By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/3/23
The Philadelphia lacrosse community is mourning the loss of Christopher Edward “Hup” Hupfeldt, 69, who passed away this morning in Bryn Mawr Hospital after battling a recent series of health challenges.
Hup, also affectionately known as “Huppy,” was inducted into the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2015 for demonstrating long, dedicated, and exceptional service to the game of lacrosse in Pennsylvania.
For so many, his contributions to the sport are too long to mention in a single setting, perhaps even in a lengthy article.
A native of Baltimore, Hup was an All-League player and captain at Blue Ridge School (VA) and played at Washington College. He came to Philly a few years after graduation to play for Eagle’s Eye Lacrosse Club before accepting a leadership role as the team’s General Manager. He later became the General Manager of MAB Philadelphia (1982-98). The lacrosse club scene continued to benefit when Chris became the USCLA Vice President (and then President) from 1992-98.
Hup, who served as the head coach of Germantown Academy in 1981-82, was also a leader in youth lacrosse with the successful Ashbee program where he led his teams to SEPYLA championships in 2004, 2006, and 2008. During his tenure with Ashbee, Hup was a recipient of the Ashbee Service Award for his longstanding contributions to the program as a coach and board member.
In 1998, Hup was selected as the Assistant General Manager of the gold medal-winning U.S. Men’s National Team; he also served as the General Manager of the team in 2002 (gold medal) and 2006 (silver medal). Hup was the recipient of the International Lacrosse Federation Spirit Award following the 2006 games.
Hup also served as a volunteer on the USL International Committee, Board of Directors and Chair of the U.S. Men’s National Team Committee (2003-14). His volunteer contributions include the PLA golf outing committee (30 years), Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival committee, and the Checking for Cancer Lacrosse Invitational committee.
One of the landmark contributions Hup made to Philly lacrosse was directing the Eagle’s Eye and MAB programs as General Manager. Hup has spoken often about his pride in seeing players from those teams – including Hall of Fame Philly coaches such as John Nostrant, John McEvoy, Tony Resch, John Begier, and Bill Leahy – become scholastic coaches for the elite teams in the region. Hup recruited famed Lower Merion coach John Linehan when he began his tenure at Eagle’s Eye and later he used Hank Resch and Bob Mongeluzzi as coaches for teams that competed at the highest level in the United States Club Lacrosse Association – the forerunner to Major League Lacrosse. Hup also managed two teams in the 1990s that won championships at the Vail Shootout.
The story behind how Hup became GM of Eagle’s Eye was typical of his deep love for the game. Hup was a player on the Eagle’s Eye team when he and Bobby Burch brought Linehan in to coach, but Hup was cut by Linehan who was forced to make some tough decisions in the hopes of raising the team to elite status. But Linehan describes the moment he had to tell Hup he was cut by the man he brought in to be the coach. “Hup’s immediate reaction was not anger – instead he said. ‘How can I help the team?'” Linehan said. “I asked him, ‘Would you become the GM?’ That led to him eventually being the GM for Team USA for two terms or more; that’s a big job. He was always there to do what was needed to be done for lacrosse.”
Hup also was know to so many as owner of the go-to lacrosse apparel and equipment store for many years, Competitive Edge on the Main Line. Even until this year he was making personalized team bags for Philly schools.
Comments from the Philly lax community.
From Hall of Fame coach (Haverford School) and college and club standout John Nostrant:
“Huppy was one of my closest and oldest friends in Philly. What a guy to know as a young player and coach on the Main Line. He introduced me to most of my assistant coaches. He got me onto teams that I may not have ever gotten on …all star and club type of teams . He believed in me as a player and than for most of our lives as a coach. He would tell me things … suggest things and never do it grandstanding. He would pull me aside and say, ‘Hey, Goran Murray is going to play lacrosse I gave him a stick but he will be a better pole ….. Will McNamara with a pole would be dynamic….
Never in your face and always pretty much spot on. Hup was a Savant … he had extraordinary stick skills as a kid at BL …played at WC … he was a GM of World Teams and he ran Ashbee lacrosse and organized teams for Placid and Vail. Chris Hupfeldt was a Haverford die hard but more importantly he was a lacrosse connoisseur …so he loved players from everywhere. He had no enemies and if he did… those enemies were no friends of ours. He loved the people who loved the game and he got to know them. He was my friend even when he was a parent and his boys didn’t play as much as either of us wanted …. And those two were two of the toughest kids I ever coached … Hup never ever let that interfere with our friendship. As loyal a person as I have ever known . The parties on the corner of Buck Lane were legendary as were the burgers at Roaches. We lost the Mount Rushmore of lacrosse, but man, we have so many stories. Thank you Chris Hupfeldt. I love you.”
.From Hall of Famer and President Emeritus of the PLA Scott Growney:
“I cannot think of anyone more original, authentic, unapologetically anachronistic, or irreplaceable than Chris Hupfeldt. More than a legend, Huppy was an unmistakable and profoundly beloved character who became a fixture in the Philadelphia lacrosse community. He was a gift to our region from Baltimore and represented Pennsylvania lacrosse proudly on a national level as the General Manager of Team USA for multiple World Games. He never forgot his Maryland roots, but he was thoroughly a Philly partisan the moment he was transplanted on our soil and helped transform men’s club lacrosse in our area. Over the years, he was as solid and timeless as a rock and a blessing to those who had the good fortune to know him and, through his deeds and ambassadorship, to members of the lacrosse community who did not. Huppy embodied and perpetuated all that is good about the great game of lacrosse – tradition, honor, and respect. God threw out the mold after he made Christopher Hupfeldt.” – Scott Growney, PAL Emeritis President
From former Penn standout and coach (Eagle’s Eye) Bob Mongeluzzi:
“Quite simply, Chris Hupfeldt was the MVP (Most Valuable Person) in Philadelphia lacrosse for almost four decades, touching almost every aspect of lacrosse in the region. He had the go-to lacrosse store when that was the commercial and cultural center of the Philadelphia lacrosse universe. He was the organizing and driving force behind the Eagles Eye Lacrosse Club and assembled perhaps the greatest lacrosse teams in Pennsylvania history. He was one of the organizing forces of the summer lacrosse league of Philadelphia and of Philadelphia’s participation in the Vail Shootout. He was the heart and soul of Ashbee Lacrosse, the Lower Merion youth program. He was an impactful force behind the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association. He was team manager for multiple USA World Champions. He was everything and everywhere in Philly lacrosse, all at once. He’s been a giant of lacrosse whose contributions have impacted hundreds of players and their families. He didn’t do it alone. His loving wife, Carole, and his boys Chris and Reilly, were with him at every stop on his journey and are as much of the fabric of the game as he was. His lasting legacy is that of a man who loved lacrosse deeply and passionately and whose love and passion helped grow the game he loved in Philadelphia. We’ve lost a giant and a legend of Philadelphia lacrosse.”
From Hall of Fame coach (Eagle’s Eye/Lower Merion) John Linehan:
“Hup contributed to the lacrosse community in many ways that went unnoticed to the general public. Anything he could do to help at ay level – youth, high school, college, club, Team USA – he was there, helping largely on a volunteer basis. He loved the game and projected that love of the game to others. I think that’s why there’s so much emotion He loved the game, he loved the people in the game and we loved him. He was a tremendous asset to the lacrosse in the Philadelphia area for over 40 years.”
From Hall of Fame coach (Malvern Prep) and player John McEvoy:
“Hup was a Baltimore guy who became a Philly guy in terms of his lacrosse leadership in the growth years of the 90s. Even though he was a product of the ‘blue blood” Baltimore lacrosse environment , he appreciated and even helped define and promote the over achieving Philadelphia-grit lacrosse culture. In many ways Hup gave us legitimacy within the greater lacrosse world. What school helmet you wore in the earlier days was very important, but Hup had an appreciation for all the Philly guys and became an advocate for all of us. Not sure if you could describe Phila Lacrosse without starting with his name. I am a direct product of that as a player and coach and owe much of my success to his support and friendship. In the most recent years the MP/HS lacrosse rivalry has grown pretty significant. While Hup was an ardent HS athletic fan, I think he was a greater fan of the rivalry that helped promote the sport. I always loved that he never let that rivalry interfere with our friendship. Hup loved a well fought lacrosse game with great teams and players but loved the camaraderie and community that formed from that more. He couldn’t help but put a smile on your face every time you saw him – win or lose. I’m gonna miss him.”
From Hall of Fame Coach (Radnor) and player John Begier:
“Having known ‘Hup’ since my high school days when you think about him, it starts with, he’s one of the best people you could ever meet on and off the field. If you knew him – you loved him. He was so much fun to be around. A 10-minute conversation with him about lacrosse quickly turned into an hour and you loved every minute of it. He took a sincere interest in others, he wanted to help, and he was incredibly selfless. Combining that with his passion for lacrosse he’s been one of the most instrumental driving forces behind the evolution and success of Philadelphia Lacrosse over the last 40 years. He positively impacted the lacrosse community here at every level – youth, high school, club, and college – and at the national level he helped put Philly on the map as one of the best in the country. And along his journey more than anything he wanted it to be fun – to make great friends – build long term relationships – and have the best times of our lives being involved with the game.”
From George Baldassare, formerly of LaxPower and currently on the USL Board of Governors and Executive Secretary Emeritus – Connecticut HS Lacrosse Coaches Association
“My Hup story involves the 2003 USA U-19 World Championship team (which I was the Assistant General Manager). After we won the title in Baltimore in 2003, it became apparent that the GM was not interested in getting championship rings for the players and staff. Although there was a budget, US Lacrosse would have been thrilled to take a pass on it. To this day, when I look at my championship I always first think of Hup. I called Hup who had been (and possibly still was) GM of the senior team and he took me through the process, providing the contacts and design parameters and supporting me throughout including running interference with USL if necessary. Later, at convention in Philly in 2004 he personally found me to follow up and see how it all worked out. In short, Hup was a peach of a person always willing to provide something to those in the lacrosse community in times of need. I do fondly recall a reception he gave for the 2008 U19 team after an exhibition at Haverford School – apparently his residence was essentially adjacent to the lacrosse field and we all just walked over to his house for a grand time.”
From Hall of Famer and former Radnor/Eagle Eye/MAB standout GT Corrigan:
“Hup loved the game of lacrosse more than any other person I have ever known. Hup was the architect of the explosion of Philadelphia lacrosse starting in the middle to late 1980s. He recruited world-class players and countless National Hall of Fame members to the Eagles Eye lacrosse club which paved a path for teams from Philadelphia to beat the teams from Baltimore and Long Island — and then those players went on to coach lacrosse at every youth level and at Malvern and Haverford School and La Salle (and other programs) which build the next wave of great players — all of this can be traced back to Hup and the Eagles Eye lacrosse club and the MAB Paints team that won the Vail Championship. Hup loved the players and he truly loved every person who played lacrosse in Philadelphia. Hup was an icon and a legend and he will never be forgotten — he was the epicenter of the Philadelphia lacrosse community and a truly great friend to every person he touched in his life.”
From Hall of Famer and former coach (La Salle) Bill Leahy
“Hup was a truly kind person. A loyal husband, a caring father, and a friend to all. It is hard to put into words what this one memorable man meant to Philadelphia lacrosse. Whether it was men’s club, Team USA, or area high school, Hup was there to cheer, support, and offer advice. A mentor to many and a friend to all. The Philly area has lost a dear supporter of the game and a person who brought joy to others. I will miss him as will countless others in our lacrosse community.”
From Hall of Famer and former Wings great Scott Gabrielsen:
“Huppy was a true Ambassador of Philadelphia Lacrosse in every way. He was the man behind the scenes that pulled it all together. He built the teams with local stars and new imported stars that made Philly Lacrosse a hotbed. He was so passionate about the game from youth to High School to College, Team USA, and Pro he loved and promoted it all. Hup and Carol were our biggest fans and deserve so much credit in the growth of Philadelphia Lacrosse. Hup, I love you and will miss you.”
From Hall of Famer and former PLA President Bob Aitken:
“You would never know he grew up and played lacrosse in Baltimore. He adopted Philadelphia Lacrosse and we adopted him back. From back playing lacrosse with him on Eagles Eye lacrosse club, to his total dedication to Philadelphia Lacrosse Club, to Ashbee Lacrosse and the formation of Competitive Edge, and course both his and Carole’s 100% dedication to Haverford School Lacrosse, Huppy was there for anyone who needed anything. He was a tireless supporter of the game. He had a strong involvement with US Lacrosse and all of the National Teams. He would make sure that there was always a local team competing against the various US teams in exhibition games. He never left anything on the field. In talking to many of my friends and their families, they felt he changed their lives, not all about lacrosse but also about how to live your life and give back. He will be remembered as a legend in Philadelphia Lacrosse and all Lacrosse circles.”
From Hall of Famer and former Eagle’s Eye/MAB player Pat Carney:
“I am incredibly sad to learn about Hup’s passing today. He was the epicenter of Philly lax for so long and did so much for the game and community. He literally put Philly club lacrosse on the map before pro lacrosse existed. He assembled countless all Americans and future PA and National HOFers on teams representing Philly, many of whom have gone on to coach the current college and pro stars from Philly. He was a beacon of light and we are all blessed to have had him play such a major role in our lives. His legend and impact will continue to reverberate through generations of Philly lax.”
From longtime Philly HS and college and pro coach Todd MacFarlane:
“I am deeply saddened to hear of Chris ‘Hup’ Hupfeldt’s passing. My heart goes out to Mrs. Hupfeldt, Hup, Reilly and the rest of the family. As many of us in the lacrosse community who were very fortunate to know Hup, he is an absolute legend. You talk about Mt. Rushmore’s, he is on it. What can I say about Mr. Hup besides being a legend in the lacrosse community… with tears flowing… he was a coach, mentor, advocate, ambassador but more importantly a friend that I will miss deeply. Love you Hup!”
Listen to Hup on the NXT Podcast a few years ago
