Funeral Services Set For Former Toms River North Basketball Coach

BRICK, NJ ? Funeral services have been set for beloved basketball coach Raymond Cervino, who led the Toms River North girls basketball team to the Tournament of Champions final in 2000.

Cervino died last week at 78 years old, according to his obituary on the O'Brien's Funeral Home website.

Cervino was a history teacher at Toms River North and coached girls basketball for 20 years at Toms River North, where his teams compiled a 313-212 record and won the Shore Conference Class A South division nine times, according to Asbury Park Press records.

He was inducted into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame in 2001, a year after coaching the Mariners to the NJSIAA Group 4 championship and to the Tournament of Champions final, the only Ocean County team to reach the TOC title game. He also was inducted into the Toms River Regional Schools' Hall of Fame with his daughter, Nicole.

His family said his students and players likely remember him just as much for his many sayings, such as "it went the way of the rotary phone," "I said yeah," "oatmeal brain," or, when he was frustrated, "very unintelligent play," you are frosting my apricots," "penetrate goddammit," "or by his most famed catchphrase: 'Geez O Man.' "

Cervino was born in Philadelphia in 1944 to William and Dorothy Cervino, and graduated from St. Joseph?s University before moving to the Shore.

"His younger years were full of baseball and plenty of shenanigans," his family said in his obituary. "He told his grandkids that his youth was comparable to that of John Travolta in the movie Grease. In his finals weeks, Ray even confessed that he spent a year of his young life as a college cheerleader ? all in a bid to show girls how strong he was."

Cervino loved the Shore and "On any given summer?s day, you could find Ray on a boardwalk, haggling tourists into playing a game with him."

Years after retiring from Toms River North, Cervino returned to the court to coach the Antrim Elementary School girls basketball team in Point Pleasant "and his own grandkids, as well," his family said.

"Though he had an iconic career, Ray had an even more iconic retirement," his family said. "In his older years, he got to do what he loved most: spend long days with the love of his life, Mary. He was happiest during the days he spent with his 'Mariooch' ? his eyes would light up whenever she walked in the room. Ray and Mary were known for their youthful escapades, trips to their home in St. Augustine, and shag dancing. Ray and Mary also shared two beloved dogs, Nealie and Simon, who traveled everywhere with the duo."

He died Oct. 7 surrounded by family, including his wife, Mary; his children VIcki, Nicole and Adam and their respective spouses, Michael, Dave, and Heather; eight grandchildren, his sister, Lilla, in-laws, and nieces and nephews, the obituary said.

"Everyone who had the honor of knowing Ray is asked to celebrate his life in their own way. Raising a glass of your favorite drink and bending the elbow in his memory would be quite appropriate," his family said.

Visitation is 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at O?Brien?s Funeral Home, 505 Burnt Tavern Road in Brick. A funeral mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at St. Peter?s Roman Catholic Church, 406 Forman Ave., Point Pleasant Beach.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in his name to Rescue Ridge, PO Box 223 Spring Lake, NJ 07762 or the Wounded Warrior Project, 370 7th Avenue, 3rd floor Room 320, NY, NY 10001, his family said.