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THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
Mike D'Amato

Hofstra Athletics Mourns The Passing Of Mike D'Amato

| By: Len Skoros
Mike D'Amato on the football field (left) and in a men's lacrosse team photo (right)
Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University Department of Athletics mourns the passing of Mike D'Amato, a 2011 Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and former standout on the football and lacrosse teams. D'Amato passed away November 22 at the age of 82.

A 1968 graduate of Hofstra University, D'Amato played for Hall of Fame Coach Howdy Myers in both sports. On the gridiron, he was a defensive back and a kick and punt returner and a Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star in 1966 and 1967. As a senior, D'Amato recorded three interceptions and averaged 23.3 yards per kickoff return. A two-time co-captain, Coach Myers called him "the finest defensive back he has ever coached."

An attackman on the lacrosse squad, a sport he never played until college, D'Amato was a second team All-American as a senior in 1968 after leading Hofstra with 34 goals and 15 assists. He was also named to the North-South Senior All-Star game that season. In 1967 he was a Laurie Cox Division All-Star after tallying a team-high 32 goals and 18 assists. 

D'Amato was selected by the New York Jets in the 10th round of the 1968 draft and was a member of the 1969 Super Bowl Championship team. He also played one year in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes. 

After retiring from the NFL, D'Amato spent 27 years as an executive of Transleisure companies, serving as vice president for sales and marketing. In 1998 he returned to Hofstra as executive assistant to the president and went on to serve as vice president for development for five years until taking the position of special assistant to the president for alumni affairs.

 An active member of the Hofstra Pride Club, D'Amato served on its board. He was also active in the Marty Lyons Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Carlin/Rudolph Endowed Scholarship Committee, the Joe Namath March of Dimes Golf Tournament Committee, the National Football League Retired Players Association and NFL Alumni Association.  

D'Amato is survived by his wife, Rita, sons, Michael and Gregg, daughter, Susan, their spouses, four grandchildren, and his brother, Richard.



 
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