Amerigo “Bob” Nanni

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Amerigo “Bob” Nanni played during the undefeated 1936 football season with St. John’s Evangelist High School, Pittston. He graduated from St. John’s in 1937 and entered Wyoming Seminary in September 1938, participating in football, baseball and basketball for the next two years, but football was his main game. Nanni played tackle on the varsity football team under Coach Edgar Brace. Wyoming Seminary’s football record for the Fall 1939 season was 5-1-1. Bob played varsity baseball as catcher and right fielder under Coach Norman Smith. Bob ended his second year with a batting average of .326. Nanni also played J.V. basketball. Bob attended Duke University in September 1940. Bob merited All-State selection as tackle during his sophomore year there. Also during his sophomore year, Bob played in the “transplanted” Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 1942. The Duke Blue Devils were undefeated (9-0) in their regular season. It appeared that the Tournament of Roses 1942 football game between Oregon State and Duke was doomed, along with the Tournament of Roses Parade, but then one of the most cooperative ventures in the ‘listen’ of any festival took place and the game was switched to Durham, North Caroline because of the threat of an air attack after Pearl Harbor. Although Oregon State (7-2 for their regular season) were 4 to 1 underdogs, they defeated Duke 20-16 in an upset. After finishing his sophomore year, Nanni entered the United States Marine Corps and attained the rank of Sergeant. Regrettably, Nanni made the supreme sacrifice for his country on Iwo Jima in February of 1945. Amerigo “Bob” Nanni is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmington New York. He is survived by his brother Peter Nanni of Old Forge and four sisters: Delores Sipple of Quakertown, Elizabeth Smith of Long Island, N.Y.. Ida Ninivaggio of the Bronx, N.Y., and Beatrice Naples of Pittston