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Thursday December 13, 1973
. . . where the 1970s live forever!

Heisman Winner Dedicates Trophy To Stricken Brother, 11



NEW YORK -- John Cappelletti, Penn State's All-American running back, formally accepted the Heisman Trophy Thursday night and dedicated it to his 11-year-old brother, Joseph, who is critically ill with leukemia. "If I can dedicate this trophy to him tonight and give him a couple of days of happiness, it would mean everything," Cappelletti told the $50-a-plate Heisman awards dinner in a quavering, emotion-filled voice.

"I'm very happy to do something like this," he said. "I've been thinking about it since the award was announced last week." Joseph and the rest of the Cappelletti family from the Philadelphia suburb of Upper Darby, Pa., were on hand to see John receive the 39th annual Heisman award as the outstanding college football player. Joseph Cappelletti's illness was diagnosed as leukemia six years ago when he entered Philadelphia Children's Hospital along with 46 other youngsters, all afflicted with the same disease. Joseph is the only one still alive.

"My mother always cries at these affairs, so I'll try not to," Cappelletti said. But he failed, and had to dab at his eyes with a napkin when he spoke of his little brother. "He never complains," Cappelletti said. "He never asks why. He accepts it, but he refuses to give up. He's been through so much that it makes me feel what I go through -- and then the rewards I get in return -- well, it's all so small compared to him." Vice President Gerald R. Ford was the principal speaker. Earlier in the day Cappelletti was named both Back and Player of the Year by United Press International.

[source: l.a. times]


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