Gerard Biagini
Born and raised in San Francisco, Gerard “Jerry” Biagini began fencing in the mid-1930s at the Unione Sportiva Italiana under the tutelage of Edward Visconti. He was later trained by both Hans Halberstadt and George Piller.
A multi-weapon fencer, he was first alternate for the 1960 Olympic sabre squad and a finalist in Men’s foil. He also helped the Pannonia Athletic Club to the National Sabre Team title in 1962, along with teammates Dan Magay, Alex Orban and Jack Baker. Biagini was instrumental in creating and maintaining a San Francisco High School fencing league that continues today.
Articles
An Abundance of Riches
These snapshots were taken at the 1963 US National Championships held at the Statler-Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The event ran flawlessly, “…a fact that we have come to expect from Southern California and its Chairman, Fred Linkmeyer.”
One Hour
I first became aware of Mr. Biagini as a young fencer, as he would invariably show up at tournaments at the Pannonia Athletic Club, back when it was still a going concern in San Francisco.
American Fencing Magazine, Issue No. 1
I thought I’d focus on another fencing publication, but this time, the granddaddy of them all; American Fencing Magazine. First published in November of 1949, the early issues give a fair rundown of the happenings across the nation.
The Fairmont Exhibition, 1958
The Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco is perched at the top of swanky Nob Hill. One of the premiere hotels in the city, it opened in 1907 after an extensive refurbishing of the damage done by the 1906 earthquake to the about-to-open Beaux-Arts building. Famed...
1964 Letterman Open Foil
Harold Hayes of The Pacific Fencing Club on Alameda Island, Oakland, CA has been a generous contributor of cool things for the Archive. Among other things, he transferred possession of two long boxes of material he received from Mary “Demi” Huddleson, past editor of...
Photo Gallery
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