July 26, 1930 - July 26, 2012

Thomas J. "Tucker" Reddington isn't just being remembered as an iconic football coach, a South Buffalo guy, a funeral director and a family man. Family and friends gathered at Reddington's own funeral home on Saturday to pay their respects to the man who wore multiple hats throughout his accomplished life. Reddington died after a brief battle with cancer in the Erie County Medical Center on Thursday (July 26, 2012), his 82nd birthday.

Reddington had a life-long passion for football. He was the head coach at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Kenmore from 1960 to 1980, compiling a 122-40-8 record (.714). His 1964 and 1967 squads were undefeated at 8-0. His years at St. Joe's were followed by coaching stints at the University at Buffalo, Canisius College, Gannon University and Buffalo State College.

In 1998, he was inducted into the St. Joe's Sports Hall of Fame and in 2003 he was inducted into the inaugural Harvard Cup Sports Hall of Fame. The day he died, his family was informed that he would be inducted into the inaugural South Park High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Reddington and Bill Hurley Sr. were inducted into the St. Joe's Hall of Fame the same year. Reddington coached three of Hurley's sons: Bill throughout high school, Andy for his last two years at St. Joe's and at UB, and Marty when he played at Canisius.

"For 20 years he coached my kids," said the elder Hurley. "All I could tell his wife today at the wake was we lost a good guy. He was not only a great coach, he was a great person, always pleasant, to the point and good at whatever he did. That's no baloney."

Reddington coached 16 All-Western New York players (see Page B-11). Larry Van Loan (who played at Navy) was a multi-year pick (1968, 1969) as was as Chris Rehbaum (1977, 1978), who was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1979. Chris Nickrenz (1978) continued his career at Florida State while John Quinn (1973) played at Colgate.

Bob O'Connor said he's known Reddington since he coached him as a 14-year-old freshman at St. Joe's.

He played quarterback for him in 1962-1964 and later joined his coaching staff as an assistant for six years starting in 1975. O'Connor then took over for Reddington as head coach of the Marauders before the 1981 season.

O'Connor said Reddington wasn't just his mentor, but a father-figure who probably knew more football than any man he's ever known. He said when he wasn't going to football clinics, he was putting them on.

"Tucker was old school, a task master. He was real mechanical and taught you the finer points of the game," said O'Connor. "He was very much a stickler on having good technique, ‘Let's do it over until we get it right.' He was a very detailed coach who did a lot of film study."

Reddington, born in South Buffalo, was a 1948 graduate of South Park High school, where he developed his life-long love of football. He was selected to the 1946 All-High team at center before moving onto Colgate University. He entered the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and served at Tokyo International Airport as Chief Weather Observer.

He was a Past Commander of South Buffalo American Legion Post 721, past President of the St. Thomas Aquinas Holy Name Society, a former member of South Buffalo Lions Club as well as the WNY High School Football Coaches Association and an active member of the Erie-Niagara Funeral Directors Association.

In addition to his wife, Madonna, he is survived by three sons —Thomas Jr., James and Patrick — and four daughters — Teresa Blake, Mary, Madonna and Colleen Brennan — and six grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother John and two sisters, Patricia Maloney Carberry and Maureen McBride.