As current president of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, and someone who has been blessed to call Tommy Lasorda a close friend for more than 30 years because of it, I was deeply saddened this week as we lost another American hero.

The Hall of Fame began as an Italian American Boxing Hall of Fame in 1977, founded by George Randazzo, president of the organization for 42 years. Lasorda got wind of the project and became a lifelong supporter, transforming the organization into one that recognized athletes of Italian extraction in all sports in 1978.