NU info legend Grinold dead
Praise pours in for ‘true Husky’
College sports and the Boston community lost an icon yesterday with the death of legendary Northeastern sports information director Jack Grinold. He was 81.
Grinold, who was the third person Billy Sullivan ever hired with the Patriots in 1960 when he signed on as spokesperson, helped shape the careers of countless young SIDs and sports writers in a variety of sports during his 50-year association with Northeastern.
Grinold’s efforts were recognized in 1985 when he became the first non-athlete or coach to be inducted into NU’s Varsity Club Hall of Fame. The media center press box at Matthews Arena is named in his honor. Grinold, who is also a member of the Beanpot Hall of Fame, was a Bowdoin graduate (1957) and served in the U.S. Merchant Marine.
That may have spawned his love of rowing.
“He was the heart and soul and spirit of Northeastern rowing,’’ said NU coach John Pojednic. “Men’s and women’s rowing at Northeastern wouldn’t exist without him. He was our No. 1 fan. We miss him already.”
Longtime friend Steve Nazro, vice president of events for TD Garden, said Grinold set the standard.
“He was the soul of the Beanpot, among other things. He was the guide to the right way of doing things,’’ said Nazro.
Harvard hockey legend Bill Cleary was a life-long friend since their days as schoolboy rivals.
“He was a real good, good guy. He always loved college athletics and that’s what I loved about him,’’ said Cleary. “There’s no one there to take his place, on the football side, too. We’ll miss him.’’
Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna first met Grinold after graduating from Harvard and entering Grinold’s world of sports information as a Crimson intern.
“Very sad. Jack was a mentor to a bunch of us who got into sports information whether it was 40 years ago or 10 years ago. I count him among a small handful of people who gave me direction throughout my professional career,’’ Bertagna said. “He was an amazing guy. He had so many other interests outside the sports world whether it was Boston’s history, the art world. He really got a lot out of life.’’
Northeastern hockey coach Jim Madigan first met Grinold as a wide-eyed freshman forward on the Huskies in 1981.
“Some of it was because I was from Montreal and Cathy (Jack’s wife) was from Quebec. We had an unbelievable relationship from when I was a player, assistant coach, worked in athletic development, fund-raising, and no one was happier outside my family than Jack was when I returned to coaching. His support and loyalty to me has always been there. ... He was a man of many talents. We knew him through sports but also was involved with history and architecture. He was as comfortable at the Museum of Fine Arts or the Mass. Historical Society as he was at Matthews Arena.
“He really was Mr. Northeastern. I know that tab goes for (former athletic director) Herb Gallagher before him, and they were really close, too, but we lost a true Husky.’’
Harvard football coach Tim Murphy said Grinold leaves a huge void. The Jack Grinold EMass Chapter of the National Football Foundation/Hall of Fame is named in his honor.
“To me he was a college football icon,’’ Murphy said. “I count him as a close friend. He was the soul of New England college football. He wasn’t the type of guy to jump up on a soapbox either. He was humble and full of good advice and history of the game. They don’t get any better. The impact he had might not be known to those outside the sport but every player, coach and writer knew the impact Jack had.’’