HSANNON: MORE REACTION TO THE NEWS THAT SHOCKS THE STEELER NATION. THE DEATH OF HALL OF FAMER FRANCO HARRIS. WE ARE HEARING FROM HIS FAMILY FOLLOWING HIS DEATH. THEY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING " WE ARE TRULY HEARTBROKEN. THE REALITY OF LOSING A MAGNIFICENT INDIVIDUAL HAS NOT YET SETTLED IN. WE HAVE SHARED FRANCO WITH SOME PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES IN SO MANY WAYS. BEYOND HIS INCREDIBLE CAREER IN THE NFL, FRANCO REPRESENTS WHAT IS THE BEST IN HUMANITY: KINDNESS, CHARITY, DECENCY AND HUMILITY. HE LED BY EXAMPLE ON AND OFF THE FIELD WITH THE GOAL OF MAKING A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL OF US. WE KNOW HE HAS TOUCHED SO MANY
Franco's Italian Army celebrates Franco Harris' career and life
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Updated: 9:37 PM EST Dec 22, 2022
Ventos Pizza shop is a long-time staple in the community and also the hub of Franco's Italian Army, the official fan club of Franco Harris.Franco's Italian Army was started by Al Vento in 1972, also the original owner of the pizza shop who died five years ago, both of which are now run by his son, Albert. Albert Vento showed off pictures capturing the relationship between Franco Harris and members of Franco's Italian Army.He says Harris visited the shop on Monday, less than 48 hours before his death, excited and hyped about the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. "Heartbreaking, heartbreaking," he says. "You could hear it in his voice because he would say to me, 'Al, 50 years the Italian Army, 50 years the immaculate reception.'" Vento says they've enjoyed a close relationship up until Harris' death. His visit to the pizza shop on Monday was his traditional visit the week of Christmas, one of the things that made him special. It was an extra special visit because of the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, which made Harris' death even more impactful.“I flipped on the TV, and breaking news came on,” Vento said, “and it said, ‘We just lost Franco Harris.’ And I literally just screamed.” Although saddened by Harris' death, the head of Franco's Italian Army says he is excited about the celebration this weekend: A celebration of Harris as a legendary football player and as a wonderful human being who cared about people. "Him being a good human being, a good human being. his integrity, his morals."CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story had Vento's name as Ventos. This has since been corrected.
PITTSBURGH — Ventos Pizza shop is a long-time staple in the community and also the hub of Franco's Italian Army, the official fan club of Franco Harris.
Franco's Italian Army was started by Al Vento in 1972, also the original owner of the pizza shop who died five years ago, both of which are now run by his son, Albert.
Albert Vento showed off pictures capturing the relationship between Franco Harris and members of Franco's Italian Army.
WTAE
Franco’s Italian Army.
He says Harris visited the shop on Monday, less than 48 hours before his death, excited and hyped about the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. "Heartbreaking, heartbreaking," he says. "You could hear it in his voice because he would say to me, 'Al, 50 years the Italian Army, 50 years the immaculate reception.'"
Vento says they've enjoyed a close relationship up until Harris' death.
His visit to the pizza shop on Monday was his traditional visit the week of Christmas, one of the things that made him special.
WTAE
Albert Vento remembers Franco Harris as the head of Franco’s Italian Army.
It was an extra special visit because of the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, which made Harris' death even more impactful.
“I flipped on the TV, and breaking news came on,” Vento said, “and it said, ‘We just lost Franco Harris.’ And I literally just screamed.”
Although saddened by Harris' death, the head of Franco's Italian Army says he is excited about the celebration this weekend: A celebration of Harris as a legendary football player and as a wonderful human being who cared about people. "Him being a good human being, a good human being. his integrity, his morals."
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story had Vento's name as Ventos. This has since been corrected.
