Saint Ignatius High School Spanish teacher and longtime football coach, Nick Restifo has passed away, his passion, dedication, and mentorship touched countless lives. According to Saint Ignatius High School, “Nick’s impact on our community, both in the classroom and on the field, will be remembered forever.”
About Nick Restifo
Nick Restifo was born and raised on the southeast edge of Cleveland in the 1950s. He immediately developed a fervour for football; however, his parish school did not have a team, so he played backyard football with his friends. He, like his father, participated in Cleveland’s dominant team while attending Cathedral Latin High School. He majored in Spanish and played football for all four years at John Carroll University.
He was recruited to teach and coach at St. Joseph High School (now Villa Angela-St. Joseph) after graduating in 1974. He is grateful for the great coaches who mentored him, including Joe Perella at Cathedral Latin and Bill Gutbrod at St. Joe’s, and he “learned a lot of football” during his time there.
Restifo was employed to instruct at Saint Ignatius in 1981, where his friend Chuck Kyle was instructing and mentoring. Kyle’s initial decision upon accepting the position of head coach was a significant one, as he recalls to his friends on the John Carroll football team.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.