Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
OTTAVI, Carl "Cuz": Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
[[Category: Athletics-Baseball]] | [[Category: Athletics-Baseball]] | ||
[[Category: Writers]] | |||
Revision as of 19:59, 23 December 2008
OTTAVI, Carl "Cuz" (Dubuque, IA- ). Dean of the anecdote collectors. A lifetime spent collecting anecdotes led Ottavi to published fame. His column of anecdotes was enjoyed by readers of three weekly newspapers.
Ottavi attended LORAS COLLEGE and the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE. He received his nickname in 1933 from a TELEGRAPH HERALD sports writer. Hearing Ottavi's teammates call him "Cussy" because he often said, "Oh my God", the journalist nicknamed him "Cuzzo" for the paper. The name was shortened over the years to its present form.
Ottavi taught and coached girl's athletics in thirteen different schools between 1953 and 1977. In 1966 his Benton Community high school team won the state girls' softball championship. Four of his other teams also reached the state tournament. His success playing shortstop and centerfield led to Ottavi's induction into the DUBUQUE SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME in 1982.