Paul Schimoler ’89 died on Friday evening after losing his battle with cancer. Schimoler was one of the greatest collegiate goalies and a four-time All-American — the first in Cornell men’s lacrosse history. He also helped lead Cornell to a pair of national runner-up finishes in 1987 and 1988. 

Memorial services for Schimoler will be held Saturday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m., at the chapel of St. Michael the Archangel on the campus of St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt. 

There will be an additional memorial service in Long Island, N.Y., at a future date.

“Coach Schmoles’ was one of my first introductions to Cornell Lacrosse as a high school player, and was a tremendous role model for me as a competitor, as a young man and as an alumnus coming up through the college coaching ranks,” said men’s lacrosse team head coach Ben DeLuca in a statement. “Paul’s passion for Cornell University and Cornell Lacrosse, his selflessness and intense competitive nature and his unconditional love for his family, his teammates and his friends is truly legendary.”

In addition to being a four-time All-American lacrosse goaltender, Schimoler was also a four-time All-Ivy selection, including first-team honors in 1987 and 1989. He was named Ivy League Player of the Year in 1989 and Ivy Rookie of the Year in 1986. 

When he graduated in 1989, he held both the Cornell and NCAA record with 787 career saves. He set nearly every goalie record on the Hill, including saves in a game with 34 against Syracuse in 1987; season with 241 in 1988; and career  with 787. Schimoler also set the NCAA tournament record for saves, with 85 in 1988 — a record that still stands.

After his graduation from Cornell's School of Hotel Administration, he was a member of the Team USA lacrosse team that won the 1990 and 1994 International Lacrosse Federation World Championship. 

He also served as an assistant coach at Cornell from 1991 to 1994 and was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame.

Schimoler coached at St. Michael's College in Vermont for eight seasons, from 2004 to 2011. He put together the longest head coaching tenure in the program’s 30-year history and posted a school-record 61 wins. His squads reached the Northeast-10 Conference Championship six times and advanced to the semifinals in four of those six runs.

Recently, Schimoler returned to the Ancient Eight as an assistant coach at Dartmouth, where he would have started his second season this spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the “Paul Schimoler Fund,” for an educational fund for the children. These donations may be sent to: Branch Manager, TD Banknorth, 100 Center Road, Essex, VT 05452.