MAHOPAC – Joseph Bellucci Sr. molded the lives of scores of Mahopac High School students over his three decades long career as both a teacher and coach as well as the overall school community.

It was only fitting that Putnam County’s largest school district dedicated the high school’s wrestling room in Bellucci’s name and that of his family.

On Wednesday prior to a wrestling meet. a ceremony took place when a commemorative sign was unveiled.

Superintendent of Schools Frank Miele, a former student-athlete coached by Bellucci, reflected on the man’s influence as a mentor and role model.

Miele called his former coach “my hero growing up and the reason I became a teacher and a coach. Coach Bellucci had the ability to bring the best out of you each and every day.”

Former colleagues Robert Nussbaum and John Wagner also spoke, along with Joe Bellucci Jr., who shared remarks on behalf of his family.

Bellucci taught mathematics at Mahopac High School from 1954 to 1986 and coached numerous teams, including junior varsity football and baseball, varsity football, varsity baseball, and varsity wrestling. A United States Army veteran, he was known for his disciplined yet compassionate approach and for instilling values of integrity, perseverance, and teamwork in generations of student-athletes. He was also a devoted family man and father of 10.

Miele noted: “The wrestling room dedication ensures that Coach Bellucci’s legacy will continue to inspire Mahopac students and athletes for years to come, serving as a reminder of the lasting impact one educator and coach can have on a community.”