Lindoro (Lindy) Lauro, 90, of Neshannock Township passed away the evening of January 12, 2012 in the Greer House.

He was born June 3, 1921 in New Castle, PA (Mahoningtown) and was the son of the late Francisco and Beatrice Cenci Lauro. He is survived by his wife, the former Victoria Clavelli who he married in November 1963.

Mr. Lauro was a graduate of New Castle High School. He attended Roosevelt Military Academy in 1940 and the University of Alabama in 1941. With the advent of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was commissioned Lieutenant and assigned to Special Forces playing the same backfield with Charlie Trippi for three years. He went on to attend and graduate from the University of Pittsburgh and was a four-year, two-way starter as a full back and safety while earning double masters degrees in Education and Counseling.

Following graduation in 1950 he joined the Chicago Cardinals making him the oldest rookie to ever perform in the NFL. After departing the professional ranks as a player and coaching at the college level, he then went on to be an educator for New Castle Area High School where he was a History Teacher and Head Coach for New Castle High School Football until his retirement in 1992.

He was named Head Coach in 1961 and amassed a record of 220-104-15. In 1991 another milestone was established when New Castle was the first school in the commonwealth and the fourth in the nation to reach the 600-win plateau. He was the founder and driving force and inspiration behind the New Castle Red Hurricane Club, a philanthropic and scholarship organization for New Castle High School athletes.

Over the years, he received many recognitions and awards. Citizens of New Castle voted him "Man of the Year" in 1968; the Dapper Dan organization awarded "Coach of the Year" honors in 1967 and 1969. Other honors he received were his induction into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1975, the National Italian Athletic Society Hall of Fame, University of Pittsburgh Award of Distinction, Pennsylvania Football Coaches Hall of Fame and the most special to him was in 2002 when he was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

He remained actively involved in all of his families businesses which were managed by Clavelli and Lauro Management Company. Lindy was a devout Catholic and member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish.

In addition to his beloved wife Victoria, he is survived by two daughters, Marguerite Lauro of Point Reyes, CA and Lindy B. Lauro of New Castle, PA; his cherished granddaughter, Victoria Pagley of New Castle, PA who was the light of his life; brother-in-law, Joseph Clavelli; sister-in-law, June Clavelli; the Lauro and Clavelli Families, nine nieces and nephews, eighteen great nieces and nephews and three great great nephews; Anthony Aven who he thought of as a son and Leonard Matarazzo who was his dearest friend and personal historian.

In addition to his parents, Lindy was preceded in death by a brother, Armand Lauro; a nephew, Fran Lauro; sister-in-law, Edith Lauro; father-in-law, Joseph Clavelli; mother-in-law, Margaret Clavelli and great nephew, Jess Ilias Clavelli.

Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM and Monday from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Ed and Don DeCarbo Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 3000 Wilmington Road, New Castle, PA.

A mass of christian burial will be celebrated by Father Frank Almade on Tuesday at 11:00 AM at St. Vitus Church, 910 S. Mercer Street, New Castle, PA. A procession will leave the funeral home at 10:15 AM for church. Interment will be in St. Vitus Cemetery, New Castle, PA where military rites will be provided by the New Castle Area Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Red Hurricane Club in c/o Aven Fire Systems, 10 E. Clayton Street, New Castle, PA 16102 or the Joseph A. Clavelli Historical Society, 408 N. Jefferson Street, New Castle, PA 16101.

Affiliations

US Air Force