Patrick J. “Pat” Crampsie has spent his adulthood, nearly a quarter-century, mentoring students and coaching athletes, and has done so with a passion for helping to shape the lives of the generation that follows his.

It is that commitment to making a difference that caught the eye of members of the Panther Valley Irish American Association, who this week announced the Panther Valley High School teacher and coach, a Summit Hill resident, will be the recipient of its annual Shamrock Award when the organization holds its 76th annual dinner on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 16, at the Hill Top Community Center, Summit Hill.

A social hour will be held from 4-5 o’clock that afternoon, followed by the dinner and the tradition of honoring the “Irishman of the Year.”

“It’s very humbling,” said Crampsie of his selection, which follows a long line of previous awards to people who the PVIAA picked as honorees, including five members of the “Crampsie Clan,” a well-known family in the area. “I remember when my grandfather (late Summit Hill Police Chief Jack Crampsie) received the award, the great amount of pride the rest of the family had in his honor, so it’s definitely something special for me and with us, and, for me, to be thought of this way is humbling and not something I will ever take lightly.”

“Pat, known by most as Coach Crampsie, has been a dedicated servant of the Panther Valley community for decades,” said Brad Hurley, PVIAA president who make the presentation of the Shamrock Award to his friend.

“Pat has helped to shape countless young men’s lives as a coach and mentor,” he added. “The fight and passion he has shown in all his endeavors, whether that was beating cancer, winning a district title or volunteering his time for his community, is something that is certainly worthy of this recognition. I cannot wait for us to honor Pat and all of his achievements at this year’s PVIAA program.”

Fifth in the family

When he accepts the Shamrock Award next month, Pat will become the fifth Crampsie family member to receive the award, beginning with his grandfather’s honor back in 1982. Since that time, his father, James “Juvey” Crampsie, received the honor in 2004, while his uncle, Bob Crampsie, and aunt, Kathy Crampsie, were recognized by the association in 2007 and 2015, respectively.

Pat Crampsie reflected, “Growing up, I had always been around the PVIAA banquets, and the first one I attended as an young man was when my favorite teacher, the late John Harkins, received the honor. So I’ve been around it my entire life, basically, and it’ll feel great that night to be involved with friends and family to celebrate, and, at the same time, do a lot of good. It’s always a great night.”

Irish heritage

In reflecting on his family upbringing, Crampsie noted, “My grandmother’s house (the late Margaret Shober Crampsie) was the hub of activity for family, and we always looked forward to gathering there, especially to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. We’re a tight-knit family whose members love to take care of each other and take care of friends.”

He cited his father’s civic activity, saying, “He was always active in community, politically, as a councilman, and in volunteering in things like Little League. He did it because he wanted to do good, not because he had a directly-involved interest, and so I learned from him.”

About the honoree

Crampsie, 49, is a 1994 PVHS graduate who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology four years later from Moravian College, Bethlehem, where he played football for the Greyhounds in his freshman year.

Certified by the state in Instructional II Biology, grades 7-12, and tenured in June 2002, he taught junior high life science and physical science in the Easton Area School District for two years (1999-2001) and various science courses in grades 7-12 in the junior and senior high schools of the Palmerton Area School District, also for two years (2001-03), before beginning his stint at Panther Valley in August 2003.

During the past 23 years, he taught seventh grade science from 2003-24, is currently teaching biology and environmental science at the high school, and this year was named dean of students.

Crampsie has also been a mentor for new teachers through the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 Mentor Program from 2003-24; developed and taught current events, an elective course for seventh grade students; and served as adviser to the school’s Envirothon teams (2003-24) and Environmental Club (2003-10).

And while at PV, he was a union representative for the junior and senior high school faculties for 15 years; head teacher for 10 years of the PV Summer Achievement Academy; head of the junior high Science Department for 11 years; and served on the Faculty Advisory Board for four years.

For the last 23 years, he has been the head coach of the Panthers’ boys basketball team, during which time he amassed the most wins in boys basketball history at the school. His teams appeared in two District 11 championship games, winning the gold in 2020 when the Panthers advanced to the PIAA state tournament, which resulted in Crampsie being named the National Federation of High School Sports Pennsylvania Boys Coach of the Year. That year, he was also named Republican Herald Boys Basketball Co-Coach of the Year, and in 2009 was the Times News Boys Basketball Coach of the Year, and runner-up to the same honor in 2010.

Crampsie is also a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016, after which he received the Courage Award from the Carbon-Tamaqua Unit of the American Cancer Society.

His civic involvements include being a former volunteer in the Summit Hill Little League; past PIAA official in baseball and softball; track coach at Panther Valley; active member of the Summit Hill Memorial Day Parade Committee; and membership in the Panther Valley Irish American Association and Sons of the American Legion Post 316, Summit Hill.

The son of James and Laura (Bochicchio) Crampsie, Pat is married to Amber Zuber, daughter of Stanley Zuber of Berwick, and his wife Leslie, and Patty Coleman, and her husband, John, of Zion Grove. Pat and Amber have two sons, Corrigan, 14, and Kallan, 11.

Amber said of her husband, “He’s a good dad; never says no. If it’s ‘can we build a whiffle ball field or a basketball court,’ the answer is always yes, and, so, there’s always lots and lots of kids around here, always playing something.”

Pat is the brother of Kylie, wife of Brian Seitz of Lake Hauto.

For tickets to the banquet contact Bob Crampsie, 570-657-1876; Jim Crampsie, 570-217-6135; or Paul McArdle at 570-956-8705.