Lou Scripa Jr
Louis Scripa Jr (born Louis Sghirripa Jr December 1934 in Schenectady, New York) is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran and Aerojet manager known for setting several physical endurance records for charitable causes.
Scripa grew up working at his family's restaurant in Schenectady. He was a star athlete in high school, and turned down a football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma in order to enlist in the Air Force. He was trained as a rescue and recovery paramedic and served during both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In 1955 he helped open a military hospital at Aviano Air Base in Italy. During his service he also trained in jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, boxing and soccer. After advanced judo training in Tokyo he taught martial arts for the Air Force.
Scripa was wounded by shrapnel during an attack on his base in Vietnam in 1968, and was thereafter confined to desk duty. He took his retirement in 1976, determined to rebuild his strength. During his service he was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Airman's Medal, and Purple Heart.
Having settled in Sacramento, California he joined the Jack LaLanne Health Club there, owned by bodybuilder Joe Baratta. It was there that he met a manufacturing director for Aerojet and was offered a job, initially as a janitor. He worked his way upwards and retired as a manager.
In 1980 Scripa joined the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento, which was raising funds to research Cooley's anemia, a childhood disease. The dietician at the health club suggested he could leverage his grueling fitness routines as a way to generate donations. Between 1980 and 1992 he set and broke numerous Guinness World Records for endurance. His feat of performing 110,015 body crunches over a 17-hour span earned him the nickname "Crunch Monster". His other records included 104,538 jumping jacks in 24 hours; 41,788 leg raises in 12 hours; 133,581 crunches in 30 hours; 70,715 sit-ups in 24 hours; and 160,974 sit-ups in 82 hours.
Scripa is believed to have raised more than $8 million on behalf of several charities. He also had the opportunity to address youth groups to promote healthy lifestyles.
Scripa and his wife, Rose, were married in 1994. He was later diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The couple reside in Vestavia Hills.
Scripa was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
References
- Ferrarin, Elena (April 15, 2024) "Endurance icon Louis Scripa Jr." Fra Noi
- Gardner, Ken (May 21, 2024) "Magic City has a superhuman." Comeback Town