Steelers honor Hempfield's late Terry Ranieri; Spartan band performs at Heinz Field

The family of Terry Ranieri, a beloved member of the Hempfield community, was honored before the Steelers game Sunday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

They received a Steelers jersey in Ranieri’s honor, and the Hempfield Area marching band played during pregame festivities.

The recognition was part of the National Football League’s Crucial Catch campaign. Through a partnership with the American Cancer Society, the league promotes the importance of early detection and cancer risk reduction.

Ranieri died Aug. 22, days after coming home from a hospital to hospice care with a cancer diagnosis. He was 64.

Ranieri has been a well-known part of the Hempfield community for decades and often was seen interacting with fans at high school football games. He graduated from the district in 1975.

His family has set up an endowment fund through the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County that will be used to create scholarships for members of the Hempfield Area band. T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts with Ranieri’s “Terryisms” are for sale at Jake’s Haggle Hut on Route 30, Jason Wilkinson Nursery on Route 819 and Cash-In Culture behind Westmoreland Mall.

T-shirts are $15 and sweatshirts are $30. Proceeds will be directed to the endowment fund.

Donations can be made directly to the fund online or by mail to the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County at 951 Old Salem Road, Greensburg, PA 15601. Terry Ranieri Memorial Fund should be written on the memo line of checks.