Barrington remembers a legend

Frank Murgo passes away three days after his 95th birthday

BY MANUEL C. “MANNY” CORREIRA
Posted 1/7/19

Frank Murgo once told this reporter many years ago, “I always tell my teams to play smart football and give it all they’ve got.”

That was the trademark of a winning football …

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Barrington remembers a legend

Frank Murgo passes away three days after his 95th birthday

Posted

Frank Murgo once told this reporter many years ago, “I always tell my teams to play smart football and give it all they’ve got.”

That was the trademark of a winning football coach, which Coach Murgo certainly was throughout his tenure at Barrington High School. His record certainly speaks for itself. But his impact on the Barrington community runs much deeper than that.

The former Eagles’ head coach, who passed away Saturday, Jan. 5, three days after his 95th birthday, will always be remembered as a man who taught kids how to play the game the right way…win, lose or draw. He was a father-figure to many and a man whose character and perseverance rubbed off on many of his players and students.

Said former player and longtime friend Mark Stamoulis, “I first met Mr. Murgo at YMCA sports camp in Barrington...  a great memory of rainy day movies that he would show, like the ‘67 Red Sox World Series, where the camera caught him celebrating a win on top of the Red Sox dugout; and gym classes with square dancing...inspirational signs in his office telling you to reach for the stars.”

Mr. Stamoulis continued, “Perhaps most poignant was how he was at seemingly every game and practice to take care of us. He was equally adept at taking care of damaged egos and bruised bodies. He cared equally for all students."

The Murgo family once again has been touched by the outpouring of affection for Coach Murgo, especially those who were responsible for assisting in getting the Barrington High School gym named after him.

“Again,” said Mr. Stamoulis, “the impetus for the gym project was seeing the crowd around him at the Barrington High School Hall of Fame dinner and how deeply everyone cared for him. The project met with universal and genuine support, from the school committee, to the alumni and contractors who donated time and money. Coach Murgo had a gift: to teach, coach, mentor, heal, and inspire.”

Barrington High School athletic director George Finn said he was deeply saddened to hear of Coach Murgo’s death.

“He had such great support from his family and this community,” he said. “For me, it’s such sad news. He meant so much to so many people. He touched so many lives. He was always attending events and made himself available to people. This is such a great loss for this community.”

Everyone who knows anything about athletics in the town of Barrington has heard the stories and the legend of Frank Murgo. Born and raised in neighboring Bristol, he was the first Colt athlete to be named first team All-State in football in 1940. At the time of his passing, he was believed to be the last member of Bristol High’s one and only state championship baseball team in 1941. He graduated from Colt the following year.  

During his high school days, Frank gained All-State honors in baseball and football, and later played football at URI. He was also a member of the famed Bristol Townies semi-pro football team. After serving his country with the Coast Guard during World War II, he went on to Springfield College and excelled as an athlete.

Frank married his beloved wife, Shirley, in 1954, and the couple later had four children: Caron, Matt, Bruce and Lori. He was also the proud grandfather of six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He lost his wife, Shirley, to cancer, a number of years ago. Most recently, he resided at the Rhode Island Veterans Home.

Coach Murgo starred in baseball at Springfield College, where he was named to the 1950s All Decade team and inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Frank came to Barrington in the 1950s after serving as a teacher and coach at North Kingstown High School for four years. After he moved to Barrington in 1957, Coach Murgo taught physical education at Barrington High. He started the school’s first Letterman’s Club and coached football, basketball and baseball. His football teams won four class titles during the 1960s. He also became one of the state’s first athletic trainers, a position he thoroughly enjoyed.

“I remember meeting Coach Murgo at church one Sunday before the Barrington-Bristol Thanksgiving Day game back in the early 60s,” recalled former Bristol High School player Larry “Pie” Piemontese. “He told me they were looking for me in the game and I remember saying, good, I'm ready. We shook hands and that was it. He was a strong man with a great personality. I truly respected him and his brother, Lou.”  

For the record, Frank was inducted into several other Halls of Fame including the R.I. Football Coaches (1975), Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame (1985), Providence Gridiron Club (1997), and Barrington High School Athletic Hall of Fame (2008). In 1999, in recognition of his years of service, Barrington High School initiated the Frank Murgo Award.

In addition, Coach Murgo, for many years, managed many successful sports programs at the Barrington YMCA and Canadian baseball camps. He served on the State Board Executive Committee for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

Two other former Barrington High star athletes who idolized Coach Murgo were Mike Raffa and Pat Monti, local legends in their own right.

"He greatly influenced my life,” said Mr. Raffa, in an earlier interview. “When I was 13 years old, I decided I wanted to be a teacher/coach like Coach Murgo. I liked every aspect of his coaching philosophy. He treated his players with respect. He was born to be a teacher and a leader of young people and was truly a special man.”

Like Mike Raffa, good friend Pat Monti was equally touched by what he learned and gained from the coach.

“Most people think of Frank Murgo as a Hall of Fame coach, but don’t realize he was an ever better physical director,” said Mr. Monti. “He was like a second father to me and taught me so much. He was a very special human being who was loved by all."

Mr. Monti also remembers the tender side of the coach.

“My wife and I used to babysit for his four children while we were in high school,” he said. “His two youngest kids were in our wedding party, serving as ring bearer and flower girl. So we were very close to Coach and his wife, Shirley. Shirley suffered for a long time before succumbing to brain cancer. I was only married for a dozen years or so and what I learned from Coach during that very tough period had nothing to do with sports. I would go to the house to visit and witness true love and passion. He would sit by the bed for hours, holding her hand and do anything to make her more comfortable. He showed tremendous strength, never showing signs of grief or distress.”   

Another longtime friend, T.R. Rimoshytus, who was very instrumental in getting the Barrington High School gymnasium renamed in Coach Murgo’s honor, said he was brokenhearted to hear of the Coach’s passing.

“To see the glow on Coach’s face when we unveiled the plaque and when we finally got to unveil the gym, was such a great feeling for me to honor such a great man,” he said. “Coach told a lot of stories, but I never remember him talking about World War II. I also had the honor to play the bagpipes for him as we escorted a lot of World War II veterans on the honor flight. Coach just happened to be there this day. I thank Coach for his service, great dedication, happiness, support, and wisdom. And everyone he has touched.”

The legacy of Frank Murgo will always live on in his beloved town of Barrington. He set a great example for others to follow, and for all of us who had the good fortune of knowing him, we are all the better for it.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.