DOUG LOESSER CLASS OF '75 YEAR OF INDUCTION: 2015 Although he makes it sound like his “15 Minutes of Fame” happened a long time ago, the Steinert High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee believes that G. Douglas Loesser continues to be an all-star in life. “I feel very fortunate to have had enough athletic ability combined with being blessed with exceptional coaches and surrounded by outstanding teammates which allowed me to shine for a few moments,” Doug Loesser said. “These moments and memories have not and will never fade. I am very grateful for them and all who have made them possible. “My coaches and participation with SHS athletics has instilled in me qualities (like leadership, dedication and work ethics) which I continue to use throughout my career and life. “Thank you Coaches (Del) Hood, (Pete) Brescia and (Rich) Fornaro!” Loesser earned nine varsity letters, three each in football, winter track and spring track. After playing football as a 9th-grader at then-Nottingham Junior High School, Loesser swiftly moved up the ranks at Steinert. He earned an honorable-mention all-county nod as a sophomore, then motored up to first-team status as a junior and senior. He was also first-team all-area as a junior and senior. The Mercer County Player of the Year received Prep All-American honorable mention laurels in 1974. His statistics included 650 yards on 40 passes and he also punted 40 times with a 38-yard average. Steinert was ranked among the top three teams in the area and was undefeated in the county at 6-0. “I developed many on-the-field and off-the-field friends at Steinert,” Doug said, citing top memories including post-game soccer/football “gatherings” behind Reynolds Junior High School. The chance to play hard and work hard was not lost on Loesser. “I enjoyed working hard with teammates to be our best,” he noted. He also shared his teamwork skills as a quarter-miler and member of the Spartans’ track relays. Favorite memories of his days at SHS include Turkey Day games. “(Who can forget) those Thanksgiving Day games versus our rival Hamilton High School West,” Doug said. “We were playing in front of thousands of spectators.” Along with the coaches, whom he continually credits for his success, he also has others to acknowledge including former Spartan quarterback Mickey Roman. “Del Hood (Nottingham Junior High coach), Mickey Roman (past SHS quarterback), SHS Coaches Brescia and Fornaro – they all gave me confidence, desire and encouragement to strive to be the best I could,” he said. Loesser’s “fame” has lasted far longer than 15 minutes. “I have been married 35 years to an exceptional woman Lisa (a former Ewing High School cheerleader!), I am the proud father of three children – Ryan, Scott and Amy, all of whom had outstanding collegiate athletic careers – and I am expecting to become a grandfather shortly, with the addition provided by my daughter-in-law Lisa (Gentilella, a former SHS multi-sport standout and Steinert Athletic Hall of Fame member) and Ryan,” he said. He has been employed as an engineer at Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory for 35 years. RETURN TO THE HALL OF FAME MEMBERS PAGE