“Vinny” Spremulli - Coach & Mentor to Many, Passes

Known as “coach Vin” to decades of student-athletes, Vincent A. "Vinny" Spremulli passed away on October 5, 2023. He was about to reach his 77th birthday. Vin Spremuli was a Special Education Teacher at the Ponaganset Middle School for 35 years. He was a 1964 graduate of East Providence High School and a 1968 graduate of Providence College. He coached middle and high school basketball and was a long-time coach and director of East Providence Central Little League and Saint Martha’s CYO basketball. Spremuli was the assistant director at Camp Ruggles, a camp for children with emotional and behavioral disabilities, for many years. Although his teams won many championships, his strength was in teaching young people to be competitive and to do their best, while building their character at the same time. “Coach Vin was a mentor to many of us in more than sports.

He taught us about life and family,” was the general comment heard by the hundreds who gathered in line for hours at Perry-McStay Funeral home on Wednesday night to say farewell. “His athletes became better people after being mentored and coached by him.” A funeral mass is to be held at Saint Martha’s Church on Thursday morning. Spremuli had been a volunteer and mainstay at the Kent Heights catholic church for years.

Spremulli and his wife Peggy were the proud parents of two children and three grandchildren. His son Michael is a Det. Cpl. With the EPPD and his daughter, Sandra Forand is the East Providence Schools Superintendent. "My dad was my rock. He’s who I called when I needed advice or just to vent. My dad never missed a game in my entire sports career. He was so proud of my brother and I and of his grandchildren. As the texts and calls have come in, I’ve been reminded of the impact he had on others. He was my inspiration for becoming a teacher. He taught kids about integrity, sportsmanship, and character. My dad left a lasting legacy,” wrote Dr. Sandra Forand.

In addition to his wife and two children and their spouses, he was proud of his three grandchildren, Derek Forand (Capt. US Marine Corps), Allison Charleson and her husband Christian and Jacob Spremulli, one brother, David Spremulli and one sister, Linda McLaughlin.

Long time friend, Jim Russo wrote about his coaching mentor. “Vinny Spremulli and his passing was a huge loss for his family, all of us who were lucky enough to be his friend, and the city and community he called home for so many years. I learned a lot. And it was not just hoops I learned about but also how a program should be built – finding good people and putting them in the right spots, what was really important when one coached a team, and how to coach young people,” said Russo.

East Providence and indeed Rhode Island, has lost a legendary youth coach, mentor, volunteer and extraordinary family leader in Vinny Spremulli. He will be missed but remembered by many for years to come.