Thursday, April 17, 2008

Loss Of A Gentle Giant


Got some real sad news today.
Anthony Tortora, one of my closest high school mates and a fellow member of the football team, the McBurney Highlanders, also known as the Fighting Green Machine, just passed away on April 9th. He was living with his family and doing well up in Albany. Weird thing is just two weeks ago my high school had a reunion. Tony couldn't make it, but my friend John got in contact with him recently and I was planning on doing the same.

I mean, I know we're getting up there now, my fellow '78 alums, but 47 is still too damn young for a man to die. I read in his obituary just now that he was coaching Pop Warner football, and somehow that really made me feel good, that our former starting offensive tackle (#73 below) was passing on his experience and knowledge of the game to the little ones, as well as his crazy sense of humor and his exuberance to live life to its fullest. My heart goes out to his wife and the three young kids he leaves behind.

2 comments:

jimithegreek said...

TRULY SAD.

Denier said...

No doubt, brother. Thanks for checking in.