John Wagner Jr., 60, coach

John Wagner Jr., 60, of Sewell, beloved freshman football coach at St. Joseph's Preparatory School and a postal worker for 25 years, died of throat cancer Friday at Methodist Hospital. He had been a longtime resident of Southwest Philadelphia.

Born in South Philadelphia, Mr. Wagner graduated from West Catholic High School in 1965. He enlisted in the Navy in 1968 and was a lightweight boxer while serving Stateside on the Yosemite, a destroyer tender, until his discharge in 1970. He married Mona Caruso in 1978, and they raised three children.

"My dad taught me to box when I was 3 years old," John Wagner III said. "We threw big parties in our basement to watch fights on television."

Mr. Wagner worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for 10 years before the U.S. Postal Service hired him in 1986. He retired a few months ago as a supervisor with the Media Post Office.

Mr. Wagner's real love was coaching football. Affectionately called Coach Wags, he became freshman football coach at St. Joe's 13 years ago when his two sons were on the team.

A milestone in Coach Wags' life occurred Oct. 27, when St. Joe's faced archrival Monsignor Bonner during a torrential rainstorm.

"We scored two quick ones in the first four minutes and won 27-0. That was my dad's 100th win," his son said. "There were at least 150 fans that turned out in the rain to watch the game. My dad was given a jacket to commemorate the occasion."

"Today was the culmination of my life," Coach Wags said after the game. "I loved it."

St. Joe's varsity head coach Gil Brooks said Coach Wags had been "the gatekeeper" of football. "Wags' 100th win was as special as any moment in the history of Prep football."

Mr. Wagner's sons helped him coach the last five years.

"My father was not all about winning. Relationships and preparing the boys for life were more important to him," son John said. "He touched so many lives. More than 1,000 people paid their respects at his funeral."

In addition to his wife and John, Mr. Wagner is survived by son Steven; a daughter, Kim Grosso; his mother, Candida; a grandson; and two brothers.

Services were held Tuesday.

Memorial donations may be sent to St. Joseph's Preparatory School, 1733 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia 19130.