How did beloved Shaw football coach die? Al Pellegrino cause of death revealed.
The cause of the unexpected death of Shaw High School head football coach and athletics director Al Pellegrino while on vacation has been determined.
Pellegrino, 56, died Monday from hypertensive cardiovascular disease at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Orlando, Florida, according to Marie Drechsel, administrative assistant to Orange County associate medical examiner Dr. Chantel Njiwaji.
Drechsel told the Ledger-Enquirer she couldn’t disclose more details about the case, and Dr. Njiwaji doesn’t talk to the media.
Shaw principal Sureya Hendrick shared with the L-E what she heard from Pellegrino’s wife, Ashlee, about the circumstances of his death.
Ashlee, a career, technical and agricultural education teacher at Shaw, was with Pellegrino in their Orlando hotel room Monday morning. They were having a conversation while Pellegrino was lying in bed, Hendrick said, and he suddenly stopped talking.
“Then he went unresponsive,” Hendrick said. “She called the ambulance, and by the time they got there, he still was unresponsive and he was gone.”
Pellegrino, 56, was taken to the hospital but didn’t regain consciousness, Hendrick said. She wasn’t aware of any health problems he might have had.
“This one knocked us off our feet,” she said. “He was so loved. There’s just never going to be another one like him. He was a hard worker, dedicated, loved the children, loved athletics and wanted to see the best in all of our programs. He was just an all-around great man. Big heart, very big heart, always willing to help people. … Shaw has lost a great educator and a great friend and a great coach.”
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on June 6 in Cascade Hills Church, 727 54th St., Columbus, preceded by visitation at the church from 10-11 a.m., Muscogee County School District athletics director Jeff Battles announced Wednesday. A repast will be hosted at Shaw High School after the funeral.
This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 12:48 PM.
