010 01 12 Colleen Long 2010 01 11 Joe Rollino Dead 104 Year Old Strongman Dies After Being Hit By Car Huffingtonpost com Retrieved 2013 10 05 Puskar Pasewicz Margaret 2010 Cultural Encyclopedia of Vegetarianism Greenwood Publishing Group p 254 ISBN 978 0 313 37556 9 a b The Brooklyn Eagle Retrieved 2010 01 14 External links edit Joe Rolino At 103 Still Fit Fiery by Robert Mladinich March 23 2008 Barrilleaux Doris January 2009 The Great Rollino The Most Amazing Man I Ever Met Iron Man Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joe Rollino amp oldid 1149469469, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
