Obituary: Ed Petrie, Former East Hampton High School Basketball Coach, Dies at 82

Ed Petrie, a former East Hampton High School basketball coach of over 40 years and New York State’s winningest public high school boys basketball coach, died of a sudden illness on Sunday, May 24 at Southampton Hospital. He was 82.

After 10 years of working as a physical education teacher and basketball and baseball coach at Pierson High School in Sag Harbor, Petrie began coaching the East Hampton Bonackers in 1969, according to 27east.

In the 1970s, under Petrie’s leadership, the team began a “powerhouse” with a 62-4 record between 1975 and 1978 according to 27east.

“It’s a tremendous loss for the East Hampton community,” Howard Wood, the current coach of the East Hampton High School girls team who won a state championship under Petrie in 1977, told The East Hampton Star. “He had two sons named Petrie, but he had dozens of other sons. He taught them so much about a lot outside of basketball.”

In 1979, Petrie also helped coach the Bridgehampton High School team to a state championship while East Hampton was on an austerity budget, according to The East Hampton Star.

In 1989, he led the team to its first official state championship and to the state tournament in both 2008 and 2009, according to 27east.

“He was tough on us, but we all knew why and the results backed him up,” East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo who played for Petrie’s varsity in the 1980s and had been in his youth basketball program since he was 8 years old, told The East Hampton Star. “We have a proud tradition and extended family of Bonac basketball alumni . . . thanks to Coach. Many of us have been exchanging texts, calls, and emails today, reminiscing on our days playing for Coach. It’s a big loss for East Hampton, he will be missed.”

He led the team to win the overall Suffolk County Championship in both 2008 and 2009, according to 27east.

Before his retirement in 2010, the Bonackers were 67-6 between 2007 and 2009, according to 27east.

In the duration of his 52-year career, Petrie won a total of 20 league titles, three county championships, and two state title and set a state record for public high schools with 754 wins, according to The East Hampton Star.

In 2010, the basketball court at the high school was renamed Coach Petrie Court, according to The East Hampton Star.

“As someone who is new to this community, one of the first things you learn about is Coach Petrie and all of his accomplishments,” principal Adam Fine said in a Patch article written in 2011. “He is a legend here at East Hampton High School and has left an indelible mark on players he has coached. This court naming is the least we can do for such a influential figure here at the high school.”

Petrie is survived by his wife, Nancy Petrie, his four children: Ed Petrie Jr., Michael Petrie, Miriam Petrie and Cindy Petrie; his grandchildren James Petrie, Shannon Petrie and Michael Russell; his step-children Sue Morris, Joanna Brinker and Karen McQuiston; and seven step-granddaughters.

“Ed was loved and respected by everyone who knew him,” Nancy told 27east. “His concern for those he cared deeply about was at the core of his values. I’m so grateful for our years together, and the community’s response lets me know that so many others share a profound and personal sense of loss. We were all lucky that he was in our lives.”

Visitation will take place at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home, located a t94 Pantigo Road in East Hampton on Thursday May 28 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Donations can be made in his name to the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons.