John Pirro '77, arguably one of the best players to ever play lacrosse at Roanoke College, passed away today.
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"It is a sad day for every member of the Roanoke lacrosse family," said Bill Pilat '85, Roanoke men's lacrosse head coach, who played as a Maroon under Pirro.� "John Pirro was a tremendous player, teammate, father, friend and coach."
Pirro played lacrosse at Roanoke College from 1974�1977.� During his career, he earned first team All-American status on three separate occasions, and he earned the NCAA Division II-III Defenseman of the Year Award in both 1976 and 1977.� After graduation, Pirro played for the Long Island Lacrosse Club, where he was chosen first team All-USCLA.
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Pirro returned to Roanoke College in the spring of 1979 as an assistant coach to Roanoke lacrosse legendary Coach Paul Griffin.� Pirro �assumed the head coaching role in 1982.� His 1983 team advanced to the NCAA Division III National Championship game.� In that same year, Pirro was selected as the NCAA Division III National Lacrosse Coach of the Year by the Hero's Lacrosse Association.
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In his five-year tenure as Roanoke's head lacrosse coach, Pirro's �teams never lost an Old Dominion Athletic Conference game. �A year after his retirement from coaching at Roanoke in 1987, Pirro was voted into the Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame.
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In 2010, Pirro was honored as Roanoke's inaugural 'Walk of Inspiration' icon.� A bronze bust of Pirro in his Roanoke Lacrosse uniform, donning his legendary ponytail, �stands at the walkway leading to Kerr Stadium.�
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In 2011, Pirro was tabbed as one of 24 finalists in the 2011 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame men's ballot.� He was inducted into the U.S. Lacrosse Long Island Metro Chapter Hall of Fame (1995) and U.S. Lacrosse Charlottesville Chapter Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1997), He also is �the first lacrosse player �whose number was retired at Roanoke.
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Pirro's friends have raised money to name the patio of the College's planned Cregger Center in honor of the former coach.
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"Any success that we enjoy in our men's lacrosse program today can be traced back to John Pirro's presence on our campus," said Athletic Director Scott Allison. �"During his era, there wasn't a more talented defenseman, regardless of division, in the country. �Because he wore Maroon, and he was such a great guy to be around, countless other lacrosse greats chose to attend Roanoke College."
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Funeral Arrangements have been finalized for John's funeral:
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Visitation
M.A. Connell Funeral Home
934 NY Ave
Huntington, NY 11746
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Thursday, August 15
7-9 PM
Friday, August 16th
2-4 PM & 7-9 PM
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Saturday Morning Mass � Saturday, August 17th � 9:30 AM
St. Patrick's Church
400 Main Street
Huntington, NY 11743
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Burial following mass at:
Huntington Rural Cemetery
Oakwood Rd., Huntingdon, NY
