Vincent AltebrandoVincent Altebrando, a long-time head wrestling coach and physical education teacher at Walt Whitman High School on Long Island, New York, has died, Newsday reported Monday. He was 51.
Altebrando died of HLH -- a rare autoimmune disease -- while surrounded by his wife and four daughters at Stony Brook University Hospital on Friday, April 20.
In Altebrando's 24 years as coach at Whitman, his teams earned 213 dual-meet wins and three league titles. Earlier this year, Altebrando was the recipient of the sportsmanship award at the Suffolk County Wrestling Coaches Association banquet.
Altebrando grew up in Selden, N.Y. and graduated from Newfield High School in 1984. He was a Suffolk County heavyweight wrestling champion and a runner-up in the New York state wrestling tournament in 1984. In addition, Altebrando played football.
Altebrando's high school wrestling coach had high praise for his former heavyweight, describing him as "a fierce competitor but an unbelievably humble guy, a soft-spoken gentle giant."
"Vinny's work ethic was unparalleled," Tony Perna told Newsday. "I coached for 32 years and there was never anyone like him. He always gave 100 percent."
After graduating from Newfield High, Altebrando wrestled at Springfield College, an NCAA Division III school in Springfield, Mass. and graduated with a degree in physical education.
Jim Wright, director of athletics at Walt Whitman, described how Altebrando had a positive impact on students beyond the wrestling squad at the public high school in Huntington Station, N.Y.
"He was a guy that cared for all the kids," Wright said. "He made a huge difference in our community. I think the true measure of a person's life is how many lives they touch. And his were countless."
Vincent Altebrando is survived by his wife Kristie, four daughters -- Anjelia, Gionna, Natalia, and Mirabella -- and two brothers, Nick and Anthony.
Visitation will take place today (Tuesday, April 24) from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Branch Funeral Home in Miller Place, N.Y. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at the St. Louis de Montfort R.C. Church in Sound Beach at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Medford.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Vincent Altebrando to: Miller Place High School Athletic Program, 7 Memorial Dr. Miller Place, N.Y. 11764 (make checks payable to Miller Place School District) or Walt Whitman High School Athletic Program, 60 Weston St., Huntington Station, N.Y. 11746.
In addition, a GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for the Vincent Altebrando Memorial Fund.
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