Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti dies at 93

**pwaldo** · 05-01-2019, 09:33 PM

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...i-dies-93.html

Gino Marchetti, the Pro Football Hall of Famer and rugged former Baltimore Colts defensive end, has passed away at the age of 93.

Although a cause of death has not been specified, the legendary pass rusher was with his wife of 41 years when he died at Paoli Hospital in Paoli, Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

'I kissed him and he knew me and smiled,' Joan Marchetti told the Baltimore Sun. 'That was Gino's way of saying goodbye.'

Born the son of an immigrant coal miner in Kayford, West Virginia in 1927, Marchetti grew up in the depression, served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and even fought in the Battle of the Bulge as a machine gunner.

As he would later explain, Marchetti learned 'discipline' and found his 'direction' in the Army.

'After going through combat and all that, the first thing I did when I got home is I went to church,' he told ESPN in 2009. 'I really started to live a different life. I wasn't as wild. I was so happy to be home, and felt so good about what I had done. A lot of guys had done it. It made me feel proud, and that stayed with me. It still stays with me.'

The Army also provided Marchetti with a future, thanks to the GI Bill.

Upon returning to the United States from Germany, Marchetti attended the University of San Francisco with tuition provided from the landmark legislation.

He played both offense and defense for the Dons before being drafted by the New York Yanks in the 1952 NFL Draft.

The franchise moved to Dallas and later Baltimore, where it became known as the Colts and one of the league's premiere teams.

It was in Baltimore that coach Weeb Ewbank permanently moved Marchetti to the defensive side of the ball, where he became a terror for opposing quarterbacks alongside linemate Art Donovan.