Posted on Sunday, July 18 2004 - 06:54 AM - Alumni
One was the greatest baseball coach in Dartmouth College history. The other arguably the greatest basketball player in school history.
Tony Lupien died Friday at 84 in Norwich. Rudy LaRusso died the same day at age 66 in Los Angeles, where he starred for the NBA's Lakers.
Though the years and a continent separated them, Lupien and LaRusso were friends who shared a special bond.
“In addition to being the head baseball coach, Tony was our assistant basketball coach during the time we were on the varsity,” explained Dave Gavitt, who played alongside 1959 classmate LaRusso on the court. “There was an enormous respect between Tony and Rudy that grew even after we graduated.
