Beloved Cliffside Park Baseball Coach, 30, Dies Of Coronavirus

CLIFFSIDE PARK, NJ — A beloved 30-year-old River Vale man, celebrated for his work as a baseball coach and a champion in New Jersey as a player, died Monday from complications of the new coronavirus.

The man, Ben Luderer, worked as the varsity baseball coach and as a special education teacher at Cliffside Park High School.

Luderer was lauded by Gov. Phil Murphy for his role on the 2008 Don Bosco Prep baseball team in Ramsey, when the team finished 33-0 and was crowned a national champion by several news organizations.

In a news conference Tuesday morning, Murphy joined others in remembering Luderer. "A star in that famous Don Bosco Prep undefeated team of 2008 – they were number one in the nation," he said. "To his wife Brandy and to his family, God rest his soul."

Read more: Gov. Phil Murphy: 69 More Die, 2,196 More NJ Coronavirus Cases

Then Don Bosco Prep head coach Greg Butler told USA Today Luderer's attitude was a "stabilizing force" on the team.

"That’s what I needed, and he was a phenomenal offensive player," Butler told the publication. "He was one of the more clutch players we had the whole season. His bat stands out in my mind. He would come up with runners on base and always seemed to deliver."

View this post on Instagram

In memory of CP Teacher Ben Luderer. Thanks for being a great coach, teacher, friend and always a mentor and role model for your students.
A post shared by Cliffside Park School District (@cliffsideparkschooldistrict) on Mar 30, 2020 at 3:23pm PDT

According to a report from NJ.com, Luderer went on to play for Marist, where he met his wife, Brandy, a Cliffside Park volleyball and basketball coach.

In an interview with the New Jersey publication, Butler, who now works as athletic director at Demarest, called Lurderer's death a "shocking loss."

“Even the invincible aren’t invincible," Butler said. "That was a group of guys who could not be beaten, then something like this happens and shows just how vulnerable we all are. He was a healthy, strong, athletic, 30-year-old head coach.”

USA Today reported Luderer went to the hospital Friday, March 27, when he felt symptoms consistent with the new coronavirus but was sent home because his symptoms were considered mild.

Terrible news to report that Cliffside Park baseball coach and former Don Bosco Prep catcher Ben Luderer has passed away from the coronavirus. Our condolences to the entire North Jersey athletics community. pic.twitter.com/S0P8ZkwOgs
— Varsity Aces (@VarsityAces) March 30, 2020

According to the report, Cliffside Park athletic director David Porfido told Luderer's team of his death Monday morning on a video call.“I was told things went bad on Sunday night,” Porfido said. "He died at his home.”

Cliffside Park shared condolences for Luderers' friends and family in an Instagram post on Monday."In memory of CP Teacher Ben Luderer. Thanks for being a great coach, teacher, friend and always a mentor and role model for your students," the post read.

The Ramsey Athletic Department extends our condolences to the Cliffside Park & Don Bosco communities and also the family and friends of baseball coach Ben Luderer. RIP Coach.
— Ramsey Athletics (@Ramseyathletics) March 30, 2020

In a news conference Tuesday morning, Gov. Phil Murphy joined others in remembering Luderer.

“A star in that famous Don Bosco Prep undefeated team of 2008 – they were number one in the nation,” he said. “To his wife Brandy and to his family, God rest his soul.”