BHS gym dedicated to beloved Coach Murgo

Frank Murgo has served as a coach, teacher, athletic trainer and mentor in Barrington

By Joan D. Warren
Posted 8/17/18

It was a joyous gathering of family, friends and colleagues as the gymnasium at Barrington High School was dedicated to Frank J. Murgo, beloved father, teacher, and coach who served the athletic …

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BHS gym dedicated to beloved Coach Murgo

Frank Murgo has served as a coach, teacher, athletic trainer and mentor in Barrington

Posted

It was a joyous gathering of family, friends and colleagues as the gymnasium at Barrington High School was dedicated to Frank J. Murgo, beloved father, teacher, and coach who served the athletic community in town for close to 70 years.

“Coach Murgo" as he is best known, started his career in Barrington in the early 1950s at Peck Junior High School as a physical education teacher and coached numerous football, basketball and baseball teams to championships. In 1957 he was named head football coach at the high school and went on to win four class championships in the 1960s.

As a physical education teacher and athletic trainer at BHS until the early 1990s, Coach Murgo’s positive attitude and winning personality touched thousands of lives and was apparent at Tuesday’s unveiling of the newly named gymnasium and the plaque that bears his likeness outside the entrance.

The naming of the gym was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by T.R. Rimoshytus, a 1981 graduate of BHS who had the great pleasure of knowing Coach as a football player and student.

“I’ve known the Murgos and Coach for most of my life. I am so happy he was able to be here for the dedication today,” Mr. Rimoshytus said.

Others who helped on the project included former students Mark Stamoulis, Davis Hughes, John DiMatteo and Scott Hawkins as well as Carl Ferreira of Electrical Wholesalers who donated all the lighting.

After getting resolutions and approvals from both the town council and school committees, work had to be completed to create a soffit with lighting to place the lettering that matches the existing soffit across the hall to the entrance to the John Gray Auditorium.

A less formal ceremony unveiling the plaque took place at last year’s Thanksgiving Day game.

Coach Murgo’s children, Karen, Matt, Bruce and Lori and their families were on hand to celebrate with their dad. Coach Murgo's late wife, Shirley, was there in spirit, said the family.

Coach, 94, is in good health — both in body and spirit — but did not speak at the event. His son Bruce said his father was so moved by the dedication it was evident in his eyes.

“Dad talks about being remembered as just a football coach but he never coached us. To to us we are lucky to call him our father,” Bruce said.

Norm Fiedler, a former student of Coach Murgo, said a few words on behalf of his friend.

“I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a time when he came to coach at BHS. He was a great coach to play for but he wasn’t a friend to his players. We became friends after high school and he softened over the years. There are only some things in this life that are really important. It's easy to figure out like Coach did – give to others, care about others and be kind. I love him and I’m sure all of you do too," said Mr. Fiedler.

Other former students in attendance talked about their favorite “Coach” stories, such as the one where he was standing on a table in the middle of the gym instructing students in line dancing. There was another story about Coach Murgo yelling at kids not to walk on the gym floor in their shoes, and another story about him teaching golf during gym class — he spent a lot of time telling the students not to hit the White Church with the ball.

Coach, who grew up in Bristol, was a star football player. He raised his family in Barrington and is a member of the Hall of Fame in both Barrington and Bristol. He earned numerous awards in his career including the RI Athletic Director’s Association Outstanding Citizen Award and the Jack Martin Sportsmanship Award.

Coach Murgo lives at the RI Veterans’ Home Community Living Center in Bristol and every evening one of his children visits him. He is one of only two residents that are not called by their given names — he is known as Coach and the other is Colonel.

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