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St. Mike’s mourns loss of longtime coach

Pendergast with Leo Rations and Jonas Valanciunas
BIG CONTRIBUTION: Though he looks small, Dan Prendergast is seen here in January this year at the 55th annual St. Mike’s/Nike Invitational standing with 6-foot-8 St. Mike’s alum and basketball commentator Leo Rautins, left, and 7-foot Toronto Raptor Jonas Valanciunas. Prendergast is remembered by many at St. Mike’s for his more than 50 years as a faculty member and his 27 years of work with the basketball team — one of the best in the country.

St. Michael’s College School is mourning the loss of a longtime faculty member and coach.

Dan Prendergast, who has been involved with the school for more than 50 years, died Oct. 11 at his home in Grand Bend. He was 80.

Prendergast began his career at St. Mike’s in 1962 as a teacher, eventually serving various roles at the school including director of counselling services as well as vice principal, a position he held when he retired in 1996.

Post-retirement, Prendergast remained at St. Mike’s in fundraising roles, as well as most recently serving as the contact for alumni affairs with the school’s advancement team.

For 27 years, Prendergast was also involved with the varsity basketball team, the Blue Raiders — a team that nabbed OFSAA gold medals in the top tier in 2013 and 2015. He was inducted into the school’s sports hall of fame in 2010 for his contributions, which have also led him to be recognized as one of the top high school basketball coaches in the country.

Current St. Mike’s basketball coach Jeff Zownir announced Prendergast’s passing on Twitter the day he died, writing that he was “a mentor and father figure to many of us” and a “humble and dedicated family man who devoted his life to serving (St. Michael’s College) and others.”

Prendergast received the Paul Salfi Award earlier this year during the All Ontario Catholic Classic tournament for his role in helping shape the game at the high school level in Ontario. The award has been given annually since 2005 to someone who shows “true selfless volunteerism” as well as dedication and sacrifice.

Stan Kuliavas, president of the Blue Raiders Alumni Group, remembered Prendergast as a “great man” and “mentor”, writing on Twitter that his passing was a “big loss for the Blue Raider family.”

He also received St. Mike’s highest honour, the Order of St. Michael, this spring.

He is survived by daughters Erin and Kelly, and sons Daniel and Ryan, who both attended St. Mike’s. His grandson Ben currently attends the school.

Visitation was Oct. 15 at Morley Bedford Funeral Home on Eglinton west of Yonge Street. His funeral was Oct. 16 at Holy Rosary Church on St. Clair Avenue West.