Vincent Thomas Lombardi was an American football coach, and executive in the National Football League.

How old was Vince Lombardi when he died?

Lombardi died in Washington, D.C. at 7:12 a.m. on Thursday, September 3, 1970, surrounded by his wife, parents, two children, and six grandchildren. He was 57.

What did Vince Lombardi pass away from?

Because of his success, he became a national symbol of single-minded determination to win. As coach, general manager and part owner of the Washington Redskins, Lombardi led that team to its first winning season in 14 years in 1969. He died from colon cancer in 1970.

What kind of cancer did Vince Lombardi die from?

Tragedy struck as Lombardi was diagnosed with an aggressive form of colon cancer in June 1970, and died a short ten weeks later on September 3, 1970 at the age of 57.

Who was Vince Lombardi wife?

Lombardi married Marie Planitz in 1940 (with whom he had two children, Vince Jr. and Susan). Lombardi joined the coaching staff at his alma mater, Fordham University in 1947, and continued his coaching career at West Point in 1949.

Vince Lombardi: The Coach Who Put Green Bay on the Map | A Football Life

Was Vince Lombardi white?

As an American of Italian descent and a devoted Catholic who had grown up in Brooklyn, New York, hearing all sorts of demeaning slurs, Lombardi would not tolerate bigotry on his team. In 1959, during his first season as head coach of the Packers, he lectured the team on intolerance.

What does Lombardi mean in Italian?

Lombardi is a geographical surname for someone who came from Lombardy, a region in northern Italy which got its name from the Lombards, a Germanic tribe who invaded in the 6th century. The name also sometimes was used to denote immigrants from other parts of northern Italy.

What college did Vince Lombardi go to?

At Fordham University, Lombardi was outstanding in the classroom as well as on the football field, where he was one of the group of linemen known as the “Seven Blocks of Granite.” After completing his undergraduate education in business (1937), he studied law at Fordham, briefly played semiprofessional football, and ...

Where is Vince Lombardi buried?

Lombardi will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Middletown Township, N.J., near Red Bank.

What are Italian last names?

• Rossi.
• Russo.
• Ferrari.
• Esposito.
• Bianchi.
• Romano.
• Colombo.
• Ricci.

Was Vince Lombardi a Sicilian?

Vince Lombardi was born on June 11, 1913 in Brooklyn, NY. He was the oldest of five children and the son of an Italian immigrant.

Where did the term Lombardi come from?

The surname Lombardi came from a person from Lombardy. The Lombards, who were a Germanic tribe that overran the area in the 6th century, derived their name from the Latin Langobardi, which is composed of the Germanic elements meaning long-beards.

Did NFL make Lombardi black?

Vince Lombardi was not black. Born to Enrico “Harry” Lombardi and Matilda “Mattie” Izzo in Brooklyn, Lombardi was the son of two Italians.

Why was Lombardi black?

Jeppi and Lombardi shared a common heritage. Lombardi's swarthy appearance, according to a recent biography on ESPN Classic network, led to several brushes with discrimination in his life which might have made him sensitive to the plight of black players. "He was colorblind," Jeppi said of his hero, who died in 1970.

Was Vince Lombardi progressive?

To Lombardi's credit, he was considered by many to be progressive, compassionate, and open minded, which makes present day comparisons to his coaching style all the more compelling and noteworthy.

How long did Vince Lombardi?

No coach in National Football League history achieved more success in less time than Lombardi did during his nine seasons in Green Bay. He won five NFL championships, including Super Bowls I and II, and compiled a remarkable 89-29-4 regular-season record.

Is Vince Lombardi in the Hall of Fame?

(Editor's Note: this feature was prepared at the time of Lombardi's election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971. He was inducted posthumously on July 31, 1971).

What does Lombardi say that you have to play with?

But more importantly, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.