A key figure in the development of high school wrestling officiating in Central New York, Louis Pettinelli, Jr. '55 has enjoyed a remarkable professional career as a coach, educator and administrator. In 1958, he became a charter member of the Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association and is a former past president of the New York State Wrestling Officials Association. He has been that organization's representative to the New York Public High School Officials Coordinating Federation since the latter's inception in 1969. Pettinelli was inducted into the Section III Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1987 and the New York State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997. He also received the National Federation of State High School Associations' Distinguished Service Award in 1984.
A native of Rome, N.Y., Pettinelli graduated from Rome Free Academy. At SUNY Cortland, he lettered in both lacrosse and football. He was president of the Men's Athletic Association, a member of Beta Phi Epsilon, and was active in Cardinal Key. Pettinelli earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1955 and a master's degree from Cortland in 1959. From 1955-1977, he worked at Central Square (N.Y.) Central Schools, where he taught, coached and later directed health and physical education. He started both the wrestling and lacrosse programs.
He served as assistant principal at Millard Hawk Junior High School before becoming the Central Square director of pupil personnel services and later coordinator of federal projects and assistant district superintendent. In 1977, Pettinelli joined the Oswego County BOCES as assistant superintendent for programs and operations. In 1995 he became deputy superintendent and executive director of human resources.
For 14 years, Pettinelli was president of Operation Oswego County. Since 1979, he has been active with the Private Industry Council, a volunteer committee to oversee job skills training programs. The Govenor appointed Pettinelli in 1984 to the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council. Since 1993, he has been president of COMCO, an economic development committee. He received the Private Industry Council Partner of the Year Award in 1990 and, in 1997, the Martin Rose Economic Developer Award for his many contributions to the economy and quality of life in Oswego County.
The co-chair of the SUNY Cortland Syracuse Area Alumni Chapter, Pettinelli and his wife, Nancy, have three sons: Louis III, Lawrence and Neal, and four grandchilden: Louis IV(Rennie), Justin, Emma,and Drew.
UPDATE - June, 2011: Pettinelli was inducted into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Hall of Fame in 2011. He was inducted into the Rome (N.Y.) Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 for "a lifetime of excellence in sports, professional career, and community service in education." In 2006, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla., as an official for a lifetime of service to the sport of wrestling.
In addition, Pettinelli was inducted into the Central Square School Athletics Wall of Fame in 2002. In 2010, he won the Central New York Regional and Planning and Development Board's annual Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award. SInce his induction into the C-Club Hall of Fame, he now has two other grandchildren - Grace and Mackenzie.
UPDATE: Pettinelli passed away on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at age 81.
