PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers remembers football letterwinner Pierce Frauenheim, who passed away this week at age 83. A key contributor to the undefeated 1961 team, Frauenheim served as assistant principal, athletic director and head football coach during an impactful tenure of over 50 years at Immaculata High School in Somerville, New Jersey.

Frauenheim was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, playing football, basketball and baseball before landing at Rutgers as a versatile two-way player at safety and running back. Under coach John Bateman, the 1961 team went a perfect 9-0, capped by a comeback win over Columbia in the finale.

"We had a heck of a fourth quarter," Frauenheim recalled about the 32-19 win. "I was fortunate enough to have two interceptions in the quarter with one for a touchdown. It was important for me and everyone on the team to go undefeated, and certainly it was a team effort. Alex Kroll back there in '61 said, 'many years later, we will be the gold standard for Rutgers football.' And I think we are the gold standard for that first undefeated season."

Rutgers finished ranked No. 15 in the final Associated Press Poll and joined national champion Alabama as the only undefeated and untied teams in the country. The team was enshrined in the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.



Frauenheim joined the founding staff at Immaculata in 1962 and helped the Spartans to four state championships, 19 conference titles and a record of 337-137-2. His impact was felt off the field as well, with hundreds of students graduating and becoming valuable members of the community. Frauenheim was inducted into numerous Halls of Fame, including the NJICA Hall of Fame (1979), NJSIAA Hall of Fame (2001), NJ Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2002), Aspinwall High School Hall of Fame (1974), Fox Chapel Hall of Fame (2010) and Immaculata Hall of Fame (2005).

He recently served as the honorary coin toss captain for the Scarlet Knights during a 2021 game to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the storied 1961 team.

Family and friends are welcome to gather from 2-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21 at Immaculata High School, 240 Mountain Ave, Somerville. Services will be held at 5:30 p.m. during the visitation period. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 at The Church of The Immaculate Conception, 35 Mountain Avenue, Somerville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christine Fox Frauenheim Foundation, The Pierce Frauenheim Scholarship Fund at Immaculata High School or the Unitas Caritas Foundation.

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