Joe Scarpa

Oct 08, 1928 - Apr 03, 2012 (83 years old) in Nutley, New Jersey, USA

Luke Joseph Scarpa was an American professional wrestler who was best known by the ring name "Chief" Jay Strongbow. Scarpa portrayed a Native American wrestler, who wore a war bonnet to the ring and would "go on the warpath" when the fans started cheering him against an opponent. It has been acknowledged that he was in fact an Italian-American n 1979, he feuded with Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, who broke Strongbow's leg. The two wrestled all over the WWE circuit, including an "Indian Strap match" at Madison Square Garden on July 30, 1979.

In 1982, Strongbow formed a tag team with his on-screen brother, Jules Strongbow. On June 28, the Strongbows won the tag team championship from the team of Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in New York City's Madison Square Garden. During the match, special guest referee Ivan Putski counted the winning fall, but did not see Fuji's foot draped over the bottom rope. On the July 13 episode of WWE Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles back to Fuji and Saito, but on the October 26 episode of WWE Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows defeated Fuji and Saito for their second WWE Tag Team Championship reign as a team. On the March 8, 1983 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles to The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika). After failing in regaining the belts, the Strongbows disbanded.

Retirement (1985–1994)

Strongbow retired in 1985, but would still step back into the ring from time to time, most notably for a legends battle royal in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1987. In retirement, Strongbow became a WWE road agent and worked in the company's front office. He also participated in a 1994 storyline in which he mentored Tatanka (an actual Native American of the Lumbee tribe). Strongbow was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame class of 1994 by Gorilla Monsoon. Strongbow's last appearance in WWE was a brief appearance on the November 17, 2008 episode of Monday Night Raw when Stephanie McMahon introduced him to the audience in Atlanta.

Personal life

Strongbow in 2011

His son, Joe Jr. wrestled in the 1980s and early 1990s mainly as Mark Pyle and Mark Young in the WWF from 1986–1990 and Vince Young in WCW. Joe Jr. died in 2016 at the age of 48. He also has a daughter Connie Pacheco of Portland, Oregon.

Death

Scarpa suffered a fall at his home in late 2011 and was hospitalized. He never recovered and died on April 3, 2012 at the age of 83. He is buried in Griffin, Georgia