He was known to dwarf his competition on stage with his incredible size and definition. He was the first bodybuilder to weigh over 400 lbs and still be ripped. In 1971, Mike suffered a severe shoulder injury that put a long-term pause on his training. Then, when I won the show and turned pro, it was a magical experience.. This Bostonian was, at heart, a blue-collar worker, and he never forgot his roots, even as he adorned magazine covers. He explained later that he had been battling an upper respiratory infection that progressed into bronchitis, leaving him unable to catch his breath. Netflix's upcoming animated feature My Father's Dragon, the latest project from five-time Oscar nominated Irish studio Cartoon Saloon and directed by its co-founder Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), has found its voice(s). Hans Hopstaken was known for being an NPC and IFBB masters competitor. He has also appeared in One Day Removals, City of Hell,and Skyfall. Kovacs died of a heart attack in 2013 at the age of 44. But what had he done? Read more. Physically, Im completely limited. Yorton was in his 80s. It was nice but you cant take it for more than 30 to 50 days. Daryl Stafford started his bodybuilding journey at age 25 in 1984. Mother Helen J Hawkhurst. Then in December 2004, he woke up straining for breath and coughing up blood. The elder Matarazzo, who was a Korean War veteran, was often seen at pro shows in the early- and mid-'90s, but due to his illness had not been able to attend a contest since 1997. No one, except yours truly, believed I had any hope of claiming that title, Matarazzo remembered. It wasnt necessarily a retirement. Loving father to their three children Matthew, of Lynn, MA, Gina, of Everett, MA and the late Michael J. As more info comes in, we'll keep you posted but this tragic story is sending shocks . Watch:Ronnie Coleman Wants Prescribed Steroid Use In Bodybuilding. But something didnt feel right. Mike Matarazzo Passes at 48! As he explained to me, after 25 years of steroid use, his bodys connective tissue was essentially coming apart at the seams. He was a big fan of conspiracy theories and Johnny Cash. Hey Jake, thats not a bad idea. The mass monsters passing came as a shock to the bodybuilding community as he was one of the best in business at the time. That Mr. O was Matarazzos final contest. Mitchell totaled five Masters Mr. World titles and two Mr. Universe titles with the World Fitness Federation. The 61 300 lb mass monster was an upcoming bodybuilding star, and gurus believed that he was destined to be a future Mr. Olympia champ. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Mildred Josephine ( Matarazzo) Johnston (1927 - 1997) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. He was the OverallNew England Champion back in 1997, and was in the top ten at the NPCNationals on several occasions, as well as competing in powerlifting. In a letter that explains what led to his death, his family also questioned the standards used in professional bodybuilding to make sure bodybuilder's maintain exceptional health. Written by Dave Palumbo. He won 3 out of 5 of his IFBB competitions between 2012 and 2015. He competed seven times at Mr. Olympia contest from 1991 to 2001 while his best placing was 9thin 1998. I have modified my exercise program substantially. He has been a professional journalist since 1989, including co-founding the Waterbury Observer, assistant metro editor at the Jackson (Michigan) Citizen-Patriot and spent a year covering the. Copyright 2010 - 2022 Fitness Volt IBC. He did it every time he crunched a most muscular during his 31 pro shows. https://scienceline.org/2007/08/ask-cooper-bengaydeath/#:~:text=If%20you%20were%20to%20then,brands%20that%20contain%20methyl%20salicylate. Thanks Conor, enjoying the site very much. Still, he was newly signed with Weider, where he remained for 15 years. He trained regularly and was shredded even at the time of his passing. There are many others who didnt sell there integrity or health for a self indulgent fantasy. According to Vicki, Mike was facing frequent chest and arm pain but refused to see a doctor. By the way, the age each one of these bodybuilders when they died would be useful ! Dallas McCarver started his career early and earned his pro card at 21. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Mike Horn would collapse on March 26th, before passing away 13 days later, from a heart attack at the age of 55. He is one of the members in The Party. Arrangements by the Cafasso & Sons Funeral Home, 65 Clark St., Everett 02149 617.387.3120 Condolences may be sent to Michael & Denise Matarazzo, 55 School Street, Everett, MA 02149. He was known to be the largest bodybuilder in the competitive circuit. Related Read:IFBB Pro Mike Horn Dies Of Heart Attack, Leaves Behind Legacy Of Love. They trained with intensity and focus, regardless of the gym or other limitations. That was the ethic this Bostonian truck driver brought to his workouts. Only the overall USA and North American champs and the Nationals class winners did so. Well, we do not need to put on our thinking hats for this as this scenario has been playing out in real life in the pro bodybuilding circuit. He was born on January 4, 1941 in Stoneham, MA to the late Angelo Michael and Anna (Finamore) Matarazzo. Matarazzo's death was made all the more difficult and impossible to deal with for his family and friends because it occurred so close to the recent death of his The sport of bodybuilding has been under fire lately due to growing cases of cardiac arrests amongst athletes. Emotionally, it made a guy like mewhose only fear in life was the loss of his mother and fatherafraid of every little ache and pain., Mike Matarazzo encouraged bodybuilders to buy health insurance and get frequent medical checkups. Formerly a boxer, Matarazzo first won the 1989 Gold's Gym Classic in Massachusetts. While steroids are very common and open to debate to be harmful for body, some other drugs like insulin, HGH and Diuretics cause more serious issues likemuscular corpse, organ failure, Cardiovascular disease and even deathfor bodybuilders. He had a heart attack 3 years later on November 8, 2007. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, Scott stopped competing and instead focused his efforts on helping others train. Granted, you and I don't have to worry about drug related heart attacks, but there are so many issues that we do have to worry about. Greg Kovacs was a Canadian bodybuilder born and raised inNiagara Falls, Ontario with a rare monumental height compared to most pro bodybuilders. At the time of his passing, it was reported that he died after choking on food, but his autopsy report pointed elsewhere. Death 29OCT1997 - Winchester, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. His best placing at a pro show was a seventh-place finish at 1990 Mr. Olympia. George Peterson was a nice guy and a great ambassador for the sport. Doting great-grandfather to Nicholas. - ., Does Protein Accelerate Aging? Tragically, Chester Chet Yorton died at the age of 81, just hours after he found his wife dead (cause unknown). What about Momo Benaziza who died in 1992 at the age of 32!? He was pronounced dead at 1:03 am. Death of Michael Richard Matarazzo Date of Death: August 16, 2014 Died at Age: 48 years Day of Death: Saturday Place of death: United States (us) Death Anniversary: in 204 days Time since death: 3083 days = 9 years Find a funeral services More informations Sex: male Time since birth: 20896 days = 58 years Days of Life: 17813 days = 48 years [2] He was forced to retire due to having open heart surgery on December 8, 2004 for clogged arteries. Nasser is often referred to as the Uncrowned Mr. Olympia, because many believe that Nasser should have won that competition. Gregs muscle imbalances combined with his bodybuilders gut hampered his placing in every show. Twice during his prep, Mike awoke to find himself, at deaths door. He was so fatigued that he couldnt even raise his arms, and had to stay in bed for the remainder of the day. But while working out for the ring, Matarazzo discovered he liked hitting the weights more than getting hit. The Muscular. Nasser required a heart transplant, but he did not qualify as a candidate so chose to spend his final days with his familyin Egypt. I think you are being way to light in this article for these disgusting looking individuals, who helped drag bodybuilding into the gutter (Im sad they are dead, and believe me I nearly tried the steroid route, I understand why they did it!) It was 1991. Photo: Chris Lund Mike Matarazzo stuck his tongue out. - Mike Matarazzo, pro bodybuilder Matarazzo had triple-bypass open heart surgery at 38, a heart attack at 41, and died at age 47 while waiting for a heart transplant. Daniele Seccarecci died at the age of 33 from a heart attack in 2013. Charles Durr reportedly died of a heart attack in 2005 at the age of 44. In 2004, he was considering a comeback the following spring. Related: Bodybuilding Community Reacts To Tragic Loss Of Franco Columbu. And the crowd always roared. Print Gossip Equal stars several actors including Samira Wiley, Jamie Clayton, and . He retired as a Professor in the College of . The two only competed against and met each other once at the 2013 Toronto Pro show. Apart from his monster shoulders and giant quads, he made history in 2018 by becoming the oldest bodybuilder (at 43 years and five months old) to win the Mr. Olympia crown. He was 48 years old. Kawak passed away in 2006 at the young age of 47. APPLY THE CREAM AFTER THE EXERCISE AND COOLING DOWN PERIOD!! His greatest obstacle was the surplus of quality physiques in the 90s. Mike "Marty" MatarazzoMr. He began resistance training as part of rehab and fell in love with it. Bodybuilding has, in my view, completely lost sight of its roots. I think/fear that the drive for muscularity in recent years has made usage far more problematic from a health perspective. In a 2010 interview, Scott had expressed that a major influence on his desire to compete in bodybuilding came from none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger. Here are 21 bodybuilders who died due to a heart attack. He is also the only bodybuilder on the list who went on record to say that steroids were the cause of his health problems and that he regrets what he did to his body. Louis F. Matarazzo Obituary With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Louis F. Matarazzo (Rockville Centre, New York), who passed away on February 12, 2023 at the age of 83. Greg Kovacs is probably the biggest bodybuilder on this list. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Calling himself a caveman, he didnt log on to computers. You will now join all youngs soldiers who will grow not old, as we who are left grow old. It was a tragic loss that his sister, Vicki Gray, believes could have been prevented as there were some symptoms that Mike was experiencing before the heart attack that claimed his life. "Everybody's worried about overtraining. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Louis F. Matarazzo to pay them a last tribute. Stafford reportedly passed away at the age of58 due to a heart attack. Related:Shawn Ray Calls Out Chad Nicholls For Steroids & Having Blood All Over His Hands. On top of that, Chet had a short stint as an actor in the films, Muscle Beach Party and Dont Make Waves. These guys were so determined to win these contests that they probably would do it again if they could. According to official reports, Mike Mentzer died ofheart complications,but most people consider heart attack to be the cause of his passing. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Michael Joseph Matarazzo of Everett, Massachusetts, who passed away on April 17, 2022 at the age of 36. The Eskimos live on Whale and Seal blubber and meat yet heart disease and diabetes is almost unheard of in their society. Competing at 240, Mike Matarazzo had two crowd-pleasing partshis biceps and his calves. The Father of Natural Bodybuilding passed away from a heart attack in November 2020. Facebook gives people the. Lets acknowledge the real bodybuilders who preached bodybuilding not in its literal sense, but in its capacity to describe a life long commitment to health and fitness. Although he had returned to his routine training soon after the incident, he was found unconscious in his home in August 2017. Anthony was a graduate of Boston University and had worked as apersonal trainer over a decade. Here is one out of hundreds of studies on effects of steroid abuse. Rhoden was no ordinary bodybuilder. He flew to Pittsburgh to compete and died of a heart attack in his hotel room the night before the show. If you know of an upcoming event for Michael Joseph Matarazzo, please add one. His is the most improbable dash from amateur to pro in bodybuilding history. In the small city of Modesto, where he moved in 1997, he lived the anonymous life the Italian-American kid from a working-class Boston suburb might have had all along if he hadnt rocketed to bodybuilding fame in 1991. MIKE MATARAZZO - 1965 - 2014 . Check Out:Larry Wheels Details Start Of Anabolic Steroids Before Arnold Sports Festival. He was only 38. Known for his aesthetics and conditioning, Frank Hillebrand died of a heart attack at the age of 45 in 2007. James Michael "Jim" Matarazzo, age 77, of Winthrop, passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family and friends on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Marnul was also a renowned bodybuilding coach that is known for being Women's Bodybuilding sensation Tonya Knight has died at 56 following a battle with cancer. Beloved son of Michael G. and Denise (Paratore) Matarazzo. Finally, He died on August 16, 2014, in Stanford hospital inPalo Altowhile waiting for a heart transplant. More details have surfaced surrounding the death of fitness model George Plitt, who was struck and killed by a train in Southern California on Saturday . 21 Bodybuilders who Died of Heart Attacks. Yes, if your goal is to get in shape and you have no intentions of competing or using any drug. He turned pro when he debuted at the 2001 Toronto Pro, where he took first place. He became the 1985 Massachusetts Golden Gloves light-heavyweight champion. He was arrested in 2011 under charges of illegal steroid marketing and briefly subject to home detention. He continued to rise in the ranks and popularity with his highest placing being the Masters Olympia 2003 where he placed third. He apparently collapsed and hit his head on 4 September 2013. This second, in turn, was fueled by bodybuilders who grew up idolizing Arnoldfuture legends like Flex Wheeler, Chris Cormier, and Shawn Ray, who were part of a wave of talent that created an ever-expanding surplus of elite pro physiques during the 90s. Maybe its not fair to not mention that some professional bodybuilders have died of natural causes before hitting 35 years old. This made it difficult for Matarazzo to grow as popular with discerning judges as he was with his legion of fans. Greg Kovac was not really an aesthetically appealing bodybuilder, especially towards the end of his career. The genie is out of the bottle now, and he is not going back inside until health issues concerning steroid use in bodybuilding are discussed openly, and rules to regulate their use are enforced. Grandson of the late Ray and Betty (Thompson) Matarazzo and Joseph and Mamie (Bagarella) Paratore. Mariola Sabanovic-Suarez passed awaytragically only days after Tampa Pro. Mike Matarazzo was a dedicated bodybuilder who was known for his strong arms and calves. When people talked about him, good or bad, on the internet, he never knew unless a friend told him. Adoring husband to Denise (Paratore) Matarazzo. On the other hand, if your goal is to step on a stage and go head to head with the best bodybuilders in the world, things can spiral out of control too fast too soon, especially if you have no idea what you are doing. Related:Jay Cutler: People Are Running Scared From Bodybuilding After Recent Deaths. The large amounts of steroids needed to achieve such mass, causes the body to cease production of cholesterol that the body uses to repair the arterial system. The work did it as well. His lats were his greatest weakness, though he sometimes disguised this with a panoply of back cuts. The bodybuilding champ turned actor died on a boat in Turkey at the age of 65. Your email address will not be published. 65 Clark Street Everett, MA MICHAEL MATARAZZO OBITUARY Michael Matarazzo's passing on Sunday, April 17, 2022 has been publicly announced by Cafasso & Sons Funeral Home & Cremation. By contrast, the muscles of his long torso trailed those of his limbs. | , No weight to claims exercise doesn't contribute to longevity - Australian Associated Press, No weight to claims exercise doesnt contribute to longevity, , 54 , 116? The greatest victory of his career maybe was his win at the 1999 Arnold Classic in Ohio, USA. They loved him because the tongue out said Im loving this. He did it every time he crunched a most-muscular during his 31 pro shows. His gains were dramatic, and he wanted to see where he stood against the best amateurs. And the crowd roared in solidarity. But what happens when these same people start falling dead in their hotel rooms, swimming pools, or worse, on stage due to a heart attack? His fiance rushed him from their Modesto, California home to the hospital. Gregory developed over 27 inch arms in the prime of his career. Charles Durr won the Mr. Central States in 1990, Mr. USA in 1991, Mr. America in 1996, and Mr. North America in 2000. It was all legal back then. Common among steroid users, arteries clog as a result of a few reasons including increased production of red blood . Hi Andrey that is absolutely fascinating! Y es que, sin duda, Matarazzo ha sido cronista de su propia muerte aos antes de que se produjera. Bodybuilding arose from a holistic concern with developing the body and its such a shame thats been lost sight of. His lower legs rank among the best ever seen. This is considered his average steroid cycle. Legends and future legends in Venice dismissed him as that Maserati guyjust another wannabe whose name they would never need to bother learning. "Universally regarded as one of the most genuinely likeable athlete of the '90s competitive circuit . In 1992, Matarazzo appeared on four magazine covers, including his first FLEX. He was having breathing difficulties and had to go to the emergency room at Santa Teresita Hospital, where he was diagnosed with heart disease. He was 48. 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