I used to call Mario Pagnoni the Renaissance Man in shorts and a T-shirt, but he was known by many a moniker. He and Gerry Robinson penned a popular baseball and softball instructional book. Pagnoni, a Methuen resident, was also a busy and popular umpire, a former educator and head baseball coach at Methuen High School, and a regular at hoops pickup games throughout the region.

Most notably, Pagnoni was “The Bocce Guy,” having written the book “The Joy of Bocce,” a tome that propelled him to local, national and international fame as the foremost expert on the popular sport. It was Pagnoni who championed the construction of the fine bocce courts at Methuen’s Sons of Italy making it a worldwide destination for top players.

When Pagnoni passed away in August 2016, an inspirational and enthusiastic voice was silenced, or so it seemed. Recently, Pagnoni’s widow, Carmela Pagnoni, got an interesting phone call that was both jarring and joyous.

She relates, “I picked up the phone and the person on the line said, ‘My name is Bill Wise and I work for the game show, ‘Jeopardy!.’ I thought it was a joke or scam, and he was going to ask me for my credit card number or bank account.

“He told me it was no joke and that he read Mario’s ‘Joy of Bocce’ book and wanted to use the book in a category on an upcoming ‘Jeopardy! Masters’ show.”

Pagnoni was taken aback and asked pertinent questions about the book that is now in its fifth edition.

“I still could not believe it, but he explained everything to me and told me that it would air on the ‘Jeopardy! Masters’ show on May 21st at 9pm EST.”

The request from one of the most popular and respected programs in TV history is testament to the imprint that Mario Pagnoni created. Says Carmela, “He was the type of person who never stopped.

“He would umpire softball on Burnham Road, then run to the gym, then go play basketball. One year, he came home exhausted, and I reminded him that it was my birthday and we hadn’t celebrated yet, so he jumped out of the chair and we went out for dinner.”

Along with sons Jim and Joe, Carmela has carried on Mario’s love and involvement in bocce. She relates, “I am now the secretary of the Sons of Italy and play in a bocce league there. We also still do sales of the book and bocce equipment. I even teach bocce every week.

“For a year after Mario passed away, I pretty much just sat on the couch, but then I realized that you have to keep living, moving forward, and being with people. Mario loved people and he was always doing things for other people.”

Carmela, family, and friends gathered at the Sons of Italy to watch the show May 21, and sure enough, the $800 answer in the Hobbies and Pastimes category read: THE JOY OF THIS PARK AND BACKYARD GAME BY MARIO PAGNONI IS IN ITS FIFTH EDITION AND HAS ALL THE INFO YOU NEED. Contestant Juveria answered correctly, in the form of a question of course.

Mario Pagnoni.

This is how the answer for Mario Pagnoni’s “Joy of Bocce” book appeared on “Jeopardy! Masters” on May 21. Over 100 people attended a Watch Party at the Methuen Sons of Italy, in honor of Pagnoni being featured on the legendary show. Courtesy photo

Carmela Pagnoni, widow of Mario Pagnoni, got a call from a “Jeopardy!” writer, saying that he read her husband’s book and wanted to feature it on the famed TV game show.

Carmela reflects on the moment, “I was overwhelmed and definitely cried when I watched it. The fact that Mario’s book and his name appeared on ‘Jeopardy!’ is so rewarding. One of Mario’s favorite songs was “December 1963, Oh What a Night!” by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. We had over 100 people at the Sons of Italy watching ‘Jeopardy!,’ and that is what Mario would have said if he was there, ‘Oh, what a night!’ ”