Joe Rollino
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joe" Rollino 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 3200 lbs with his back during the prime of his career.
, Brooklyn, New York, one of 14 children. Only 5 in 5 in (1.65 m) tall and weighing 150 lbs, Rollino 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/30s, being dubbed the world's strongest man. Rollino boasted of lifting 635 lbs with one finger. He once lifted 450 lbs with his teeth.
After retiring from active performing, he worked as a longshoreman and once worked as a bodyguard for Greta Garbo
. He also knew such celebrities as Mario Lanza
and Houdini. Rollino was a life-long and "devout" vegetarian
. 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.
during World War II
, and was awarded a Silver Star
, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts.
"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."
. He died at a hospital several hours later, aged 104.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran, weightlifter, and strongman
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
. The son of Italian immigrants, Rollino dubbed himself the world's strongest man
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
in the 1920s, moving 3200 lbs with his back during the prime of his career.
Early life and career
Rollino was born and raised in Coney IslandConey Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, Brooklyn, New York, one of 14 children. Only 5 in 5 in (1.65 m) tall and weighing 150 lbs, Rollino began lifting weights in the 1920s and trained for a time with Warren Lincoln Travis
Warren Lincoln Travis
Warren Lincoln Travis was the first famous strongman in the United States and a world champion back and hip lifter, who performed feats of strength on Coney Island in the first quarter of the 20th century.-Feats of strength:...
. 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/30s, being dubbed the world's strongest man. Rollino boasted of lifting 635 lbs with one finger. He once lifted 450 lbs with his teeth.
After retiring from active performing, he worked as a longshoreman and once worked as a bodyguard for Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo , born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, was a Swedish film actress. Garbo was an international star and icon during Hollywood's silent and classic periods. Many of Garbo's films were sensational hits, and all but three were profitable...
. He also knew such celebrities as Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza
right|thumb|[[MGM]] still, circa 1949Mario Lanza was an American tenor and Hollywood movie star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. The son of Italian emigrants, he began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16....
and Houdini. Rollino was a life-long and "devout" vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
. 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.
Military service
He fought in the PacificPacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was awarded a Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts.
"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."
Retirement
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 103rd birthday.Death
On January 11, 2010, Rollino left his home and was hit by a vehicle in Dyker Heights, BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. He died at a hospital several hours later, aged 104.
External links
- Photographs of Joe Rollino
- "Joe Rolino: At 103, Still Fit, Fiery" by Robert Mladinich, March 23, 2008
- "Barney Dugan Drew with Kid Dundee." In "Evening Ledger Decisions of Ring Bouts Last Night - Allentown." Philadelphia Evening Ledger October 18, 1916, page 14.
