Rosie Amato, a three-sport athlete at Easton High School who later was a stellar football and wrestling official and assignor as well as athletic director and school board member passed away last week. He was 83.
Amato left a lasting impression wherever he went.
“The Easton Area School District offers our condolences to the family of Rosie Amato,” Easton athletic director Matt Baltz sand on behalf of the Red Rovers’ athletic department. “Rosie was a family-first guy. A three-sport standout at Easton, he continued his football career at N.C. State. He returned to the area and went on to serve as an athletic director, official, assignor and school board member, showing his dedication to his community and education-based athletics. He will certainly be missed, but his contributions will not be forgotten.”
Amato was a standout football player and wrestler at Easton before playing offensive tackle at North Carolina State, where he played in multiple college football bowl games.
He returned to the Lehigh Valley, where he was a well-known high school wrestling official, assignor and evaluator, working many PIAA Wrestling Championships.
“When I wrestled in the late ’70s,” former wrestling official and assignor Gene Waas recalled, “Rosie got the big matches along with Bobby Winters and Rich Gross. When I joined [the Lehigh Valley wrestling] chapter in 1980-81, he was the assignor for a good 20 years.”
Waas later became the local chapter assignor for two decades after being one of the state’s top officials. It was Amato who elevated Waas and other young officials.
“He always tried to help you out,” Waas added. “He gave me Easton-Pburg six years in a row. He knew how to use his resources, and he did a lot for young referees. Back then, you had to be approved by the coaches. He pushed for getting young officials big matches.”
Amato also was an ACC football official for more than 25 years before serving as an ACC instant replay official and later the supervisor of officials for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
He was inducted into the District 11 Wrestling Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. He later served as Wilson Area’s athletic director and a member of the Bethlehem Area School District board for 16 years.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Wilson Area Athletic Director Rosie Amato,” Wilson athletic director Jeff Breidinger said. “A leader whose influence extended far beyond our school district and touched the entire Lehigh Valley community.
“On a personal level, Rosie played a defining role in my journey. He led the athletic department during my junior and senior years at Wilson Area and later welcomed me back as a college student to coach and intern in the athletic office. Those early opportunities shaped the path that ultimately led me to serve in the very role he once held. I am profoundly grateful for his belief in me and for the example he set.
“Rosie’s dedication to student-athletes, coaches and the broader community left a lasting mark. His leadership and generosity strengthened this department and laid the foundation we continue to build upon today. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who were fortunate enough to learn from him. His legacy will continue to guide us.”
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com