Frank J. “Coach Di” DiChristina, 79, of Chittenango passed away Tuesday Oct. 15, 2013 at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.
Frank was born on August 22, 1934 in Bronx, NY, son of Thomas and Mildred DiChristina.
After graduation from Evander Childs High School in the Bronx, Frank matriculated to Brockport State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degree. He was a four year letterman on the Brockport State football team, and was team captain his senior year. He also played two years for the Brockport baseball team. Frank earned his Master’s degree from Syracuse University in 1961 and his athletic administration certification in 1966.
Arriving in Chittenango in the fall of 1956, Frank quickly immersed himself in the community. During his forty-one career at Chittenango High School, Frank served as a physical education instructor, Athletic Director, Chairman of the Health and Physical Education Department, and coach of numerous Chittenango Bears teams, including wrestling, track, football, and especially baseball.
During his tenure as Athletic Director at Chittenango, Frank expanded the number of interscholastic teams dramatically, and was a great supporter of Title IX, which increased interscholastic competition for women. He was also the founder of the Chittenango Athletic Booster club. His baseball teams won more than 350 games and five Tri-Valley titles during his tenure. The Chittenango High School baseball field is named after him. He served as the Executive Director of the Tri-Valley league for 25 years, where his work in the league was unparalleled. The Tri-Valley league has honored Frank by naming their coveted Sportsmanship Award after him. Frank helped run the Sullivan Community Council for many years, organizing local youth basketball and baseball leagues.
Frank also served Section III sports in many ways. He was Vice President of Section III from 1990-1992; President-Elect from 1992-1994; President from 1994-1996; and Past President from 1996 to present. Frank was named Section III Athletic Director of the year in 1989. Additionally, he received a Section III service award, as well as a Special Service Award for his years of dedicated Service to Section III.
Subsequent to his retirement in 1997, Frank worked as a coordinator/trainer at the YMCA in Oneida through 2013. Frank was greatly admired there for his ability to interact with people of all types, especially seniors and people with physical or mental challenges.
In October 2013, the YMCA honored Frank by naming the Wellness Center after him. During his forty-one years at Chittenango, Frank always loved to help students achieve their goals, so it was a natural transition for him to work at the YMCA, helping people from all walks of life improve their minds and bodies.
During the ceremony honoring Frank, Hank Leo, the Oneida YMCA Executive Director said, “The joy Frank DiChristina brought to the Y will be missed.”
In 2010, Frank was inducted into the Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame, thanks in part to his nomination by Kevin Bovi, a former Chittenango High School student. Frank was amazed at being inducted into the same institution as area sports legends, including former Syracuse University football coach Dick MacPherson, NBA star Dolph Schayes, and the world champion boxer Carmen Basilio.
Frank had a boundless amount of energy, and, along with his wife Joan, raised four sons in Chittenango. Some of our earliest memories include: riding on the varsity baseball team bus to games when we were young; having Frank put us through football practice, along with the neighborhood kids, in our backyard; riding with Frank in the truck to visit all the Sullivan Community Council Little League games; and jumping into his arms at the various lakes we visited during our summer camping vacations.
Frank will always be remembered for his leadership skills, his positive outlook on life, his boundless energy, his ability to empathize with people from all walks of life, and his “bear” of a handshake. Recently, when asked where he had learned his leadership skills, his son Mike’s response was, “Eighteen years of living with my father on Sleepy Hollow Road.”
Surviving are Joan, his wife of 55 years; four sons Thomas J. DiChristina of Atlanta, Ga, Daniel G. DiChristina (Victoria) of Jamesville, Michael F. DiChristina (Wendy) of Greenwich, CT, and Joseph J. DiChristina (Susan) of Meadville, PA; and seven grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 am Monday at St. Patrick’s Church Chittenango. The Rite of Committal will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Chittenango. Calling hours will be 1-3 pm Sunday at the Chittenango High School Gymnasium immediately followed by a Celebration of Frank’s Life.
Contributions in his memory may be made to St. Patrick’s Church, Murray Drive, Chittenango, NY 13037, the Chittenango Varsity Club, Chittenango High School, 150 Genesee St. Chittenango, NY 13037, the Chittenango Canal Landing Museum, 717 Lakeport Rd. Chittenango, 13037 or the Oneida Family Y Wellness Center, 701 Seneca St. Oneida, NY 13421.
G.F. ZIMMER F.H.
CHITTENANGO 687-3366