Alex “Ace” Brogna

Alex “Ace” Brogna, 86, of Hughestown, passed away Saturday June 7, 2025 at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Pittston he was a son of the late Frank and Rhoda DelPriore Brogna.

Ace was a graduate of Pittston High School, where he excelled as an athlete. He then accepted an athletic scholarship to King’s College, where he was named to the Division III Little All-American team in 1959.  In 1961 he signed a professional contract with the Minnesota Twins. From 1961-1963 he had played for three teams in Major League Baseball’s Farm System.

Ace was a well-respected football and basketball official for the PIAA since 1967, refereeing several state and conference championship games as well as the Big 33 coaches football game in 1979. He also spent 10 years as an NCAA football official.

He was instrumental in helping bring professional baseball back to the area with the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre Red Barons in 1989 where he was a member of the Board of Northeast Baseball.

Ace was the head baseball coach at King’s College from 1991-2001, earning conference coach of the year three times during his tenure at his beloved alma mater. He had also been an assistant coach at Lackawanna College and Pittston Area High School.

Coach Ace most recently spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Keystone College where he played an integral part in the baseball teams successes as he was a part of multiple conference championship teams. One of the most memorable seasons during his time as an assistant coach came in 2016 when Keystone earned an NCAA National Runner-Up finish at the Division III College World Series.

Of all of his accomplishments, what mattered most was the lasting impact he had on the lives of those around him— a lasting influence that will continue to live on for many generations to come. He leaves behind generations of men that were not only better athletes but also better people for having known Coach Ace.

He spent more than 20 years in the local banking industry retiring from Wells Fargo, formerly known as Wyoming National, as a Senior Executive Vice President.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, William “Billy” Brogna and cousin Donald “Danny” Brogna.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Ann (Abraham) Brogna and their children; daughter, Sandy McHugh and her husband Tommy, Hughestown and son, Alex Brogna and his wife Erin, West Pittston, and grandchildren; Alexa McHugh and fiancé John DeLucca, Liz Nayavich and husband Dave, Ali Brogna and Tony Saitta and great-grandsons, Tristan and Benny Nayavich. Also surviving; brothers, Lawrence “Larry” Brogna, Pittsburgh, Frank “Cheech” Brogna, Florida, and Joseph “Jody” and wife Marion, Old Forge, and sister-in-law, Carrie Brogna, Florida, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 9:30 AM in St. Joseph Marello Parish, 237 William Street, Pittston. The family will receive friends and relatives from 8AM until the time of mass in the church. Interment will be private.

Arrangements are entrusted to Adonizio Funeral Home, LLC – Pittston.

To leave an online condolence please visit adoniziofuneralhome.com

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