Home News Tribune – April 6, 1978
Harry J. Rockafeller, 83, Rutgers' "Mr. Football'
New Brunswick – Harry J. Rockafeller, who was a former mayor of Piscataway and was associated with Rutgers University for nearly 40 years, died yesterday after a long illness at the J.F. Kennedy Medical Center, Edison. He was 83.
Known as "Rocky" by most of his friends, Mr. Rockafeller was born in Asbury Park August 26, 1894.
He began a long career at Rutgers as an undergraduate in 1912, starring in football, basketball and track during his four years there.
In 1925 he returned to the university as graduate manager of athletics after serving in the Army during World War I and working in industry for several years.
Also know at Rutgers a "Mr. Football," he served as the varsity football team's head coach from 1927 to 1930 and again from 1942 through 1945. He compiled a 33-26-1 record during these coaching stints.
Rockafeller became associate director of athletics in 1950. Four years later he was named director of athletic and physical education, a post he held until his retirement in 1960.
Permanent president of the Class of 1916 and a past president of the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, Mr. Rockafeller was the recipient of many awards for his service to Rutgers and the community.
He was honored as "Alumnus of the Year" by his alma mater in 1960. He also received the Rutgers Medal for outstanding service to his university.
Among other awards he received were the James Lynch memorial Award in 1962 by the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association and the recent naming in his honor of a road to the Rutgers Athletic Center.
Mr. Rockafeller was a communicant of St. Peter's R.C. Church and a member of the Holy Name Society, Rutgers Alumni Club, Chi Phi Fraternity and the Joyce Kilmer Post of the American Legion.
Surviving are his wife, Mary; a son, Thomas O. of Summit and two grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday 10 am in St. Peter's Church.
Arrangements are being made by the Quackenboss Funeral Home, 156 Livingston Avenue.
Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery.
Harry J. Rockafeller, 83, Rutgers' "Mr. Football'
New Brunswick – Harry J. Rockafeller, who was a former mayor of Piscataway and was associated with Rutgers University for nearly 40 years, died yesterday after a long illness at the J.F. Kennedy Medical Center, Edison. He was 83.
Known as "Rocky" by most of his friends, Mr. Rockafeller was born in Asbury Park August 26, 1894.
He began a long career at Rutgers as an undergraduate in 1912, starring in football, basketball and track during his four years there.
In 1925 he returned to the university as graduate manager of athletics after serving in the Army during World War I and working in industry for several years.
Also know at Rutgers a "Mr. Football," he served as the varsity football team's head coach from 1927 to 1930 and again from 1942 through 1945. He compiled a 33-26-1 record during these coaching stints.
Rockafeller became associate director of athletics in 1950. Four years later he was named director of athletic and physical education, a post he held until his retirement in 1960.
Permanent president of the Class of 1916 and a past president of the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, Mr. Rockafeller was the recipient of many awards for his service to Rutgers and the community.
He was honored as "Alumnus of the Year" by his alma mater in 1960. He also received the Rutgers Medal for outstanding service to his university.
Among other awards he received were the James Lynch memorial Award in 1962 by the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association and the recent naming in his honor of a road to the Rutgers Athletic Center.
Mr. Rockafeller was a communicant of St. Peter's R.C. Church and a member of the Holy Name Society, Rutgers Alumni Club, Chi Phi Fraternity and the Joyce Kilmer Post of the American Legion.
Surviving are his wife, Mary; a son, Thomas O. of Summit and two grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday 10 am in St. Peter's Church.
Arrangements are being made by the Quackenboss Funeral Home, 156 Livingston Avenue.
Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery.
Home News Tribune – April 6, 1978
Harry J. Rockafeller, 83, Rutgers' "Mr. Football'
New Brunswick – Harry J. Rockafeller, who was a former mayor of Piscataway and was associated with Rutgers University for nearly 40 years, died yesterday after a long illness at the J.F. Kennedy Medical Center, Edison. He was 83.
Known as "Rocky" by most of his friends, Mr. Rockafeller was born in Asbury Park August 26, 1894.
He began a long career at Rutgers as an undergraduate in 1912, starring in football, basketball and track during his four years there.
In 1925 he returned to the university as graduate manager of athletics after serving in the Army during World War I and working in industry for several years.
Also know at Rutgers a "Mr. Football," he served as the varsity football team's head coach from 1927 to 1930 and again from 1942 through 1945. He compiled a 33-26-1 record during these coaching stints.
Rockafeller became associate director of athletics in 1950. Four years later he was named director of athletic and physical education, a post he held until his retirement in 1960.
Permanent president of the Class of 1916 and a past president of the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, Mr. Rockafeller was the recipient of many awards for his service to Rutgers and the community.
He was honored as "Alumnus of the Year" by his alma mater in 1960. He also received the Rutgers Medal for outstanding service to his university.
Among other awards he received were the James Lynch memorial Award in 1962 by the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association and the recent naming in his honor of a road to the Rutgers Athletic Center.
Mr. Rockafeller was a communicant of St. Peter's R.C. Church and a member of the Holy Name Society, Rutgers Alumni Club, Chi Phi Fraternity and the Joyce Kilmer Post of the American Legion.
Surviving are his wife, Mary; a son, Thomas O. of Summit and two grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday 10 am in St. Peter's Church.
Arrangements are being made by the Quackenboss Funeral Home, 156 Livingston Avenue.
Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery.
Harry J. Rockafeller, 83, Rutgers' "Mr. Football'
New Brunswick – Harry J. Rockafeller, who was a former mayor of Piscataway and was associated with Rutgers University for nearly 40 years, died yesterday after a long illness at the J.F. Kennedy Medical Center, Edison. He was 83.
Known as "Rocky" by most of his friends, Mr. Rockafeller was born in Asbury Park August 26, 1894.
He began a long career at Rutgers as an undergraduate in 1912, starring in football, basketball and track during his four years there.
In 1925 he returned to the university as graduate manager of athletics after serving in the Army during World War I and working in industry for several years.
Also know at Rutgers a "Mr. Football," he served as the varsity football team's head coach from 1927 to 1930 and again from 1942 through 1945. He compiled a 33-26-1 record during these coaching stints.
Rockafeller became associate director of athletics in 1950. Four years later he was named director of athletic and physical education, a post he held until his retirement in 1960.
Permanent president of the Class of 1916 and a past president of the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, Mr. Rockafeller was the recipient of many awards for his service to Rutgers and the community.
He was honored as "Alumnus of the Year" by his alma mater in 1960. He also received the Rutgers Medal for outstanding service to his university.
Among other awards he received were the James Lynch memorial Award in 1962 by the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association and the recent naming in his honor of a road to the Rutgers Athletic Center.
Mr. Rockafeller was a communicant of St. Peter's R.C. Church and a member of the Holy Name Society, Rutgers Alumni Club, Chi Phi Fraternity and the Joyce Kilmer Post of the American Legion.
Surviving are his wife, Mary; a son, Thomas O. of Summit and two grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday 10 am in St. Peter's Church.
Arrangements are being made by the Quackenboss Funeral Home, 156 Livingston Avenue.
Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery.
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