Claude Saia

age 79, of Hoover, passed away on Monday, January 3, 2011. He was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. During his youth, he was a scatback football player at West End High School where he scored the winning touchdown in the Crippled Children's Clinic game in 1949. He attended Auburn University on a football scholarship and then served two years in the US Army. After the military, he returned to Birmingham to be a coach at John Carroll High School from 1956 until 1963. He then moved to Auburn to be an assistant football coach for the University. He retired from Auburn University in 1996 after 35 years of service. He is preceded in death by his son, Paul, mother, Jennie, father, Paul, brothers, Nick and Lee Saia. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Inez Pitts Saia, son, Joey (Lisa) Saia, two daughters, Claudette Saia of Charlotte NC and Juliette (Krishna) Krovi of Boston MA. seven grandchildren, one brother, Vincent Saia, several nieces, nephews and a host of friends. A Mass of Christian burial will be on Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 10 am at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church 2061 Patton Chapel Rd, Hoover, with burial to follow in Elmwood Cemetery. A Rosary Service will be on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 5 pm at the church with visitation to follow from 5:30 until 7:30 pm.