July 12, 2010
An
unmistakable voice was forever silenced on Sunday, July 11, 2010
when Bob Sheppard passed away at 99 years of age. Appropriately
dubbed “the Voice of God” for his stentorian diction and precise
intonations, Sheppard served as the Public Address Announcer for
the New York Yankees from 1951-2007. He served in the same capacity
for the New York Giants of the National Football League from
1956-2006, and also announced Brooklyn Dodger football games and
Army-Navy football games at various times during his professional
career.
“St. John’s University mourns the loss of one of our own, 1932
alumnus Bob Sheppard. Bob’s contributions to St. John’s were
immeasurable both academically and athletically,” said
Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s
University. “He is and always will be a New York sports icon that
will be sorely missed by his fans and members of the St. John’s
family.”
Sheppard began his lifelong association with the Vincentian
community as a student at St. John’s Preparatory High School in
Brooklyn, followed by four years as an undergraduate in St. John’s
College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
His interest in public speaking began during his high school days,
and continued throughout the rest of his life. A dedicated teacher,
Sheppard shared his skills with thousands of young men and women as
Chairman of the Speech Department of John Adams High School in
Queens, NY for more than 25 years. He also coached Speech at The
Mary Louis Academy in Queens and at Sacred Heart Academy on Long
Island.
Sheppard taught his first speech course at St. John’s in
1937 to students studying in the evening program, and continued as
an Adjunct Professor at the University for more than three
decades.
“Bob was truly one of the giants in the history of New York City
sports, and earned acclaim all over the country,” noted longtime
friend and St. John’s Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Lou Carnesecca
’50C, ’60GEd, ’00HON. “He was a football and baseball player at St.
John’s during the time of the Wonder Five, and he went on to be an
instructor at St. John’s and of course, the ‘Voice of the Yankees’
where he was better known as the ‘Voice of God.’ We are all truly
saddened to hear of his passing.”
In addition to his faculty role, Sheppard remained connected to the
University in a variety of ways, announcing both St. John’s
basketball and football games during his professional career. In
2007 he returned to the Queens campus as guest announcer at the
dedication of
Jack Kaiser Stadium, home of the
Red Storm baseball team. The stadium is named in honor of
John W. “Jack” Kaiser ’49C, who served for many years as Head
Baseball Coach and as St. John’s Director of Athletics from
1973-95.
Kaiser knew Sheppard well, both personally and professionally. “We
are obviously saddened to hear of Bob’s passing,” he said. “He was
a true gentleman, a great teacher and a wonderful announcer. We
will all miss him dearly.”
Sheppard is a true icon whose legacy will remain forever ingrained
in the annals of professional and collegiate sports. In 2000 he was
honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in
Cooperstown, NY, and is enshrined in the New York City Sports Hall
of Fame and St. John’s Athletic Hall of Fame as one of the
University’s most outstanding quarterbacks.
In 1983 a grateful University awarded this beloved alumnus the
President’s Medal, conferred a Doctor of Pedagogy degree, honoris
causa, on him in 2000 and presented him with the Medal of Honor in
2007, the highest award given to an alumnus of the University.