ECAC-SIDA News

Howard Pachasa, a twenty year marketing and public relations veteran of intercollegiate athletic administration passed away June 15th.

Pachasa founded megagraphics in March of 1995. He served as president of the multi-faceted marketing and public relations firm that bears his daughter's (Megan) name. The business specializes in desktop publishing, web site development, communications and event management.

A Piscataway, New Jersey native, Pachasa graduated from Rutgers University - New Brunswick 1n 1979. While an undergraduate, he served as student manager of highly successful men's basketball teams that earned third place in the 1978 National Invitation Tournament and earned a trip to the 1979 NCAA "Sweet Sixteen". After graduation, his career began at his alma mater's athletic department, where he moved through the ranks, serving his last four years as Assistant Ticket Sales Manager.

Moving on to the University of Pennsylvania in July 1985, Pachasa initially served as Manager of Tickets and Marketing. He, oversaw ticket operations at Philadelphia's landmark facilities including the historic Palestra and 60,000 seat Franklin Field and for many outside events including Philadelphia Big Five Basketball contests. Elevated to Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing and Promotions at the Ivy League institution in 1989, Pachasa significantly increased marketing revenues for the department and its world renown Penn Relays. He was active in managing outside events hosted by the school including the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball championships, several NCAA Women's Basketball regional tournaments and was Director of Marketing for the 1992 NCAA Division I and III Men's Lacrosse Championships. Pachasa completed his service to the institution as Director of Publications and Producer of a weekly Football Coaches television show.

Pachasa joined LaSalle University in December of 1992, serving as Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Information and Marketing. There, he was responsible the department's sponsorship, promotional and development efforts. He was successful in promoting a sold out January1995 in-season men's basketball contest with fourth ranked University of Massachusetts at Atlantic City, New Jersey. The first sell-out of a collegiate athletic contest in almost 30 years at the city's venerable Convention Hall. Pachasa served as a Color Analyst of selected LaSalle men's basketball radio broadcasts and was Executive Producer of LaSalle's men's basketball television broadcasts. While at LaSalle, Pachasa served on the Midwestern Collegiate Conference Marketing and Sports Information Committees and was an active member of the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Pachasa joined the Rutgers-Newark athletics staff in 1995, when he was appointed to the position of Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Information and Public Relations. In that role, Pachasa served the department in a number of areas including media relations, event management, public relations, publications and scheduling. He served as Public Address announcer and as Master-of Ceremonies at selected athletic contests and events, was the department's primary computer consultant and serves as the department's "webmaster". Pachasa represented Rutgers-Newark in several professional organizations including the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the Eastern College Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors’ Association (ECAC-SIDA). In addition, Pachasa held memberships in the United States Basketball Writers Association (U.S.B.W.A.) and the Philadelphia Sportswriters Association.

In addition to guiding the successes of megagraphics and forging a successful career in athletic administration, Pachasa was involved with a number of additional and diverse interests. An avid golfer and bowler, Pachasa was an accomplished choral singer who has performed with numerous groups including the American Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's. He performed in eight countries in such diverse venues as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, Giants Stadium in New Jersey's Meadowlands Sports Complex and on board the U.S.S. Nashville while docked in Venice, Italy.

Pachasa was also active in civic affairs in his Gloucester County, New Jersey home where he resided since 1986. He served as a member of the Washington Township Zoning Board of Adjustment from 1992 through 2000, serving as Vice-Chairman in 1993 and 1994, and as Chairman in 1995 and 1996.

Services for Howard Pachasa

NORTHERN NEW JERSEY WAKE:
Friday, June 20 : Mundy Funeral Home
2:00-4:00 p.m. 142 Dunellen Ave.
& 7:00-9:00 p.m. Dunellen, NJ
(732-968-2626)

WAKE:
Monday, June 23 : Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
6:00-8:00 p.m. goodshepherdpitman@comcast.net
315 Highland Terrace
Pitman, NJ
(856-589-8209)

WAKE & SERVICES:
Tuesday, June 24 : Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
Wake: 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Services: 11:00 a.m.
Interment: To follow services.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Megan Pachasa Education Fund (P.O. Box 358, Gloucester City, NJ 08030). Megan, Howard’s only daughter, graduated from Washington Township High School last night (June 17, 2008).