Former Patriot Joe Andruzzi has special delivery for 91-year-old Rudy Longo of Stratham

STRATHAM — Time and time again on Wednesday morning, Rudy Longo, a 91-year-old leukemia and prostate cancer patient, kept saying he "didn't know what to say," that he was speechless and overwhelmed.

A lot of people might feel that way if a 6-foot-3, 315-pound man walked into their living room bearing gifts.

Longo called his visitor a "gentle giant." It was Joe Andruzzi, who spent five of his nine years in the National Football League with the New England Patriots, winning three Super Bowls.

Andruzzi, an offensive lineman, delivered more than $200 worth of groceries to Longo thanks in part to the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. The groceries were placed in a new refrigerator given to Longo by Andruzzi's foundation.

"I loved seeing (Longo) smile," said Andruzzi, who was part of the Super Bowl championship teams in 2002, 2004 and 2005 and was named to the Patriots' All-Dynasty team. "He has a great attitude. He's smiling, and telling his jokes. I'd say a joke, and he'd rebound one right back at me."

Longo was sitting on his living room couch when Andruzzi, who also received a fourth Super Bowl ring as a coach, walked in around 10:45 a.m.

"I was in awe when I saw him," Longo said.

Andruzzi embraced Longo, grabbed his arm and joked, "I did a lot of holding back in the day,' to which Longo joked, "You sure did."

Andruzzi quickly replied, "Hey, you weren't supposed to agree with me."

The beginning of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation

Andruzzi, who also played with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Burkitt lymphoma in 2007. He and his wife, Jen, started The Joe Andruzzi Foundation in 2008, after he completed his treatment for his cancer.

The foundation "provides help, hope and a reason to smile for New England cancer patients and their families through financial support."

"He's a gentle giant, and I just love the guy," Longo said. "I watched him on television, but I've never had the pleasure of shaking his hand."

Andruzzi, with the help of members of his foundation, unloaded groceries such as breakfast foods, drinks, milk and one of Longo's favorites — ice cream. Longo asked Andruzzi, "How did you know I love ice cream?

"I like all ice cream," Longo said. "But my favorite? Maybe a blackberry or blueberry, something like that."

While Andruzzi and the crew were loading the refrigerator, Longo said this is one of the best things to happen to him and expressed his appreciation.

"This is my first time meeting him, I can say I watched him play," Longo said. "He was telling me about all of the nose tackles that he played across from. He's a huge guy, and was saying those big guys aren't slow neither, they can move. I thought 'Oh my God, I know I wouldn't want him after me, I know that.'"

Longo's family thankful for the support

Dot Roth, Longo's daughter, called her father a "very special man.'

"He was, all of his life, more the giver than the receiver," said Roth, also a Stratham resident. "He was hard working and didn't really have a lot. This was just giving him one of the greatest highlights of his life. I'm elated. This just makes me so happy. Every cell in my body is just happy."

Roth said her favorite part of the event was watching her dad loosen up and crack jokes.

"He's pretty witty," she said. "Just seeing him smile and have fun with Joe, he's pretty funny and sharp as a tack. I think he's very appreciative, and very grateful for his family, friends and all of the support. He has a very positive attitude. He very rarely complains and always praises nurses and doctors. He realizes without them, this wouldn't be possible."

Super Bowl ring wearing 'celebrity'

What did it mean to Longo for Andruzzi to deliver the groceries to his brand-new refrigerator?

"I can't believe it," Longo said. "I've never had anything like this, I never saw anything like this. The whole thing was the best part for me, I enjoyed every moment of it. I felt like a celebrity with all of these pictures being taken of me."

Longo, along with Roth and her husband, Chris, a retired Portsmouth police officer, sat with Andruzzi, and shared stories for about 30 minutes on the couch. Andruzzi let Longo wear his Super Bowl rings. Longo and Andruzzi, both Italian, even shared their meatball recipes.

"I just can't believe it, I can't believe he was in my house," Longo said. "He's got a big heart. His heart is as big as he is, he's a wonderful man. Especially when he trusted me with the rings."

Longo also received a Joe Andruzzi autographed picture, and autographed football and a Joe Andruzzi Foundation T-shirt.

Andruzzi said it gives him a "great feeling" to see the smiles of those his foundation is able to help out.

"It goes a long way for (Longo) and myself, and my staff that is here and sharing those pictures and sharing everything that we do," Andruzzi said. "Knowing we're spreading those smiles to help heal and be able to keep on living and keep on fighting is great."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Former Patriot Joe Andruzzi has special delivery for Stratham NH man