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Former Maine Track and Field Coach Edmund Styrna Passes Away
Nov. 3, 2008
Orono, Maine - Former Maine Track and Field coach Edmund Styrna passed away on Friday, October 31, at the age of 87. Styrna served as the head coach for 30 years and was a three-time All-American athlete. He was inducted into the University of Maine Hall of Fame in 1993. Styrna became Maine's head coach in 1956 and held a record of 130-52-5 in dual meets during his career. The Black Bears won 30 state championships and six Yankee Conference championships, including the conferences' first ever men's indoor track championship in 1963-64. The men's outdoor track team won five consecutive Yankee Conference championships between 1961-65 and 10 consecutive state championships during his final years as head coach between 1977-87. Before Maine, Styrna was a three-time All-American hammer and javelin thrower for Nashua high school, Seton Hall Prep and the University of New Hampshire. He also served in the Pacific theatre in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Styrna is survived by his two daughters, Sandra Griffin and Susan Boyce, and his five grandchildren. There is also a scholarship in his name at the University of Maine Foundation. Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Brookings-Smith, LaBeau Chapel, 72 Main Street in Orono. A memorial service is being held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, at the Church of Universal Fellowship on 82 Main Street in Orono.
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