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University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Famer Garry Pearson Passes Away At Age 46
February 11, 2010 | Football
Feb. 11, 2010
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - UMass Hall of Famer Garry Pearson passed away at age 46 on Tuesday. The legendary All-American tailback starred for the Minutemen from 1979-82. For the last 15 years he has worked at the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps in Springfield, Mass. Information on services for the Bristol, Conn., native will be posted on UMassAthletics.com once they are available.
Pearson was a senior supervisor at the organization, which operates a diverse range of programs and services that help children and youths appropriately address the challenges they face as a result of living in unstable, dangerous, or abusive environments. Many of the youths we serve have actually committed offenses, while some have been deemed high risk for criminal or delinquent behavior. Others require intensive help developing positive ways of coping with circumstances of pain and neglect. For all of these children, we provide a supportive, stable, and safe environment - often the only one they've ever experienced - where we help them develop healthy ways of interacting with others, learn how to take responsibility for their actions, and increase their self-confidence, self-respect, and respect for those around them.
Since 2002, he worked in the Spring Secure Treatment area at RFK Center. Pearson was named Childcare Worker of the Year on several occasions.
He is survived by his 17-year old daughter Alexa Pearson.
Pearson's passing comes just days after his head coach Bob Pickett passed away on Feb. 2. Pickett's funeral will be held on Friday, Feb. 11 in his native Portland, Maine.
Pearson was a two-time first team All-America selection (1981-82), who earned four letters in football from 1979-82 and demolished every school rushing record. He set 12 UMass records during his career; career yards (3,859), single-season (1,632 in 1982) and single-game yards (288 vs. AIC in 1982), single-game carries (45 vs. AIC in 1982), single-season carries (312 in 1982), career carries (808), single-season touchdowns (15 in 1980), career touchdowns (35), single-season rushing yards per game (148.3 in 1982), career all-purpose yards (5,277), season all-purpose yards per game (175.7 in 1981), career all-purpose yards per game (131.9) and single-game all-purpose yards (319 vs. AIC in 1982).
The three-time first team All-Yankee Conference selection (1980-82) still holds the record for most carries in a game. As a senior, Pearson was presented with the George Bulger Lowe Award (co-winner with Boston College's Doug Flutie) by the Gridiron Club of Boston.
He was also the winner of the Harry Agganis Award presented by the New England Football Writers as the Outstanding Senior Football Player in New England. At the completion of his career, Pearson ranked first in New England in single-season and career rushing as well as career all-purpose yards and was the only player in New England history to win three NCAA national statistical titles: kickoff returns (1979), all-purpose yards (1981) and rushing (1982).
A native of Bristol, Conn., Pearson led the Minutemen to three Yankee Conference titles and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.