West Orange Scholarship Fund Honors High School Track Coach

The West Orange Scholarship Fund will be honoring the the successful career of the Joe Suriano, West Orange High School track coach, at a reception next month.

Suriano, who serves as the coach and a teacher at West Orange High School, will be honored at a cocktail reception on June 18 at the Rock Spring Country Club, 90 Rock Spring Road, between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Suriano, a West Orange native, retired as track coach after 43 years of service in the West Orange School district, but will continue teaching at West Orange High School come the fall, according to officials from West Orange Public Schools. He began teaching as an English teacher in 1969 and began his coaching career in 1971.

During his coaching career Suriano coached many great athletes, including five All-Americans and three students who qualified for Olympic Trials, and he coached teams to the State Championships in 1976-1977, according to the school district. The West Orange High School boys track team recently won the Essex County Relays in 2014.

Additionally, Suriano has received many awards and distinctions throughout his career. Suriano Stadium at West Orange High School was named in his honor, and he was named Teacher of the Year in West Orange three times, a Coach of the Year 16 times and Essex County Coach of the Year twice.

Tickets to the cocktail reception at the Rock Spring Country Club are $50 per person. Proceeds from the reception will benefit the Suriano Family Scholarship.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the reception, contact treasurer Jim Quinn at (212) 339-2548 or by email at jquinn@allenco.com.