Mauro F. Potestio

Potestio, Mauro F. 86 07/27/1924 02/05/2011 Mauro Fortunato Potestio was born in Firestone, Colo., to Italian immigrants Agostino and Mary (Ghiglietti) Potestio. The family moved to Portland in 1933 and settled into the South Portland neighborhood where Mauro attended Failing Grade School. After moving to the eastside prior to his sophomore year, Mauro graduated from Franklin High School, the class of 1942. Call to duty interrupted his freshman year at the University of Oregon and he proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Force in the China-India-Burma theatre of war from 1943 to 1946. Briefly stationed in Atlantic City, N.J., before his deployment overseas, Mauro met the love of his life, Ann Attomanchek on the boardwalk in nearby Asbury Park. It was a relationship that was to last the rest of their lives. Married in Ann's hometown, Elizabeth, N.J., Sept. 8, 1946, their life together began on the East Coast. Mauro truly loved Portland though, and the G.I. Bill provided him an opportunity to go to the University of Portland. He received a bachelor's degree in education in 1950 and went on to get his master's degree in 1954. His teaching career quickly transitioned into the role of principal at Orient Grade School, a position he held for 24 years. He was a charter member of the Confederation of School Administrators Association. Mauro's devotion to the University of Portland (and his desire to do something new) brought him back to the campus in the capacity of sports information director in 1980. He was already a well-known component of the athletic department, having been the basketball official scorekeeper and being recognized for his home attendance streak of then 31 consecutive years. They had no idea. Honored just last week by the Oregon Sports Awards as the first recipient of its Ultimate Fan Award, Mauro attended his final game, the 898th consecutive of his home game streak, Jan. 29, 2011. Since 1949, Mauro has seen two-thirds of all the men's games and he was proud to say, over 80% of their wins. Add to that the hundreds of women's games, soccer games (he became almost as obsessed about that program), baseball games and golf tournaments (he was the men's golf coach from 1988 to 2001), to say that Munz (as his family and old friends affectionately referred to him) was a fixture at UP sporting events, would be a gross understatement. He was an oft-honored man. Besides the recent Oregon Sports Award, Mauro was also the university's Alumnus of the Year (1973) and an Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (1997). He was selected the West Coast Conference Golf Coach of the Year (1994) and received a Merit Award at the Oregonian's Banquet of Champions (1997). He was the Potestio family Butts Award recipient in 1980, 1988 and 2007. Active in many civic groups, Mauro never forgot his roots. He was an active member of the Club Paesano, Amici d'Italia, Festa Italiana Association (where he traditionally opened the Opera Night festivities) and an ardent supporter of the Portland-Bologna Sister-City Association. He enjoyed going to events put on by the Newsboys Association, the old Pacific Coast League, and South Portland and Franklin reunions. He and Ann had been parishioners at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church since 1952. A man of inordinate enthusiasms, we cannot speak of his life without mentioning his ultimate fandom of Frank Sinatra. Mauro collected every Sinatra recording, was a member of Sinatra societies, saw him every chance he got and would often be heard in his basement during a break in his action, listening to Ol' Blue Eyes. An avid oil painter, Mauro often portrayed his heroes, Frank, of course among them. Mauro was preceded in death by his brother, Joe; sister, Fenice; and loving wife of almost 64 years, Ann. He is survived by his sons, Phillip (Sally Hudson) and Mike (Karina); daughter, Maura Potestio Barajas (Carlos); grandchildren, Dylan (Jennifer) and Emily Hall, Nicolo and Cosima Potestio and Luisa, Anna and Mickaella Potestio; and great-granddaughter, Eva Hall . He will be greatly missed by his nephews and niece Richard, Robert, Michele and Steve Potestio and their families. Recitation of the rosary will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Southeast 18th Avenue and Division Street. Contributions in Mauro's name may be made to the University of Portland Athletic Department or the Portland-Bologna Sister-City Association.