St. Mary’s honors late lacrosse alums

Bill San Antonio

John and Paul Schimoler, two brothers who led St. Mary’s High School to four Long Island Catholic League lacrosse titles in the 1980s and recently died within months of each other, were honored Saturday in the annual St. Mary’s alumni lacrosse game.

The game, which took place at the Manhasset campus’s Deniheld Field, was preceded by a prayer service led by St. Mary’s High School President Grace Cavallo and parish Deacon Frank Bice, with reflections from alum Rob Coughlin and current boys lacrosse coach Matt Panetta about their experiences with the Schimoler family. 

John Schimoler, who graduated in 1981, died suddenly in his sleep Aug. 12, 2012 at age 50, and is survived by his wife Jane, son Gunnar and daughter Heidi.

A few months later Paul, who graduated in 1985, died of complications due to cancer Feb. 15, at age 45, leaving behind his wife Lynn Ellen, son Jack and daughter Serena.

“We are here to show them our love, to feel their spirit and to say to them, thank you for all that you have given us, for your memories, and for continuing to look down upon us with love and great presence,” Cavallo said.

This year’s event was renamed the Schimoler Memorial Alumni Lacrosse Game after numerous lacrosse alums came forward wanting to honor their teammates, St. Mary’s alumni relations officials told Blank Slate Media in April. 

A St. Mary’s spokeswoman said the school had not yet decided whether the event will be permanently named after the Schimolers.

Bice led the procession of lacrosse alumni and their families through the recitation of a Hail Mary and the Athlete’s Prayer, which requests good fortune, humility and fair play amid competition.

“Jesus said if you hold on to your life, you lose it, but if you give your life away, you live forever,” Bice said. “When you look at that statement, you probably think Jesus was just expressing a desire, because he wanted people to live full lives, but upon deeper reflection, I think Jesus was just telling us that’s the way life is. Well I can’t think of two greater individuals that constantly gave their lives away than John and Paul Schimoler.”

John Schimoler helped the Gaels to titles in 1980 and 1981 before going on to Syracuse University, where he was a member of the Orange team that won the program’s first national championship in 1983.

Coughlin, a year older than John, remembered his former teammate’s easy-going manner lightening the mood during practice.

“He was one of those guys who, if he was at the end of the line during a drill and you were with him, there would be a good laugh, a few lines from a classic rock song before you back on the field,” Coughlin said.

Paul Schimoler’s St. Mary’s teams won titles in 1983 and 1985, and the goaltender went on to become one of the most decorated college players of all time at Cornell, where he set nearly every program record, including saves in a game (34, against Syracuse in 1987), saves in a season (241, in 1988) and career saves (787), as well as the NCAA tournament record for saves in a single game (85, in 1988).

Schimoler also earned All-American and All-Ivy League honors in each of his four years at Cornell, and was also a member of the USA teams that won gold medals at the International Lacrosse Federation World Championships in 1990 and 1994.

“Just an incredible tragedy, and just an incredibly great guy,” Panetta said of Paul Schimoler.

Panetta said he first became acquainted with Paul Schimoler in 1985, when his Elmont High School team hosted St. Mary’s.

The game prior, Panetta said he scored five goals, but he and his squad ran into trouble with Panetta in net and defenseman Dave Pietramala, who later became Panetta’s college teammate at Johns Hopkins University, roaming the field.

“I had zero points and we lost,” Panetta said.

In the years that followed, Panetta said he and Schimolar became friends, keeping in touch for recruiting purposes when Schimolar went on to various collegiate coaching positions, including assistant jobs at Cornell and Dartmouth.

St. Mary’s won the Catholic League title in 2012 under Panetta, the program’s first championship since either John or Paul last suited up for the program, and nearly won another championship this year, losing 10-8 to Stepinac.

Panetta thanked alums who have recently made financial contributions to the program for the purchase of equipment and new uniforms and marveled at the ability the ’80s title teams had to compete against powerhouses like Chaminade and St. Anthony’s.

“I’m amazed at how you guys were able to win championships,” Panetta said, “but it was because you had players like Pietramala and Schimoler on the team.”

Share this Article