Mickey Furfari has passed

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Just got word Mickey Furfari, dean of WV sportswriters, died this morning.
He'd been in poor health for some time, but was still writing columns for a half-dozen papers throughout the state.
After his wife died, he's was in rough shape; couldn't see, hard of hearing and couldn't drive. One of my mentors would pick him up and take him the stadium to the press box, that was probably a decade ago.

Covered WVU since the 50s. Always asked the opening question of the WVU pressers and post-game interviews.

 

[BDC99]

RIP Mickey. Had no interaction with him but sounds like he deserves to be remembered.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

He'll be well remembered in West by God....
He was no Blackie Sherrod, or Jerry Izenberg but he was well-liked and well thought of. His work was bedrock solid.
He worked in newspaper since the 40s.
Mickey was always kind to fellow writers and generous with his time to newcomers. In fact, he often took time to mail notes to sports writers praising a story they'd written - myself included. He was a gentleman. A class act. Mickey was the same in his writing. If he was critical of someone he tried to not make it personal, and to keep it professional.
Towards the end of his career - probably be last 10 years - I think sports writing was the only thing keeping going.

 

[Riptide]

Here's an obit.

Remembering Mickey Furfari, the ‘dean’ of W.Va. sports writers

 

[BDC99]

Here's an obit.

Remembering Mickey Furfari, the ‘dean’ of W.Va. sports writers

Great story. Thanks. They don't often make them like that anymore.

 

[dixiehack]

“He refereed my basketball games when I was 7, 8 and 9 years old playing games at St. Francis High School and at Spruce Street Methodist Church,” (Bob) Huggins said. “I was in awe when I saw him because of the admiration my dad had for him.