Nick Coffaro
Born: June 14, 1944 - Died: January, 25 1975
Nick grew up in Slavic Village. His family lived in an upstairs apartment on East 74th Street, across from the old South High. I knew Nick from the old neighborhood and got reacquainted with him at Latin and John Carroll.
At Latin, Nick became a very good friend of our classmate Emmett Cooper. Those two chummed around continually. I played tackle football with Nick on the gravel playground at South High in the summertime. He was the roughest, toughest kid I ever met, BAR NONE! Mild mannered "Clark Kent" could hit like a freight train. I saw Nick win the national championship welterweight boxing (AAU) at Navy Park. He fought at 146 lbs and destroyed all comers. Later at JCU, Nick formed an intercollegiate boxing team and recruited me as a welterweight. In our junior year, we were undefeated. It was then that I challenged Nick to 3 rounds. I never felt the blow, didn't see it, didn't feel it. All I know I was out cold within 8 seconds of the first round. Nick stood over me laughing. I remember him telling me that the best punch is a left cross only six inches away. That's the last time I boxed.
Nick, myself and Johnny Kata (Class of '61) used to crash weddings on Saturday nights at Polish Women's Hall on E. 93rd St. We would sneak in the downstairs bar, have a few illegal drinks, then go upstairs to eat in the hall. Nick always told the groom how lucky he was to be marrying such a wonderful girl (he didn't know either of them). And Nick always danced with the best looking bridesmaid.
On November 22, 1963, Nick and I were in our ROTC dress uniforms for inspection that AM at JCU. We decided to cut all our classes after ROTC and played pool in the student union all day. We were the only students in the pool room. We left about 3:00 PM and saw the entire student body kneeling around the flag on JCU's quadrangle. It was then that Nick and I realized the death of JFK.
Nick passed tragically while in the service . As much as I could piece together, he was stationed by himself in the Aleutian Islands, which led to his despondency.
He is sadly missed, but never forgotten.
Contributed by Jim Blaszak 2/8/2019
Nick grew up in Slavic Village. His family lived in an upstairs apartment on East 74th Street, across from the old South High. I knew Nick from the old neighborhood and got reacquainted with him at Latin and John Carroll.
At Latin, Nick became a very good friend of our classmate Emmett Cooper. Those two chummed around continually. I played tackle football with Nick on the gravel playground at South High in the summertime. He was the roughest, toughest kid I ever met, BAR NONE! Mild mannered "Clark Kent" could hit like a freight train. I saw Nick win the national championship welterweight boxing (AAU) at Navy Park. He fought at 146 lbs and destroyed all comers. Later at JCU, Nick formed an intercollegiate boxing team and recruited me as a welterweight. In our junior year, we were undefeated. It was then that I challenged Nick to 3 rounds. I never felt the blow, didn't see it, didn't feel it. All I know I was out cold within 8 seconds of the first round. Nick stood over me laughing. I remember him telling me that the best punch is a left cross only six inches away. That's the last time I boxed.
Nick, myself and Johnny Kata (Class of '61) used to crash weddings on Saturday nights at Polish Women's Hall on E. 93rd St. We would sneak in the downstairs bar, have a few illegal drinks, then go upstairs to eat in the hall. Nick always told the groom how lucky he was to be marrying such a wonderful girl (he didn't know either of them). And Nick always danced with the best looking bridesmaid.
On November 22, 1963, Nick and I were in our ROTC dress uniforms for inspection that AM at JCU. We decided to cut all our classes after ROTC and played pool in the student union all day. We were the only students in the pool room. We left about 3:00 PM and saw the entire student body kneeling around the flag on JCU's quadrangle. It was then that Nick and I realized the death of JFK.
Nick passed tragically while in the service . As much as I could piece together, he was stationed by himself in the Aleutian Islands, which led to his despondency.
He is sadly missed, but never forgotten.
Contributed by Jim Blaszak 2/8/2019