Maurice Catarcio

Catarcio was born on March 21, 1929, in Ocean City, New Jersey to parents Dominick and Julia Marie.[1] He had one sister.[1] Beginning at age 11, he lifted weights and participated in bodybuilding.[3] In 1947, he graduated from now closed Cape May (NJ) High School and then served with the U.S. Navy for 55 months.[1] On June 30, 1950, three days after the beginning of the Korean War, he was honorably discharged, but he was later recalled for another 22 months and received another honorable discharge.[1]

Catarcio worked as a professional wrestler in the Capitol Wrestling Corporation which later became the World Wrestling Federation from 1957 to 1960.[2] He was known as "The Matador" and wore a bullfighting cape to the ring.[2]

Catarcio began putting on public displays of strength after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1991.[2] Because of these displays, he was given the nickname "Magnificent Maurice".[1] He also became an advocate for fitness and health.[3] At age 69, he pulled an 80 ft boat filled with 125 passengers while swimming the backstroke for 300 feet in a lake, which earned him a place in The Guinness Book of World Records in the category "feats of strength".[2][3] Then, at age 72, he dragged a 27,000 lb bus down a New York City street on the Late Show with David Letterman.[2][3] Other stunts included tearing 17 decks of cards in 59 seconds and lifting a refrigerator with three women on top of it.[3]

Besides being a professional wrestler, Catarcio had a number of occupations. He was certified in fitness training in Santa Barbara, California and certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He was also a police officer, lifeguard, and a painting contractor, the latter for thirty years.[1] He served as Commissioner of the Cape May County Bridge Commission from 1980 to 1987 and Chairman of the Bridge Commission from 1987 to 2001.[1]

Catarcio was also a member of St. Raymond's Church and the Governor's Council on Fitness.[1] He was a president for the Kiwanis Club of Cape May, the Sons of Italy in Lower Township, and the Lower Township Republican Club.[1] In addition, Catarcio was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Mayor's Advisory Committee, both in Cape May.[1] For ten years, he was the Republican Leader in Lower Township and was a member of the Electoral College in 1976.[1] Moreover, he was a Republican State Committeeman and involved with the Boy Scouts of America.[1]

On May 12, 2005, at age 76, he died of cancer at his home in Del Haven, NJ, a neighborhood in Middle Township, New Jersey.[2] At the time of his death, he was married to his wife Roxanne with whom he had one son, Maurice Jr.[1]