News of Pat Garramone's passing saddens local sports community

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Word began to spread Sunday morning throughout the local sports community about the passing of longtime area football and basketball official Pat Garramone and the news was greeted with much sadness.

Pat's funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, at Good Shepherd Church, 87 S. Hunter Highway, Drums. A viewing will precede the funeral, beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Most Precious Blood Cemetery, Hazleton.

"Pat was just a great guy, great for high school sports," said longtime Allen public address announcer and scorekeeper Ron "Punkin" Miller. "What he may have lacked in mechanics, he made up for with his personality and charisma. You don't see officials today with the same charisma that Pat had. You knew when Pat walked into the building that the game that night would be under control.

"He loved high school sports. He loved working with kids and young officials."

Frank D'Angelo, who like Garramone, is from Hazleton, called Pat's passing "the end of an officiating era."

"He was from the era when officials had complete control of the game," D'Angelo said. "Pat was respected by the coaches and players and revered by his fellow officials. He was a mentor, not only to me, but also to many younger officials who were just getting started in their careers in the Lehigh Valley. Pat used good common sense whether he was on the field or on the court. He knew how to manage student-athletes exceptionally well. The same for coaches. He provided lessons we could all learn from. He was truly an icon."

Jim Haney said: "He took me and a lot of guys under his wing and guided us through the travails of officiating. He's one of the officiating veterans who got me going in this profession and helped to get me where I am at today. Pat was the one who got me into football. He said 'We need guys like you wearing the white hat.' Without his encouragement and support, I never would have gotten into football officiating."

Haney said Garramone was from the area of officiating greats in District 11 that included legendary figures wuch as Hal Grossman, Curt Steigerwalt and Steve Honzo. "It was a special era," he said.

"What a guy Pat was," Haney said. "This is such a big loss."

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