The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) are mourning the loss on October 8 of Marco Malusa, one of the co-founders of the Glen Cove Junior Soccer League in 1969. It was believed that Marco was 88 years old. The first Glen Cove travel team, a Boys-Under-19 side, played in the fledgling LIJSL that had been founded three years earlier.
Malusa, who was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2010, was irreplaceable in making Glen Cove soccer what it is today. Besides being a co-founder of the club (along with Bill Doyle), he co-founded the intramural program along with his wife Marie in 1975.
“Marco has done it all,“ Club President Martin Shannon said before the 50th anniversary celebration in 2019 that honored Malusa. “He was the treasurer, the registrar, a coach, a referee, and most importantly, a lifetime board member. He’s been present at board meetings and on the field for all 50 years of the club’s existence. To this day, he still participates and offers his guidance and wisdom.“
Beneficiaries of the club Malusa helped found are thousands of boys and girls during the past five-plus decades including notable players such as Roberto DeLuca, Mike Grella, Danny Mueller, Stephen Mueller, and Peter Zaratin, who all wore Glen Cove’s red-and-white uniforms while growing up playing in the LIJSL. The Marco Malusa Sportsmanship Award is given annually to Glen Cove High School soccer players who display the highest standards of Fair Play.
Upon Malusa’s passing, the Glen Cove Junior Soccer League announced that they will be establishing a perpetual scholarship in his memory awarded to a graduating senior who has demonstrated through the years of his or her time with the club the qualities Marco cherished most: Sportsmanship and being a good citizen to all.
Mallusa’s son, Marco Malusa Jr., said, “He loved his soccer and spent many, many evenings with ENYYSA and various New York soccer organizations. He was very proud of his work with ENYYSA, the LIJSL, and Glen Cove.”
More info as well as funeral arrangements for Malusa can be found here.