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Rossi’s life was devoted to the game

Dean Rossi was laid to rest Monday, and it’s difficult to fathom someone so full of life being gone, even at 79 years old.

Serving as a high school athletic director is not an easy job, and yet Rossi could not get enough of it.

Shortly after his retirement from full-time duties at Hollidaysburg Area in 2012, the inactivity didn’t sit well with Rossi, who quickly landed a part-time AD role at Huntingdon and remained in that capacity until his death on Friday, Oct. 16 – a week after he collapsed on the sidelines during the Bearcats’ game at Ligonier Valley.

He made his mark at both schools, and you can be certain that any conversation about the best athletic directors in Blair County scholastic history would include Rossi.

After a lengthy stint as an NFL scout, both for the BLESTO scouting service and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rossi wanted to return to his roots, and he was hired at Hollidaysburg, where he spent 24 years.

Rossi improved Hollidaysburg’s facilities, starting with Tiger Stadium, and challenged each program, often through upgraded scheduling, to maximize its potential.

He wasn’t afraid to take chances, and several of his hirings were of people relatively unknown to this region such as John Barton, Kraig Hetz and Mick Pentoney, each of whom enjoyed considerable success.

Rossi had a healthy but undeniable rivalry with Altoona, which long ago bypassed him as a candidate to succeed head football coach Earl Strohm. That carried over to the Tiger teams, many of which have more than held their own against the rival Mountain and Lady Lions, something unthinkable a generation ago.

In addition to his role at Hollidaysburg and Huntingdon, Rossi was a valued voice at the District 6 and PIAA levels as his presence, mentorship, magnetic personality and ability to lead made others seek and listen to his opinion.

His work, with Vince Nedimyer and then Phil Riccio, helped land Hollidaysburg and Altoona in the Mid-Penn and then the WPIAL (in 2010), and the success the Tiger football program is now enjoying in the rugged league is in part a reflection of Rossi’s vision.

Under its new regime, Hollidaysburg decided to leave the league after this year, and we’ll see how that works out.

My dealings with Rossi had a couple of minor bumps but nothing to affect long-term respect and friendship.

After reading my playful helicopter columns about Altoona’s searches for football and basketball coaches, Rossi, shortly before hiring Barton, chided me with, “What’s the matter, Rudel – we’re not big enough for you and your helicopter?”

In reading Rossi’s obituary, from his years as an athlete (Bellwood-Antis football and track and Penn State track) and as a coach (Altoona and Derry football, Dickinson baseball and Juniata College football) before going off to scout and administrate, the thought occurred that few from this region have enjoyed a better run, a lifetime run, in sports.

His visitation Sunday drew a steady, six-hour flow to console his wife, Judy, and family. The music to the slide show was Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”

How fitting.

Rudel can be reached at 946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.

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