Track official Herman Mancini passes away at 94
Posted February 28th, 2007 at 9:54 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results
Claire Orlik Potenzano knew how special her grandfather was, but it wasn’t until she started going through his scrapbook photos, newspaper clippings and track and field programs just how much he accomplished in a sport he was so passionate about.
Herman Mancini of Coral Springs, Fla., one of the nation’s most well-respected and liked USA Track and Field officials, died Sunday, Feb. 25 of a stroke. He was 94.
Being around the athletes “keeps me young, and I can see the pleasure in their faces that they really love this sport,” Mancini once said.
Mancini never competed in the sport before running a Miami road race at 65. A fit and energetic man, Mancini inspired his granddaughter who went on to be a top distance runner at St. Thomas Aquinas and University of South Florida.
The Hall of Famer worked some of the world’s biggest track meets and had his “dream come true” when he officiated the 1992 Olympic trials in New Orleans. Only the nation’s top officials are invited to work the Trials.
Since 1966, Mancini has served as chief clerk of course at the Penn Relays, the nation’s oldest and largest meet with 15,000 athletes competing in 221 events. Known as Mr. Penn Relays, he was responsible for getting every athlete checked into the right event and correct lane and doing it on a tight schedule.
His life spanned the first television coverage of track and field to the admission of women into the Penn Relays. He rubbed elbows with the likes of Jim Ryun, Marty Liquori and Michael Johnson and watched local Olympic track star Sanya Richards and Olympic hopeful Walter Dix grow up.
At 92, he missed his first Penn Relays in 68 years to take care of his ailing wife, Ida, who died in 2005. Instead he worked the state high school track meet at Coral Springs High School.
Each year at the Penn Relays the Herman J. Mancini Award is given to an active official for his meritorious service. In addition to track, Mancini officiated swimming, boxing and wrestling. He also worked as a ring announcer, including a 1968 world title fight between Joe Frazier and Oscar Bonavena.
Potenzano said her grandfather will be buried in his Penn Relays outfit down to the tie clip. “I know that’s how he would want it,” she said. He is survived by two brothers, one sister, four children, 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to University of Pennsylvania, Penn Relays, 219 S. 33 St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19104 or Vitas Hospice Charitable Fund, 5301 NW 33 Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
© 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Tags: claire orlik potenzano, herman mancini, obituary, Penn Relays, St. Thomas Aquinas, University of South Florida, usa track and field, usatf
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