Salvatore A. Rapaglia

Salvatore A. Rapaglia, 84, passed away on April 22, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Salvatore Rapaglia was born in Sicily, Italy, and began his soccer participation in this country at the age of 15 after immigrating to the U.S. He joined fabled Palermo SC in Brooklyn, NY. Palermo SC later became the Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club. He began to play soccer in local youth leagues, later graduating to adult leagues in New York. Rapaglia eventually became a coach for several clubs over the next 2 decades, Fiorentina SC and Calabria-Roma SC both of the Italian American Soccer League. Calabria Roma winning several State Titles. He also hosted several foreign teams in friendlies with local clubs.

After becoming recording secretary of the Italian-American Soccer League, Rapaglia moved up the ranks until he became the league President in 1975. He stepped down as President of the IASL when he was elected President of Southern NY State Soccer Association in 1979. He oversaw it’s re-branding to Eastern New York Amateur Soccer Association and then to it’s current name, Eastern NY Adult Soccer Association. Except for the 1989-90 term when he served as General Secretary, Rapaglia has held the position of President for 44 years. ENY being one of the largest and most influential State Associations in US Soccer.

Under Rapaglia's guidance, the ENYSASA developed Offerman Park into a 10-field soccer complex known as Verrazzano Park that included one lighted field. He has worked tirelessly with the NYC Parks Dept and Mayor’s office on many park projects to ensure the building of soccer fields. He has been honored several times by both City and State elected officials.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s the soccer community was changing. The older traditional ethnic clubs from Europe were disappearing and with them their support of Adult soccer teams. Rapaglia lead his board by recruiting the new wave of immigrants coming into the NY Metropolitan Area. Adding to the State’s membership Hispanic and Latino leagues creating a more diverse Association. He also, at a time when most organizations balked, supported local Women’s leagues and added them to ENY giving them a strong voice and membership into US Soccer. He created and served as Commissioner of the Northeastern Regional Soccer League.

He is a member of the United States Adult Soccer Association Hall of Fame as well as the ENY State Hall of Fame and a Life Member of that organization. In 2006 he was awarded the Werner Fricker Builders award. The highest award in US Soccer. Rapaglia has stated that he was especially proud of this award because he worked closely with Werner Fricker and had great respect for him. Rapaglia has held numerous positions within U.S. Soccer, serving on the Professional Committee, U.S. Soccer Coaching Committee and the US Soccer Cup. Rapaglia is quick to give credit to his board over the last 40 plus years. He has worked with great soccer people who have helped him build and guide ENY. In 2023 he was elected to another term as President of ENY State. When his term ends he will be 84 and has said this will be his last term as President. In 2024 he received Life Membership Status by US Soccer’s Board of Directors. It’s the highest honor in US Soccer.

Salvatore was an hairdresser for over thirty years. He owned two beauty parlors in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn.  He moved his family from Brooklyn to Staten Island in 1973. He lived in the Greenridge section before moving to Tottenville in 2000.  He was a very active and well known leader in US Soccer community.

Salvatore is pre-deceased by his wife, Anna in 2016.

He is survived by his sons, Sandy (Anna), Salvatore, Jr. (Lana); his grandchildren Nicholas, Christa, Matthew, Valerie, Victoria, Peter, Lucas, and Leo; his sisters Rosalie Pasquarosa and Maria Sarnel; and his 10 nieces and nephews. His wife Ann passed away in 2016.