Page 87 - LBHS Reunion Album V3

James Simonelli

After graduating from Long Branch High School, I attended the College of William and
Mary for 2 years where I realized there was a world beyond my beloved Long Branch. I
transferred to PMC Colleges (formerly Pennsylvania Military College and now Widener
University) where I was in the Corps of Cadets and played football.

After graduating in 1970, I returned to Long Branch to teach science and coach football. I
am still in the Long Branch area having served 37 years at LBHS as a teacher, coach and
administrator. I was the first Long Branch graduate to become principal of the high
school——from 1995 to 2007. I have served on the New Jersey Whole-School Reform
Committee and was the New Jersey Principal of the Year and Governor's Award winner
in 2000. Presently, I am a Clinical Faculty Professor and adjunct at Monmouth
University. Yes it is a university!

I am still a lifeguard (50 years this June) and a supervisor of the public beaches in Long
Branch, I also am the captain of the Monmouth County Competition Team that won the
2014 USLA (United States Lifesaving Association) National Championship in August at
Virginia Beach, Virginia.

I still coach football and row competitively. I am happily married for 45 years to Rosanna
Notaro and I have 2 daughters, Jenna and Cara, both Villanova graduates, and six (6)
grandchildren, Joseph, Michael, Anthony, Kayla, James, and Evan, all of whom are more
intelligent and much better looking than their grandfather. ☺