The Brownsville Telegraph

The Brownsville Telegraph

2012

Brownsville lost a true legend when Bob Petriello passed away at age 90 on Tuesday, 1/3/12. The longtime Brownsville Telegraph sports writer and borough tax collector will be dearly missed.

A true throwback, Petriello’s world revolved around his own Brownsville Utopia as his daily work, recreation and dining frequently occurred within mere blocks of his Water Street home.

Never an athlete in his own right, Petriello, inarguably, was one of Brownsville’s most important sports personalities. He pioneered Brownsville’s still-functioning youth sports organizations - even going so far as to purchase the inaugural Biddy Basketball League uniforms with money from his own pocket. In addition to providing the platform, Petriello meticulously told the stories. His affection for youth and scholastic athletics permeated through the ink of his locally-famous “Red Peppers” columns where the accomplishments of youth athletes were retold in heroic detail. In the days since his passing, so many of Petriello’s past “subjects” have come forth to reminisce their big day “in print” - whether it be a Biddy League box score or a spectacular catch made on the outfield grass at Fenwick Park.

It’s only appropriate that we share our stories to honor the memory of a man whose stories meant so much to our Brownsville community.

Mitch Mitchell

Archives:

- Brownsville Telegraph - Mitch Mitchell (2010): honoring Petriello’s induction into Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame

- Herald Standard - George Von Bentko (2012) - Look back at hall of famer Bob Petriello - heraldstandard.com: Local

- Brownsville Glenn Tunney 2006 four-part interview: column 373 column 374 column 375 column 376

Bob Petriello Tribute

1/16/12

(Photo: Bob Petriello proofreads some of his old work - July, 2011)