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    Mark Palmer •

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    Long Island wrestling, coaching legend Munnich dead at 78

    George Munnich, long associated with wrestling on Long Island -- as a wrestler at the storied Mepham High School program in the early 1950s, then at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and later as a wrestling coach on the middle and high school level -- passed away last week after suffering a stroke on November 3. He was 78.

    George Munnich
    Born April 17, 1937 in Bellmore, N.Y., Munnich wrestled at Mepham High for legendary coach Frank "Sprig" Gardner from 1950 to 1954, winning the 106-pound SSAL title in 1953. He continued his mat career at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, where he was a three-time Metropolitan Conference and AAU champion, and runner-up at the NCAA championships as a senior. He was also a US-Canadian Champion and served as an alternate for the Pan-Am Games. As a senior, Munnich captained the undefeated USMMA team during the 1957-58 season. In addition, Munnich was awarded the Admiral Stedman Trophy, given to the top graduating cadet athlete. He was subsequently named to the Academy's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, and welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008.

    After serving in the Merchant Marine and the United States Navy during the Viet Nam War, Munnich shared his wrestling experience with other generations as a coach. "(Munnich) came back home and coached at Grand Avenue Middle School for over 30 years, introducing the sport to numerous future All-County and All-State wrestlers," according to a post at the Mepham Wrestling Facebook page . "He no doubt touched the lives of countless Mepham wrestlers through the years, and was a major contributor to the Pirates' amazing legacy. Everyone who ever had the pleasure to learn from Coach Munnich knows how truly wonderful he was as a teacher, a coach, and a friend."

    Later, Munnich was an assistant coach at Bellmore JFK High School, right up until his death.

    "He was the type of coach any parent would want their kid to have," Bellmore JFK wrestling coach Brian DeGaetano told Newsday . "As accomplished a wrestler and coach as he was, he paid more attention to the kid who didn't really know how to wrestle. He was always focused on the JV kid, the guy who, maybe one day, could be good … He was the only guy I've ever known that nobody had a bad word to say about."

    In addition to his lifelong involvement in wrestling, Munnich was also a life guard at Jones Beach and on Fire Island, and was a member of the Baldwin Bay Colony Rowers, a lifeboat racing team.

    In addition to his wife, Lilly Ann, Munnich is survived by his son, Mark, daughters Jennifer of Massapequa Park, and Erika of Cocoa Beach, Florida, and grandchildren Lilly and Sam.

    Services were held Monday.

    Those who wish to honor George Munnich may do so with a donation to the "George's Surf Boat" page on the GoFundMe.com website . On the page the family wrote, "The boat will be donated to the JBLC for current and future lifeguards. 'George's Boat' will leave his legacy of competition, strength, seamanship and love of the ocean and of course a 'Monkey's Fist' on the bow."
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