Emil John Wandishin

Emil Wandishin Obituary
On March 28, 2025 the final buzzer sounded for Coach Emil Wandishin, 92, who passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family. He lived in Ewing Township with his wife, Doris, where he resided for 64 years before moving to Meadow Lakes in Hightstown, NJ.
Emil was born and grew up in Hazleton, PA. A starting basketball point guard for Hazleton High School where he attained All-State honors, he earned a full basketball scholarship to Long Island University (LIU) under the legendary basketball coach Claire Bee, the number one college basketball program at the time. Before he had a chance to play for LIU, the basketball program was discontinued. He then was awarded a full basketball scholarship to St. Francis of Loretto where he earned a B.A. degree in history and was selected to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Emil was the starting point guard his junior and senior years and played alongside Basketball Hall of Famer Maurice Stokes. The Frankies in his junior year lost in the national quarterfinals and in his senior year lost in overtime in the national semi-finals to the number two team in the country in Madison Square Garden. After college, he turned down two professional basketball offers to continue his playing career with the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots and Hazleton in the Eastern Pro League. He later earned a Master's Degree in Education at the College of New Jersey (aka Trenton State College).
Emil's professional career after college involved being a social studies teacher for over 37 years at the middle school level in Ewing Township. He coached basketball at the collegiate and high school levels and baseball and track teams at the middle school level. He is mostly known for his success building and leading the Ewing High School boys' basketball program to two state championships, six sectional championships, the school's only undefeated regular season and numerous state and county team titles. Over the years, he received a number of coaching honors that included Mercer County Coach of the Year selections, Ewing Jaycees Man of the Year and Distinguished Service awards, Ewing Knights of Columbus Man of the Year award, Rider College Dean of Education citation, Father Clarence Award, Robert Worthington Community award, Father O'Shea Special Achievement award, West Trenton Italian-American award, and the Trenton Knights of Columbus award. He was elected to the Ewing High School Hall of Fame (HOF), Hazleton PA HOF and Pennsylvania Sports HOF (Luzerne County Chapter). The Ewing High School gym was named in his honor. But the accomplishment he was most proud of was helping a number of his former ball players secure scholarships to various colleges across the country to continue their education.
He is predeceased and was the youngest son of the late Michael and Anna (Hama) Wandishin of Hazleton, PA. He is also predeceased by the love of his life, his wife Doris, who he was married to for 62 years and by three brothers, the late Thomas (and wife late Irene) of Baltimore, MD, the late Edward (and wife late Patricia) of Kenneth Square, PA and the late Michael Wandishin, Hazleton, PA. He is survived and mourned by two sons, John and wife Denise of Monmouth Junction, New Jersey and David of Reno, Nevada. He had four grandchildren who he loved dearly and was very proud of Ashley, Clayton, Jenna and husband Esteban, and Anne and many cousins, nieces, grand nieces and nephews.
Calling hours well be on Thursday, April 3 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Brenna-Cellini Funeral Home on 1584 Parkside Avenue, Ewing Township, NJ 08638. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, April 4 at 10am at Incarnation-St. James with entombment following at St. Mary's Cemetery, 1200 Cedar Lane, Hamilton, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Please visit Emil's tribute page at www.brennacellinifuneralhomes.com.
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