Whether it was athletics, art, or activities, Jimmy was all three, superintendent of schools John Macero said Monday. He was best described as Mr. Stoneham High School.

Carino died Feb. 8 of complications from COVID-19. He was 62.

After his 1976 graduation from Stoneham high, Carino returned as a volunteer, and within four years he began coaching. As boys soccer coach, Carino led the team to state championships in 2002, 2004, and 2005. He later took on the role of senior adviser. Carino retired in 2013 but continued to coach tennis at the school.

Stoneham school administrators and faculty knew Carino had been ill and in the hospital, but news of his death last Tuesday cut deep. We did not expect this at all, Macero said.

Online condolences overflowed with superlatives and praise for Carino. He was a Stoneham high legend, had a major impact on many lives, and was simply, the best, wrote students, current and former, colleagues, neighbors, and friends.

Ive known Jimmy forever, former student Angela Sciola Anderson, 36, said Monday.

Carino attended Stoneham high with Andersons mother in the 70s, later coached Anderson on the tennis team, and for years regularly took afternoon walks through the Andersons Colonial Park neighborhood.

Jimmy was a fixture in Stoneham and his personality was larger than life, Anderson said. His spirit lives on in the hundreds of lives he touched.

Carino, a father of three, created family everywhere he went, Anderson said, at home, at school, and in the community. His manner was jovial, extremely friendly and nice, she said.

As a coach, hed hold you to it, Anderson said. Hed give you the tough love when you needed it, but he was always there for you.

Macero said Carino had a special way when it came to teenagers. He was a stellar listener; he was all about building relationships and creating celebrations, he was honest, caring, and frank, in a very positive way, Macero said.

At a somber and emotional gathering on Sunday at Stoneham high, the line of mourners who wanted to share tributes to and memories of Carino snaked through the hallways and outside the building.

There was shock, there was disbelief, but also the joy of having been a part of knowing him, Macero said.

Carino was born in Medford, spent his early childhood in Somerville, and moved to Stoneham when he was nine. After high school, Carino graduated from Northeastern University, where he studied political science.

In 1989, Carino married the love of his life, Kathy Gehring. Their first child, Ryan James, was born four years later; twins, William Francis and Julia Mary, followed in 2000.

The private funeral Mass was held at St. Patricks Church in Stoneham. A celebration of Carinos life will be held in the spring or summer, relatives said.

Tonya Alanez can be reached at tonya.alanez@globe.com or 617-929-1579. Follow her on Twitter @talanez.

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Stoneham mourns the loss of coach Jimmy Carino to COVID-19 - The Boston Globe