BY JASON COHEN
Marc DeLuca was a family
man, a good friend and loved
baseball. The Throggs Neck native
dedicated his life to the diamond
and coached at St. Raymond
High School for a decade.
Sadly, he passed away at just
41 on Dec. 31, 2020. He is survived
by his wife Cassandra and two
daughters, Gabriella, 4 and Sienna,
2.
His lifelong friend Keith Richardson
started at GoFundMe to
help the DeLuca family and it
has already raised $240,000.
“Marc had a huge heart and
always cared about others,” Richardson
said on the GoFundMe.
“His family was the most important
thing in his life. He made
it a point to stay in contact and
show his love and care for everyone
that he could. Marc would
light up a room and always make
us laugh. He was always there
for those that needed him most.
Marc was an amazing father, husband,
son, brother, uncle, cousin,
friend, teammate, teacher and
coach who is loved and will be
deeply missed by all.”
DeLuca went to Mount Saint
Michael Academy and graduated
from Pace University in 2002,
where he captained the baseball
team. He later earned his master’s
degree in physical education
from Manhattanville College.
He went on to teach and coach
baseball at St. Raymond High
School, where he impacted many
young men and his career was
highlighted by the 2013 CHSAA
City Championship.
“Marc was a son, a brother,
a husband, a father, a friend to
many and a major piece of the Raven
Family,” St. Raymond High
School said on Facebook. “Marc
worked diligently to bring the
Ravens Varsity Baseball team to
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 2 AN. 15-21, 2021
new heights and amazing victories.
He worked with his players
endlessly and encouraged them
to do their best both on and off
the fi eld. Both current and former
students and players were
blessed to have him as a part of
their lives – We are all better people
for knowing you.”
Richardson and DeLuca grew
up together in Throggs Neck. As
many people often drifted apart
as they got older, the two of them
never did. They played baseball
together in high school and college
and both worked for the New
York Rangers.
It was hard for him to talk
about his friend in the past tense.
While they were both married
with kids, the duo was inseparable.
Richardson talked with him
the night before he died and still
cannot believe it happened.
“Marc was a special guy,” he
said. “He was one of those great
people that everyone wanted to
be around.”
He was “Uncle Marc” to Richardson’s
kids. When they were
children their families traveled
and got together often and when
the two started their own families
they did the same.
“Everyone is just trying to
deal with it,” he said. “Everybody
loved him. He was a great
guy. We will all deeply miss. He
was like my brother.”
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Bronx community
raises nearly $250k
to support family of
late baseball coach
Marc DeLuca with his wife Cassandra and two daughters, Gabriella, 4 and Sienna, 2.
Photos courtesy of Keith Richarson