104-year-old strongman dies after being hit by car

[Kadie]

104-year-old strongman dies after being hit by car
By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press Writer

Monday, January 11, 2010
(01-11) 14:42 PST New York (AP) --

A famed strongman who once lifted 3,200 pounds at Coney Island during its heyday and was still bending quarters with his fingers at age 104 died Monday after he was hit by a minivan.

Joe Rollino was struck as he crossed Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn, and suffered a broken pelvis, head trauma and broken ribs. He died a few hours later at an area hospital. Police said the driver was going the speed limit and had not been drinking. No criminality is suspected, but the driver was issued a summons for a defective horn.

During his storied 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."

Rollino would've been 105 on March 19, and was the model of health, according to friends. A vegetarian for life, he didn't drink or smoke, his friends said, and he exercised every day. He was a lifetime boxer and was part of the Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen, an organization of men who can still rip book binders at the seam.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/01/11/national/a143830S48.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0cLewyaPi

[Warpy]

1. Great way to go

Live a long and healthy life and when you least expect it, lights out.

There's no time to suffer or be afraid. You just move on quickly.

[BeFree]

3. Yep

Lucky dog. Most of us will live lives of quiet desperation and then suffer for 7 years before we finally.....

No one gets out of here alive.

[niyad]

2. RIP

[shawcomm]

4. Awesome physique for any time, but

especially his.

[Posteritatis]

5. I wonder how much longer he could've gone on if he was in that good shape at 104? (nt)

[Froward69]

6. Se La Vie'

if you get hit by a minivan it does not matter how many sit-up's you did that morning.

/sarcasm

[pepperbear]

7. a picture of elderly joe....

[Canuckistanian]

8. Cut down in the prime of lfe

Pretty sad.

I'll bet that driver feels bad.

[musette_sf]

9. RIP Joe

A well-known Bay Ridge character. It's a shame that this guy, an East Coast Jack LaLanne, had to meet his end by some jerk who drives a car that isn't up to inspection standards.

I've driven in many American cities, but I'd say that Brooklyn has some of THE WORST drivers in America. I'm a Brooklynite, my mom and sister still live there, and it is the place I consider my home. I LOVE Brooklyn with all my heart. But the problem in Bay Ridge of Car Vs. Pedestrian is getting really, really bad, and the past few months have been even worse than usual.