Source: York Lions
York University Sport & Recreation is sad to announce the
passing of Norbert "Nobby" Wirkowski, the founder of the York
football program and a long-time administrator, on Wednesday.
Nobby was hired by York in 1967 to start the University's football
team and the Yeomen took the field for the first time the following
year. He served as its head coach for 10 years over two different
stints (1968-75 and 1988-89) and as associate head coach alongside
Frank Cosentino from 1984-87.
In addition to his duties at the helm of the football program, he
served as the coordinator of the men's interuniversity sport
program, coached the men's golf team to a pair of provincial titles
and was an instructor in the physical education program. He was
also involved in the creation of the Ontario University Athletic
Association (OUAA) in 1971, now Ontario University Athletics
(OUA).
Nobby retired from York in 1992 and was inducted into the
University's Sport Hall of Fame in 2007.
"York will forever be indebted to Nobby for his contributions not
only to the football program, but athletics as a whole," said
Jennifer Myers, York's director of Sport & Recreation. "He
mentored countless young student-athletes and helped establish the
foundation for athletics at York that has seen so many great
successes. We have lost a legend with the passing of Nobby, but his
spirit lives on at York through his work."
"Nobby was a personable, knowledgeable coach who wore his heart on
his sleeve for York," said Frank Cosentino, also a long-time
administrator at York and a former coach with the football team. "I
worked with him for 21 years and saw first-hand his passion for the
student-athletes. He had to really juggle an athletic program that
was in its development stage while starting at the very beginning
with the football team, and he did tremendous work with both. It's
a sad time for all of us that knew him."
Born in Chicago, Nobby came to York after a tremendous professional
career in the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he
quarterbacked the Toronto Argonauts to the Grey Cup championship in
1952 and served as the team's head coach and director of player
personnel in the 1960s. He also played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
and Calgary Stampeders.
Prior to that, he was a quarterback at Miami (Ohio) University and
was inducted into the RedHawks Hall of Fame in 1987. He was also
very involved in athletics in Mississauga, including as chairman of
the Mississauga Sports Council, and was inducted into the city's
Hall of Fame in 1977.
Nobby's legacy will live on at York through the Nobby Wirkowski
Football Award, which was established by Rico DiLello and other
alumni to benefit current Lions student-athletes.
SERVICES INFORMATION
Visitation – Sunday, Oct. 19, 1pm-4pm and 6pm-9pm
Glen Oaks Funeral Home
3164 Ninth Line
Oakville, ON L6H 7A8
Funeral – Monday, Oct. 20, 10:30am
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
2473 Thorn Lodge Dr.
Mississauga, ON L5K 1K8