104-Year-Old Strongman Killed by Minivan Driver

The Sweet Science

The life of a 104-year-old Coney Island man whom acquaintances called "the model of health" came to a fast an unfortunate end, after he was hit by a van yesterday. Joe Rollino was a former-boxer and a lifelong vegetarian who was as sound of mind as of body. “If he told me he was 75, I would have said he looked great for his age,” said a retired NYPD detective who knew Rollino. “When he started shadow boxing, I couldn’t believe my eyes.” There's no telling how much longer he could have lasted— his phenomenal physical condition was even the subject of a study.

Just last year The Sweet Science published a profile of Rollino, who was known as "Kid Dundee" in his boxing days. He was a lightweight, but always incredibly fit. Over a century old, he had all of his own teeth, ate oatmeal every morning and walked several miles during the day. He even swam in the ocean 3-4 times a week year-round with the Coney Island Iceberg Athletic Club. "There's not a person from here to Bay Ridge who doesn't know him," his friend Eileen Bille told the Daily News.

The minivan hit the strongman on Bay Ridge Parkway, which he crossed every morning to go buy a newsaper. "This morning he was bright and friendly like every morning," said deli owner Victor Oh. He was rushed to Lutheran Medical Center around 7 am and died shortly after. Police questioned the woman behind the wheel of the Ford Windstar, who was not drunk or driving recklessly according to the New York Post, but have not charged her with any crime.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Sabrina Jaszi in News on January 11, 2010 5:00 PM

Comments [rss]

S.K.

The driver would be wise not to show his or her face in Dyker Heights.

Billiamsburg

if only there was something that would kill drivers at random the way they kill pedestrians at random. maybe just build cars with random number generators in them. If the number 0 pops up the car implodes.

Manitoba

That could be dangerous if the car manufacturers choose a poor initial seed for the random-number generator. Generating a truly random number is more difficult than it seems.

AnnaZed

Harrisgraber has a point; how can you kill someone and be doing nothing wrong? I'll wager that there was a cell phone involved here.

NannyState

And that's why I eat meats and poultry. See what happens?

adpwnage

How can someone be doing "nothing wrong" and kill someone with their car? I've seen a drunk guy run right in front of a bus..and guess what? Guy was fine because the driver WAS PAYING ATTENTION! Alot of people felt this guy was in excellent health...I really doubt he crossed the street like a blind, crazy, drunk person. I am sick & tired of NYC not giving a crap about their pedestrians...when is this going to end? When a celebrity gets murdered on a street by a car...yeah, that's when the law will change! I have personally almost been hit every single freaking day while crossing the street. I cross at the light, at the white, and look both ways..still have to jump out of the way. I've seen cars run lights right in the middle of the light, almost hitting other cars. A few weeks ago, some guy in his car almost hit me & then screamed at me because the walk light was blinking red. NO freaking consideration that a)pedestrians have right of way, b) I started walking at the walk sign but I let cars go through that wouldn't stop and 3) there was several feet of snow shoved at the crosswalks....whatever...

Vertigone

He had his whole life ahead of him.

Malcolm Tucker

Headline reads like the set-up to a joke.

Bike Rider

it's a wonder he made it to 104 with all these fuckhead motorists

evbo

As tragic as it is, sounds like the guy lived a full, rich life. We should all be so lucky.

schizofriendly

Yes.

theevilone

I bet if he followed that caveman diet, he could have survived. Minivan would have bounced right off him.

harrisgraber

Check her cell phone records. Too many people are still driving while using them. They don't have their attention where it belongs.

Surely, her attention wasn't where it belongs. The question is, "Why?"