Len Sears, Newsday's first Carl A. Hansen Award winner, dies at 82

At 6-5 and 240 pounds, Len Sears was given the nickname "Shoes," because of his unusually large feet.

Sears, a former standout lineman for West Babylon High School, earned Newsday's first Carl A. Hansen Award in 1960 as Suffolk County's most outstanding football player.

His former teammate at West Babylon, Phil Bassi, estimated that Sears' feet were "probably size 13, 14 or 15."

"Back then, that was a really big person," said Bassi, who was the team's quarterback. “I don’t recall being sacked that often when he was there.”

Sears died from a rare form of cancer on April 24, according to his family. He was 82.

After West Babylon, Sears played football at the University of South Carolina and started for three season for the Gamecocks.

He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 19th round of the 1965 NFL Draft. He was also selected by the Houston Oilers in the eighth round of the 1965 AFL red-shirt draft.

Sears was later traded from Houston to the Oakland Raiders. He was on the cusp of making the team before a motorcycle accident caused a knee injury that prevented him from making the roster during camp, his son, Brian Sears, 58, said. He later played semi-pro football for numerous teams, including the Long Island Bulls.

Born May 1, 1943, in Bay Shore, Sears graduated from West Babylon in 1961.

Outside of being one of the town’s football stars, Sears always wanted to help friends and family any way he could.

“Len was like a big brother to all of us,” said his cousin Lyne Burkhardt, 75. “He was always there for family, friends and neighbors. The woman who lived across from him had cancer and he always made sure she had dinner or, if she was up to it, took her out to eat to make sure she wasn’t alone. That’s the type of person Len was.”

Sears moved to South Bend, Indiana, in 1974. He worked at Sinco Pools for 40 years and eventually owned the business.

“My dad really liked dealing with people,” Brian Sears said. “My dad started a service department and installation department at Sinco. He really enjoyed putting in pools for people and talking to all customers. He loved putting in time to complete projects for people.”

Sears enjoyed golfing in Florida, building things by hand and spending time with family. Later in life, he got a dog named Tank.

“Him and Tank traveled together and they were best buddies,” said his daughter, Jennifer Sears, 55. “He made sure the dog was taken care of and he loved her. Now I have Tank, and every day I get to think about my dad.”

In addition to his son and daughter, Sears is survived by his stepdaughter, Tara Brubaker, of Indiana, along with nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His son, Brian, said the family gathered at Sears' favorite pizza parlor in South Bend to share memories and celebrate Sears' life.