Editor’s note: With the passing of Muhammad Ali, Springfield-based political consultant Anthony Cignoli shared these memories of Ali’s 1991 visit to the area.

In 1991, Muhammad Ali visited Springfield and Agawam at the invitation of The Rocky Marciano Foundation. He did it, in part, in honor of Rocky Marciano, another champion who he admired. Chairman and organizer of our amazing day with Ali was my Classical High School pal, Paul Santaniello. I had the honor to co-chair the Rocky Marciano Foundation Dinner that year with Paul. I will never forget, every second of that visit.

Ali’s trip to Springfield was an odyssey. He came to us directly from a special visit to the Middle East. He had been in the international news for days, playing diplomat and ambassador. Ali used his fame to broker conversations with Saddam Hussein for the release of political prisoners. When asked about Hussein by a reporter at our event, Ali rolled his eyes and put his twirling finger to his temple, using the international symbol for “nuts.”

No one believed that we could actually have scored such a visit. But Paul Santaniello, after success with the first Rocky Marciano Foundation events and dinners, was on a roll. Paul’s efforts had brought us major boxing luminaries: Archie Moore, Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson, Vito Antifermo, Willie Pep and so many others. The ’91 Dinner would honor Jake “The Raging Bull” LaMotta who was red hot given DeNiro’s recent portrayal of him. LaMotta would have been enough to pack the house.

After a lot of hard work, Paul was advised to call Ali personally at his home. After working up the courage, and after dialing and not completing the call many times, Paul connected. Ali picked up and that conversation was a newspaper article account in itself. Burt Sugar, owner of Ring Magazine, loved Paul’s moxy. Burt attended the Marciano events because “that’s where I need to be to witness all this history, all these warriors at one time and because Paulie  throws one helluva party!”

Ali visited Baystate Medical Center and the Children’s Miracle Network and Springfield’s inner-city with us. Peter Picknelly, Sr. loaned us the Peter Pan VIP Coach to move him and our team around, including a film crew shooting the movie: “When We were Kings.” Legend and boxing great, Archie Moore and legendary photographer and Ali biographer, Howard Bingham, rolled with us.

We caused a commotion on Walnut Street, in Springfield’s Mason Square, in our city’s African-American community, when we off-schedule visited Formal Affairs. Ali’s tux did not make the flight for that evening’s 1,500-person-plus dinner and we needed one. Hundreds of people poured out of their work places and homes to see The Greatest when the word somehow spread he was in the neighborhood, unaided by the then non-existent Internet. The Hampden County Sheriff’s Department was our escort that day. We will always be grateful to Sheriff Mike Ashe for his help.

Ali’s visit to Baystate Medical was amazing. He regaled staff with his levitation tricks. But more, he captivated the children. The little patients had no idea who he was. But they felt the magic. He comforted and moved parents, nurses and care-givers to tears. He left them with strength.

Paul Santaniello recounted to one television network today, that for the parents of children there, so many with serious illnesses and challenges, Ali lifted their burden, and helped them to put aside their troubles for a time, while he spoke, encouraged, cajoled, kissed, sparred and engaged their children.

As Ali kissed one little girl, a nurse walking behind us said; “Oh Lord, I wish he’d give me one of those.” Ali’s trademark Cheshire Cat smirk spread across his face, his eyes lit up, and he swirled around like he was turning on Sonny Liston, and kissed the shocked nurse. She almost fainted.

I had the privilege of carrying his briefcase with pre-signed autographs. I felt like the Marine charged with carrying the President’s “Football,” the briefcase with the nuclear codes. Inside were thousands of pamphlets: “God is One,” an almost ecumenical statement of his faith ... I have attended wakes and seen them in caskets, seen them laminated on refrigerators and enshrined in frames in homes in communities all over our region. Ali signed each with his autograph in advance because of the demand for his signature. And because of his physical limitations, not publicly announced then, but rumored.

It was explained to Paul Santaniello and me just what those health challenges were. And how we should handle media or public inquiry. We were entrusted with knowledge about Ali’s challenges from the early stages of his Parkinson’s Disease. I remember when some of Ali’s missing luggage caught up with us. There was a leather doctor’s medical bag. Paul and I had noticed that for the previous hour, Ali had begun to shake. It scared us to see this strong champion struggling, even a bit. The contents in the bag stopped the shakes. Ali was Ali again.

The dinner that night was a who’s who of the boxing world, all the names mentioned above and more. And Hollywood showed up too. Movie stars Connie Stevens and Tony LoBianco were there at the head table. Connie helped us help Muhammad with minor things after his long and exhausting day with us. She was an angel and looked it.

Muhammad was beyond gracious. After the long day and dinner, he agreed to personally meet, all 1,500-plus of our guests for photos and handshakes. He shook every hand. I’ll never forget when he met my dad. Ali was exhausted, yet when I introduced my dad, Lou Cignoli, Ali stood to shake his hand and embraced him. Wow.

One thousand five hundred one-on-ones. Then, finally into the limo for the ride back to the hotel. Classic. We locked the keys up front, with the privacy divider open just about four inches. Ali laughed. No attitude or anger from the most recognized face on the planet. No Kardashian-sized mega fit. He laughed, and at about the 18th hour of that long day, was grateful for the delay, because he had forgotten to go into the kitchen and thank every single person, from the chefs to the dishwashers, for having cared for and fed him.

No charge for the special appearance. No charge for a single autograph. No charge for the prescription of love he dispensed to those children at the hospital. No charge for the memories of a lifetime for so many people. He and his wife kept in touch with Paul. Until that magnificent voice could speak no more. One like him shall not come this way again.

Go with God, Muhammad.

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