If you are tired of reading about whether or not Roger Clemens took steroids or whether or not he slept with any number of women in the tri-state area, please keep reading this story about Gino Gelormino.
Gino was a world-rated fighter from Levittown. At the height of his career, he was ranked in the top 10 as a junior lightweight by the WBC. Don King offered him a title shot against Azumah Nelson. The catch was that the purse would be about $30,000, which is an insult when it comes to fighting a future Hall-of-Famer like Nelson. After paying his trainer, his manager, the sanctioning fees and Uncle Sam, the kid from Levittown would have been left with maybe $10,000. Gino was nobody’s fool, so he negotiated for more. The fight never came off and Gelormino retired without ever having challenged for a world title.
So he did what we all do, he went out and got a job and went about the business of raising his family. Gino chased his dream for as long and as hard as he could. But he knew when it was time to let go. He didn’t publicly complain about his career and he wasn’t bitter. He had two beautiful children to focus on and what could be more important than that? He coveted a bigger title now, "Dad."
Gino worked for a while for the Long Island Railroad and, for the last 10 years, he was an iron worker. On Tuesday, May 6, Gelormino died in a construction accident at the Triborough Bridge. He was 47 years old and left behind his wife, Jacqueline, a son, Matthew, and a daughter, Chloe.
But Gino wasn’t about sad stories, so let’s get to the real story. Which is to say, let’s forget about Clemens and Carmelo Anthony and Marvin Harrison, millionaire athletes who made headlines this week for all the wrong reasons. They don't know from iron workers. The only iron these three know about are the bars they could end up behind.
These days there is such a disconnect between the athlete and his fans. Who among us can relate to Alex Rodriguez, his $25-million-a-year salary and his soap-opera lifestyle? A-Rod is not our reality. Gino lived our reality. He was that nice guy who lives on any tree-lined street in any town on Long Island. We all have a neighbor like Gino.
I want to say simply that he was one of us. And perhaps that’s how we all knew him, as one of the guys. But saying that would be a disservice. He was special. The reason he was so special was that he never walked around acting like someone special. He was a professional athlete who reached the upper echelon of his sport, but he never had the ego, the arrogance or the distorted sense of entitlement.
If you happened to be in the Felt Forum on a night when 1,500 Levittowners were chanting “GEE-NO, GEE-NO,” you will understand what he meant to his fans and what his fans meant to him. The thought of those nights still sends a chill down my spine. After some of those fights Gino would ride home on the LIRR among us. And doesn’t that put into proper perspective just how absurd Carlos Delgado is for not answering a curtain call at Shea Stadium?
Gino gave his fans plenty of good nights. He boxed out of the Y.O.M recreation center and won the Golden Gloves in 1977. A pro career followed a few years later. Gino was a clever, slick boxer with fast hands. He was a good-looking kid and some experts said he reminded them of Willie Pep.
Gino hit his stride in the mid 1980s, putting together a 14-bout winning streak from 1984 to 1989. He was the first guy to beat prospect Norm “Psycho” Bates and he knocked out Mike Grow in the 12th round at the Felt Forum to win the WBC Continental Americas title. His career ended in 1990 after a knockout loss to former world champion Jose Sanabria. He finished with a record of 31-3 and 22 knockouts.
As cruel a sport as boxing can be – physically as well as emotionally – it never changed Gino’s disposition. He was funny and friendly and approachable.
Charles Barkley famously said that athletes aren’t role models. Well, Gino Gelormino was a role model. But it had very little do with him being an athlete and everything to do with him being a man. -- CASSIDY
Comments (17)
Robert, I think you were spot on in your recollection of Gino. He was my friends uncle and had been to family parties and had gone to see him at the Forum a few times. I had never met an athlete who was just a regular guy, a true good guy, but Gino was exactly that. I remember us telling him that he looked like Billy Joel one night, and he starting dancing around and singing "Tell Her About It." He had a great personality and great sense of humor. I am sure he will be deeply missed by his family. Rest in Peace Gino....You were one in a million!
Bobby: Like Anthony said, your memories of "Gee-no" are spot on. I was born in Philly, made in New York, in a family that shares so much of your Levittown boxing spirit circle that I take what some might perceive as a hyper-emotional love of our "game". Therefore, let me "correct" your conclusion about it:
boxing in and of itself isn't cruel. It's the selfish bastards that climbed to the perceived heights of the game by playing "Muscle Monopoly" with our idols and loved ones that stole the essence of the "sweet science" and stole a noble future from so many fighters and fans. If it weren't for you and Ron Ross and Mike Silver and the fistfull of other scribes who keep the living alive by honoring the past, there would be no future. Thanks, Primo!
The only part not mentioned by Robert Cassidy was that Gino Gelormino was also a hero and inspiration to many kids and parents living in Levittown. To this day I can still remember seeing Ginos picture with his trainer in a Daily News article preparing for the Golden Gloves. Growing up in Levittown the community mainly consisted of blue collar workers that did their best to support their families. Gino was able to lift their spirits above their daily struggles and gave them a sense of pride in being part of a special community.
From the seats in the Felt Forum we heard them chant GEE-NO, GEE-NO and now at the gates of Heaven we can hear them saying HERO, HERO.
May God Bless Gino and his entire family!!
Dead on - Gino was an older kid from down the block but he would always stop jogging {he was always training} to say hello or throw a football around with us younger kids - He was a legend in Levittown and mostly because of the type of person he was - One night when I was finally old enough to see him box I went to see him fight in Ridgewood Gardens - it was one of the greatest fights I have ever seen - the crowd was all chanting Gee-No while he beat the daylights out of his opponent - it was electrifying. When Gino was coming out of the ring he noticed me and my friend and came running over to thank us for coming - While most guys would have never noticed us Gino made time to stop and say hello to us younger guys from the neighborhood -On a night that he should have had all the attention he made us feel special - This is what makes him a champion - His family should be very proud of him. God Bless the Gelormino Family
GEE -NO GEE- NO GEE-NO
Maybe Gino never fought for a title, but he was a champion in Levittown, and to his family and friends. And that's what counts most. RIP. God Bless the family.
My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family. RIP champ!
I will never forget those days back in the eighties when our whole life evolved around, when was ginos next fight. Do you remember when sal marchiano who was broadcasting for espn and heard the deafening roar of the crowd. His comment was " makes me wanna order a pizza ". I, like most of you was so very fortunate to have known gino and his wonderful family. He did not know it at the time, that I was in attendance at one of his fights in a seedy smoke filled arena in the bowels of brooklyn called ridgewood grove. I videotaped the fight which was not on tv. Gino had no idea a copy of the fight even existed. By the way, it was one of ginos best. You can imagine the look on ginos face when I gave him a copy along with a copy of all his previous fights. He thought that I was doing him a favor but believe me, it was strictly a labor of love. After that, Gino and I became good friends. My family and I are deeply saddened. Gino, we will never forget you.
Cass,
You hit the nail on the head. Anyone growing up during our time in L- town knew of Gino, and knew what he meant to Levittown.
My old man was a fight fan and would always let me know when he read something or heard something about the “Italian kid” from Levittown.
I can’t repeat what my fathers words were when Gino didn’t get the title fight from Don King.
Your article was a great tribute to Gino but in essence it was a tribute to Levittown,
a tribute to all our Fathers who most were city workers trying to make a better life for us kids. Bringing us to Levittown from The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens and what ever other part of “the city”.
We grew up with our side doors unlocked at night and our parents not worried about us being kidnapped. They always knew where and what we were doing because one of our neighbors saw us hanging out at the Green trying to buy beers.
I don’t know what all this means, your blog on Gino brought out some old feelings for me about Levittown that I thought were just faded memories.
As you know Robbie, I live in Huntsville, Alabama now with my wife and 2 kids, after 20 yrs in south Florida I think I found my little piece of Levittown “southern style’ of course.
Thank you for the article about Gino and God bless him and his family.
Gino had what it took to be the world champ and in a lot of L-towners eyes he was our champion.
Cass,
You hit the nail on the head. Anyone growing up during our time in L- town knew of Gino, and knew what he meant to Levittown.
My old man was a fight fan and would always let me know when he read something or heard something about the “Italian kid” from Levittown.
I can’t repeat what my fathers words were when Gino didn’t get the title fight from Don King.
Your article was a great tribute to Gino but in essence it was a tribute to Levittown,
a tribute to all our Fathers who most were city workers trying to make a better life for us kids. Bringing us to Levittown from The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens and what ever other part of “the city”.
We grew up with our side doors unlocked at night and our parents not worried about us being kidnapped. They always knew where and what we were doing because one of our neighbors saw us hanging out at the Green trying to buy beers.
I don’t know what all this means, your blog on Gino brought out some old feelings for me about Levittown that I thought were just faded memories.
As you know Robbie, I live in Huntsville, Alabama now with my wife and 2 kids, after 20 yrs in south Florida I think I found my little piece of Levittown “southern style’ of course.
Thank you for the article about Gino and God bless him and his family.
Gino had what it took to be the world champ and in a lot of L-towners eyes he was our champion.
Cass,
You hit the nail on the head. Anyone growing up during our time in L- town knew of Gino, and knew what he meant to Levittown.
My old man was a fight fan and would always let me know when he read something or heard something about the “Italian kid” from Levittown.
I can’t repeat what my fathers words were when Gino didn’t get the title fight from Don King.
Your article was a great tribute to Gino but in essence it was a tribute to Levittown,
a tribute to all our Fathers who most were city workers trying to make a better life for us kids. Bringing us to Levittown from The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens and what ever other part of “the city”.
We grew up with our side doors unlocked at night and our parents not worried about us being kidnapped. They always knew where and what we were doing because one of our neighbors saw us hanging out at the Green trying to buy beers.
I don’t know what all this means, your blog on Gino brought out some old feelings for me about Levittown that I thought were just faded memories.
As you know Robbie, I live in Huntsville, Alabama now with my wife and 2 kids, after 20 yrs in south Florida I think I found my little piece of Levittown “southern style’ of course.
Thank you for the article about Gino and God bless him and his family.
Gino had what it took to be the world champ and in a lot of L-towners eyes he was our champion.
He was an amazing father! His son was a friend of mine from high school. and i am so terribly sorry, they are strong and will overcome this, but he is truly missed and Gino and his family are in my prayers!
gino was a class act , ironworking with gino on a few jobs i got to know him well. gino was a great family man who loved his son and daughter. and forget about his love for his wife i would sit and listen to him talk about how matt was doing in baseball and were matts team played over the weekend. rob i really liked what you said about gino taking the title of dad that was so important to him. i also want to say what a great teammate he was in his cousin hugie gelormino gang at work his partner sean and himself really worked hard along with kenny and tony and jesse and dave those guys are really gonna miss him my heart guys out to those guys along with ginos family like i said before he was a class act i will never forget you brother RIP gino i love u pal
louie i would like to meet you and get ginos fights on tape if you could
Thank you Bobby.
I fought many times on the same card as Gino at the old Felt Forum. My condolences to his wife and family. I probably haven't seen him in twenty years but reading your article and the responses tell me that he was a good man and loved his family. What more can we give in this world than to love another.
Sincerely,
Seamus
Robert-
Gene (as my family & I called him) had the priviledge of sharing our lives together in Levittown. Our father's were hard working men & our mother's were loving mother's. Gene entired my life as a 5 year old boy through a life-long freindship with my older brother (I was 3 at this time). He had brought boxing gloves over our house his older brother's Mike & John used. My father would be the referee & we would box until we got hungry or had to go to the bathroom. Mike was talented boxer who had a greater passion to see his little brother be a Champ than himself. Mike taught Gene the dedication, discipline, desire, & comprimise it took to be a Champ & his brother John taught him the mental & physical toughness; as well as, the courage his chosen profession would require. Mr. Gelormino would would rent buses so $$$ would not prevent the town from going to the bouts. He himself, could never watch Gene's bouts-due to a weak heart. Mrs. Gelormino was a mother who supported her son's decision; where your chances of success are nearly insurmountable & his wife Jay followed her mother-in-laws lead. Gene is one of Eight Champions in the Gelormino family & I look forward to the next generation of Gelormino's.
Robert, your dad is who taught Gene to be a humble man in what I now consider a cruel sport ( I will support boxing when the scores are posted after each round & they set up a pension plan for boxer's). Your dad gave Gene the vision & invaluable wisdom.
I personnaly enjoyed watching Gene train more than the bouts. He would hit the speed bag to his Allman Brother's albums & he turned the bag into a percussion instrument & he would hit the heavy bag with the strentgh of someone 40-50lbs heavier & it would sound like a dull symbol. These were the sounds of inspiraton for a generation of Levittowners.
God put Gene hear to inspire us. He was a very philosophical thinker who I believe knew his mission from God & exceeded his expectations.
Gene touched our hearts forever & he will walk among Champions for eternity.
"Gene, Go Watch Your Bouts With Your Dad Now".
Jimmy
To all who have commented on this story. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and memories. I'm certain your words are bringing a measure of comfort and pride to his family. Thank you. Bobby
Thank you Mr. Cassidy for your profound article and for all the heartwarming responses. We are deeply moved by how you captured Gene's character and put into perspective the dignity and love he had that made him rise above the "super heroes." Reading the personal stories from his friends lets us see what a special person he was to everyone and how he made everyone feel special. Thank you again, The Gelormino Family