Ann Calvello (1929-2006)
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Born:
August 1, 1929
Died:
March 14, 2006
Ann Theresa Calvello was an American athlete and notable personality in the sport of roller derby. Calvello competed in roller derby for seven decades, the 1940s through the 2000s. She broke into the sport in 1948 originally skating for a league called International Roller Speedway. Calvello, who often sported dyed hair and color-coordinated uniforms, was known for her temper. She traveled the world skating in Europe, Guam, Philippines, Cuba, Australia and all over the United States. Calvello was inducted into the Roller Derby Hall of Fame when she returned to the original Derby in 1968. In 2001, Calvello was featured in "Demon of The Derby," a biographical documentary film about her life. It has been released on DVD, and is occasionally screened at fundraisers organized by roller derby leagues. On February 27, 2006, Calvello was featured in the reality television show "Rollergirls" that was broadcast on the A&E Network. Texas Roller Derby has named their championship the Calvello Cup in her honor. Calvello also appeared in the season finale where the Rhinestone Cowgirls and the Holy Rollers battled for the championship. Calvello never officially retired from roller derby, but had not competed since 2000, although in 2001 she returned to the track one final time to win a match race on the finale of the tv show "RollerJam." In early 2006, she was diagnosed with liver cancer, and died at the age of 76 soon after.