Millersville Athletics remembers Ralph "Doc Roc" Anttonen
10/24/2022 2:09:00 PM | General
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 in Pucillo Gymnasium
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - His voice and signature calls ringing through a raucous Pucillo Gymnasium were unmistakable. For more than 50 years, Dr. Ralph "Doc Roc" Anttonen was the man behind the microphone at men's basketball games and women's volleyball matches, becoming a legendary figure in the community and synonymous with Millersville Athletics events.
Anttonen died on Friday, Oct. 23 at the age of 82. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 2-3 p.m. in Pucillo Gymnasium. All are welcome to attend.
Anttonen's final basketball game in Pucillo Gymnasium was a memorable PSAC Tournament victory for the Marauders in February of 2022. He arrived at Millersville as the director of education research in 1971 and began announcing basketball games in 1972. He continued to call volleyball matches until his passing. He worked side-by-side with his wife, Judy, at those events for more than 20 years, as she served as the scoreboard operator. For his dedication, Doc was inducted into the Millersville Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
Doc's impact on Millersville Athletics extended beyond basketball and volleyball events as he and Judy aided the educational pursuits of student-athletes with significant scholarship support. For the philanthropic support and years of service, the lobby of Pucillo Gymnasium was renamed the Anttonen Athletics Lobby in 2017.
Outside of athletics, Doc served as the coordinator of the exploratory program from 1986 until his retirement in 2013. He also served as advisor for the student radio station WIXQ for more than 40 years.
Anttonen died on Friday, Oct. 23 at the age of 82. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 2-3 p.m. in Pucillo Gymnasium. All are welcome to attend.
Anttonen's final basketball game in Pucillo Gymnasium was a memorable PSAC Tournament victory for the Marauders in February of 2022. He arrived at Millersville as the director of education research in 1971 and began announcing basketball games in 1972. He continued to call volleyball matches until his passing. He worked side-by-side with his wife, Judy, at those events for more than 20 years, as she served as the scoreboard operator. For his dedication, Doc was inducted into the Millersville Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
Doc's impact on Millersville Athletics extended beyond basketball and volleyball events as he and Judy aided the educational pursuits of student-athletes with significant scholarship support. For the philanthropic support and years of service, the lobby of Pucillo Gymnasium was renamed the Anttonen Athletics Lobby in 2017.
Outside of athletics, Doc served as the coordinator of the exploratory program from 1986 until his retirement in 2013. He also served as advisor for the student radio station WIXQ for more than 40 years.
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