Staten Island, NY – Wagner College Athletics is saddened to announce the passing of Joan Babul, the mother of Wagner men's basketball assistant coach Mike Babul. She was 64 years old. 
 
A devoted wife of Michael Babul Sr., and a loving mother of three sons, Michael, Jonathan and Jeffrey, Mrs. Babul served as a nurse for over 35 years and fought courageously in her battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as "Lou Gehrig Disease."
 
This past January, as part of National ALS Awareness Day, the Wagner men's basketball team bestowed an honorary captainship to Mrs. Babul when the Green & White hosted the Central Connecticut Blue Devils (CCSU) on January 31, 2015. In the days leading up to the Wagner-CCSU contest, Coach Babul discussed his mother's fight against ALS.

"I know  I speak for, not only the men's basketball program, but the entire Wagner College community in expressing how deeply saddened we are to hear about the passing of Mike's mom, Joan Babul," said Seahawk head coach Bashir Mason. "Our players and staff were honored that she agreed to be an honorary captain on ALS Awareness Day last season, and that we were able to bring some awareness to this dreadful disease.

"The Babul family is in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time," Mason added. 

On January 30, 2015, Staten Island Advance columnist Cormac Gordon also wrote a piece on the relationship between Coach Babul and his mother.

In August 2014, Coach Babul participated in the worldwide ALS Ice Bucket Challenge as a way to raise interest and money to combat this dreaded disease.

Information on how to donate and learn more about ALS can be found on the ALS Association website.