Amo Bessone, 1916-2010
Click here for a video tribute, courtesy Michigan State University
Amo was born November 22, 1916, in Sagamore, MA, and raised in West Springfield, MA, where he attended
West Springfield High School. He later played hockey at Hebron Academy and the Kent Hills School in Maine. He earned
a degree from the University of Illinois in 1943 where he lettered in hockey and baseball. He moved onto an AHL
career, cut short due to his service in World War II. He began his coaching career at Westfield (MA) High School
in 1946, and made his move into the college ranks at Michigan Tech two years later. He spent three seasons as the
head coach at MTU (1948-51) before joining Michigan State College in Fall 1951.
Bessone's 1966 Spartan team won the national championship. At mid-season, MSU owned a 4-9 record, but went 12-4 in its final 16 games. MSU finished the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season in sixth place, then beat Michigan 3-2 in the WCHA playoff semifinal. The Spartans then beat Michigan Tech 4-3 in the WCHA playoff championship. They beat Boston University 2-1 in the NCAA semifinal, then beat Clarkson 6-1 in Minneapolis for the NCAA championship (game-winning goal by Bob Brawley). Bessone was named the "Spencer Penrose Coach of the Year" that year. He brought the Spartans back to what today we call the Frozen Four in 1967 and finished third.
Bessone coached 814 games behind the Michigan State bench, second only to Ron Mason (974). Bessone was Michigan State's longest-tenured hockey coach and was instrumental in building the Spartan hockey program, progressing from a 7-13 record in his first season (1951-52) to four consecutive campaigns of 20+ wins (1973-76). Along the way, he tutored three Olympians (Gene Grazia, Weldon Olson, and Doug Volmar) and 12 All-Americans.
He retired in 1979 with a career record of 367-427-20 at Michigan State. In 1992, Bessone was inducted
into the US Hockey Hall of Fame and the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
One hallmark of Bessone's tenure was giving back to the community, a tradition and responsibility that continues to this day within the walls of Munn Ice Arena. Bessone is credited with helping establish the Greater Lansing Amateur Hockey Association (GLAHA) by donating used equipment and encouraging his varsity players to help coach in the youth hockey circuit. GLAHA started with three players in 1953. By Bessone's retirement from coaching in 1979, the organization had grown to 450 players. Today, GLAHA has 23 teams for boys and girls from mites to midgets. Bessone was acknowledged for his community work when he received the John MacInnes Award in 1983 which recognizes an individual who has shown great concern for youth hockey and amateur programs.
In tribute to his efforts over the years, several awards now bear his name. At Michigan State, one player each year since 1980 has been named recipient of the Amo Bessone Award which recognizes athletic and academic achievement as well as community participation. Each year, GLAHA's Coach of the Year receives the Amo Bessone Award as well. In his hometown of Springfield, MA, the Amo Bessone Award is given to the top high school player in Western Massachusetts.
Amo once wrote, "Spartan hockey allowed me to meet and become friend with so many great people. Fellow coaches, my players, university officials, fans and even referees. It is the people that have made Spartan hockey great as well as the entire sport of college hockey. I have been blessed to have been associated with so many great people."
Amo passed away January 9, 2010, in Santa FE, NM, at the age of 93. Amo was a loving father, grandfather, uncle, and mentor to so many. He served in the US Navy in World War II as a Captain on a PT boat, was involved in the invasion at Normandy on D-Day, and also served in the Pacific. Later he spent over 30 years as a college hockey coach, 28 of them at Michigan State where his Spartans won the 1966 NCAA Championship and he was voted National Coach of the Year. He shares a podium in the US Hockey Hall of Fame with his brother Peter Bessone. Amo was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary; and is survived by his son, John; daughter-in-law, Lisa; and his two wonderful grand children, Mary and Peter.
-
Friends, a sad day
when Amo passed away. We took him home from the hospital that Wednesday. He was under hospice care and passed peacefully
that Saturday with my cousin Toni and me by his side. A great man who lived a wonderful life, which is what we
should and will remember. Here in Santa Fe, we had a memorial for him at a chapel around the corner from where
he lived. Then we had an open house at our home where we hoisted a glass to Amo and celebrated his life, not mourn
his death. We later took his cremains back to Massachusetts so he could be buried with my mother, his beloved Mary.
We had a memorial service on January 31, followed by a reception that evening. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
A man who gave so much to so many.
- Signed, John Bessone (Amo's son)
Amo was honored posthumously at the 2010 MSU Hockey Awards Banquet as recipient of the Distinguished Spartan Award. Accepting the award on behalf of the Bessone family was Tom Ross (MSU 1972-76), MSU's all-time leading scorer.
Amo will be missed greatly by the Spartan hockey community.
