Pat Abbruzzi

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Pat Abbruzzi, born Pasquale, was a star football running back and a successful high school football coach. He is considered to be finest sports figure Rhode Island has ever produced.

As a member of the University of Rhode Island Rams football team, from 1951 to 1954, he was an all star running back. He rushed 562 times for a school record 3389 yards (6 yard per carry average) and 25 touchdowns. His greatest and record setting day was October 4, 1952 versus New Hampshire (a 27-7 win), when Abbruzzi rushed for 306 yards, including a 99 yard run from scrimmage, both school records. He also scored 3 TDs. He was named All Yankee Conference each of these years and named an All New England all star from 1952 to 1954.

Drafted by the Baltimore Colts of the NFL in 1954, the 13th pick in the 30th round (352 overall) Abbruzzi chose the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League for a pro career, mostly because they offered him a $500 bonus (which he used for his honeymoon.)

In four years with the Alouettes, 1955 to 1958, he played 49 regular season games and 2 Grey Cup matches (against the Edmonton Eskimos.) He rushed 700 times for a total of 3749 yards (5.4 yard average) with 25 rushing TDs and eleven 100 yard rushing games. His greatest year was his first, 1955, when he was part of a dynamic Als team, rushing 182 times and leading the league with 1248 yards (6.9 yard average) and 17 TDs (his longest rush was 69 yards.) He continued as the Larks top rusher in 1956 with 1062 yards and 20 TDs. He had 809 yards in 1957 and 630 in 1958.

His excellence won him the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award in 1955 and All Star honours in 1955 and 1956.

After his professional career, Abbruzzi became a successful and much beloved Physical Education teacher and football coach at his alma mater, Warren High School in Warren, Rhode Island. He coached eight division champions over 26 years, and also coached baseball in his spare time. During the 1970s his football team set an interscholastic league record of 31 victories in a row. Known to all as "Doc" he was a legendary figure Rhode Island high school football.

Abbruzzi was named to the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972, and the Rhode Island Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1976. He was a charter member of the Warren Athletic Hall of Fame (1998) and in 2005 Pat was named to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame. He was later elected to the Sons of Italy Athletic Hall of Fame.

Pat Abbruzzi died in June 9, 1998. His wife Philomena passed away in 2001. Both are survived by their children, son Michael and daughters Diane, Debbie, Mary, Julie and Jane, and ten grandchildren Jason, Jennie, Christopher, Amy, Stephanie, Michael Anthony, Lauren, Steven, Allyson, and Isabella.

Pat's sports legacy continues in his grandchildren with grandson Michael Anthony named to the Providence Journal All Star Soccer team in his high school senior year (2007). Pat's son Michael was inducted in the Town of Warren Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007 as well as part of the 1978 undefeated Warren Red Skins football team.