Jets Fan Cares for Grave of Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi was a legendary coach for the Green Bay Packers and is the namesake for the Super Bowl trophy. When he passed away in 1970, his gravesite went unattended for many years. Twenty-five years ago, a Jets fan named Gary Martin began taking care of the coach’s neglected gravesite.

Martin drives from his home in Parsippany, New Jersey to the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Middletown Township, New Jersey (about a three hour drive round-trip) to care for the gravesite. He had been making the trip about once a month, but has started visiting the gravesite only four times a year due to a back injury.

Martin will find mementos left by fans at Lombardi’s gravesite, but he typically favors gifts from Green Bay Packers fans to stay. If mementos from other teams are left at the gravesite, Martin will remove them.

Martin’s dream is to one day place a 4-foot-high Super Bowl replica trophy made out of granite in front of the tombstone. He said he plans to serve as the unofficial gravesite caretaker until the day he dies.

Mike Vandermause, Jets Fan Takes Care of Lombardi’s Gravesite, Associated Press, May 26, 2011.