1/30/2012 - Paternostro Passes Away
The roar of the greatest Lion of them all was silenced Monday morning.
After battling numerous health issues over the last decade, Vic Paternostro, the legendary former Pope John football coach and New Jersey’s all-time career wins leader with 373, passed away, according to Pope John officials. He was 67.
At the time of this writing no services were announced.
“It is just a huge loss for New Jersey football and New Jersey athletics,” said Lenape Valley football coach and AD Don Smolyn, a longtime friendly rival of Paternostro.
“It is sad how things ended at Pope John and this year with his health,” added Smolyn, who owns a career record of 283-119-14, second all-time in Sussex County to Paternostro.
“I feel bad for his wife, kids and family,” added Smolyn. “He was a great coach. He won and you have to respect the coach with the skins on the wall to prove it. I have a lot of fond memories of playing against him and you always measured your program against his. It is just a sad day.”
It certainly is.
Paternostro left PJ under controversial circumstances after the 2010 season in which he guided the Lions to a 10-1 mark and a heartbreaking 34-27 loss in the Non-Public Group 3 semifinals to eventual state champion Holy Spirit.
Pope John President Monsignor Kieran McHugh said Paternostro left due to his failing heath. Paternostro’s family publicly disputed that claim and said he was forced out.
He left with a state record career mark of 373-67-5 (.838) after 43 seasons to go along with 20 section titles, 19 Sussex County Interscholastic League crowns and two Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference division banners.
He was succeeded by former Kean University head coach and Don Bosco assistant Brian Carlson who led the Lions to a 5-5 mark in 2011.
When I wrote my blog almost 11 months ago about Paternostro leaving I said I couldn’t believe I was typing the words that Paternostro would not be coaching anymore.
I’m still shocked how it all went down and now I’m just sad for Paternostro’s wife Patty and two adult children Angel and Dean. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
Ever since he left PJ there were rumors aplenty about Paternostro’s future. Every head coach opening had a story about how Vic was going to take over. But the truth of the matter, he was too ill to coach and was literally fighting for his life.
I will only have fond memories of Vic. I remember seeing him for the first time stalking the sidelines when I was kid back in the mid-1970s and he was an intimidating presence.
Long before his health issues the former Notre Dame lineman and Queen of Peace All-Star cut quite an imposing figure and made a lasting impression on me as a kid.
Then playing for Vernon in the early 1980s it was ingrained in me as a player that we had to beat Pope John. Although we came close in 1983, we never did.
But Paternostro and I always talked about that game and how much respect he had for us as a team and that meant a lot coming from him. He also asked me if I had a copy of the game and I told him no. He then said that I had a standing offer to get one anytime I wanted.
“Just call the house and I will get you one, bub,” he said.
Sadly, I never took him up on his offer. It would have been a great joy to watch the game with him and get his impressions.
As I have written before, there was no in-between with Vic. You either loved him or hated him. As I got older, my relationship with Vic was great and I was fortunate because he wasn’t all that friendly sometimes to the media.
But Vic was the master communicator with his players and the press. He could be incredibly charming after a big win or ornery after a loss.
Through it all, however, there has always been one media member that Vic always got along with and that is Jerry Morelli, owner and president of Mugs Media.
Mugs and Vic go way back to Morelli’s days at WSUS and Vic always referred to Jerry as “Uncle” Jerry.
“He was like a second father to me,” said Morelli. “I admired him and went to him for advice. He was always there for me, even when he was mad at me. I enjoyed going to his games and covering Pope John. The Sussex County sports world lost a great man and I will miss him very much. This is a very sad day for me and all of Sussex County.”
Sad. It seems like the proper word to sum up today’s events.
But I will always have a smile on my face when I think of Vic and like Morelli said, the whole county owes him a debt of gratitude for helping put Sussex County on the football map.
Let’s hope Pope John does the right thing and honors his memory with a day of remembrance and a proper memorial during football season.
Rest in peace, Vic.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
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