Andrew John Cerra, Sr., 89, of Carbondale, PA., died peacefully Wednesday afternoon, September 11, 2013 at Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton, PA. His wife, the former Gloria Mazza died in 1990. Born April 4, 1924 in Carbondale, he was the son of the late Joseph and Philomenia Leo Cerra. He was a 1941 graduate of the Benjamin Franklin High School, Carbondale and a 1949 graduate of East Stroudsburg State Teachers College with a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education. He served in the European Theatre of Operations in World War II from November 1943 until June 1945 as a Private First Class in the 335th Ordinance Battalion. He was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Carbondale. He was employed in the Carbondale Area School District as a science teacher for 35 years retiring in 1990. He served as Athletic Director, from 1974 thru 1989 at Carbondale Area High School, head football coach from 1955 thru 1968, assistant football coach from 1969 to 1975 and head baseball coach from 1955 thru 1981 and assistant basketball coach to close friends, the late Pete Turonis and the late Frank Cappy Burnett throughout the early 1960's to the early 1970's. He was humbled and appreciative of the action by the Carbondale Area School Board in August 1990 of the naming of the Districts sports complex in his honor. Andy was an avid sports fan particularly of high school and youth sports in the Carbondale Area where he spent his career. He was the Director of the Carbondale Teener Baseball League in the 1960's to the early 1970's. He coached the winning County Football All Stars in the 1962 Dream Game at Scranton Memorial Stadium. His junior varsity basketball teams won seven Northern Division JV basketball titles, baseball teams won seven Lackawanna County Northern Division Baseball championships from 1955 thru 1981 and the 1981 PIAA District 2 Class AA Championship title and advanced to the State Quarterfinals in the final year of his coaching career. He received the Joseph M. Butler Award from the Scranton Times for Dedication to High School Athletics in 1983 and was presented the Lions Club Man of the Year Award at the Annual Lackawanna County Dream Game and the Chick Feldman Sports Hall of Fame Award. He valued the relationships he had with former players and students long after retirement from both coaching and teaching and the family would like to thank all the former players and students who expressed condolences. He especially valued his family and mostly his grandchildren, Drew and Jordan and great grandson, Lio. The family would like to thank the staff of the Carbondale Nursing Home, Dr. Matthew Haley and especially Dr. Frank Moro of Physicians Health Alliance, his long time physician. He is survived by sons: Andrew Cerra, Jr. and wife Lee Ann and David Cerra (with whom he resided) and companion Joann Warhola all of Carbondale, PA.; two grandchildren: Andrew Cerra, III. of Scranton, PA. and Jordan Cerra of Carbondale, PA.; a great grandson, Lio; one sister: Angela Uguccioni of Bethlehem, PA.; one brother: John Cerra of Carbondale, PA.; a brother-in-law: Alfred Mazza of Carbondale, PA.; sister-in-law; Margaret Mazza Angotti of Mechanicsburg, PA.; nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends especially neighbors: Joe and Theresa Liuzzo, Tony and Chris Russo and Pauline Cerminaro. He was preceded in death by three brothers: Joseph, Felix and Frederick Cerra; two sisters: Rosa and Phyllis. The funeral was held Monday, September 16, 2013 at 9:00 AM from the Carmine J. Louis C. Parise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Farview and 41st Streets, Carbondale, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 15 Fallbrook Street, Carbondale, celebrated by Msgr. David L. Tressler, pastor. Interment, with military honors, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Greenfield Township, PA. Pallbearers: Tommy Liuzzo, Frank Grecco, Jr., David Leo, Andy Leo, George Gallick, Robert and Joseph Uguccioni. Honor Guard: Current and retired faculty and staff members of the Carbondale Area School District. Friends called Sunday, September 15, 2013 from 5-9 PM. Mass 9:30 am Monday, September 16, 2013 Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Church, Carbondale, PA 15 Fallbrook Street Carbondale, Pennsylvania, United States