Inspire, Winter 2006

Last Call for 81-Year-Old Ref Ray Gentile '51 by Bob Fortuna of The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) October 27, 2006 I t's no easy task keeping pace with Glenville's football players.Even the fittest opponents struggle to stay near burners who clear 40 yards in 4.3 or 4.4 seconds. Yet there was 81-year-old referee Ray Gentile,working the Oct. 13 game between Glenville and Cleveland South at Rhodes High School,serving as a line judge in Glenville's 46-6 win. Gentile will officiate his final game at3p.m.today as South wraps up the regular season against East Tech at John F. Kennedy High School. His retirement will mark the end ofa 57-year career. "I've loved every second ofit, but I'm tired,"said Gentile,a Philadelphia native who moved to Cleveland Heights in fourth grade. Love is an understatement considering it takes Gentile- more than an hour to travel to assignments from his home in Huron. Gentile has donned the black-and-white-striped shirt at least 1,700 times,as he estimated he's averaged at least 30 games per season over the years. He planned to retire after last season,but Senate Athletic League administrators persuaded him to work their games this fall. Gentile has logged many hours on cold,damp,muddy and snow-covered fields. He's tooted his whistle,thrown flags and cranked his arm in a windmill fashion,signaling scoreboard workers to start the clock,on infinite occasions. His unassuming on-the-field style has made him a fixture and a welcome sight. "Ray's always been consistent and fair," said Leonard Jackson,the commissioner ofinterscholastic athletics for the Cleveland School District."He's officiated at least five city championships for me,but the best thing about Ray is his dependability. "He's never missed an assignment and always took what was given him.He's never said,'I don't like going to that field or I don't like working that team or this team." Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. often forgets Gentile has a job to do between the lines because ofthe relationship the two have developed. 20 Winter 2006 "Ray's been around so long,I consider him part ofthe Senate family,"Ginn said."He's got a tough job out there, but he's always been so friendly,alwaysjoking around with the coaches. He's shown me you can work aslong as you want,regardless ofhow old you are,and be good at it, no matter your age." Gentile's aspiration ofbecoming a football player was cut short by a broken leg in seventh grade and a broken wrist two years later. But his love for the game and intrigue for what officials do never waned.He got the first taste ofhis"second career" picking up intramural games while studying biology at Miami(Ohio)University. "There weren't any openings for biology teachers after I graduated,"said Gentile,who also earned a teaching certificate from Cedarville College after graduating from Griswold Institute."So I went to work for AT&T and sold Yellow Page ads in Cleveland,Toledo and other cities in the state. I loved thatjob so much,I stayed there 37 years." He passed the officiating certification test before being assigned his first high school game in 1950,a junior varsity contest at Rhodes,although he cannot recall the teams involved. Since then,he's served on officiating crews for numerous special occasions,including three Charity Games at Cleveland Municipal Stadium and two state championship games. He attributes his longevity to healthy eating and staying active. "I play a lot oftennis and golf,"said Gentile,who spends winters in Florida with one ofhis four daughters. "I also have a boat in Florida,so I swim and go fishing when I'm down there." Gentile's future will be filled with family time.The widower also has two daughters living in Ohio,and another residing in New York.He has six grandchildren. "I'll have plenty to do,"he said. If Gentile gets bored,he can always head to a high school football game.Only this time as a fan.