Centenarian, nutritarian, and bodybuilder Joe Rollino tragically killed in car accident
While taking his daily five-mile walk on Monday, 104 year old Joe Rollino was crossing Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn when he was struck by a minivan. Sadly, he died a few hours later at a local hospital.
In the 1920s, Mr. Rollino was a strongman on Coney Island billed as “The World’s Strongest Man.” He got his start in boxing and bodybuilding at age 10. Mr. Rollino became a vegetarian in his teens and firmly believed in fueling the body with natural, health-promoting foods.
He once lifted 475 lbs. with his teeth, 635 lbs. with one finger, and 3200 lbs. with his back. Even more astounding is that he did all this standing at 5’4” and weighing less than 150 lbs.
Mr. Rollino was not only strong and muscular, he was agile. In the 1920s, he boxed as “Kid Dundee,” often against boxers 50 pounds heavier than he was. He was a World War II veteran, and he swam daily laps in the ocean year-round. He was a classic example of all-around fitness and good nutrition. Joe Rollino, like other fit nutritarians such as Herbert Shelton and Jack LaLanne occasionally corresponded with Dr. Fuhrman on the subject of nutrition. These men provide proof that aging doesn’t have to mean heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and physical fragility.
On his 103rd birthday, Joe Rollino put a quarter between his teeth and bent it with his fingers. He skipped the cake.
March 19, 2010 would have been his 105th birthday. Imagine how long he could have lived.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/nyregion/12ironman.html?ref=nyregion
http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/5769/joe-rolino-103-still-fit-fiery/
http://weightlifting.org/aobsnews/aobsnews.htm
"Joe Rollino, like other fit nutritarians such as Herbert Shelton and Jack LaLanne occasionally corresponded with Dr. Fuhrman on the subject of nutrition."
What does "occasionally corresponded" mean exactly? I do like the message behind his story; a vital centenarian who exercised and ate healthfully, but this post tries to connect him in some way to Dr. Fuhrman. If he did in fact have a relationship with him of any kind, this point should be expanded upon and detailed. Otherwise, mentioning this man as "nutritarian" and implying a connection to Dr. Fuhrman is misleading and in bad taste.
It lists his height of 5' 4 and weight at "under 150 lbs". Accurate, but his actual weight was 122 lbs, which puts his BMI at 20.9. An important distinction to make, because "under 150" could be 149, and 5'4 @ 149 lbs would correspond to a BMI of 25.6 which is overweight, and he clearly was not.
My sympathies to the family and friends of Joe Rollino.
Wow, what a mentor ~ not to be hampered by diabetes, heart disease, dimentia, etc., and to not spend the latter years of life suffering in unnecessary misery.
To be able to walk five miles/day (in bitter cold temps!) at age 104 . . . my new goal!
Thanks Deana for sharing his story. He was a true pioneer and example of the benefits of eating for health and maintaining physical fitness. What an inspirational life he lived.
When I was in high school, PE, Health, Foods and Nutrition (Home-Ec) were the "non-essential" courses of study. Mr. Rollino's life exemplifies that maybe, as a culture, it's time to re-think our priorities.
You see, I hadn't heard of this man before. If our society was a long living one, this man would have been a superhero, and his words would have been worth as gold.
Our society seems to be focused on young people only. Then the lifestyle (sodas, junkfood) ruin them when they reach 25, and discard them to focus on the new generation.
Thanks for sharing this story. What a guy and what an inspiration.
To Isothiocyanate-
Dr. Fuhrman said he and those mentioned individuals exchanged letters, not that they were close friends or anything, but he was aware of their healthy diet-styles. In other words, he is confirming their healthful dietary practices and that they were aware that eating high nutrient foods does matter and certainly it showed. Dr. Fuhrman had exchanged letters with and met and spoke to Dr. Shelton who died of Parkinson’s disease, which Dr. Fuhrman had discussed before. He is not implying a close relationship with anyone mentioned.
Thank you for your attention to the weight issue - I used "under 150 lbs." because, from what I understand, his weight was 122 lbs. during his boxing career and in the 140s when he was bodybuilding only.
...so sad that it had to end by a sloppy driver.
Thank you for the beautiful post highlighting the life of such a healthy, admirable man, Deana. Rollino's health and vigor in his old age is something all of us should strive for and hope to achieve for ourselves.
It's interesting that he lived to that age with such vigor, and its a damn shame he was cut down in his "prime." Who knows how long he might have lived?
Says a lot about the benefits of strength training, good genetics, and diet. Of course, I think he would have been stronger had he chosen to eat meat. I am curious about the other aspects of his diet. Did he avoid sugar? Did he avoid vegetable oils? Did he get enough Omega 3's?
mrfreddy thinks that Mr. Rollino would've been stronger if he had chosen to eat meat. I think if Mr. Rollino had chosen to eat meat he would've been killed by a heart attack thirty or forty years ago...but yeah, maybe he could've lifted 640 lbs. with one finger instead of 635 lbs.
Did mr. Rollino eat his veggies raw or cooked? How much did he eat? He probably had great genes and fed them right. Many people are mislead about the strength giving power of meat.
I do not believe his death was an accident. I believe he was delibratly run over to hide one of the most fundamental truths about nutrition ever. If he would have lived to 150 he would have been the most documented man to do so.
Imagine if we all relized we could live that long!