Pittsburgh's Roberto Clemente Drive renamed to also honor late wife Vera

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Pittsburgh's Roberto Clemente Drive renamed to also honor late wife Vera

Julia Felton | Tuesday, November 16, 2021 2:25 p.m.

Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates and family take a breather Friday night, July 24, 1970, before pregame ceremonies at Three Rivers Stadium honoring the right fielder. On his right are wife Vera and sons Luis and Richie, standing. On the right are his parents. Clemente bounces son Roberto on his knee.

Roberto Clemente Drive in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood will officially be renamed to Roberto and Vera Clemente Drive, a nod to the baseball legend’s late wife.

Roberto Clemente was a Hall of Fame outfielder for the Pirates who also is remembered for his philanthropic work off the field. The beloved Pittsburgh icon died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while traveling to Nicaragua to deliver aid to earthquake victims.

His wife Vera Clemente carried on Roberto Clemente’s legacy after his death. She served as chairwoman of the Roberto Clemente Foundation and traveled on behalf of Major League Baseball as a Goodwill Ambassador.

She died in November 2019 at 78.

The Clemente family asked the city to rename the street between South Bouquet Street and Schenley Drive to honor both Vera and Roberto Clemente, according to James Hill, special assistant to Mayo Bill Peduto.

Roberto and Vera Clemente are survived by sons Roberto Jr., Luis and Roberto Enrique.

The road that will now bear both their names passes what remains of the Forbes Field outfield wall.

City Council unanimously passed the measure to rename the street Tuesday.

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