PITTSBURGH — Vento’s Pizza in East Liberty is the home of “Franco’s Italian Army,” one of the greatest fan clubs in NFL history, started in 1972.
“It started in the 70s,” said Al Vento Jr. “My dad and Tony Stagno wanted to start a fan club because they went to the games, and they said we need an army to move this fan base.”
On Dec. 23, 1972, Franco Harris moved that fan base.
“That play uplifted the whole community,” said Vento. “Not only did it lift the Steelers up but also the fans. It was like, are you kidding me? This is just something that’s totally unbelievable. He was 22 years old, and you know what, there were 22 seconds left on the clock for the Immaculate Reception. Franco was a numbers guy. He liked tying numbers together.”
Vento remembers being at that game as a teenager.
“I was standing on my seat because I was a little guy,” said Vento. “I’m still a little guy. I’m trying to look. It was just pandemonium.”
Harris was more than a friend to the Ventos. He was family.
“I am thankful, and I thank the maker upstairs that he gave me that opportunity to talk to him one last time.”
The last time Vento saw and spoke to Harris was just a couple of days before he died. Harris stopped by Vento’s Pizza on Dec. 19, 2022. That was also the last picture Venti took with Harris.
“He looked fantastic,” said Vento. “I’m lost for words.”
Harris made a lasting impact on the Vento family, but that’s not the only family he touched.
“The man was a good human being,” said Vento.
Harris gave part of his big heart to the Special Olympics.
“He loved our athletes,” said Special Olympics Pennsylvania Inc. Regional Executive Director Andrew Fee. “Our hearts and thoughts and sympathies go out to Dana and the family, but the pictures everyone is sending us of our athletes … The memories they have with him are just so special.”
Fee says the greatest memories they have of Harris is his participation in the Beaver Stadium Run.
“They’ve been involved in the Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run,” said Fee. “Our memories of him is just standing there high-fiving everyone who crosses the finish line at the 50. Literally everyone.”
Harris also left a special mark on The Pittsburgh Promise. In a statement, the executive director said, “Franco was coached to ‘play to the end.’ And that he did. He played to the end on the field, and for nearly four decades off the field, the last 15 of which he shared with us, with our kids and with the promise we made to Pittsburgh. He loved our kids and our promise. He celebrated them in their successes, encouraged them in their struggles and even danced with them in their joy.”
And joy is what Harris brought to so many right up until the very end.
“I mean, that’s just who he was,” said Vento. “He wanted to help everyone.”
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