In Memory of Ed Nietopski

Mar. 14th, 2023 2:00 pm

I had the honor of attending calling hours on Sunday with my wife, Wendy, for a man who dedicated his life to serving others, especially the youth in our community, and someone who I always admired. Ed Nietopski, a beloved, friend, coach, mentor, father, and athlete sadly passed away last week at the age of 95 years old. Ed was a successful pro baseball player for various minor leagues, including our own Rochester Red Wings for almost ten years. After he retired from baseball he reached to his calling, working with our youth as a coach. He coached at the high school level for 47 years at Catholic schools in our community like Cardinal Mooney and Bishop Kearney. Ed built a distinguished career where he received many awards and honors including becoming a member of the Section Five and National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He became not only a very successful coach to his team but a teacher, someone for his players to look up to and learn from. Even when he retired, he found time to volunteer for organizations like Holy Childhood and Camp Good Days. For a number of summers Ed would come out to our Recreational Facility on Keuka Lake to help our young campers bake cookies.

This community will certainly miss Ed Nietopski. The good lord blessed him with a long life, beautiful marriage of 72 years to his wife, Betty, and seven children, one of which has been a longtime friend of my wife. Both were great female athletes and I remember Teresa and Wendy always fighting like sisters and Wendy saying “your dad likes me best,” that I will never forget. He was a rare breed in which service to young people was first and foremost in their lives. I and the children at Camp Good Days will miss him, but I know he is in heaven doing what he does best, teaching and coaching.