By Dennis Sevano

Again within the day, Hoboken had fairly a listing of brothers who formed the contour of sports activities within the metropolis, athletes who got here out of makeshift playgrounds and into the town’s faculties.

Within the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, you’d have absolutely recognized the next pairs: Jack and Lou Muraca, John and Bobby Wendelken, Michael and Peter Costello, Tommy and Nick Martinelli, Bobby and Howie Thompson, Anthony and John Curko, Teddy and Fran Coppola, Carmine and James Ronga, and Alfred and Vinnie Johnson, simply to call just a few of the highschool Purple Wings’ brothers.

The sector narrows considerably relating to a trio of male siblings who impacted the sports activities annals of the Mile Sq. Metropolis. After all, we had the Lisas, the primary household of athletics, however at 230 Harrison St., within the Fourth Ward, we had the Brothers Pellecchia.

From 1962-1975, the three brothers excelled in sports activities, particularly soccer, with Steven and Michael, whose hand-to-hand fight assisted of their rise in soccer at Hoboken Excessive, and Robert — “Bobby” to all — the youngest, who roomed with brother Michael as a result of they had been nearer in age. He discovered properly from the older two find out how to rope a soccer spiral thrown with the velocity of a missile.

Bobby and Michael shared the quarterback management function, profitable All-County honors and quite a few different citations; but each regarded as much as brother Steve, who had the combative drive of their longshoreman dad, Mike. Steve performed baseball and soccer with zeal and with ferocious tendencies. He ran the ball with intentions averse to any incoming opponents.

Michael had the nice fortune of getting Andy Fernandez as his go-to finish, and it was a mixture that even adorned a Purple Wing helmet. Their recreation of throw and catch at the highschool stage was akin to observing a ballet, a factor capturing your creativeness on how sleek two gamers could possibly be in a crushing bodily sport.

Brother Bobby did the identical just a few years later and he credited the late head soccer coach, Allan Straten, with a run-and-shoot formation that moved the sport to a brand new stage of openness.

The three brothers had been inducted into the Hoboken/Demarest Excessive Faculty Corridor of Fame: Michael, constitution member Class of 1992, Steve in 1998 and Bobby in 2000. The worthy honor was not repeated till years later by the Lisa Household. The Harrison Avenue boys had been a definite crew who made a big impact on how soccer was performed in Hoboken.

Dad Michael Pellecchia labored on piers and docks in Hoboken for greater than 25 years. Mother, Ida, made supper (not “dinner” for old-timers), accommodating the instant household and the surprising company. Ida was a textile employee within the metropolis. Bobby recalled how she ensured the boys’ sports activities uniforms had been all the time ironed, folded and prepared to be used.

Many would replicate that boxing would have been Steven’s calling as a result of his flying fists made him a really powerful Mile Squarer. Younger Michael’s ardour for sports activities led him to discovered a younger ladies’ softball group. “Porky,” as many known as him, was proficient in any respect ranges of Purple Wings sports activities. In dialog with him later in life, earlier than his sudden passing, he expressed various regrets — a form of a self-reflection that his fist and brief mood may have been much less intense. It was insightful and warming to listen to.

There ought to be little question concerning the affect and inspiration of the Harrison Avenue boys on those that got here after them. Michael could also be gone, however the household’s legacy lives on, formed by the distinctive abilities and contributions of every of the Brothers Pellecchia.

Notice from writer: Due to Bobby Lisa, Tony Giordano, and Bobby Pellecchia for sharing their views.

Dennis Sevano was born and raised in Hoboken and at the moment resides in Teaneck.