Robert Gerbino has been described as a great coach, mentor, teacher, administrator, and gentleman.

Bob began his athletic career at Valley Stream Central High School where, teammates Harold Earl and Ralph Jansson, he distinguished himself as a wrestling champion. He was a three-time SSAL Champion: 1944, ’45, ’46. He was also the Long Island Champion in those years.

Bob went on to Syracuse University where he wrestled for the great coach Joe McDaniel and competed on the Eastern Intercollegiate championship teams with wrestling luminaries Pascal Perri, Ken Hunte, Joe Settanni, George Gebhardt, Lou Tschirhart, and Bob Bury. He won a EIWA title in 1950, finished fourth in 1951, and then second in 1952. He was voted the outstanding Syracuse wrestler in 1952.

As a coach at Seaford High School, Bob began the wrestling program in 1956 and coached countless high school champions. His teams were known to be well-coached and always exhibited fair play and good sportsmanship. In 1994 several of the Seaford wrestling alumni formed the “Friends of Seaford Wrestling Committee” and established the annual Bob Gerbino Wrestling Night to honor their legendary coach.

Coach Gerbino was an outstanding individual who had a deep passion for wrestling and was able to develop enthusiastic involvement from all of the wrestlers he came into contact with. He had an ability to bring out the best in others and push them to heights they never dreamed possible. His leadership was positive and commanding. His integrity was uncompromised as he was an honest and forthright individual at all times in trying to bring out the best in others.

Coach Gerbino’s teaching style and steady influence on his team were lifelong learning experiences. His expectations for all of his athletes and coaches included diligence in and out the classroom, strict training habits, height moral character, and fair play.

As one alumni reported, “I recall it as if it was yesterday. After an exhausting practice, Coach Gerbino had gathered us around as usual to talk to us. He was telling us that he wasn’t just teaching us wrestling but was also teaching us as a valuable lesson for life that would serve us well long after we stopped wrestling. I remember sitting there, soaked in sweat and bleeding from somewhere and thinking like ‘OK Coach enough-now can we go home?’

He talked about perseverance, overcoming difficult obstacles, dedication, always aiming high in our personal goals, and teamwork. To this day every year, sometime, somehow I remember his speech, and I am thankful for all those things he taught us.”

Last June marked the 12th consecutive year of the annual where former Seaford wrestlers and alumni gathered to celebrate the remarkable coach’s life.

At the 2000 event Coach Gerbino was voted Seaford’s “Wrestling Man of the Century!”