Piro, H.W. 'Whitey'

H.W. “Whitey” Piro, 93, an Iowa City resident since 1952, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday morning April 18, 2011, with his loving wife of 64 years, Grace by his bedside. A Service of Remembrance and Celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 22, at First Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, with the Rev. Sam Massey officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City. Following the funeral, his body will be deeded to the University of Iowa for Medical Research. Burial will be at a later date on the family gravesite at Oakland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Goodwill of the Heartland, 1410 S. First Ave., Iowa City, IA 52240; The First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 2701 Rochester Ave., Iowa City, IA 52245; or the Whitey Grace Piro Football Scholarship at the UI Foundation, One West Park Rd. Iowa City, IA 52242.

Whitey was born on Dec. 20, 1917, in Nordholz, Germany, to Heinrich and Alma (Schroeder) Piro. He immigrated with his parents to the United States when he was three years old. He grew up in Floral Park, Long Island, New York, where he helped his widowed mother raise his two younger brothers. He graduated from Sewanhaka High School in 1937, where he was captain of his football, basketball, baseball and track teams. He was also his class president for three years and was inducted into the Sewanhaka Hall of Fame.

He attended Syracuse University, where he was a three year football starter at end and a senior co-captain for Coach Ossie Solem. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Syracuse University Varsity Club. Whitey graduated with a Business Administration degree and played football with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1941. At his passing, he was the 11th oldest surviving NFL alumnus. In 1942, he was an assistant football coach at Syracuse University under Ossie Solem.

After service as a sergeant in the Air Force, he resumed his football coaching career at The Citadel under Quinn Decker, where he was also the head basketball coach. While at The Citadel, Whitey married Grace Helene Clark on June 20, 1947, at the Methodist Church in Floral Park, Long Island. From 1949 to 1951, he was an assistant football coach at the University of Utah under Ike Armstrong and “Cactus” Jack Curtice.

From 1952 to 1965, Whitey was an assistant coach at the University of Iowa, under Forest Evashevski and Jerry Burns. During his career at Iowa, he coached six All-American ends, one Academic All-American end and 10 professional football draft choices while helping the Hawkeyes win three Big Ten Championships and two Rose Bowls. From 1966 to his retirement in 1985, he worked at the UI Personnel Department under Fred Doderer where he developed the “Hawkeye Recruiter.” Whitey was an area scout for the Buffalo Bills in 1966 and the New York Giants in 1967.

Among his Iowa City community and civic activities Whitey was a past president of the Iowa City school board, the Iowa City Booster Club and the Noon Kiwanis. He served on the boards of the Iowa City Senior Center, Goodwill of the Heartland and was honored as Sertoma Club Man of the Year. Whitey was a member of the Presidents Club at the University of Iowa. He served on the Johnson County Handicapped Committee. Whitey was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he had served as Elder and Deacon.

Whitey is survived by his wife, four sons and two grandchildren, Steve (Karen) and their children, Allison and Blake of Plano, Texas, John of Iowa City, Doug (Susanna) of Southaven, Miss. and Andy of Iowa City.

Whitey was preceded in death by his parents and his two younger brothers, Ossie and John.

The family would like to thank many individuals and groups for the kindness and care for Whitey over the years including Dr. Craig Champion, Dr. Skarda and their staffs, Joyce Aron, Mercy Home Health Care Services, Home Instead Caregivers, Grace's friends and PEO Sisters and the South Governor Street neighbors.

Online condolences may be sent to .