In Memory

Arthur Jospeh "Art" Sorce - Class Of 1950

Arthur Jospeh Art Sorce

Local athletic booster dies at 56 Art Sorce Sr. was ex-pro, supporter of Newport Harbor

Art Sorce Sr., 56, of Mission Viejo, a onetime professional football player, longtime athletic booster of Newport Harbor High School and former publisher of CIF Sports Magazine, November 20, 1987 of a heart attack.

Sorce played center and middle linebacker for the New York Giants (1954-55) and the Green Bay Packers (1956). At Green Bay, he suffered a career-ending ankle injury. It was when he played for the Giants that Sorce -- a 6-foot-1-inch, 255-pound lineman -- caught the eye of then-offensive line coach Vince Lombardi.

"As soon as Lombardi got the job with the Packers, he traded for my dad. I got to talk with Lombardi once about my dad and he just loved him. He said he saw a lot of himself in my dad," son Art Sorce Jr. said this week.

Sorce was an all-city lineman in the Bronx, New York, and later graduated from South Pasadena High School along with former Newport Harbor coach Mike Giddings.

He went on to star at Pasadena City College, where as a center he was an all-America in 1951. That year, Pasadena, coached by Bob Blackman, capped a 12-0 season by winning the Junior Rose Bowlgame against Tyler, Texas, 28-26.

"My dad was the most-valuable player," Sorce Jr. said.

Sorce was set on receiving a scholarship to the University of Southern California, but when Blackman was named coach at the University of Denver, Sorce followed.

After his pro career, Sorce was a high-school football coach. He started the football program at Mayfair High School in 1957 and, after getting a job with the Department of Defense, coached in Japan, West Germany, Spain and England. His overall record was 82-16-2.

He returned to Orange County in 1967 and became involved in various business ventures. He also coached in the Saddleback Valley Pop Warner program for eight years.

One of his dreams, his son said, was to start a magazine that featured high-school athletes and promoted interscholastic athletics. Called CIF Sports Magazine, Sorce Sr. had plans to market his publication nationwide. But publication ceased in February 1984. "That broke his heart; it was really sad," Sorce Jr. said.

In addition to Art Jr. of San Clemente, Sorce is survived by a stepson, Scott Hamilton of Mission Viejo.

Orange County Register, December 3, 1987