Ten years ago, Long Island lost a role model in the sports community. John Ruggiero, co-founder of Island Garden Super League and St. John the Baptists' basketball coach, lost his battle against cancer on December 17, 1994. He may be gone, but his legacy is left on the court.

Before his passing, John was head coach for St. John the Baptist's men's freshman basketball team in West Islip. He began his high school coaching career at St. John's a few years prior when he was the assistant coach for the men's varsity team, but took the freshman team so that he wouldn't miss his eldest son playing ball. At the time he was playing for Holy Trinity High School.

During this time, John also led his St. Bernard's 4th grade travel team to a record 21-0 season. Along with fellow coaches at St. Bernard's gym in Levittown, and management, including, Jim Fox, now C.E.O. of Island Garden Basketball, Inc., they came up with an idea for a competitive basketball league, available to all ages, unlike any other. The John Ruggiero/JP Morgan Chase Super league, with just 32 teams in its first year, has now grown to over 300 teams in 11 years. Island Garden is nationally recognized as being a premier basketball facility, welcoming over 4,000 visitors each week.

Jim Fox misses the times he spent with the outspoken and sometimes controversial coach that he was proud to call his friend. "John had a unique way of talking to his players and he taught them, not only about basketball, but about life," said Mr. Fox. "He always had the biggest smile on his face...his laugh was contagious...and his presence was always known."

John was diagnosed with Hodgekin's Disease in 1988 and was told he wouldn't live more than six months. Six years later, his life ended during recovery from a second bone marrow transplant. John's loving wife, Linda, believes that his love of sports and family is what kept him alive. "He never let the cancer ruin his life, instead, he lived a fuller life in those six years, than some live in a lifetime," said his wife, Linda Ruggiero. "Sometimes in the middle of the night, when I couldn't sleep, he would tell me, if I can't control it then there's nothing I can do about it...now go back to sleep. I never knew someone with such a positive outlook, when all the odds were against him."

Today, Island Garden Basketball in West Hempstead, dedicates their JP Morgan Chase Super League to John. The league encourages all of the things John lived by: team, commitment, leadership,and will. John was inspired by N.C. State coach, Jimmy Valvano, who also lost his life to cancer, and the highly publicized Indiana coach, Bobby Knight.

To add to his resume, John was also a long time umpire, referee, and AAU women's basketball coach for Wantagh and Levittown sports clubs. He dedicated his life to coaching his sons Chris and Richie in tee-ball, baseball, basketball, and soccer, as well as coaching his daughter's teams in softball. His love for his wife Linda was unparalleled. The Ruggiero family finds solace in knowing what an impact John left to the Long Island community.

When John was out of remission in 1990, he quoted Lou Gehrig by saying, "I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

With the help of IGB, the Ruggiero family is collecting toys for sick children this holiday season. For more information on how you can donate, please contact Angela Ruggiero at 729-6848 or visit IGB at 45 Cherry Valley Ave. to drop off toys.