Peter Looney Obituary

Peter Looney attended Apponequet Regional High School in Lakeville, MA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Peter Looney.

Graduation Year	Class of 2012
Date of Passing	Dec 23, 2011
About	LOONEY, Peter B. Of East Freetown, passed away on Friday morning, surrounded by his family. He was 68 years old. He is the son of the late Olga B. (Strycharz) Looney and the late William Looney; beloved husband of Muriel (Pothier) for 45 years; loving father of Scott Looney and his wife Christine of Suffield CT, Melissa Vacon of Salem MA and Lisa Kuliga and her husband Peter of Lakeville MA; adored grandfather of Cassandra Looney, Brendan Looney, Kade Kuliga and Reid Kuliga; cherished brother of Catherine (Looney) Ward and her husband Stephen of Braintree MA. Peter graduated from New Bedford High School in 1962, earning an athletic scholarship to Murray State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree and excelled in cross country and track. He received Master's degree from Bridgewater State College, and various additional certifications from Lesley College, North Carolina State University, and Concordia University in Montreal Canada. He started his career as a Physical Education teacher at New Bedford's Roosevelt Jr. High School in 1966, and coached Men's Cross-Country at New Bedford High School in 1967. He spent 20 years working in the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School system. He held positions at Apponequet High School of Teacher, Athletic Director, Director of Physical Education and Assistant Principal. He had an extremely successful coaching career at Apponequet during that time. He coached Men's Track and Field for seven years, Men's Cross Country for eight years, winning 4 state titles, Women's Field Hockey for five years and Women's Softball for 13 years winning 4 state titles. His success at Apponequet earned him multiple conference, district and state coach of the year awards; as well as the National Women's Softball High School Coach of the Year honor in 1981. Peter was also elected a member of the inaugural class of the Apponequet High School's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981, and has served as a committee member for the Hall of Fame for many years. He was a strong advocate of community based recreational services, and for nearly a decade, was the Director of Parks and Recreation in the town of Lakeville; and Director of the Community Recreation Program, serving the towns of Freetown and Lakeville. For 14 years, Peter served as the Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health of the Stoughton Public School system and was honored with having the high school's athletic complex dedicated in his name upon his retirement in 2001. Peter spent 27 years as the Assistant Coach and Pitching Consultant for the University of Connecticut Women's Softball team, and more recently returned back to Apponequet High School as head coach of the Women's Softball team this past spring. For most of his professional life, Peter's passion was coaching women's softball. He was involved in running multiple softball camps, appearing as a featured speaker at softball clinics throughout the country, co-authoring books, and fostered a relationship with a softball school in Apeldoorn Holland, enabling him to bring US teams to Holland for international games, clinics and camps. He also served as a private pitching instructor for over 300 students in his 'garage' training facility in Freetown, MA. Many of his "garage girls" have gone on to successful collegiate pitching careers. At the request of Peter and his family, funeral services will be private. A public memorial service to celebrate Peter's life will be held on Saturday 12/31/11 at 9:00am at the First Church of the Nazarene, 764 Hathaway Road, New Bedford, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, tax deductible contributions can be made to the Looney Legacy Foundation (dedicated to the advancement of cancer research), PO Box 404; Suffield, CT 06078. Arrangements are by the Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home, 280 Bedford St., Lakeville, MA