Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2000
Al Marinai, an offensive lineman on the Cal Poly football teams of the late 1950s and a survivor of the 1960 plane crash in Toledo, Ohio, passed away June 25, 2019, at St. Mary's hospital in San Francisco.
Marinai was 79.
After spending three years in the hospital following the crash, including eight months in Toledo, Marinai battled infection after infection in his leg that was badly damaged in the crash.
"His body could no longer sustain the fight," said Dr. Gil Stork, another survivor of the crash that claimed the lives of 22 people, including 16 Mustang players, the team manager and a booster. "Al was a special friend and I will miss him greatly."
Marinai, inducted into the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 as an individual and also in 2006 with the entire 1960 football team, was considered one of Cal Poly's best offensive linemen from 1958-60 before his career was cut short by the plane crash.
A 240-pound tackle, Marinai had been considered an NFL prospect before the crash. Lou Groza of the Cleveland Browns had been at the Mustangs' game at Bowling Green, which Cal Poly lost 50-6, to scout Marinai along with wide receiver Curtis Hill, who died in the crash. Marinai suffered a broken skull, broken ankle, broken knee, and broken back in the crash and never played football again.
A four-time All-City football selection from Polytechnic High School in San Francisco, Marinai participated in the Shriner East-West All-Star Game at Kezar Stadium in 1957 as well as the North-South Prep Shrine game in 1958 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. At Cal Poly, Marinai was a key member of the undefeated 1959 Cal Poly freshman football team. In 1960, he earned a spot as a starting guard for coach Roy Hughes' Mustangs and earned the distinction of the Block P Most Outstanding Athlete award.
Marinai also was a member of the Cal Poly wrestling team. After recovering from the accident, he attended ITC Technical school and became a draftsman and worked for Standard Oil in San Francisco. He also started learning to play the guitar, both bass and acoustic. For many years from the 1970s through the 80s, he enjoyed getting musicians together to play at weddings and parties.
In 1984 Marinai was inducted into the Polytechnic High School Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was inducted into the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame.
In the years leading to his induction in the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame, Marinai had served as a volunteer assistant football coach with the Redwood City Ramblers, College of San Mateo and Lick-Wilmerding High School, as well as an assistant wrestling coach at San Francisco State. He was one of the primary movers in the development of Alex G. Spanos Stadium's Mustang Memorial Plaza, dedicated in 2006.
Born on Jan. 2, 1940, Marinai is a 1963 alumnus of the College of Science and Mathematics, majoring in physical education.
Marinai and his wife of 39 years, Sandra, resided in San Francisco. He also was survived by a brother, Ralph (Joann); his niece, Donna Marinai; his nephew, Jeffrey (Danielle) Marinai; grandniece, Giuliana; grand nephew, Dominic; and many dear friends.
