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Gino reflects on Holovak

Email|Link|Comments (4) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff January 27, 2008 02:03 PM

Before boarding the Patriots' charter flight to Phoenix, former Patriots great Gino Cappelletti reflected on the late Mike Holovak, who passed away today at the age of 88.

“In the second year of the franchise, Mike took over as head coach after five games, and I'll never forget -- from that day, the morale went sky high among the players," Cappelletti recalled in a phone interview. "As a coach, he had the ability to really have you believe in yourself. Having been a player himself, and a good one, he just seemed to know how to get the most out of his players. I know personally that he was so instrumental in whatever successes I enjoyed as a player. I forever will be grateful for that."

Cappelletti remembered Holovak as a true professional.

“He was the most genuine gentleman I think you could ever know, a true gentleman," he said. "Try to picture a coach who never swore. He never used any form of profanity in front of us. I don’t think he did it with anyone. He was a guy who could express himself without having to swear. That was one thing I always liked about him. He had a strong concern for each player as an individual. He was very loyal to the players who played for years with him, and because of that, it was very difficult for him to release them when he thought their playing days are over. I think that gives you an idea of the inner person."

4 comments so far...

I remember Holovak very, very well and the manner in which Gino talks about him was very true. His voice, and his mannerisms, reflected the tone of professionalism at all times.
In fact, some of us used to make a little fun of some of the things he said....on his weekly radio program.... he used the terms "gosh" and "golly" a lot instead of some other forms of speech..and we used to call his show the "Gosh and Golly" program.

One time, at BC Stadium, in the sixties, I had the good fortune of sitting down at the end of the bench while I was assisting the Fallon ambulance driver, and of course, standing alongside the bench for the entire second half in Buffalo at the AFC playoff between the Pats and Bills.

Sad to hear of his passing. He will always be a BIG part of Patriot’s History.

Posted by Mike Allen January 27, 08 05:42 PM

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Holovak was also a coach at Boston College which will hopefully will honor his memory at its athletic events over the next few days and weeks. It would be appropriate for BC to name a facility after MIke.

Posted by John Farrell January 28, 08 02:42 AM

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I live in Sun City Center,Fl. and for the last 9 months I have visited Coach Mike Holovak in his nearby residence, about once a week as his early Alzheimer's disease progressed from mild to serious, before he passed away the other day from pneumonia at the local hospice.As Gino Cappeletti observed, Mike, was one of the most kind and gracious individuals that I have ever met.. Back in 1942 when I was a 16-yr. old student at Malden Catholic, my dad,Mac, was a member of the Mladen Elks, and "Red" Mangene's father, Joe, was kind enough to help us get 2 tickets to the famous B.C.-Holy Cross 55-12 football upset. So I saw Mike Ho.lovak play on the day that he avoided the Coconut Grove fire. Mike always enjoyed me tell ing this story when I sat with him and his lovely wife,Pauline. He would always perk up withever I mentioned Gino Cappeletti or my fellow Malden native, Chucking Charley O'Rourke. It was truly a honor for this old B.C. graduate to finally meet one of my youthful heros. Mike Holovak was a terrific gentlemen, right up until the end. God bless him!

Posted by Tod McGinley January 28, 08 08:05 AM

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As a long time and "older" Pats fan, I vividly remember Mike Holovak on the sidelines with his distinctive hat and appearing to be so in control of everything around him. Please correct me if I am wrong on this, but I seem to remember a terrible tragedy befalling Mike and the entire Holovak family with a young daughter being taken in an accident. Perhaps with such a terrible burden to bear, his commitment to the game of football was his salvation. If anyone can confirm my memory of this part of his life, I would greaty appreciate it.
JD in California

Posted by John Drady January 29, 08 12:39 AM

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