Saint Joseph's Athletics mourns the passing of Hall of Famer Harry Booth '62. 
 
A standout Hawk on the court and the diamond, Booth was a three-year letterwinner for both Saint Joseph's baseball and men's basketball teams and went on to serve as head coach for both programs. The only student-athlete to serve as captain for two sports, Booth was a two-time All-Middle Atlantic Conference selection as a center fielder and paced the Hawks in runs, extra-base hits and stolen bases his junior and senior years. Under the guidance of Hall of Famer Jack Ramsay, Booth helped Saint Joseph's men's basketball team capture three MAC titles and earn three NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
"'Driven' and 'passionate' are the two words that come to mind when I think of Harry," said friend and former Director of Athletics Don DiJulia '67. "He was a great teammate, a teacher of the game, and cared about the total development of the student-athletes."

"Harry was a good friend, who was fun to be around, but on the basketball court, Harry was not fun. He wanted to beat you on every play. He competed like a true Hawk," said friend and teammate Paul Westhead '61.
 
Serving as an assistant men's basketball coach for four seasons, Booth was named head coach in 1974, taking over as the 10th head coach of the Hawks' men's basketball program. Among the numerous highlights of his tenure, Booth helped guide the Hawks to a first place finish in the East Coast Conference East Division and a share of the Big 5 crown in 1975-76. Individually, four Hawks earned All-ECC honors under Booth, with Boo Williams earning 1977-78 Rookie of the Year accolades. Booth's grandson, Michael, would later don the Crimson and Gray for the Hawks from 2014-18.
 
"A coach's worth and the impact he sows into our lives is mostly unseen and uncelebrated; this is the true essence of a coach who understands that the most rewarding part of his vocation is often unseen," said men's basketball head coach Billy Lange. "Coach Booth epitomized this here on Hawk Hill. It's with great sadness that he has come to pass on but his legacy as a valued member of The Story of Saint Joseph's Basketball as both a player and a coach will live on in the lives of those he impacted and served. Our program's prayers are with his family at this time."
 
A 1962 graduate of Saint Joseph's, Booth returned to Hawk Hill in March of 1964 as the freshman baseball coach, and was elevated to varsity head coach in 1965. Booth's teams combined to go 140-80-5 over 10 seasons and earned NCAA Tournament berths in 1971 and 1974; his overall winning percentage of .633 is the highest in program history.
 
Booth, who was inducted into the SJU Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, was also honored with the creation of the Harry Booth Award in 2010 that is given to a member of the Saint Joseph's baseball community who has made outstanding contributions through his or her passion for and dedication to the program.
 
"We are very sad to hear of Harry's passing," baseball head coach Fritz Hamburg said. "He not only has meant so much to the baseball program on Hawk Hill, but the entire athletic department. When I arrived at St. Joe's back in the fall of 2008, Harry was one of the first guys to engage me. He had so much pride and love for the program and as a new coach, it was reassuring to have Harry as a friend and mentor. He helped me to understand the history of the program, and I had the chance to experience his love and passion for the game, the program, and the players he coached. Over the years, I also have seen how much his players loved and cared for him. 
 
"On behalf of the entire program, I wish to send our thoughts and prayers to Harry's wife, Toni, the entire Booth family, and all the former Hawks that Harry impacted. Harry's legacy as a Hawk and as the head coach of our baseball program will live on forever."

"Harry was the ultimate competitor and leader, and most of all, a friend who cared for all of his players," said friend and former baseball player under Booth, John Smithson '68.

"They say a good coach can change a game, and a great coach can change a life. Coach Booth forever changed my life. He, and coach Jim Boyle, recruited me to Saint Joseph University as a freshman, and from that moment forward, he became one of my greatest mentors and a true father figure. He was never easy on me, he was tough, but he fair. The light that he brought to the world is so bright that it will forever shine through me and so many others," said Boo Williams '81, who played basketball under Booth.

"If we measure a person by their impact on the lives of others - Harry would be among the first to come to mind. He was not only a former teammate, but a friend. He literally was one of the most competitive players I ever played against. He was a tenacious defender, whose ability to steal a ball ranks with the best I've ever seen. As a coach, he had a tremendous rapport with his players, and was able to motivate them to play with great intensity. To say his practices were legendary would be an understatement. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends," said friend and former teammate Jim Lynam '63.
 
Visitation will take place on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 from 5-8 pm at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, Pennsylvania, and from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., and on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at SS Simon & Jude Church, 8 Cavanaugh Court, West Chester, Pennsylvania. Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. will follow. Interment will take place immediately following the Mass at SS Peter & Paul Cemetery in Springfield, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Harry Booth to Philadelphia Coaches vs. Cancer/Hope Lodge, c/o American Cancer Society, 1818 Market Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19103.