Attributed to Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq., National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) President.

On behalf of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Board of Directors, we are deeply saddened by the death of Oscar-winning actor Ernest Borgnine. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Borgnine family. Borgnine passed away on Sunday, July 8, 2012, at age 95.

Borgnine, whose acting career spanned over six decades including film and television, is best known for his starring role in the film “Marty,” for which he received an Academy Award for best actor in 1955. He was also nominated for three Emmys and won a life achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2010.

A longtime NIAF supporter, Borgnine was inducted into the National Italian American Hall of Fame during the Foundation’s East Coast Gala in New York City in 2004. He served as Gala chairman during NIAF’s 2006 Gala in Los Angeles, which featured a salute to the Academy Awards celebrating 78 years of Italian-American Oscar winners and nominees. He attended many other NIAF events, was featured in the Foundation’s annual public service announcements and gave an impassioned speech about his parent’s immigration from Italy to America during the Foundation’s Ambassador’s Ball in Chicago in 2008.

The legendary actor and proud Italian American Ernest Borgnine will be greatly missed by our NIAF family.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans. Visit www.niaf.org.