Longtime Penn State Sports Historian Lou Prato, 87, Passes Away Leaving Behind Wife Carole and Their Three Kids!

February 27, 2026

This article was last updated by Pranaya Poudel on February 27, 2026

Lou Prato, a beloved Penn State sports historian, journalist, and author, took his last breath on Tuesday, February 25, 2026, at the age of 87.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, , and their children: son and daughters Vicki Rearrick and .

The coveted sports historian Prato’s passing comes just 10 days before their 66th wedding anniversary.

Prato and were married for over six decades; they walked down the aisle on March 7, 1959.

They had a sound marital life and created a tight-knit family of five members. However, their married life came to an end with his passing on Tuesday.

Prato had shared a now-restricted post on their 65th wedding anniversary on March 7, 2026.

Their daughter, , is married to , and the couple lives in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

Penn State Sports historian Lou Prato (left) with his wife Carole (right) and their daughters Vicki and Lori (Image Source: )

Vicki’s husband, Jeff, is a president at Protec Systems International and a former District Manager at Diversey Water Technologies.

His passing marks the end of an era for Penn State athletics; however, his name will live on in his legacy.

Meanwhile, the precise details of his funeral services have yet to be published by his family.

Sports Historian Lou Prato Had a Successful Penn State Career, Which Spanned Over Four Decades!

Prato was a decorated figure in the Penn State community. His journey with Penn State began as a student at The Daily Collegian, the university’s student newspaper, where he served as sports editor in 1958.

After graduating in 1959, he began his distinguished career in journalism, working in radio, print, and television for over 40 years.

Thanks to his successful professional career, Prato went on to work for several newsrooms across the country.

He worked for Detroit and Dayton, OH, and he also directed Northwestern University’s journalism program in Washington, D.C.

It was in 2002 when Prato’s passion for Penn State sports escalated with the opening of the Penn State All-Sports Museum at Beaver Stadium.

He was the founding director of the Penn State All-Sports Museum, which has become a popular destination for Penn State fans.

Prato was an author who penned several books about Penn State football, including the essential “Penn State Football Encyclopedia.”

His works often focused on the Joe Paterno years and the origins of the iconic “We Are…Penn State!” cheer.

In addition to his journalism and writing career, Prato served as a professor and guest lecturer at Penn State.

With his successful career at Penn State, Prato earned numerous accolades, including the Alumni Achievement Award from Penn State’s Bellisario College Alumni Society Board in 2016.

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