St. Lawrence University Athletics & Recreation mourns the passing of Hall of Fame baseball coach Tom Fay, who passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 10, at 80 years old.

Tom Fay, a 1968 graduate of Ithaca College, where he was a three‑sport athlete, earned his master's degree at St. Lawrence in 1970 before being named the head baseball coach and assistant football coach in the fall of 1972. His baseball coaching career could not have had a more auspicious start, as Kevin Dooley threw a no‑hitter in Fay's first game as the Saints' manager.

Tom went on to coach at St. Lawrence for 37 years, winning 522 games and setting the record for the most victories by any coach to don the Scarlet and Brown, a record that may stand the test of time.

During his tenure in Canton, Fay played an integral role in expanding the Saints' schedule from 15-20 games to the roughly 35-40 games played today. He helped establish St. Lawrence as a destination for baseball players by planning an annual spring break trip to Florida long before it became standard at the Division III level.

The Saints won several conference titles over Tom's long career, which spanned St. Lawrence's time competing in the ICAC, the UCAA, and the Liberty League. He earned multiple Conference Coach of the Year awards and was recognized by various professional organizations.

In addition to coaching baseball and football, he also spent several years coaching the JV basketball team.

Beyond coaching, Tom was a valued member of the Saints' faculty, serving as the curriculum coordinator and practice‑teaching supervisor for the University's Department of Sport and Leisure Studies.

His contributions to St. Lawrence University were recognized in 2002 with the construction of Tom Fay Field, and most recently with his induction into the Robert J. Sheldon St. Lawrence Athletics Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020, along with six of his former players: Mike Hebert '81, Mark Verstandig '87, Mark Caron '92, David Tropeano '95, Jeffrey DiGeronimo '06, and Andrew Engebretson '07 who all joined an esteemed group of now 53 baseball Hall of Famers.  

His legacy will live on for decades, in the players he coached, the students he taught, and the baseball players who will continue to compete on the field named in his honor.

Tom and his wife, Pam, raised two daughters, Tawnya and Melinda, in Canton and are proud grandparents of four grandchildren.

St. Lawrence University Athletics extends its deepest condolences to the Fay family and honors his legacy, which will endure throughout history.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Tom's memory on June 13, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Gunnison Memorial Chapel. A casual "tailgate" gathering will follow, at nearby Tom Fay Field. Bring sneakers, if you like, for a friendly game of wiffle ball.

RSVP for Tom Fay's Celebration of Life here: https://www.mykeeper.com/TomFay