Yeadon Resident Who Refereed Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-Point Game Dies at 98

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Pete D'Ambrosio

Yeadon resident Pete D’Ambrosio, a former NBA referee who officiated Wilt Chamberlain’s historic 100-point game, has died at the age of 98, writes Bonnie Cook for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

D’Ambrosio was born in West Philadelphia. After serving in the Army during World War II, he attended Villanova University for two years. Beginning in the late 1960s, he was a Glenolden-based realtor for more than three decades.

D’Ambrosio’s passion for sports defined his life, as he refereed Chamberlain’s 100-point game against the New York Knicks in Hershey in March 1962.

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“It just seemed like it was going to be a night like any other,” said D’Ambrosio “The last thing I expected was history.”

The game was far from easy. When the players realized that Chamberlain might actually reach triple digits, they started fouling each other.

“Things really got to be a little bit chaotic there at the end,” said D’Ambrosio. “The last four minutes probably took about a half-hour.”

Read more about Pete D’Ambrosio in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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