TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) – Jim Lennon, who officiated in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and went on to become a conference supervisor while serving as a teacher, coach and administrator for almost four decades on Long Island, has died. He was 85.
A 1948 graduate of St. John’s who earned a Master’s degree from Columbia, Lennon died Friday of lung failure, according to son John.
Lennon began his teaching career at St. John’s Prep in 1948. He was a junior high and middle school principal and assistant to the superintendent in the Lynbrook, N.Y., public schools from 1962-87.
He coached St. Agnes H.S. in Rockville Centre, N.Y., from 1955-60, compiling an 82-8 record that included a 50-game winning streak. He was a four-time Long Island coach of the year by three newspapers in that span.
Lennon officiated in the ECAC and Atlantic Coast Conference and later became supervisor of officials for the ECAC from 1970-78.
From 1987-2010, he was a fixture at New York-area games as the television timeout coordinator.
Lennon is survived by wife Deanna, six children, 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Tuesday and Wednesday at Macken Mortuary in Rockville Centre. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre.
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