Rob Violante made a significant impact on so many children he taught and coached over more than a decade at Bergenfield High School.
"You couldn't find a person who believed [more] in the potential of a student," principal Rob Ragasa told NorthJersey.com. "The way he interacted with students, there was always a belief that they can achieve, they can turn things around."
Following Violante's death in a car crash May 14, the administration is making sure his influence will remain in the school for years to come.
The Rob Violante Memorial Scholarship, created at his family's request, will be given to one graduating student-athlete at Bergenfield each year. The first scholarship, for $500, will be given out at the school's annual senior awards ceremony on June 2.
Violante had been the head football coach at Bergenfield since 2011, making him the longest-tenured coach in program history. He was also the track and field coach in addition to his role as the school's dean of students.
At Violante's funeral on May 21, loved ones remembered him as a hardworking, kind-hearted man who made a difference in the lives of his students and players. Ragasa called him a "down-to-earth" educator who was able to motivate students through positivity rather than talking down to them.
The two administrators were particularly close, talking almost every night about the events of the school day and preparing for what was to come the following day.
"I lost a dear friend," Ragasa said, adding that he was "floored" when he learned of Violante's death.
The principal also highlighted Violante's athletic prowess, which he has passed down to his nephews in their own sports careers. Violante, a dedicated family man, did his best to attend all of their games as he balanced his own work obligations.
Violante was able to build connections with college football recruiters nationwide over the years to help Bergenfield players play at the next level. His reach was evident in a sympathy card Ragasa received from Bill Belichick, the new head coach at the University of North Carolina following 24 seasons with the New England Patriots.
The past 12 months have been especially difficult for the Bergenfield High School community, after the previous principal, Jim Fasano, died in June 2024. While the community is still reeling from Violante's death, his positive impact on the school will continue thanks to the scholarship in his name.
"It's a tremendous loss," Ragasa said. "I hope that in some way, us as faculty, staff and students can carry on the legacy that he has set here."
To donate to the scholarship, send a check made out to the school Board of Education with the memo line, "Rob Violante Memorial Scholarship." The checks can be mailed to Bergenfield Board of Education, Business Office, 225 W. Clinton Ave, Bergenfield, NJ 07621.