Bruno Sammartino, an Italian immigrant who would become one of the world’s strongest men and one of wrestling’s most popular figures, has died at the age of 82. Sammartino died in his adoptive hometown of Pittsburgh following an illness, surrounded by family.

Born in Pizzoferrato, Italy, in 1935, Sammartino spent much of his early childhood hiding from Nazi invasion until his mother could get him and his family out of Europe and into the United States. Sammartino set a world record in 1959 by bench-pressing 565 pounds. As WWE noted in its obituary, that put him on the world’s radar, and Vincent J. McMahon Sr. invited him to join what was then known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation.

I so remember growing up in Pittsburgh and watching studio wrestling and all the legendary greats. Bruno was my favorite of course.