11 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Togo leaves his companion of 38 years, Judith Hoss six children, Francis, Vincent, Michael, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Matthew Palazzi his sister Diana Palazzi of Union City, N.J. With his generous spirit, Togo never stopped helping to improve the skills of interested basketball players who would seek out his advice about the game he loved. In addition to coaching thousands of players, His greatest impact may have been mentoring young aspiring athletes who flocked to summer youth basketball camps and clinics to absorb his guidance about practical skills on the court and the development of a competitive attitude. He was a fixture around Holy Cross for more than 70 years. During his coaching career, he was an assistant men’s coach at Holy Cross with George Blaney and he was the school’s first women’s basketball coach. Togo followed his NBA career with more than 35 years of coaching. He played four seasons with the Celtics and two seasons with the Syracuse Nationals. He was chosen as the fifth pick in the first round of the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics in 1954. Among his achievements, he led Holy Cross to the 1954 NIT championship and was tournament MVP. Recruited by coach Buster Sheary who would become his lifelong friend, Togo entered Holy Cross where he earned national attention for his basketball accomplishments. Togo was a basketball standout at Union Hill High School. Togo raised his family in Worcester, later moving to Southborough. Togo was born in Union City, New Jersey, son of Francesco and Mary Palazzi. Palazzi, 90, a College of the Holy Cross basketball legend, passed away Friday, August 12.
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