STATEN ISLAND -- Joe Lewinger, a Monsignor Farrell graduate, assistant principal and girls’ CHSAA administrator with plenty of Staten Island ties, has died from the COVID-19 virus, according to multiple sources.

Notre Dame Academy athletic director Nick Senise, who teamed with Lewinger on many policies involving the CHSAA, confirmed the 42-year-old succumbed to the virus on Saturday.

"Joe dying speaks volumes on how indiscriminate coronavirus is,'' said Senise, who considered Lewinger not only a co-worker, but a good friend. "He had no underlying conditions and still passed away. It’s very sad and, to say the least, shocking.''

"It just goes to show, whether you’re young, old, healthy or sick -- you need to heed the warnings (of our health officials and politicians). Stay at home, wash your hands, just do your part to help stop this virus.''

Lewinger was a member of Farrell’s graduating class of 1996. He was also a member of the Lions’ ‘Gold’ freshman basketball team during the 1992-93 season.

Lewinger, who is survived by his wife, Maura, and three children, was an assistant principal at The Mary Louis Academy in Queens, where he worked for 20 years. In addition, he was the CHSAA Intersectional chairman, Brooklyn-Queens Diocese vice president, co-chairman (along with Senise) of the girls’ soccer program and TMLA’s athletic director and varsity basketball coach.

"He had his hands in on everything,'' said Senise, who, in addition to being NDA’s athletic director, is the girls’ soccer coach at the Grymes Hill School and the president of the girls’ CHSAA New York Archdiocese. 'We spoke daily, often about results of the day before or upcoming big games, in the car on the way to work.

"He was instrumental in the current state of the CHSAA.''

According to former St. Peter’s girls’ basketball coach Bob Daggett, Lewinger was great for the CHSAA and often spoke about his family.

"Joe was a guy who really cared about his school and his players,'' said Daggett, who is currently a resident of Venice, Fla. "He cared about the league and the girls’ game in the city of New York.

"(But) he also always spoke about his wife and kids and how much time he had to be away from them.

"Joe was a good coach, but even a better man.''

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According to Maura Lewinger, via Facebook, her husband had been in the hospital for 11 days and had recently been moved to the Intensive Care Unit and put into a medically induced coma. She said although he didn’t have a temperature for a 24-hour period, his respiratory system steadily grew worse and he struggled to breathe before the medical staff at the hospital decided to use a trial infusion.

Maura Lewinger made that Facebook post at 11 a.m. Saturday. According to Senise, he received a text learning about Lewinger’s death shortly before midnight Saturday.

Needless to say, a number of people at Farrell were saddened by the death of Lewinger, who was a Brooklyn resident while attending the school. The Lions’ family, of course, is very proud to call him an alum and through a text from Director of Communications Greg Guastavino, they alerted members of the class of 1996 that included messages from principal Larry Musanti and president and CEO Lou Tobacco.

"Joe was a proud member of the ‘Brooklyn Crew’ of guys who commuted across the Verrazano to Monsignor Farrell High School every day,” recalled Musanti, who is in his 50th year at the Oakwood school. "He always arrived with a big smile and a personality to match.”

“Monsignor Farrell High School continues to pray for everyone during this difficult time, especially the Lewinger family and all who are affected by this virus,'' added Tobacco, who graduated from Farrell in 1990.

Senise and Daggett, meanwhile, were finding it difficult to put things in perspective.

"I’m going to miss those morning phone calls,'' said Senise. We used to talk about everything and anything and, of course, it usually benefitted the league. It’s still hard to believe.''

"First Arnold and now Joe,'' added Daggett, who was referring to the passing of Island sports figure Arnold Obey last week. "When it’s people that you know, and have known for so many years, it really puts a different slant on things.

"Sad.''

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