Seton Hall Athletics Mourns the Loss of Hall of Famer Phyllis Sheppard
9/9/2021 5:20:00 PM | Baseball, General, Pirate Blue
South Orange, N.J. -Â Seton Hall Athletics is saddened to learn that Phyllis Sheppard, the matriarch of New Jersey baseball's "First Family" and a 2018 Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, passed away on Thursday at the age of 83.
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For over 50 years Phyllis Sheppard was a positive influence on hundreds of student-athletes that came through the University while also dedicating a wealth of time towards philanthropic efforts that have benefited the athletics department. She was the wonderful wife of 61 years to Mike Sheppard, Sr., who was the head baseball coach of the Pirates from 1973-2003, and mother to current head coach Rob Sheppard.
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"Phyllis Sheppard played a significant role in the history and success of our baseball program and the athletics department," Director of Athletics Bryan Felt said. "She was as invested in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes as her husband, Mike Sr., was. You could always count on seeing Phyllis at Seton Hall baseball games, Sheppard's Baseball summer camps, the First Pitch Dinner and so much more. Our hearts go out to Rob and the entire Sheppard family during this difficult time."
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All five of Phyllis's children, Mike Jr., Susan, Kathleen, John, and Rob are Seton Hall graduates with her three sons and son-in-law all being Seton Hall baseball standouts. In addition to her youngest son, Rob, serving as the Pirates head coach since 2003, her oldest son, Mike Jr., also a Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Famer, is currently the head coach at Seton Hall Prep and her second son, John, is the head coach at Morristown-Beard High School. Her son-in-law is 1986 Hall of Fame inductee Ed Blankmeyer, who is now the manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones in the New York Mets organization.
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Sheppard's influence on the young men who came up through the baseball program cannot be overstated. She helped so many Pirates adjust to college life and the rigors of competing for a demanding Div. I baseball program.Â
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At the time of her Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame induction in June 2018, baseball alumnus and 2013 Hall of Famer Rico Bellini '75 said, "Phyllis to all of us was the mother we didn't have while we were away from home. She is a wonderful role model and a great mother. There are many instances that, me as a parent myself, I've thought of many situations that she showed me how to handle."
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Visitation is at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 4-8 p.m.  Due to an expected large crowd and the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors are kindly asked to pay their respects and then exit. The funeral mass will be held at Holy Family Church in Florham Park on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m., followed by the entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Phyllis's name to Seton Hall Athletics or Seton Hall Prep Athletics.
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For over 50 years Phyllis Sheppard was a positive influence on hundreds of student-athletes that came through the University while also dedicating a wealth of time towards philanthropic efforts that have benefited the athletics department. She was the wonderful wife of 61 years to Mike Sheppard, Sr., who was the head baseball coach of the Pirates from 1973-2003, and mother to current head coach Rob Sheppard.
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"Phyllis Sheppard played a significant role in the history and success of our baseball program and the athletics department," Director of Athletics Bryan Felt said. "She was as invested in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes as her husband, Mike Sr., was. You could always count on seeing Phyllis at Seton Hall baseball games, Sheppard's Baseball summer camps, the First Pitch Dinner and so much more. Our hearts go out to Rob and the entire Sheppard family during this difficult time."
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All five of Phyllis's children, Mike Jr., Susan, Kathleen, John, and Rob are Seton Hall graduates with her three sons and son-in-law all being Seton Hall baseball standouts. In addition to her youngest son, Rob, serving as the Pirates head coach since 2003, her oldest son, Mike Jr., also a Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Famer, is currently the head coach at Seton Hall Prep and her second son, John, is the head coach at Morristown-Beard High School. Her son-in-law is 1986 Hall of Fame inductee Ed Blankmeyer, who is now the manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones in the New York Mets organization.
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Sheppard's influence on the young men who came up through the baseball program cannot be overstated. She helped so many Pirates adjust to college life and the rigors of competing for a demanding Div. I baseball program.Â
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At the time of her Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame induction in June 2018, baseball alumnus and 2013 Hall of Famer Rico Bellini '75 said, "Phyllis to all of us was the mother we didn't have while we were away from home. She is a wonderful role model and a great mother. There are many instances that, me as a parent myself, I've thought of many situations that she showed me how to handle."
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Visitation is at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 4-8 p.m.  Due to an expected large crowd and the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors are kindly asked to pay their respects and then exit. The funeral mass will be held at Holy Family Church in Florham Park on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m., followed by the entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Phyllis's name to Seton Hall Athletics or Seton Hall Prep Athletics.
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