Centenarian, Nutritarian, and Bodybuilder Joe "World's Strongest Man" Rollino Tragically Killed In Auto Accident New York A New York strong man died shortly after being hit by a van as he crossed a street near his Brooklyn home. While taking his daily five-mile walk on Monday, 104 year old Joe Rollino was struck by a minivan as he crossed Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn. Joe Rollino sustained head and chest injuries, as well as a broken pelvis. Sadly, but not without a fight, he succumbed to his injuries and died a few hours later at a local hospital. Astonishing but true, while standing at 5’4" and weighing less than 150 lbs, at the peak of his career, Mr Rollino was one of the strongest men of his size. He once lifted 475 lbs. with his teeth, 635 lbs. with one finger, and 3200 lbs. with his back. He got his start in boxing and bodybuilding at age 10. Mr. Rollino became a vegetarian in his teens and firmly believed in fueling the body with natural, health-promoting foods. Mr Rollino performed as a strong man in the 1920s on Coney Island, billed as "The World’s Strongest Man", and was part of the Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen, an organization of men able to do things such as rip book binders at the seam; he was not only strong and muscular, he was also agile. He later fought for years in armory bouts and made a living as a travelling boxer, often against boxers 50 pounds heavier than he was, under the name Kid Dundee. A decorated World War II veteran, he could still bend coins between his fingers at the age of 104 and swam daily laps in the ocean year-round. During his life, Rollino hobnobbed with Harry Houdini, watched Jack Dempsey knock out Jess Willard and was friendly with Mario Lanza. He even had a bit part in 'On the Waterfront'. "He was known as the Great Joe Rollino, and he was great," said Louis Scarcella, 59, who knew him from the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, New York's oldest winter swimming club. "He just had that humble confidence and strength. It shined," he told the New York Times newspaper. On his 103rd birthday, Joe Rollino put a quarter between his teeth and bent it with his fingers. He skipped the cake. "If you'd said he was 80, I'd have said he looked younger," a pal said. March 19, 2010 would have been his 105th birthday. Imagine how long he could have lived had this tragic accident not happened. Rollino was the model of health, said friends. A vegetarian, he didn't drink or smoke and exercised daily. He was a classic example of all-around fitness and good nutrition. Joe Rollino, like other fit nutritarians such as Herbert Shelton and Jack LaLanne provide proof that aging doesn’t have to mean heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and physical fragility. Police said neither speeding nor alcohol had been factors in the crash, but was issued a ticket for a defective horn. |