Letter: More than a coach: John Signore

Posted 10/30/18

To the editor:

Because of time and space, an obituary can only tell so much about a person's life. I was in Brooklyn visiting my daughter when Steve Turgeon texted me the sad news of John …

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Letter: More than a coach: John Signore

Posted

To the editor:

Because of time and space, an obituary can only tell so much about a person's life. I was in Brooklyn visiting my daughter when Steve Turgeon texted me the sad news of John Signore's death in Florida. I had the privilege of serving as John's assistant coach on the indoor and outdoor track teams at Barrington High School from 1975 until he announced his retirement in 1999. Because I observed the old bromide that you don't replace a legend, I stepped down as well.

Where do I begin to share with you the impact that Coach Signore had on generations of high school students. I don't know for certain if John was familiar with the writings of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, but I have never met a more positive person in my lifetime. Our late principal at BHS John Gray said it best when he persuaded John to move to the high school from the middle school to fill an opening in the science department for the last five years of his tenure: "I wish I had done it earlier." It sounds like hyperbole to say that one teacher could have such a positive impact on a faculty but John's enthusiasm for his physical science classes and students, his gregarious nature and, of course, his smile made a day at Barrington High School that much better. (Regarding his "gregarious nature," you always to be had to be careful when putting a microphone in John's hands at our annual sports awards gatherings...)

I alluded to reading earlier which reminded me of a tradition that Coach established with his counterpart at Classical High School in Providence, John's alma mater. At our annual dual meet in the outdoor season, the losing team would donate a book to the school library of the victor. John was indeed a lifelong learner. As he said to me after he retired from Barrington, "You know what comes after teaching, more teaching." Indeed, John joined the faculty at St. Luke's School here in town where the principal at that time was Julie Signore, John's wife, for whom he worked for seven years. It came as no surprise to me that in addition to his teaching responsibilities, Coach began the successful cross country program that continues as a full fledged track team today at St. Luke's.

It is a little known fact that what distinguishes track from the other interscholastic sports is that the coaches are also the officials at the meets. It was almost demanded that Coach Signore man the finish line, watch in hand, to record the times of each race. His honesty and character were legendary and he has been honored with induction to the Rhode Island Track Hall of Fame as well as the Barrington High School Sports Hall of Fame as a result.

Frankly, it would be impossible to name all the athletes whose lives Coach Signore touched over the years but a few come readily to mind: Jared Hall, Brian Blue, Bill Tsiaris, Andy Sabourin, Paul Carter, Peter Manis, Kevin Ryan, Marshall Hurd, Greg Graustein, David Rosenberg, the Starring Brothers and so many others who I apologize to for not including in this letter. Speaking of Joel Starring, I would like to share a true story that reveals the personality of Coach. It was the state track meet held each year at Brown University and Joel was competing in the pole vault finals. One after another of a phalanx of Hendricken vaulters faulted, so when Joel cleared the winning height, I wrapped John in a bear hug and lifted him off the ground, yelling, "He did it!!!" I did not learn until the following season, when he warned the members of the team not to stand next to me during an event, that I broke two of Coach's ribs. He didn't want to tell me because he felt it would spoil my summer, never mind that he couldn't go for his daily jog, ride his bike or row his canoe over the vacation, some of his favorite activities. That was John Signore.

John was an outstanding educator and his lessons were not confined to the classroom. For instance, he prepared me for a role that at the time we coached together I could not foresee. On one of our jogs after practice (he described my running style as that of a sprinter caught in the body of a lineman) he told me he wanted to spend as much time with his grandchildren as possible so they would remember him. This is advice that I heed to this day.

For an English teacher I am not very good at maintaining contact with friends who have moved away. I learned of John's illness after he was inducted in the BHS Hall of Fame. Fortunately, I was able to surprise Julie and him with a visit to their Florida home in November of 2016. As we said our goodbyes in the driveway, John pointed to his head and his last words to me were, "I've got you up here." Well, hundreds of his former students and athletes have him in their heads to this day.

Thank you, John. You were more than a coach, You were my friend.

Sincerely,

Ralph Caruso, Jr.

Barrington

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