Lonny Shockley, a respected figure in Long Island basketball, passed away at the age of 72 on March 19, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Born as Alonzo Hilton Shockley III on May 21, 1952, his parents were educators and civil rights activists.
Later, when he was 8 years old, his family moved to New York and eventually settled in North Babylon.
Lonny Shockley Had A Distinguished Career In Basketball, Both As A Player And Coach!
Shockley dedicated his life to basketball, coaching youth baseball and middle school basketball before becoming an assistant coach at North Babylon High School.
He later joined Dowling College as an assistant coach, playing a key role in the school’s basketball success, including its ECAC Division II championship win in 1988.
His coaching extended beyond technical skills; he was widely regarded as a mentor and a figure of inspiration.
Additionally, he worked as a guidance counselor in prisons, helping inmates transition back into society.
Shockley also coached at the United Nations International School and worked in summer basketball camps run by the Knicks and Lakers.
Now, regarding his education, Shockley was raised with an emphasis on academics.
His family had ties to Michigan State University, and he carried this admiration throughout his life.
He attended North Babylon High School, where he excelled in basketball and helped his team secure its first Suffolk County title in 1970.
He later pursued higher education at Wagner College on Staten Island.
Lonny And His Wife, Denise, Were Married For Over Two Decades Before Her Passing In 2018!
Additionally, as for his family life, Shockley lived with his wife, Denise, in Tribeca, Manhattan.
Sadly, Denise passed away on January 15, 2018, which was also her 68th birthday, due to uterine cancer.
Also, reports claim that her death was linked to health complications resulting from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
Despite personal losses, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2021 with his daughter, Lindsay Simmons, and remained dedicated to his career.
His passion for basketball and mentorship suggests a strong foundation in sports education and leadership.
Tragically, his passing from a reported natural cause left his family devastated.
His daughter Lynsey Simmons expressed her deep admiration for her father and said :
To us, he was a great family man, But he was also a person who cared deeply for others. He always helped other people.
Also, Scott Greene, an assistant coach for the boys basketball team at Wyandanch High School, described him as the best coach and said:
People will probably remember him best as the coach who best promoted team chemistry and kept players from getting [mentally] off track,In a lot of ways, he was kind of the team psychologist. But there was a lot more to him than that. He could draw up a set for us to run.
Lonny is survived by his sisters, Novella Randolph and Cheryl Durant, his son-in-law, Bobby Simmons, and grandchildren, Mya and Mavrick.
His passing is a significant loss for the basketball community and those who knew him personally.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Coach Lonny Shockley’s family, friends, and well-wishers.
Rest In Peace, Legend!
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Denise was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2016 and began treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
- Before this, uterine cancer was not recognized as a World Trade Center.
