Rye Country Day School mourns the loss of beloved former Director of Physical Education & Athletics Frank Antonelli. Mr. Antonelli passed away peacefully on July 19, 2025, at the age of 80.

Joining RCDS in 1994, Mr. Antonelli contributed greatly to the success of the athletic and physical education program during an outstanding 16-year tenure. Under Mr. Antonelli's steady, wise, and caring leadership, RCDS Athletics became the extensive, competitive, and well-respected program it is today in the Fairfield Athletic Association, Westchester County, and the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association. Mr. Antonelli also lent his expertise to the design and development of the current Scott A. Nelson Athletic Center and fields. Mr. Antonelli and his wife, Upper School Math Teacher Sue Antonelli, were central to the heart of Rye Country Day for their 16 years at the School. In 2000, they decided to retire to their home in Vermont, and RCDS established an endowment fund in their honor to further grow the Retired Employee Health Benefits program. The School also honored Mr. Antonelli by naming its annual excellence in Wrestling award the Frank Antonelli Wildcat Award. 
 

“As Athletic Director, Frank Antonelli led the effort to transform RCDS’s athletic program into the outstanding program it is today. That transformation included hiring quality coaches, adding athletic training staff, planning and building a new athletic center, converting the playing fields to artificial turf, adding sports (squash, wrestling, girls’ fencing), re-establishing varsity football, and restoring an athletic recognition (varsity letters) program. Frank was the ultimate professional whose vision and dedicated efforts had a tremendous impact on the experiences of student-athletes, coaches, and colleagues.” – Scott A. Nelson, Former RCDS Head of School

Frank Antonelli graduated from Roselle Park High School and received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Wagner College in 1967 where he played football. He later earned a Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision from Kean College.

In Metuchen, NJ, he began his celebrated career in education teaching sixth-grade science, health, and P.E. and coaching wrestling and football. Moving to his alma mater Roselle Park High School, Mr. Antonelli taught history, driver’s education, and P.E. As Roselle Park High’s Athletic Director and varsity football, softball, and wrestling coach, he earned numerous state and local honors. His wrestling record of 186-32-1 remains a lauded achievement in Roselle Park High School history. He was selected as New Jersey’s Wrestling Coach of the Year and inducted into both the New Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Roselle Park Hall of Fame. 

Before arriving at RCDS, Mr. Antonelli served as Athletic Director at Pingry School and the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland. He received the Maryland Governor’s Citation for his commitment to the youth of Maryland.

Greatly respected by his peers in school athletics, Mr. Antonelli was President of the Fairchester Athletic Association, President of NJ Independent Athletic Association, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Teachers Credit Union. During his retirement years in Vermont, he served on the board of Seymour Lake Association and the Board of Newport Country Club.

Mr. Antonelli is survived by Sue, his loving wife of 58 years, and their sons, Jay (wife Ingrid) and Brian (wife Susie). He was a devoted grandfather to Kate, Frank, Samantha, Nikolas, Christopher, Emma, Michael, and Leo. He also leaves behind his brother, Paul Antonelli, and sister, Donna Kull, and many other family members, friends, and colleagues who loved him dearly.

Rye Country Day will forever remember Mr. Antonelli’s transformational impact on our community. His passion for athletics and his genuine love of mentoring young people will live on in our hearts. With every “Go, Wildcats,” we will honor Mr. Antonelli’s legacy of excellence and his caring dedication. 

Services will be held at 11:00 am on August 9, 2025, at the Holland Community Church in Holland, Vermont.  A memorial service will be held in NJ in the Fall (to be announced).

Read Mr. Antonelli’s full remembrance online here.