The University of Portland community is mourning the loss of alumnus, former athletics administrator and golf coach, and incredibly dedicated Pilots fan Mauro Potestio, who passed away Saturday at the age of 86. He is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. His wife of more than 60 years, Ann, passed away in 2010.
Potestio, with his dapper attire and signature bowtie, is a legendary figure on The Bluff and is best known for his absolute devotion to the men’s basketball team. Mauro attended 898 consecutive home games, a streak that spanned 62 years and 12 different Presidential administrations. The streak began and ended with victories – a 53-48 win over Pacific Lutheran on Dec. 8, 1949 and a 85-70 win over nationally ranked St. Mary’s on Jan. 29, 2011. Mauro also attended 256 away games, bringing his grand total of Pilots games watched to 1,154.
Potestio was honored with the “Ultimate Fan Award” at the 2011 Oregon Sports Awards in January, and has had several feature articles written about him and his streak.
Mauro was born in Colorado and moved to Portland in 1932, graduating from Franklin High School. He came to the University after serving with the Army Air Corps as an air traffic controller during World War II in the China-Burma-India theater. While a student, he served as president of The Log, the University yearbook, and his love for Pilots athletics – which began in his youth when he would watch Pilots football games at Multnomah Stadium (now PGE Park) – blossomed. He received his undergraduate degree in 1950 and a master’s degree in 1954.
Potestio spent his career in education, primarily at Orient Elementary School, where he spent 30 years as principal.
During that time Potestio was also heavily involved with the University athletic department, serving in various positions for 45 years. He was the scorekeeper for the men’s basketball team from 1956 to 1980 after being asked by former Pilots head coach Jim “Mush” Torson. From 1980 to 1988, Mauro served as sports information director, after which he became the men's head golf coach, a position he held from 1988 to 2001. In 1993, he led the program to its second West Coast Conference championship. He was named the WCC Coach of the Year in 1994.
Mauro was a leader in the Italian-American community in Portland, serving on the board of directors for the Portland-Bologna Sister City Association and being an active member of Club Paesano. He was nearly as big a fan of Frank Sinatra as the Pilots, with an impressive collection of Sinatra memorabilia, records and framed photographs.
In a recent article from the Portland Tribune, Mauro was quoted saying: “I’ve had a lifelong investment in the University of Portland. I wouldn’t call it a hobby, but a true devotion to the Pilots.”
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church (2408 SE 16th Ave) with a reception to follow. An on-campus memorial service is pending.
