Robert “Bo” Garriitano, Distinguished Volunteer

            Robert “Bo” Garritano (’66) , who turned personal disappointment into an ongoing success story for Clarion University is being honored as the Clarion Alumni Association’s 2007 Distinguished Volunteer.

            The story begins in 2006, when Garritano returned to campus for his 40^th class reunion.

            “I expected everyone to come back, but that didn’t happen,” said Garritano. “There were only 17 there and just one of the people I played football with in the 1960s. None of my close friends returned. None of them were at the Hall of Fame dinner either.”

            But that Hall of Fame dinner marked the turning point. President Joseph Grunenwald welcomed everyone and asked the alumni to think about “coming home” and getting involved.

            Garritano took that message to heart. After meeting with friends, Bob Gevaudan (’69) and Tom Komenda (’71), they asked to talk with new head football coach Jay Foster, who told them about his intentions to recruit in Pennsylvania and involve alumni in continuing the heritage of the football program. After speaking with Foster, Garritano offered to help.

            First he contacted athletic director Dave Katis and obtained an e-mail list containing 30 names. Next a steering committee was formed that included Lynn Armstrong (’68), Al Lefevre (’64), Harry George (’66), Charlie Matsko (’70), and Kevin Ewing (’85); then he contacted former Clarion head football coaches Al Jacks, Charlie Ruslavage, Gene Sobolewski, and Frank Lignelli; and Mary Lou Pae, widow of former coach Jack Pae. They conceived an idea called the Clarion Coach’s Caravan to enable the coaches to reach out and meet with alumni in various regions throughout Pennsylvania.

            Soon the 30-name e-mail list grew to 130 and then to nearly 500, who receive a once-a-week Clarion Football Alumni Network newsletter put together by Garritano.

            “It is networking in its purest form,” said Garritano. “Then we came up with the Locker Legacy program. I was captain of the football team the first year it played in Memorial Stadium and I discovered that my original locker along with all the others, were still there after 40 years.”

            Improving the locker room became a goal and $34,720 was raised using a variety of fundraisers.

            “We have more coming up,” said Garritano. “We will begin to sell alumni football merchandise through the book store with the profits to go to a scholarship fund. If we don’t get enough money, what is raised will be channeled into existing football scholarships.”

            Originally from Braddock, Garritano was recruited to Clarion by football coach Turk Johnson and Walter Hart.

            “Walter Hart visited and interviewed me and then took a chance on me,” recalled Garritano. “I fell in love with the campus, it was beautiful. I made first team as a freshman for coach Johnson and played three more years for coach Al Jacks. It was great to be a part of that winning program.”

            But, the education didn’t come as easy in the beginning for Garritano, who earned his degree in comprehensive social studies.

            “I patterned myself after Bernard Oriss at Scott High School, who made history come alive for me,” said Garritano. “Physical education saved my life in my first semester, because I floundered with the other classes. Dr. Sam Wilhelm, Dr. William Duffy, and Al Jacks, saw my potential and convinced me to do better. It took over a year to get my grades up, but I earned every one of them.”

            In addition to playing football, Garritano was also a resident assistant, a member of the Letterman Club and the choir, and had the lead role of Bernardo in a theatre production of “West Side Story.”

            Garritano went on to earn an M.E. in guidance and administration from Duquesne University, a superintendent’s letter of eligibility from California University of Pennsylvania, and certification in instructional design and technology from University of Pittsburgh. He taught at Ford City, Bellevue, Norwin, Gateway, and Hempfield school districts and Westmoreland Intermediate Unit; and was an administrator in the East Allegheny, Penn Hills, and Laurel Valley School District. He most recently worked as an educational coordinator at UPMC SportsWorks at Carnegie Science Center and in retirement still fills in for school districts needing a long-term, substitute administrator.

            Always on the outlook for more to do, Garritano was the originator of the “Terrible Fan,” frequenting Pittsburgh Steeler games for many years. Myron Cope, the inventor of the “Terrible Towel,” endorsed the process. Garritano’s first experience in costume also came at Clarion where he donned a Smokey the Bear outfit for a fire safety program conducted by Frank Campbell.

            The “Terrible Fan” experience led Garritano to a similar project, “The Safety Fan,” and he visits schools in costume to teach students about school bus safety. He is also active with Immaculate Conception Church in Irwin, Pa., collecting comfort kits for military men serving overseas.

            “I am astonished, humbled, and proud to receive this award,” he said. “It adds credibility to the alumni effort. We truly believe in and love Clarion. I will accept the award on behalf of the entire committee. We are serving as the bridge between the past and the current football players. We are all teammates. What was can be again!”

            Garritano lives in North Huntingdon, Pa., with his wife, Joyce. They have a grown daughter, Nicole, who is married to Michael Meloy.