I covered a multitude of his volleyball matches, ran into him hundreds of times in the halls of Lawrence High and sporadically bumped into him over the past few years in his days as a volleyball official.
Every time I did, Tony Hajjar left me walking away in a better mood.
Tony was an instant 100cc injection of joy, without fail. Every. Single. Time.
And now Tony is gone, much too soon, having passed away early Sunday morning at the age of 72.
A legendary coach over 19 years at Lawrence High and for decades in the club ranks, Hajjar’s death rocked the volleyball community and for that matter the entire Merrimack Valley.
Andover’s EJ Perry III called the news “Devastating.” He’s not wrong.
Hajjar had undergone quadruple bypass surgery months ago, and the recovery process was a series of highs and lows. Ultimately, his heart gave out early on Sunday.
“It caught us all by surprise,” said Tony’s son, T.J. “He recovered much faster than anticipated. He was in great shape. Two weeks ago he was cleared, 100 percent.”
Complications brought him back into the hospital over a week ago, where he passed.
Hajjar retired after 19 years at LHS, where he also worked on the security staff, with a 313-108 record that included the undefeated state championship season in 2005. As skilled a coach as you will find on the court, though, his true legacy is in the countless student-athletes he befriended, mentored and ultimately loved like his own.
“What he did at LHS, you look at all the wins and losses, but what he meant to those kids in their lives is what he’ll best be remembered for,” said T.J. “There’s already been 100s of social media posts with former students calling him a second dad.
“These kids had him at school and on the court. When they weren’t in the school, they were at his house. If they weren’t at his house, they were at the beach with him. All those kids in the junior program then at the high school. That’s 20 years of kids, every year a new group.”
Even after he left Lawrence High, the relationships continued. Tony would have alumni cookouts and tournaments at his Methuen home where former players would bring their children and introduce them to the game that they loved and shared.
“He was their Superman,” said T.J. “And it was like family.”
Coaches have the utmost respect for Tony. Perry will go down as one of the all-time great coaches in the game. He learned plenty from Hajjar.
“Man, the things he did for people, especially in the volleyball community,” said Perry. “He wanted to win and he was fierce competitor. But he would do anything to help you, too.”
Dan Young was at Hajjar’s side as an assistant coach for a huge chunk of those 313 LHS wins, including the title run in ’05.
“My connection to Tony is not one of blood, but like many he knew, it was one of love,” said one of Hajjar’s many protégés in coaching,” he said in a social media post after hearing the sad news. “Tony was one of the most honest, genuine people you will ever meet. He opened his heart, his home and his family to all. And he shared all of those things without ever asking for anything in return.
“This one hits a lot of people, all of whom owe the Hajjar Family a giant thank you for sharing such a wonderful person with us all.”
Methuen High coach Matt Twomey shared a similar sentiment on “X.”
“We have heavy hearts in Methuen, The Valley, and beyond today with the passing of long time Lawrence coach and referee Tony Hajjar. Make no mistake about it the volleyball world in the MVC and Massachusetts lost a Titan today.”
Tony’s impact didn’t end at retirement, either. Over the past six years, he spent his mornings at T.J.’s Salem gym, Drive Custom Fit, in Salem.
“He worked the front desk, smiling, greeting people, having conversations, and doing what Tony does,” said T.J.
In other words, he spent those days like the others, making this world a better place. Young said it best:
“It should be a little darker outside now with Tony gone,” he wrote. “The world lost a giant light when he passed. But he added so much by showing us how to love and take care of each other that today is still brighter than ever because Tony was here.”