Fans flock to Immaculate Reception marker, airport to remember Franco Harris
Lifelong Steelers fan Don Kinnamon, 65, came all the way from Santa Cruz, Calif., with plans to attend ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception on Friday afternoon. Then, he planned to witness the retirement of Franco Harris’ No. 32 at the Steelers-Raiders game Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.
Instead, on Wednesday, Kinnamon found himself kneeling and praying at the plaque marking the spot on the North Shore where Harris made his famous game-winning catch against the Oakland Raiders, voted the greatest play in NFL history, on Dec. 23, 1972.
“It’s very sad, but I’m happy to be here on this day for him,” Kinnamon said. “The history with Franco over the years and all of his beloved fans throughout not just the local community, but the world, and even in California where I’m from, we’re all touched by this. So, it’s a very tough day.”
A steady stream of Steelers fans mourning Harris’ passing left flowers and Terrible Towels at the foot of the Immaculate Reception plaque. Among them was Mike Dapcevich, 62, of Brighton Heights, who fought back tears as he stood near the plaque and thought about Harris and the timing of his passing two days before the Immaculate Reception’s 50th anniversary.
“I was pacing around the house and didn’t know what to do with myself. I couldn’t find comfort, so I thought I’d come down here and share my grief with other Steeler fans,” Dapcevich said choking up.
He was wearing a black Harris No. 32 jersey and a Troy Polamalu wig he uses in his volunteer role as Steelers “Mascot Troy.”
“Franco and Rocky Bleier do a lot of charity work in this town. I’ve gotten to know both of them,” Dapcevich said. “We never talk football. We talk about our city. The city lost one of its favorite sons and I lost a friend.”
Valerie Jones, a Pittsburgh native who makes her home in Oakland, Calif., the former home of the now Las Vegas Raiders, said she was in disbelief after hearing the news of Harris’ passing.
“They were unveiling the new (Franco Harris) statue at the airport,” Jones said. “I was walking over to go see him. I had a wheelchair assistant and I told the lady, ‘Go on, I can do it from here with my cane’ and I fell in front of all these people. I look up and there’s Franco and he’s trying to help me up. He has his hand out. I have a picture with him, hugging him while he’s helping me up and, you’re going to make me cry now. He’s the sweetest person, the sweetest man. He was the first one there to help me up and that’s the memory I have of him.”
For his part, Kinnamon said he stills plans to attend Friday’s ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception and Saturday’s Steelers-Raiders game, at which Harris will become just the third Steelers player to have his number retired.
“I’ll be thinking about the times that I’ve met Franco and the times I’ve had to visit with him and shake his hand,” Kinnamon said. “I’ll be thinking of his history playing with the Steelers over the years. It’ll be great memories.”
Dapcevich said he is sad to think that Harris won’t see the day that his number is retired.
“I know that he was excited (from) talking to him last week,” Dapcevich said. “The irony … it’s just a tragedy. I don’t understand it. But, I’m a firm believer in the afterlife and I know Franco is smiling down on us because he is so loved.”
Franco Harris statue moved at Pittsburgh International Airport
At Pittsburgh International Airport, hundreds of fans paid their respects, posed for photos, and left memorials at the popular Franco Harris statue.
Airport officials moved Harris’ statue up into the main hall of airside terminal so that fans would have more room to take photos and leave memorials, said Allegheny County Airport Authority spokesman Bob Kerlick. He said hundreds took photos or interacted with the statue on Wednesday morning and afternoon.
To honor Franco Harris at PIT, his iconic Immaculate Reception figure has moved to the Center Core at the top of the escalators in the Airside Terminal. There is also a table with condolence books for travelers to sign or share their memories of Franco and his legacy. pic.twitter.com/nXazJQ1JV8
— Pittsburgh International Airport (@PITairport) December 21, 2022
When the Tribune-Review visited the airport for about an hour on Wednesday afternoon, dozens of fans posed for photos and one man left a Terrible Towel at the base of the statue, which was covered in flowers and other memorabilia.
Jon Giuliani grew up in Indiana, Pa., and Bethel Park and now lives in Chicago. He stopped by the statue on Wednesday and said that Harris was one of his dad’s favorite players. He said Harris was instrumental in the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s.
“He was the Steelers. All of the Super Bowls, the legacy, it’s all him,” said Giuliani.
Ronnie Nuara, of Erie, said Harris was the face of the team when the Steelers won four Super Bowls between 1976-1980 and that he meant everything for the region and the city.
He lamented the timing of Harris’ death shortly before his number retirement ceremony, but said “at least he knew he was going to get his flowers.”
Scott Chamberlain of East Liverpool, Ohio, said it was “sad and shocking” to wake up to the news of Harris’ death. He grew up watching Harris and joked that he used to get frustrated when Harris would run out of bounds to avoid hits. But Chamberlain learned to respect it because it extended Harris’ career and his time on the Steelers.
“Franco was one of the hearts of the team,” said Chamberlain.
Kristen and Robert Kane of Indiana, Pa., said that Harris was one of their childhood heroes and that they also remember him for his generosity and good spirits off the field.
Kim Polsinelli of Wheeling posed for a photo with the Harris statue and she recalled a story of how Harris once met with her friend who had kidney cancer. Polsinelli said Harris learned of her friend’s cancer diagnosis and he picked her up at the airport, gave her a signed jersey and spent time with her throughout the day.
Polisnelli said that her friend had her ashes scattered near the stadium in the North Shore because of her love of Harris and the Steelers.
“Franco was her guy,” she said.
Carl Branch of Homewood said he made an effort to find the Harris statue at the airport on Wednesday, and initially became upset before realizing it had been moved from its spot near the escalators. He said he had once chatted with Harris outside of Homewood field because his younger brother knew Harris’ son.
“Harris was a big part of the Steelers dynasty and he meant a lot of the city,” said Branch, who posed for a photo with his two grandsons.
Memories from Steelers summer training camp at Saint Vincent College
Longtime Steelers fan George Muentzer has missed the chance to have his prized photo of Franco Harris autographed by the Steelers Hall of Famer.
But he still can treasure his many memories of encounters with Harris during his faithful yearly attendance at the Steelers summer training camp at Saint Vincent College in Unity.
“He was wonderful,” said Muentzer, 70, of Hempfield. “It was his personality. He loved the fans, especially the kids.
“The kids would come up, and he’d stop and get his picture taken with them and shake their hand. He high-fived me a couple of times. I’d see him and say, ‘Way to go, Franco.’”
Harris also left a strong impression with Muentzer for his abilities on the game field and in practice sessions.
“He was very agile on his feet,” Muentzer said. “He’d bounce off an end and take off, and he would make (opposing players) miss.”
One of his favorite memories from camp is of Harris’ interaction with another Steelers legend, late team commentator Myron Cope.
Cope was watching a practice from the sidelines while sitting on an upturned bucket, Muentzer recalled.
“It was a full-contact drill, and Franco bounced off the right side,” he said. “Myron thought he was going to hit him and rolled off the bucket.
“Franco started laughing and said, ‘I never would hurt you, Myron.’ He grabbed Myron to help him up, and Myron was so short, he almost pulled him up off his feet.”
Muentzer was shocked when he heard a news report of Harris’ death on Wednesday morning.
So was Al Vento when he received a text message from a friend sharing the bad news.
“I just went nuts. It totally blew me away,” said Vento.
“I wish he would have been able to get his accolades that were about to come to him,” Vento said. “I guess he lived his life and the maker said, ‘You’ve done enough good. It’s time for you to rest.’
“It’s not an ending because we’ll never forget him.”
Vento, 67, who runs Vento’s Pizza in East Liberty, was a member of the lively fan club Franco’s Italian Army that was formed by his late father, Al, and a relative, Tony Stagno, to cheer on the Steelers and Harris during games and to celebrate the Italian heritage they had in common with the running back.
Harris was appreciative of the club members, as he was of all fans, said Vento, who on Wednesday honored Harris by donning a favorite shirt the player had signed.
“Franco was just a really great guy,” Vento said. “He was so congenial with people. He never walked away from a fan. Without question, he was a great athlete, and he was also a great humanitarian.”
Vento cherishes memories of Harris making time on a Christmas Day to visit his father in the hospital and, more recently, of Harris joining him for a pizza tailgate feast on an “Immaculate Reception” anniversary, when indoor dining at Vento’s restaurant was prohibited under covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
Just days ago, Vento said, Harris graciously signed a ticket a friend of Vento had saved from the 1972 “Immaculate Reception” game.
“He exemplified what it was to be a true Steeler,” said Vento.
Even students who weren’t alive when Harris played said he was, nonetheless, a role model.
“He was a legend in Pittsburgh and an idol to many kids. It’s sad for him to be gone,” said Leechburg Area High School football player Tyler Villa.
“It’s a sad day for Steelers Nation. Harris is the all-time rushing leader in Steelers’ history. He’s a legend and will be missed,” said Tyler Foley, also a Leechburg Area High School football player.
Many fans remember Harris as a sort of “everyman,” rarely turning away fans while he was out and about in the region. His friendly demeanor and willingness to talk, sign an autograph or take a photo stuck with many.
“I idolized him as a young boy as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” said Eric Vukmir of O’Hara, who met Harris by chance in October while visiting Bloomfield with his daughter. “He was an icon and legend in this city. He took the time to spend a few minutes with my daughter and it was absolutely an honor and privilege to meet him.”
Staff writer Joyce Hanz contributed to this report.
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