January 09, 2020
In Memoriam: Donato ‘Don’ J. Mezzanotte ’60 & ’79G; PC leader in baseball coaching victories
Donato “Don” J. Mezzanotte ’60 & ’79G, Providence College’s all-time leader in baseball coaching victories, died on Jan. 9, 2020.
Mr. Mezzanotte was born in Providence but lived in Warwick most of this life. He entered PC in 1956 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in education and played all four years for the Friars’ baseball team.
He later taught and coached baseball in the Warwick public school system for more than 15 years, leading Pilgrim High School to five state championships.
He moved on to his alma mater, coaching the Friars from 1978-1989. Eight of his teams qualified for post-season action. Mr. Mezzanotte coached PC to BIG EAST Conference Northern Division championships in 1986, 1988, and 1989. He was named Northeast and BIG EAST Coach of the Year in 1986 and New England Coach of the Year in 1989.
When he stepped down following the 1989 season, Mr. Mezzanotte was the winningest baseball coach in school history with 228 victories. He was inducted into the PC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980.
During his coaching tenure, Mr. Mezzanotte completed a master’s degree in guidance and counselor education at PC in 1979.
Mr. Mezzanotte was the husband of Kathleen (Durand) Mezzanotte for 53 years. His survivors also include a son, Dr. Thomas J. Mezzanotte ’90, and his wife, Jennifer Mezzanotte; a daughter, Susan M. Woods ’93 & ’99G, and her husband, Christopher Woods ’92; another daughter, Joan Mezzanotte; five grandchildren; and a sister.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Peter Church, Warwick, on Jan. 14.
