The New York Athletic Club will host a remembrance for the late Rich Sofman, a champion wrestler and coach, who passed away on April 1, 2012 at the age of 69.

Sofman represented the USA in men’s freestyle at the 1967 World Championships in New Delhi, India at 125.5 pounds. He won a gold medal at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada at 114.5 pounds.

Sofman never wrestled in high school, but learned the sport in college at the Univ. of Pennsylvania. He went on to serve as the head wrestling coach at Montclair State in New Jersey from 1976-78.

The Remembrance will be held at the New York Athletic Club, in the Colonial Room, from 7 pm to 9:30 pm, on Thursday May 3rd.

The address for the NYAC is 180 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019 | Tel: (212) 247-5100

NYAC DRESS CODE
Public Areas (Monday to Friday)
Business casual attire, with jacket, at all times.
Comparable attire for ladies.

We are also asking that in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent in Richie's memory to Patient Welfare Fund, as a "Restricted Donation to the Co-Occurring Disorders Dept.,” Greystone Park, 59 Koch Avenue, Morris Plains, NJ 07950

His daughter, Elizabeth, is asking for written stories about Richie from those who knew him over the years.  Liz says "Don't hold back with the stories, my Dad had shared much with me already.  Please send as many stories as you may wish about Richie as I'm sure there's a lot." 

Please send emails to Liz at DizzyMissLizzy@gmail.com  or snail mail to Liz Sofman, 79 Chestnut St., Morristown, NJ 07960

A memorial service was held in his honor in Highlands, N.J. this past weekend.

Here is a chronology of the wrestling career of Rich Sofman provided by his wrestling friends.

1965: Graduated from U of Pennsylvania (1965:  co-Capt of wrestling team) with a degree in Accounting

1966: Obtained a Masters Degree in Business from Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa.

1966: AAU National Champ (125.5 lbs)

1967: Pan Am Games Champion (114.5 lbs); US World Team at FILA Wrestling World Championship in New Delhi, India; New Jersey Amateur Athlete of the Year; Maccabiah Games Champ

1968: AAU National Champ; Olympic Trials Champ; Olympic alternate; World University Games Champ

1969 Maccabiah Games Champ: US World Team at FILA Wrestling World Championship

1972-76: Asst Coach, Montclair State 

1973: Maccabiah Games Champ

1974: AAU National Champ; US World Team at FILA Wrestling World Championship

1976-78: Head Coach Montclair State

Rich was known as a free spirit during his wrestling competitive career. He was interviewed by the New York Times in July, 1973 prior to leaving for the Maccabiah Games, and had the following quotes which give a glimpse at his philosophy and life approach.

“I’ve been disliked and mistreated because of my thinking and habits, but I feel that in sports everybody is an individual. No one has to live a puritan life style just to please coaches. A lot of coaches look down at me and they let their views interfere with what’s fair. And it irks me that there are people who use athletics for their own personal hang-up.”

“I thought winning was the only reason for athletics. Then I lost to Don Behm at the 1968 Olympic Trials. My whole psyche was shaken up. I had to re-evaluate my approach. Now, I realize that winning isn’t so important. Enjoying what you do is what counts.”

Some other information on Rich Sofman, March 22,1943 - April 11, 2012 

* Rich never wrestled in high school. It was only during his first year in college, that he started to wrestle. Five years later he won the the National AAU Championship at 125.5 lbs. He learned his great headlock from Chic Murano, the NYAC wrestling coach.

* Rich's wrestling  background  includes three National AAU Championships  at 125.5 pounds (1966,  1968, 1974); U.S. World Team at FILA Wrestling World Championship (1967, 1969, 1974); Pan American  Games Champion at 115.5 lbs (1967); U.S. Olympic Team alternate (1968); World University Games Champion (1968); New Jersey  Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1967; and Maccabiah Games champ (1969, 1973). 

* He also won the Wilkes Open about 5 times, but was denied entry for a possible 6th title when he refused to shave off his beard.

* Rich was Assistant Head Coach at Montclair State for 4 years, and Head coach from 1976-78.

* He had been in poor health since the stroke he had following knee replacement surgery in October 2010; and he ultimately died from complications resulting from peripheral neuropathy.

* Rich is survived by his wife Gert and daughter Liz, and brothers Pete and Neal, and by his close friends (and wrestlers) Scott Morelli and Mark Miller.