PITTSBURGH — Thousands of fans packed Acrisure Stadium Tuesday afternoon for a public viewing, honoring the life of Franco Harris. There was an outpouring of love and support as fans paid their final respects while sharing memories from over the years.
“Franco … I’m fortunate, I’m lucky to even call him a friend,” said Jim Coen, owner of Yinzers in the Burgh.
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Harris was one of the best to ever take the field at Three Rivers Stadium, winning over fans everywhere with the Immaculate Reception, as well as four Super Bowl titles. But Harris was also a champion in his community.
“It’s not just on the field. He’s just the greatest, kindest player I’ve ever met,” said Rick Holman of the Ford Hall of Fans – the only fan representing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Canton, Ohio.
Harris’ philanthropic efforts spoke volumes for the people of Pittsburgh, something Channel 11 heard time and time again on Tuesday, including many stories that a lot of people didn’t know.
“[PR director] Joe [Gordon] said one day, he walked into the locker room and said, ‘Who wants to go see a sick kid in the hospital?’ Franco was a rookie and said, ‘I’ll go,’” said Joe Butera, who has been a Steelers fan his entire life.
Even the “little things” made a big impact.
“As a child, we used to go to his house for Halloween, and he’d give us all the candy we wanted,” said fan Marjorie James.
“His giving made so many people happy. He’d come to my store, people would line up … he’d sign every single autograph,” Coen said.
Fans gave their signatures right back on Tuesday, paying it forward to thank Harris for everything as they still try to process the reality he’s gone.
“We should all be so lucky as to go like he did, but certainly not at 72. That was way too young to lose him, but maybe that was his reward for all the good he did,” Butera said.
In lieu of flowers, Harris’ family asked fans to make a donation in his memory to the Pittsburgh Promise or Franciscan Sisters of the Poor:
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