Justin Dantonio passes away at age 86
Mark Dantonio's father, Justin Dantonio, died Sunday at age 86, MSU announced today.
Justin was a lifelong educator who is survived by his wife of 57 years, Maryan, along with four sons and six grandchildren.
Here's a snippet from a 2008 story on Mark Dantonio with some background on Justin's World War II experience and the impact he has had on his son.
Justin Dantonio was 19 years old, a crew chief on B-29 bombers on the South Pacific island of Tinian, his life a daily uncertainty as World War II raged.
Already a serious, meticulous person, Dantonio and his compatriots were “bombed a lot” by the Japanese, he said. After each repair, Dantonio and his crew would get a test drive in the plane – an effective way to ensure good repairs.
“Maybe that’s where I got all my details,” said the 83-year-old retired principal from Zanesville, Ohio. “You had no choice but to get everything exactly right.”
Mark Dantonio is the second of Justin’s four sons. He’s also Michigan State’s serious, meticulous head football coach, who has managed to guide his Spartans to a 9-2 record and Big Ten championship game at Penn State today, in just his second season on the job.
The story that is unfolding in East Lansing, of a long-troubled football program headed rapidly toward stability, is tied to the story of a man who has intensity, consistency, perfectionism and a series of mentors to thank for his success.
He has drawn from his late junior high coach, Larry Nichols. High school coach Ron Apperson. His position coach at South Carolina, Dale Evans. Jim Tressel, Nick Saban, Earle Bruce, Jim Young and many others in the college arena.
And of course, Mom and Dad.
“Where would I be without Jim Tressel? Where would I be without Nick Saban?” the 52-year-old Dantonio asked aloud last week. “So many people have made me who I am as a coach. The people you work for, that’s where you’re formed.
“But yeah, the details, that comes from home.”
Dantonio will conduct his Tuesday news conference and take part in the Big Ten teleconference. He'll be home for Wednesday's visitation and Thursday's funeral, then will return to East Lansing that day and coach Friday.
