Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 25, 1993 TAG: 9308250045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It just seems that way.
Gazzola, a public relations man whose performance has been as five-star as his resort's longtime rating, hasn't even been at The Homestead since the day it opened.
It just seems that way.
That's why, no matter who owns or operates Bath County's grand hotel in the future or whether its workers are unionized or not, The Homestead won't be quite the same. Johnny Gazzola has retired from a job he held since 1962.
Of course, he still comes to work. Calling Gazzola a part-timer, which is what he is, just doesn't seem fair. To the sports world, Gazzola is The Homestead, and much more. Go to the ACC Tournament, Gazzola is there. Go to the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic, Gazzola is there. Go to the Virginia Tech-Miami football game, Gazzola is there. Go to the Virginia-Florida State game the next week, and Gazzola is there.
It isn't just that he's there, though. While he's there, he's everywhere. In the pressbox. In the stands. In the radio booth. In the tailgate parties. His public relations work is very public. He has risen schmoozing to an art form.
"I just like to take care of my friends," says Gazzola, 67, whose toothy grin and handshake are as warm as the waters on The Homestead grounds. "I know a lot of great people. People are always so nice to me, so I'm nice to them."
One of those people is Tech football coach Frank Beamer, who heard from Gazzola more than a few times last season when the Hokies were turning their season highlights film into Jurassic Park.
"Johnny is the most caring guy I've ever been around," Beamer said. "He can't do enough for you. He cares. His heart is just as big as The Homestead. The greatest experience is walking through that hotel with Johnny, listening to him talking to everyone, listening to him giving the history of the place.
"He just has great pride in what he does, in that hotel, in that part of the country."
Not only has Gazzola served on Bath County's school board and board of supervisors, he has to be the county's leading ambassador. In 1944, Gazzola became Bath County's youngest combat soldier. He was an infantryman who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where another member of his unit was Henry Kissinger.
When Kissinger visited The Homestead years later, he and Gazzola became better acquainted. This meeting of diplomats is recorded in perhaps the most impressive photo on the wall of fame in Gazzola's office.
Gazzola was instrumental in luring the movie "Sommersby" to film in Bath County. He coached J.C. Snead, who plays on the Senior PGA Tour - "but not in golf," Gazzola hastens to report. He's been a correspondent for several newspapers, including this one. He's hoping to continue at The Homestead covering golf, at least through the U.S. Women's Amateur next August.
To walk away from The Homestead would be as tough for Gazzola as making three at No. 1 on the Cascades course. After all, he was born there, and grew up there. His parents left New York City for Bath County when Gazzola's father, John Sr., went to work as a roaster chef at the resort.
"I always tell people that as a kid, I came to The Homestead through the kitchen door," Gazzola said. "All I'd like now is to be remembered as a good PR man and a nice guy."
You got it, Johnny G. The Homestead is a national historic landmark. So is its PR man.
by CNB