Westmoreland County flavor at Pittsburgh chapter of National Italian American Sports HOF night

Westmoreland County had strong representation at the recent National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Chapter’s 34th Annual Scholarship Sports Night.

Among the award winners were Tony DeNunzio, a longtime Jeannette resident known for his exploits in banking, music and his family’s Italian food restaurants. He received the Frank A. Santamaria Lifetime Achievement Award.

DeNunzio, 92, a longtime supporter of Jeannette High School athletics, worked in banking from 1977-97 and was the front man for Tony DeNunzio and the Selections band, which played to Westmoreland crowds for 60 years. The former Jeannette Man of the Year, among many other accolades, was president of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

He continues to be a fixture in Jeannette. As DeNunzio always says, “What’s Tony spelled backwards? Y NOT?”

And speaking of catchphrases, remember “Cool like whip”?

That is what longtime Hempfield fan Terry Ranieri used to say. Ranieri was a posthumous recipient of the Joseph B. Natoli Community Achievement Award.

Ranieri, who died in 2019, was known for his friendly demeanor, fun quips and loyalty to Hempfield, where he holds a place on the wall of fame.

Ranieri was featured on ABC News Now, and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives issued a citation to honor his memory, while the Westmoreland County Commissioners proclaimed him Hempfield’s No. 1 fan.

The Steelers presented his family with a jersey bearing his name during a game.

A standout softball player also was recognized. Recent Yough graduate Kaylyn Odelli, who also played volleyball and basketball, was awarded the Dr. Michael Charles Bell Memorial Scholarship.

Other award winners included Warren Ciabattoni (Man of the Year), Steve Catanese (Dan Marino Sr. Labor Leader of the Year), and Anthony Sanzo (Dominic T. Roppa Award).

Ciabattoni, a state trooper for 35 years, lives in Hempfield Township.

Jeremiah Giordani of Ambridge won the James Duratz Scholarship, Haylee Anderson of Riverside took home the Dominic T. Rippa Memorial Scholarship and Molly McCommons of Lincoln was the recipient of the Michael Morasco Memorial Scholarship.

James Manganello and Pat Pecora were inducted into the hall of fame. Pecora is the all-time wins leader in college wrestling. He has coached Pitt-Johnstown for 44 years.