Obituary of Maurice L Page

Maurice "Coach" Page was born on August 24, 1920 on a small rural farm in Greene, New York. His father was shocked when the doctor told him he was the proud father of triplets. They put the little ones in the oven to keep them warm and life began for our "Coach!" Maury worked very hard on the farm and excelled in athletics in high school. His high school coach encouraged him to become a physical education teacher and he entered Cortland State University graduating in June of 1943. He met his beautiful wife Virginia at Cortland State and they were married on June 16, 1944 and were married for 64 years. In July of 1944 Coach began his career in the United States Army Air Force as a bombadier/navigator and flew 26 missions over Germany flying out of Poddington England. In 2009 he was flown to Washington by Honor Flight Rochester to be recognized and thanked for his heroic service during World War II. After the war, he was hired by Westmoreland Central Schools as physical education teacher and Athletic Director. He served in that position for 32 consecutive years and coached football, basketball, track and baseball. He won much Section 3 Coach of the Year awards and was honored as the Athletic Director of the Year for all New York State in 1978. He was a very successful teacher/coach winning numerous league and sectional titles and was loved by his community and their students. When the Board of Education approved the construction of a new gym and athletic complex in the eighties, the school community unanimously decided to dedicate it to their beloved coach and his name is proudly displayed at the entrance to the facility. On October 4, 1980 Coach Page was inducted into the Cortland State University Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a teacher, coach and administrator. To this day, many of his former students call to check on him and send their well wishes. Coach Page and his loving wife Virginia Jones Page, who passed away in 2008, have four children who are all grown and have children of their own. Maurice "Rick" Page of Henrietta, NY., Scott Allen Page of Providence Forge, Virginia, Randy Harold Page of Manlius, NY., and Penny Sue Blaszkow of Ballaston Lake, NY. Coach is the proud grandfather of 9 grandchildren and six great grand children. This proud veteran's greatest accomplishment in life was to be a role model husband, loving father, and beloved teacher/coach.