When: November 5, 2018
Where: Oncenter
Time: 7pm (TICKETS)
Pelligra — called ‘Luca’—had a heart of gold and was loved by his clients. A product of Syracuse University Law School, he was a successful attorney here for 30 years who also did a great deal of criminal defense and pro bono legal work.
Not just a two-sport standout in high school and college, Ron Pelligra was an All-American in athletics … and in life! His excellence as a wrestler and football player were recognized by Christian Brothers Academy and St. Lawrence University. He is in their Halls of Fame for both sports and was a generous (and anonymous) benefactor to CBA and SLU.
Decades after his days as a student-athlete, he remained a revered figure at CBA and on the SLU campus in Canton. At St. Lawrence, where he was MVP in wrestling and football as a senior, he is still celebrated. The Hoot Owl Bar is a well-known establishment where Ron’s full-sized wrestling mural has been on display for 40 years.
Ron died of a heart attack in 2013 at age 58. After Ron’s passing in 2013, football teammates, friends, and SLU athletic staff installed ‘Luca’s Rock’ in the stadium entrance. On the way to the field, every player touches the rock.
Many people in both the athletic and legal communities were touched by Ron ‘Luca’ Pelligra. Judge Steve Dougherty, a member of the HOF Board, championed Ron as a nominee for induction, who now becomes a member of the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2018.