Known in wrestling circles as simply "Venti," Gary Ventimiglia had a wrestling career that spanned 21 years before being cut short by his unexpected death at 42 years old.

A prodigy of Ted Peterson, Gary wrestled for Island Trees High School from 1965 to 1968. He won the Nassau County title at 157 pounds in 1968 and reached the finals of the New York state championships, where he lost to Carl Adams, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Gary began his college career at Orange County Community College, finishing second in the Junior College National tournament, before wrestling at Lock Haven University, where he was a Pennsylvania state college champion.

He began his coaching career working as an assistant for his former coach, mentor and friend Peterson. Together they coached several Nassau County champions, three state champions and two county championship teams. It was during this time that Gary learned that coaching was far more than wins and losses, but rather the best way to impact the lives of others. He gained so much from his coach and father figure, Peterson, that it became his mission to pay it forward.

Gary would develop relationships with athletes he coached that went beyond wrestling or football. He was also a friend and mentor to his fellow coaches. He knew that sports would build character and discipline that would later translate to a superior work ethic.

He helped students plan for and apply to college. He would always stress that sports will shape you as a future leader and instill in you the discipline necessary for insuring a successful future. He would say celebrate your achievements but never live in the past.

Leaving Long Island Trees he had a short stint coaching at North Shore High School before moving on to East Meadow, where he ended his career while building a strong wrestling program.

Through the years Gary had many winning teams and coached many champions, but his last team at East Meadow made a profound impact on Gary and he on them. Gary often spoke of this team as a special group of guys that were like sons to him. They would often run to the house and drop by as a routine part of their workouts. Each of them had a special place in his heart as they graduated and went off to college he watched them with great pride.

Gary was an enthusiastic coach with an incredible sense of humor and was a prankster at heart. He loved creating crazy rivalries with his fellow coaches at other schools to add another element of competition for his athletes.

He would encourage spectators to bring pots and pans to matches to raise the level of enthusiasm from the student body. He would hire volunteers to sing the National Anthem live at matches and introduce the wrestlers under spotlights to the “Rocky” theme song. All was to create interest in the sport and create an exciting atmosphere for his wrestlers and the fans.

He loved being a coach, mentor, and a friend, but nothing made him happier than his wife Nancy and two daughters Linda and Lauren who if they weren’t working a clock or keeping score were on the sidelines cheering.

Today four of his East Meadow wrestlers fund a scholarship that is awarded each year in Gary’s name. One of them said that he became the man he is because of Gary. Since he can’t pay him back he will pay it forward and that is a legacy Gary would be so proud of.