Hall of Famer Cisterna Passed Away Feb. 17

SUN CITY, Ariz. – Northern Arizona University Athletics Hall of Famer Vince Cisterna passed away on Feb. 17 in Sun City, Ariz.. Vince played at Arizona State College from 1947-50, earning 11 letters in football, basketball and track and field.

A three-time All American end (1947-1949) and a NAIA All-American basketball selection in 1947, Vince was the first Arizona high school graduate to play in San Francisco's East-West Shrine Game in 1949 and was the first Lumberjack taken in the NFL Draft, a ninth-round pick of the New York Giants in 1950.

During his time on campus, he was president of the Chain Gang, and vice-president of Pi Kappa Epsilon and his popularity earned him homecoming king honors.

A graduate of Miami High School, he was a forward on the 1941 State Championship basketball team and ran track.

He taught and coached at Florence High School, 1950-57 and coached at Carl Hayden in Phoenix 1957-62. He was the Principal at both Ganado High School (1962-64) and Buena High School (1964-1981) before his retirement in 1983. He moved to Sun City in 2000.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Vince's name be made to the American Heart Association or your favorite charity.

Private services will be held on Thursday February 24, 2011 at Regency Mortuary. There will be a celebration of life on March 24 at the Memorial Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. It will be held at the Mountain Preserve Reception Center, 1431 E. Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, Ariz. 85020. Noon buffet. Please RSVP by 3-20-11 at remembervince@cox.net or leave RSVP message at 623-565-3513.

You can read more about Vince at a website established by the family at www.vincecisterna.com.