The loss of a legend:
Al Angelo is gone

By Joe Mason
For the Times

Al Angelo had a reputation and it was well earned.
Angelo, who coached the Frankford High School football team for 21 seasons, was known as a winner.
He was also known as a teacher.
And a motivator.
Those are the qualities that made him arguably the greatest high school coach in city history.
But it’s not what made him an institution.
"You know, there are no words that can describe him," said current Frankford coach Mike Capriotti, who was the captain of the Pioneers during Angelo’s first season as head coach. "He was a great man, a great role model and a great person."
On Saturday, Angelo lost a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer at his home in Seaville, N.J. He was 77.
He is survived by wife Janet, children Arlene, Skip, Alisa and Annette, six grandchildren and thousands of surrogate children — his players.
"Just playing for him was special, it was almost like a badge of honor," Capriotti said. "I’ve seen guys come back ten years after playing for him and he would remember specific things about him. You know why? Because he loved football and he loved the players.
"I consider myself so lucky, because other than my father, Al Angelo was my role model," he continued. "Now that I’m coaching his team, it’s such an honor. He was always there to help me."
He also helped the opposition.
As much as Angelo loved his Pioneers, he did anything he could to help people, even if the person in need was wearing rival colors.
"I can’t say enough about him. Any time I needed anything, he was there," said George Washington football coach Ron Cohen, who broke Angelo’s city record for wins. "When I broke that record, he came up from down near Wildwood, took pictures with me, sat with my mom. I think he was happier than I was.
"It’s because he was such a great man," Cohen continued. "When I was starting out, he’d always help me if I needed it. I looked at him as a role model. To do everything he did and to be so meek and mild is just so impressive. He’s a great man."
There’s a reason Angelo is so revered among the Philadelphia football circles.
Angelo piled up a 184-39-5 record while calling the plays at Frankford.
In Public League play, he won 124 games, lost only 14 and played to four ties. In playoff competition, the Pioneers won 20 games and lost 11.
He also guided his troops to 10 Public League championships — and his Pioneers have the distinction of being the last Public League team to win the city championship.
But he wasn’t just a mentor to gridiron guys.
"As a kid, I remember him as a guy who walked around the gym, helping anyone," said Frankford grad and former Pioneer baseball and wrestling coach Bob Peffle. "I never played for him, but you knew him. Everyone knew him and everyone loved him.
"Just as a coach and as a teacher and as a mentor, Al Angelo is up there where the air is rare," Peffle continued. "As accomplished and as revered as this guy was, when you spoke to him, he made you feel like you were on the top of the world. He had a way to make you feel special, and that’s what made him so special.
"Then, I remember when I started to teach at the school. I went up and called him Mr. Angelo. He said ‘Bob, you can now call me Al.’ I said ‘Thank you, Mr. Angelo.’ "
During his time at Frankford, he was considered the best.
But his legacy grew even larger during his retirement, where he was still a great football mind, but he was also a great father, husband, friend and above all else, a Pioneer.
"I went down to see him on Good Friday," Capriotti said. "There were a bunch of us down there. His family was there and we sat and talked for three hours. We talked about everything, but somehow or another, it would always come back to football. He just loved the game.
"And this year, when we had to forfeit the games, I was very down on myself," the coach continued. "But he told me I had done the right thing, I didn’t do anything wrong and he brought me back up. He always had a way to make everything better."
Even during his illness.
It was tough for most people to maintain a positive outlook when their friend was diagnosed with the deadly disease, but Angelo remained upbeat.
In fact, even during his weakened state, he was still the leader — the glue that held everything together.
"He didn’t waste a minute, he really didn’t," Capriotti said. "That disease is a death sentence and he fought it. He survived a long time with it and he managed to get as much out of life as he could.
"He didn’t get to any of our games last year, but every week, I’d send him down the tape and we’d talk about it. He still was a great father and grandfather. He still kept in touch with all of the guys and he still had a great life. He didn’t get cheated."
Last year, about five months after he was diagnosed with the disease, Frankford decided to hold a Pioneer football reunion.
The idea behind it was two-fold. Not only did it bring the great players back, it also gave them a chance to say goodbye to the legend.
There was only one set of dry eyes in the house that day.
"Al got up to speak and he started to talk about the illness a little," Capriotti said. "Then he talked about how lucky he was, about how he was fighting it and how happy he was to be there.
"That was Al, setting an example once again. Grown men around the place were crying, but he kept his composure. He was also happy because he loved being around the guys and he loved talking football. That was everything, all in one day."
Now, his extended family is trying to come to grips with his death.
It’s not going to be easy, but Angelo gave them plenty of memories to cherish.
"I’ve been on the phone all day today and sometimes it gets emotional, but a lot of times, I’m just happy," Capriotti said. "Someone will start a story about him and we’ll cheer up. It’s tough, but it helps that we have each other. That’s another thing he taught us." ••
A viewing will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, at St. Martin of Tours, 5440 Roosevelt Blvd. The funeral Mass will begin at 11:30.