Terrence A.”Terry” McMenamin, age 74, of Fairmount and East Falls, Philadelphia, Pa., died Jan. 6, 2023.
Terry is survived by his son Matthew (Victoria), his daughter Lauren Deming and 3 grandchildren; Ian, Ryan and Maxwell McMenamin. He was preceded in death by his son Daniel.
Terry taught elementary and middle school children for many years. He also worked with before and after school programs for these children. He coached High School soccer, basketball and baseball. In addition, Terry worked as a camp counselor.
There will be a Visitation at the funeral home, 3711 Midvale Ave. Phila. 19129 at 10 o’clock on Sunday, January 22nd.
Donations in Terry’s honor can be made to the Daniel McMenamin Endowment at www.DTMFund.com.
I had a tracheotomy during my Friends Select School years. Playing any sport — especially one that involved contact — was a real potential danger for me. Yet, stubborn as I was, I tried out for the baseball team, and Terry let me on the team — knowing that there was a serious risk of injury for me. He also obviously knew that I probably represented a legal liability for the school if I got hurt. On top of that, I was a lousy athlete, if you could in any way call me an “athlete.” Yet, Terry put me in several games — letting me pinch hit or play in the outfield for an inning or two. He didn’t treat me any differently from anyone else on the team. He didn’t coddle me or excuse me from any of the training or exercises.
I earned a varsity letter. I still look at that letter as an accomplishment that I shared with Terry and everyone on the team that accepted me.
Terry left a profound impression on me. He was a quiet, unassuming and unsung hero, and I’m sure many students have similar stories about the positive impact he had on their lives.
He was devoted to you and his team and was proud of your accomplishments
I am very extremely overwhelmed by hearing that Terry has passed on but I am even more devastated to hear that his son Daniel had also passed on. I believe it was in sixth grade when our class went on a weekend camping trip and Terry brought his two sons along. For some reason every time I turned around Daniel would be right there. Apparently he took a liking to me so Terry asked me if I wouldn’t mind to be Daniel’s buddy for the weekend and we hung out the whole weekend. Whenever I would see Terry in the following years he would always remember to tell me how Daniel still remembered me and would ask about me. Whenever I would look back at school and my teachers I would always think about Terry and Daniel and wonder how they were. So to hear that we have lost both of them is very heartbreaking. I will keep the family in my thoughts and prayers…
Terry was a good kind man who truly loved All he coached and wanted the best for each and every one of his students and players. He was peter pan.
He was devoted to you and his team and was proud of your accomplishments
I have fond memories of Terry. I knew him as an older student and fellow camper. I am saddened to hear of his death.
I was saddened to hear of Terry’s passing, but was fortunate to have heard in time to attend his moving service on Sunday, 1/15, at @McIvaine Funeral Home in East Falls. I drove from Cincinnati, OH and had plenty of time to reminisce my many positive experiences as a recipient of his coaching. I was a bench warmer on the 1974 team… a team that, in my opinion, started it all for Terry as Friends Select School’s varsity basketball coach. The team was spearheaded by starters James Gibbs, Mitch Bayer, and Bruce Gessner (Class of 1974), Michael A. Mueller (Class of 1975), and Charles Mitchell (Class of 1976). Other contributors were Tony Scalpato, Rick Hunt, Vince Hughes, Mike Meranze, and Harry Righter (Class of 1974), Bill Wilson, Jon Hollander, and Chip Szulinski (Class of 1974) and myself (Class of 1975). I was not one of Terry’s better players by any stretch, but I’ll always remember and appreciate him for creating a sense of brotherhood. He had a wicked and biting sense of humor that a coach might not be able to get away with today, but, on the occasion he directed his sharp wit towards me, I felt included and seen. I’ll never forget the time he called down the bench for me with mere seconds remaining in a lopsided Falcons’ victory. As a junior, this was my first opportunity to enter the game. I hurried to pull-off my warm-ups and shimmy past my teammates towards him. Once I was seated next to him and Assistant Head Coach Edward Burnley, Terry calmly told me. “Lucky (my nickname), I left my clip board in the locker room…” All of my teammates on the bench burst in laughter, and, strangely, I was neither embarrassed nor hurt. He had a talent for being a coach and an older brother type at the same time (For perspective, Terry was 26 when we were 16-18). Maybe it wasn’t what everyone else needed or appreciated, or even experienced for that matter, but I sure did. The next year, I was a starter on the varsity team and my teammates voted me as one of the captains. I was motivated over the summer to work hard to earn my role, so I think it’s fair to say that Terry’s methods were positive and effective. And, lasting. Over time I realized what I learned most from him— Not all teams are successful at winning games, but every team that creates an environment of brotherhood, sisterhood, or both IS a wining team. Terry set the standards and expectations in 1974 for all of his teams that followed, and while later teams experienced greater success in the Win-Loss column and even championships, the foundation was created by Coach Terry with this talented and historic group of brothers.
Lucky,
Terry was so fond of you, I think he saw a lot of himself in you. I was wondering how you are doing. The night you had a concussion…he was upset. You were his younger brother.