St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Mourns the Loss of Gary Marozas
4/30/2026 12:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Marozas was a three-year letterwinner from 1958-61 and was part of the Redmen’s 1959 NIT Championship
QUEENS, N.Y.– The St. John's men's basketball program mourns the loss of former player Gary Marozas, who passed away at the age of 86 on Sunday, April 26.
Marozas was a three-year letterwinner for the Redmen from 1958-61 under legendary coach Joe Lapchick. He appeared in 55 career games over three seasons, during which St. John's posted a 57-19 (.750) overall record and won the 1959 NIT Championship. The New York native averaged 4.2 points on 47.3% shooting and 4.2 rebounds per game over the course of his career in Queens.
After playing on the freshmen team in 1957-58, Marozas made 13 appearances the following season for the varsity squad, averaging 4.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. The sophomore was a part of a decorated Johnnies' squad that went 20-6. During that season, St. John's captured its first-ever ECAC Holiday Festival title, won its third NIT Championship on March 21, 1959 in a 76-71 double overtime thriller over Bradley at Madison Square Garden and finished the year ranked 18th in the nation by the Associated Press.
During his junior campaign, the forward played in 22 contests, logging career-best marks of 5.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The Redmen qualified for the 1960 NIT Quarterfinals and logged a 17-8 overall mark that season.
In his final year in Queens, Marozas helped guide St. John's to another 20-win season and the first NCAA Tournament appearance of his career in 1960-61. He recorded 3.2 points and 2.9 rebounds across 20 appearances as the Johnnies went 20-5 overall.
After graduating from St. John's in 1961, Marozas embarked on a career of service. After working as a truck driver for Coca-Cola, he then went on to work as a New York City fireman, serving in the FDNY for 25 years before retiring the late 1990s.
Services will be held at a later date.
Marozas was a three-year letterwinner for the Redmen from 1958-61 under legendary coach Joe Lapchick. He appeared in 55 career games over three seasons, during which St. John's posted a 57-19 (.750) overall record and won the 1959 NIT Championship. The New York native averaged 4.2 points on 47.3% shooting and 4.2 rebounds per game over the course of his career in Queens.
After playing on the freshmen team in 1957-58, Marozas made 13 appearances the following season for the varsity squad, averaging 4.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. The sophomore was a part of a decorated Johnnies' squad that went 20-6. During that season, St. John's captured its first-ever ECAC Holiday Festival title, won its third NIT Championship on March 21, 1959 in a 76-71 double overtime thriller over Bradley at Madison Square Garden and finished the year ranked 18th in the nation by the Associated Press.
During his junior campaign, the forward played in 22 contests, logging career-best marks of 5.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The Redmen qualified for the 1960 NIT Quarterfinals and logged a 17-8 overall mark that season.
In his final year in Queens, Marozas helped guide St. John's to another 20-win season and the first NCAA Tournament appearance of his career in 1960-61. He recorded 3.2 points and 2.9 rebounds across 20 appearances as the Johnnies went 20-5 overall.
After graduating from St. John's in 1961, Marozas embarked on a career of service. After working as a truck driver for Coca-Cola, he then went on to work as a New York City fireman, serving in the FDNY for 25 years before retiring the late 1990s.
Services will be held at a later date.
Postgame Press Conference St. John's vs Duke 3.27.2026
Friday, March 27
St. John's Men's Basketball Pregame Press Conference NCAA Sweet Sixteen vs Duke 3.26.2026
Thursday, March 26
St. John's Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament Round 2 postgame Press Conference 3.22.26
Sunday, March 22
St. John's Men's Basketball Pregame Press Conference NCAA Round 2 3.21
Saturday, March 21