JERRY SECKLER
Amateur Wrestling legend and FOLIW Co-founder Jerry Seckler Passes Away at 87.
The Long Island wrestling community has lost one of its biggest proponents of wrestling over the past 70 years. Jerry Seckler tirelessly devoted his life to raising public awareness and appreciation of amateur wrestling. In 1990, Seckler became President and Co-founder of The Friends of Long Island Wrestling, who along with Pascal Perri, helped grow it into a nationally recognized organization with over 2000 members. Over the past 35 years, “Friends” has supported active ongoing amateur wrestling programs in our schools and youth organizations, to develop new programs and activities for amateur wrestling, and to foster and promote a positive community identity for those programs.
In 1994, Jerry helped form the Downstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which has inducted over 165 esteemed Long Island, New York City, and Westchester wrestling coaches, officials, and wrestlers into the Hall of Fame in the categories of Lifetime Service, Outstanding Americans, and Medal of Courage. Jerry was an outstanding wrestler who won two Long Island Championship titles while wrestling for Valley Stream Central HS, and a National Prep School Championship while attending St Paul’s School in Garden City. At Penn State University, Jerry had two undefeated seasons, and was selected Co-Captain of the varsity team his senior year.
Following his outstanding HS and Collegiate wrestling career, Jerry transitioned into coaching, mentoring, and advocating for the growth of wrestling at all levels. He began his coaching career at Freeport high school and then moved on to Columbia College. He finished his coaching career at Columbia as President of the EIWA Coaches Association. Jerry left Columbia to pursue an administrative career in Nassau County, where he created and administered the first summer wrestling tournament in the country at the Newbridge Road Park. During this period, he was also instrumental in creating the first double-dual college tournament in the nation and two USA vs Russia meets. Jerry was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for Lifetime Service to Wrestling in 1998.
He is survived by his loving wife Pat, of 64 years, and 3 children, Frank, Jean, and Michael, and 6 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on March 19, 2025 from 2pm - 6pm at the Massapequa Funeral Home, 4980 Merrick Rd, Massapequa, NY, 11762. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Downstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Jerry’s legacy as a wrestling champion, mentor, coach, and advocate for amateur wrestling will forever be remembered.
