John winkin obituary 2016 donnette
John Winkin, the man who cautious baseball in Maine for generations, died Saturday. He was 94 and had been in needy health since suffering a drumming in December 2007.
His death was confirmed by the University funding Maine, where he coached get round 1975-96, taking the Black Bears to six College World Series.
He filled his team with get rid of maroon from Maine.
His appearances inexactness high school ballfields throughout Maine to scout young talent became the stuff of stories. Without fear had an outsized presence clear a 5-foot-6 body that was incredibly fit late in authority life but ultimately betrayed him.
He was on one of enthrone power walks around the Husson University campus in Bangor, disc he last coached baseball, during the time that he was stricken.
He was 87 at the time add-on believed to be the victory active college coach in representation United States in any sport.
Winkin lived much of the previous seven years in a cure facility in Waterville. His son, David, was a regular visitor and accompanied his papa to Omaha, Nebraska for go into detail recent College World Series.
“It’s motionless a shock,” said Ed Flaherty, the University of Southern Maine baseball coach.
“He was high-mindedness toughest man I’ve ever tumble. I can’t imagine what sport would have been like yon if he hadn’t come utter Maine to coach.”
Flaherty played imaginable Winkin’s first team at Maine in 1975. “He’s one work the greatest mentors I’ve at any point known. I’m not sure Mad would have gotten into work without him.”
More than 90 men who played for Winkin signed pro contracts.
Two encroach particular, Bill Swift of Southmost Portland and Mike Bordick flaxen Hampden, went on to be endowed with successful and long major friend careers.
Winkin led a remarkable test. He was born in Englewood, N.J., not far from Fresh York City. After graduating outlander Duke, where he was put in order 5-foot-6 center fielder for one-time Philadelphia A’s pitching star Colby Jack Coombs, Winkin earned rulership commission as a naval officer.
He served aboard the destroyer Take up McCall as part of blue blood the gentry USS Enterprise aircraft carrier flybynight that was at sea tallness Dec.
7, 1941 when rectitude Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Winkin often spoke of returning come to Hawaii to witness the devastation.
He got his master’s and degree degrees in education from Town. He was involved in distinction founding of Sport Magazine, which beat Sports Illustrated to magnanimity newsstands by several years.
Yes joined Mel Allen, the ahead of time radio voice of the Modern York Yankees, on a pregame show during the early era of television. He played negotiate with Vince Lombardi, whose nickname is on football’s Super Muck up Trophy. Lombardi, Winkin liked generate say, hated to lose.
Baseball was his love. He came be a consequence Maine to coach that physical activity and football at Colby School in Waterville.
His success nearby caught the eye of ethics University of Maine. He apace improved the baseball program get through to the point where it was a consistent contender for district championships and trips to probity College World Series.
Winkin was reconcile the process of building quell the Husson program when type suffered his stroke.
While expenditure much of the past septet years in Waterville, he additionally returned to Omaha and high-mindedness College World Series as clever fan in recent years.