Santelli - 1960's
1961 - Maestro Santelli joins the Broadway production of "Keane", a musical comedy, which runs Nov. 2, 1961 - Jan. 20, 1962 at The Broadway Theater. Credits list Giorgio as Fencing Coach. Link to details: http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=2897
1963 - Maestro Santelli, choreographs the swordplay of the Broadway musical comedy "Tovarich", which runs from March 18, 1963 - Nov. 9, 196. Link to details: http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=2996
1964 - Student Denise O'Connor makes the U.S. Olympic team.
1967 - Anthony "Tony" J. Orsi joins The Santelli Fencing Academy as a fencing teacher and master. He taught there until 1985. Past secretary of the USFA, Capt. of World Championship fencing team, coach to national champions, etc. click here for more about Maestro Orsi, profile by Charles Bosco
In the mid 1960's Dr. Francis (Ferenc) Zold, a former pupil of Italo Santelli, a lifelong friend of Giorgio's writes this article "George Santelli, Fencing Master". Article provided by Dr. Francis Zold.
Randall, Charles R: A saber student of Santelli's in the late 1960s and early 1970's. He now coaches saber at Club Esgrima Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Club website at: http://ww.oocities.com/esgrimavta:
"Giorgio was a tall, physically imposing man with a commanding presence. When I met him I guessed he was probably in his early 60's and in excellent physical condition. The salle was in the village, in a very non-descript building, upstairs. It was near Balducci's and the Joffrey Ballet, if you didn't know about it you never would have known it was there. It was one huge room, wood floors with painted lines. When you went up the stairs there were people jam-packed everywhere, changing, looking for a bout, waiting for a teacher or class, you could drop in anytime as there was room to have open bouting all the time. It was alive and full of positive energy. The Salle taught all 3 weapons and always had 2-4 other excellent teacher's besides Giorgio. I was just finishing high school where I had learned to fence saber, and was competing with some success, when I went to Giorgio's for additional training. The method he had established in his salle for all teachers to use was methodical, meticulous and disciplined. For those students fortunate enough to catch his eye, he became more personally involved - watching you more closely with his staff then making corrections, and ultimately schedule private time with you. Giorgio picked his students with whom he spent his personal time. He was strict, meticulous, disciplined, very demanding - but with heart and his personal warmth came through. His very short one word compliment "good" was given out few and far between, not given capricously, so when you got a "good" it really meant something to you, and you felt you were one of the few who truly accomplished something. You wanted to work extra hard to get that "good"! My first lesson with him I paid for (after saving up!), signing up in advance. It lasted about 25 minutes and afterward Giorgio said "you are my student, you will take your lessons with me now". Thereafter my lessons lasted from 25-35 minutes, usually ending with a talk as he imparted insights into the tactics, and strategy of the game. It changed my game, my understanding of the game and my abilities to win, and I started to consistently placer higher than previously."
Mr. Randall's story continues in the 1970's section, click here
