Anthony Petrillo, a member of the New Jersey Chapter of the Wrestling Hall of Fame, passed away June 8. He was 96.

The Mount Holly resident graduated from G.A.R. High School in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. in 1946, went on to Mansfield University and eventually earned his master’s degree from Rutgers University in 1962.

He began his coaching career at the age of 22, beginning as a football coach at Canisteo High School in New York. In 1957 he moved to New Jersey and coached football at Pemberton Boro High School. He then coached at Rancocas Valley High School, where he taught Physics and coached wrestling and football.

Petrillo was head wrestling coach for more than 27 years, during which time he went on to receive numerous awards while compiling a record of 191-101-4.

His teams won three Burlington County Tournament titles, had 17 consecutive winning seasons, one undefeated season, seven Burlington County League championships and five District titles.

He coached 51 individual District champs, 6 Region champions and 4 state finalists.

In 1981 Coach Petrillo was awarded the Harry E. Lake Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to New Jersey High School Wrestling.

He would also be inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1985, then in 1992 was inducted into the Rancocas Valley Regional High School Hall of Fame. He was later inducted into the South Jersey Coaches Hall of Fame.

Petrillo would also serve on the Executive Committee of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame, the South Jersey Coaches and Officials Executive Committee, the New Jersey State Wrestling Executive Committee, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Committee.

Predeceased by his wife Millie, he is survived by four children, and several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Jacksonville Road, Mount Holley NJ 08060, to establish a scholarship in his memory, or to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children at www.stjude.org.