A. Henry "Hank" von Mechow, the first director of athletics and Physical Education Department chairman at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, has been involved with a number of intercollegiate "firsts." As a Cortland student in 1948, von Mechow helped organize the College's first intercollegiate swim team and served as its first coach. Three years earlier, von Mechow played on Cortland's first freshman basketball team. During his sophomore year, von Mechow took the job of student director of sports information which earned him a Red Letter.
His love of athletics and writing also led him to the Hilltop Press, where he spent his sophomore year as sports editor. As a junior, he became the paper's co-editor and as a senior assumed the position of yearbook sports editor.
Graduating in 1949 as a physical education major, von Mechow spent two years in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany and served as NCO for his base athletic program. After his military stint, von Mechow taught in the West Babylon schools in 1953. From 1954 to 1957, the Staten Island, N.Y., native spent his summers at SUNY Cortland earning a master's degree in physical education. Hank also received the '6th Year' Professional Diploma from New York University in 1964
In the fall of 1958, von Mechow accepted a position as an assistant professor at SUNY Stony Brook and remained at the University until his retirement in 1991. From 1958 to 1967, von Mechow served as the University's first athletic director and Physical Education Department chairman. In 1970, he earned associate professor status and, in 1980, became a full professor.
The former Red Dragon swimmer has written numerous articles on swimming instruction for the handicapped, water safety and water volleyball. For 15 years, von Mechow served as chairman of water safety for the Suffolk Chapter of the American Red Cross. He has also served that organization as a member of its board of directors and its advisory committee during the past 20 years. A guest lecturer in adapted aquatics for Suffolk County Community College's therapeutic recreation class, von Mechow has developed handicapped swimming programs. In 1980, the Suffolk County Special Olympics honored him for support of programs for mentally retarded children.
In addition, von Mechow is a past president of the Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (NYSAHPER). He also served on that organization's executive and awards committees. In 1971, the Suffolk Zone NYSAHPER honored von Mechow with its Professional Service Award. Since his retirement from Stony Brook University in 1991, Hank and his wife have moved to Hamilton, N.Y., where he continues to teach part-time in Colgate University's Physical Education Program.
UPDATE- March, 2015: Since von Mechow retired from Stony Brook in 1991, he has taught Physical Education part time at Colgate and an Education class through BOCES. He is a member of the C-Club Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Directors of Education Unlimited which schedules three adult Education classes each year in Hamilton.
UPDATE: von Mechow passed away on August 22, 2015 at age 87.
