Maxwell Football Club Loses Longtime Friend Dan Stafferi

Dan "Lake" Stafferi and longtime friend of the Maxwell Football Club and a coach at the University of Pennsylvania for 33 years, died Thursday April 8, 2010 of bladder cancer at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Mr. Stafferi played college football at the University of Maryland and was a member of the Terps' 1953 national championship team. During his time at Maryland he played in a total of four bowl games, a Sugar Bowl, Gator Bowl and two Orange Bowls.

Dan coached high school football at St. Joseph's Prep, St. Thomas Moore, Lenape, Cherry Hill West and West Catholic before moving on to Penn in 1977 as the head freshman coach. Coach Stafferi served as Penn's "spirit coach" and was well known for his sayings like "do better than your best" and "setbacks lead to comebacks". He was widely known for his flamboyant attire notably his plaid pants and red blazer. Dan also proudly sported his ten Ivy League championship rings on occasion.

Maxwell Football Club board member Mark Dianno offered the following thoughts on Mr. Stafferi. "I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Coach Dan "Lake" Stafferi on April 8, 2010. During my playing days at Penn and for many years before and after, Coach Stafferi, as in "Lake Erie," would inspire and invigorate players, coaches, students and fans of the Penn Football program with his boundless energy and his undying enthusiasm. Every week he would come up with different slogans for the team we were playing and would tape the slogan to his forehead during practice to constantly remind us of the task at hand. None was better than Princeton week when he would encourage us to "Squash the Pumpkin Heads." His knowledge and passion for Penn Football were surpassed only by his love for his family which, during his 33 years at Penn, included every single player who stepped foot into Franklin Field and donned a Penn helmet and jersey. His presence on the Penn sidelines will be sorely missed; however, his legacy and his undying devotion to Penn Football, its players, coaches, trainers, fans and students will, like his spirit, endure forever in Franklin Field. "

Coach "Lake" was a long time friend and supporter of the Maxwell Football Club and attended the Club's High School and National Awards Dinner each year. He took the opportunity to speak to the Club's award winners and to implore them to do "better than their best".

"Dan will certainly be missed by all of his friends at the Maxwell Football Club", said the Club's Executive Director Mark Wolpert. "Dan was one of those special people who had the ability to impact so many players during his life. Above all he was a kind man who always had time to help in any way possible. Each year Dan would hand write letters to each of our fifty high school awards winners to congratulate them and to urge them to continue their success in other areas of their lives. He was a truly unique and special man."

Mr. Stafferi was a resident of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and is survived by his loving wife Suzanne who he always called "Buttercup".