Pasquale (Pat) Altieri (although even after twenty years of marriage to his daughter, I still called him Mr. Altieri) was a tough man.
He was a gifted athlete who was a two sport star in football and track and field. He graduated from Harding High School in Bridgeport and it's amazing to read all the yellowed newspaper clippings sitting inside a dusty old photo album. Despite getting letters from The University of Michigan, Yale and other high-profile schools, he decided to attend Brown University in Rhode Island.
He injured his hand at Brown and only played on their freshman teams.
After his injury healed, he chose not to return to Brown. Instead he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he played football and captained the Marines track and field squad.
After serving honorably in the Corps, he received a try out with the Boston Patriots of the brand new American Football League under coach Lou Saban.
The NFL has come a long way from the letter Pat received from the Boston Patriots telling him his first class train ticket and food expenses were covered totaling just over $16.
He started a couple of exhibition games for the Patriots before injuring his ankle. In those days an injured player was told, "we have a game to play tomorrow, if you are unable to play, you'll be released from the team."
After being released from the Patriots, he returned to Derby and played semi-pro football for the Ansonia Black Knights where he played with his cousin Nick DeFelice (a former member of the New York Jets) and friend Larry McHugh. When the Black Knights moved to Hartford, Pat decided to hang up his cleats. Nick DeFelice recently said, he had no doubt if Pat and Larry joined him in Hartford, the three of them would have been on the New York Jets.
As we were going through the clippings and old photos, my daughters said in unison that they never knew how great an athlete grandpa was. They further stated if it were daddy, he would have told everyone of his accomplishments. I smiled because I realized they were right. Unlike moi, Mr. Altieri didn't talk much. But when he spoke you knew his opinion.
After his football career he went into the family business and owned Altieri Press in Bridgeport until 1996. Altieri Press was the last union print shop in Bridgeport.
Altieri Press was always printing brochures, stag tickets, programs, and raffle tickets for just about any non-profit group or family friend that asked him for little or no cost. Don't believe me? Look at any of the old Derby High school programs printed in the 70's and 80's.
When my daughters were born, I saw a change. He was still the tough guy I had known since I was a child, but he seemed to laugh much more frequently.
It didn't matter what the girls did, he found humor in their shenanigans.
He attended their dance recitals, plays, and athletic events. When their elementary school was in danger of closing, he became a silent advocate and supporter of the school and attended all the events we hosted to help keep it open.
At 78 years-old he continued to go to work each day for the City of Bridgeport in their print shop. No disrespect to Wal-Mart greeters, but at 78 years-old he was doing a physically demanding job and he would often come home bloodied and bruised. Yet, he never complained. I know he continued working so he could give a little something extra to the girls each holiday.
So here's to you Mr. Altieri. We're going to miss you, but will cherish your memory for the rest of our lives.
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| L-R Brittany, Grandpa, and Ashley |
