When he retired as Gateway’s athletic director in 2019, Randy Rovesti said, “I don’t want to let people think I’m afraid of dying. … I want to golf, I want to see my grand kids, I want to relax.”
Rovesti did all those things and more in his twilight years, finally taking time to reflect on a brilliant journey — a life spent bettering those around him through sports.
Many of his family members, friends and colleagues have been reminiscing about a man who, as his obituary says, left behind “a legacy defined by dedication, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to his family and community.”
Rovesti, formerly of North Huntingdon, died Tuesday. The former AD, coach and administrator at Norwin, was 74.
Rovesti worked at Norwin for 23 years before retiring in 2013. He was AD for a decade and served as a teacher, football coach and assistant principal.
He also was a longtime member of the WPIAL football steering committee, often helping seed playoff teams and set postseason brackets.
“He was the best,” Norwin girls basketball coach Brian Brozeski said. “He is the AD that hired me and supported me during my beginning years. Let’s just say there were a few parent conferences where Randy was very supportive of me, and I am greatly appreciative of the faith he had in me from Day 1.
“He was a great person, friend and mentor. Randy will be missed but not forgotten.”
A Gateway alum, Rovesti was quick to help his alma mater when it needed an AD a few months later, taking over for Harry Orbin. The short-term fix lasted seven years.
Rovesti is in the athletic halls of fame at Gateway and Norwin. He was a standout lineman and linebacker at Gateway when the Gators won a WPIAL championship in 1969 under coach Pete Antimarino. He was a Dapper Dan Athlete of the Year in 1970.
Current Gateway AD Don Holl said he called Rovesti “boss” until his friend’s final days.
“I relied on him for lots of advice, both personal and professional, and couldn’t possibly have respected him more,” Holl said. “He was that rare combination of father figure, friend and confidant — just an all-around amazing man who had a huge impact on my career and my life. Sometimes people will throw around the word love a little carelessly. But I truly loved him and will miss him greatly.”
Rovesti also wrestled and played baseball for the Gators and could have played the latter sport in college. But he chose football and ended up playing for legendary coach Lou Holtz at William & Mary where he was a first-team All-Southern Conference pick in 1973.
Soon after his playing career, coaching beckoned and Rovesti began as a grad assistant at William & Mary before working as an assistant for three years at Brigham Young, where he coached in two Fiesta Bowls.
After a three-year stint as an assistant at North Carolina State, he returned to the area and became an assistant at Plum, which won the WPIAL 4A title in 1983.
The Norwin chapter of his life began in 1984 when he became head football coach, guiding the Knights until 1993. The 4A coach of the year guided Norwin to its first playoff appearance.
“Randy was always about the kids,” former Norwin football coach Dave Brozeski said. “He helped promote school spirit, and I believe it was under his watch that the term ‘Castle Crew’ was started as the name for the student section. Additionally, Randy served as a mentor to younger coaches and always worked to help coaches improve. I was fortunate to have been a coach at Norwin during Randy’s time as athletic director.”
Current Norwin AD Mike Burrell worked for Rovesti for more than two years. They remained friends after Rovesti’s retirement.
Burrell called him a mentor.
“When I first became his assistant he said to me, in this job, there are many times you aren’t going to make friends,” Burrell said. “So, when you make decisions, always put the kids first.
“He was first class and loved what he did.”
Former Yough athletic director Tom Evans attended WPIAL and AD meetings around the state with Rovesti.
“We spent probably 30 years going to the AD conference in Hershey,” Evans said. “He always had a good smile for you and told a joke. He supported his coaches. … And he loved his cherry pie.”
Holl, who is also the Gators’ football coach, remembers something Rovesti said to him in the final seconds of a PIAA football semifinal in 2017 against Manheim Central.
“He leaned in and said quietly to me, ‘What took you so long?’ (to reach the PIAA final), accompanied by one of those great genuine smiles he would share in a moment of joy,” Holl said. “There were many more moments like that, large and small, but that is one of my favorites.”
Burrell took Rovesti’s spot as WPIAL steering committee chairman.
They spent time together on the golf course. Burrell said Rovesti liked his sweets.
“He was a sugar addict,” Burrell said. “Donuts and pie were essential food groups to him. We’d have to pick courses close to Dairy Queens.”
Rovesti is survived by Debbie Rovesti, his wife of 47 years; his children, Randy (Jessica) Rovesti, Kelly (Mike) Arbogast and Chelsey (fiance Nate McCartney); five grandchildren; siblings Lori (Joe) Gulaskey and Ken Rovesti; and his nieces and nephews.