‘My dad would just be ecstatic’: Bruno Sammartino Park dedicated in Ross
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A Ross Township park was renamed Friday to honor a local legend.
Formerly known as Sangree Park, the park now bears the name of Bruno Sammartino, a famed wrestler and the longest reigning champion in World Wrestling Entertainment history. The WWE Hall of Famer was a resident of Ross for 58 years before his death in 2018 at the age of 82.
“It’s a tribute to a home-grown legend,” said his cousin Anita Sammartino, who attended a brief ceremony at the park Friday afternoon. “He would be grateful, but he was just a humble man. He would hope his life would inspire others.”
During the ceremony, local officials unveiled a new sign that features Sammartino’s photo and name.
Dan DeMarco, president of the Ross Board of Commissioners, addressed a small group of community members who gathered at the newly dedicated park. He touted Sammartino’s lengthy career and emphasized the legacy he has left for the community.
“Bruno Sammartino represents to so many millions of immigrants from Italy and other countries to the United States the ability to be successful by working hard, making a significant impact to our great nation and thus making so many that have come before and after him very proud,” DeMarco said. Sammartino was born in Italy and immigrated to the United States in 1950 as a teenager with his family.
The idea to name the park after Sammartino came from the Ross Board of Commissioners.
Sammartino’s wife, Carol, and son Darryl were recognized during the event and took pictures with family, friends and fans afterward.
“My dad would be just ecstatic. I think he would be very humbled and very proud,” Darryl Sammartino said. “This is our home. My dad ran tens of thousands of miles on these streets here. Me and my twin brother played baseball here. This is where we grew up. My dad’s looking down right now and I’m sure he’s very, very happy seeing this.”
Sammartino lived about a mile from the park.
Sammartino’s cousin Pete Sammartino stopped by to admire the park now named for his cousin.
“I’m so proud of him and his great work that he did,” he said. “He accomplished a lot of great things.”
His family was also joined by several friends, including John and Aura McDonough, who traveled with Sammartino to his hometown in Italy in 2017 to see a life-sized statue dedicated to him.
“I exercised with him at the East Liberty YMCA before he even thought about wrestling,” John McDonough said. “He never made an enemy.”
Though McDonough said Sammartino would have been humble about the recognition, he believed the honor was well deserved.
“It’s a tribute that I think Ross Township has done for someone who was a celebrity around the world,” he said.