Ross Township park to be renamed after Bruno Sammartino

Legendary wrestler Bruno Sammartino received many honors during his illustrious career and now he’s receiving another one in the place he called home.

Sammartino, who was born in Italy, made his name in Pittsburgh and raised his family in Ross, is having a park named after him located about a mile from his house.

Friday afternoon, Sangree Park is being renamed Bruno Sammartino Park in recognition of his 58 years as a Ross Township resident.

Sammartino, who died in 2018 at the age of 82, was the longest reigning champion in World Wrestling Entertainment history and a WWE Hall of Famer.

“Bruno is famous worldwide and we felt we should recognize Bruno for his accomplishments as a wrestler by naming the park after him,” said Dan DeMarco, president of the Ross Township Board of Commissioners. “It was an informal conversation at one of our board meetings and nobody objected to it. Everybody thought it was a great idea.”

For anyone who grew up in the Pittsburgh area in the 1960s and 70s, watching studio wrestling on WIIC-TV (now WPXI) featuring Bruno Sammartino as one of the star attractions was a Saturday night ritual.

DeMarco, who grew up in Ross Township, remembers watching Sammartino jog through the neighborhood when he was a kid.

“We stood there in awe as kids. We were a bit intimidated,” said DeMarco.

But perhaps no one was more intimidated than Sammartino’s opponents. During his eight-year reign as WWE champion he defeated such wrestling luminaries as Gorilla Monsoon, Killer Kowalski and George “The Animal” Steele.

“Bruno is an internationally known figure and a lot of people knew that he was from Pittsburgh but didn’t know that he lived in this community, in Ross Township” said DeMarco. “It’s a great thing to recognize him because he was such a well known figure for our Township and to recognize him is a great honor for his family and the community.”

DeMarco said members of Sammartino’s family will be on hand for Friday’s renaming ceremony and will say a few words about his life and accomplishments. A new sign for the park will be unveiled as well.

The ceremony will be at 1 p.m. at Sangree Park, 564 Sangree Road.