How many famous people can you check off your "to meet" list? Special Olympics Virginia athlete Paul Marretti's list has grown during the past several years, and he continues to check people off one by one.
And on Monday, July 2, Maretti had the chance to check yet another person off his list: Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. During this special visit, Gov. Kaine and Maretti talked about family, shared thoughts on faith, as well as stories of the Special Olympics Summer Games at the University of Richmond in June and Queen Elizabeth II's recent visit to Virginia.
While Maretti's focus remained on Special Olympics, the conversation also found its way to all the famous people he has met, including Mohammad Ali, Jon Bon Jovi and President George W. Bush.
"You've met a lot of people I haven't met," Kaine said during the visit.
Maretti's response: "Don't worry... I'll see what I can do."
Not only has Paul Marretti met with numerous prominent people -- most recently Gov. Kaine -- he also is featured in the Knights of Columbus' book, By Their Works: Profiles of Men of Faith, which highlights many amazing people of our time including Babe Ruth, Sargent Shriver and John F. Kennedy. On his recent visit to Gov. Kaine's office, Maretti presented the govenor with a signed copy of the book.
Maretti, a Chesterfield county athlete, was selected for his inspiring work as a Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger, Class of 2002-2004, at which time he also served on the Special Olympics Virginia Board of Directors, and Program & Planning Committee. During his term as an International Global Messenger, he traveled to Peru as a presenter at the Latin America Leadership Conference, and was a speaker at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland. An avid advocate for persons with disabilities, Maretti also has earned the honor of being a Fourth Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, and he continues to speak throughout Virginia and the United States about his involvement with Special Olympics.
Written by Stephen Singular, By Their Works includes chapters on many well-known Knights, as well as many extraordinary but less well-known Knights, such as Father Thomas Mulcrone and James Connolly, the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in modern times; Lt. Daniel O'Callaghan, a New York City fireman who lost his life trying to rescue others at the World Trade Center on 9/11; and Sgt. Maj. Dan Daily, a two-time Medal of Honor winner once described by the commandant of the Marine Corps as "the outstanding Marine of all time."
In his forward to the book, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson wrote: "For all of the men profiled in this book, famous or not, religious faith was a formative part of their lives. And membership in the Knights of Columbus is a common thread that played a significant role in shaping their values, strengthening their faith, and inspiring their dedication to their fellow men."
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