Remembering Captain Lou

Requiem aeternam dona eis: Father Anthony Sorgie blesses his most famous parishioner while a Knights of Columbus color guard stands at attention at St. James. See page 18 for a tribute to Captain Lou. Carmel’s Captain Lou Albano was laid to rest Saturday at the Rose Hill Memorial Park in Putnam Valley, but not before more than 2500 people paid their respects to the man described by his brother, George, as a “legend who was often imitated but never duplicated.”

Scores of mourners passed his closed casket at the Balsamo/Cordovano Funeral Home last Friday while hundreds of others packed St. James the Apostle Roman Catholic Church for a funeral mass.

Albano, a former professional wrestler and manager who collaborated with singer Cyndi Lauper, died at his home last Wednesday at the age of 76.

Albano became an international wrestling icon, appearing in the first Wrestlemania at Madison Square Garden.

Albano was remembered for appearing in feature films, television, variety shows and music videos with Lauper, appearing as her father in the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” video.

Albano and his wife of 56 years, Geraldine, were often seen throughout the greater Carmel area. Lou was known for his colorful rubber banded beard and Hawaiian shirts that he wore, winter or summer. He also played an active role as national chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

George Albano told mourners “no one was kinder than my brother, who had a gentler side that many of his fans never observed. Lou was a wonderful son and sibling, a fantastic husband, caring father, and a doting and proud grandfather.”

Among the mourners were the rich and famous as well as hundreds of local residents.

Former World Wrestling Federation champions Jimmy “Super Fly” Snuka and Bobby Backlund were in attendance for the funeral, along with legendary boxing and wrestling trainer and manager Lou Duva. Lauper paid a visit to the Albanos prior to the funeral and spent about an hour with the family in private.

Albano said his brother was a “man of many faces, who was a most unusual character but a man who carried the Rosary wherever he traveled. Captain Lou was a religious man who never gave up. His life was filled with challenges but his love for sports made him a great success. Despite his exterior toughness, Louie was a kind and gentle man who thought nothing of helping the underdog whenever he could.”

Albano’s oldest son Carl remembered his dad as a “man who truly loved God and family. I remember him driving his Cadillac around Carmel that always contained a bumper sticker praising God. Rosary beads hung from the rearview mirror. My dad was a man who never refused to say ‘hello’ to anyone who came up to him—be it in a restaurant, in church or on the street. My father loved kids and loved to entertain.”

The Rev. Anthony Sorgie, pastor of St. James Church, honored Albano by telling the congregation: “Worshipers praying at St. James might have forgotten the names of our pastors but no one has ever forgotten that this is Captain Lou’s church.”

Father Sorgie called Albano a “vibrant member of our community. When I was a boy I watched Captain Lou myself. I wonder if my father rooted for Captain Lou or Bruno Sanmartino in those glorious days of professional wrestling. It was an honor for me to get to know the Captain here in Carmel.”

Father Sorgie told an amusing story that had the congregants turn from tears to smiles when remembering Lou Albano: “I was sprinkling the congregation with Holy Water one day, blessing the people, and as I walked down the aisle, the captain yelled at me in front of 700 people: ‘Father Sorgie—don’t be cheap with the Holy Water!’ He stopped the mass cold. I couldn’t resume until he received his Holy Water. I gave him a bath! He wiped his brow and thanked me and the mass went on. That was Captain Lou Albano!”

In addition to his wife, brother, and eldest son, Albano is survived by his children Linda, Ellen, and Louis— a sister and 14 grandchildren.

The family has requested that donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation in Lou’s memory.