Trina Mangano, one of the most well-respected women’s lacrosse officials in the country, died of cancer on Friday at the age of 55. Mangano first started battling cancer in 2016 and shared her story with US Lacrosse Magazine in 2017.

Mangano was a mainstay in the Florida lacrosse scene, serving as both a coach and official. She had three daughters, Maddy, Olivia and Rachel Blakeman, all of whom played the sport. Maddy and Oliva both played on the collegiate level. Maddy was a two-time first team All-Patriot League player at Loyola and later served as the director of lacrosse operations at Temple. Olivia began her career at Loyola before transferring to Rollins for her last two seasons, serving as a team captain in 2020.

“You can’t think about lacrosse officials in Florida without immediately thinking of Trina,” said Liz Brush, manager of the officials development program at US Lacrosse. “Not only was she the first Nationally and Internationally-rated official from Florida, she has been a mentor, advocate and inspiration to so many officials in the state and across the entire country. Her work and dedication to the sport will be felt for many years to come.”

Mangano, a longtime US Lacrosse volunteer, officiated at the 2015 U19 world championship in Scotland, worked NCAA playoff games, served on the US Lacrosse Training Committee and was a clinician for the Collegiate Women’s Lacrosse Officials Association.

A teacher at the St. Edward’s School in Vero Beach, Fla., Mangano earned one of the highest honors of her officiating career when she was selected to officiate at the 2017 women’s world championship in England. However, her fight with cancer left her unable to make the trip.

She continued to serve the game in the ensuing years in a variety of ways. She was named as the Sunshine State Conference Women’s Lacrosse Coordinator of Officials in 2018 and assisted with the inaugural Pan American Lacrosse Association women’s championship in Florida in 2019. The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association established a scholarship for new officials in her name.

“I honestly can’t recall a time when our women’s national team was in Florida, which for about a decade was at least once a year, without seeing Trina,” said Ann Kitt Carpenetti, VP of Lacrosse Operations for US Lacrosse. “Seeing her work with developing international officials in 2019 at the PALA women’s qualifier made me realize how fortunate we are to have leaders and teachers in our sport like Trina. I cannot fathom that she won’t be greeting us on the field the next time we are in Florida. Trina’s imprint on our game will endure and we will remember her most for her fighting spirit, her commitment to excellence, her adoration of her daughters and her love of our game. Godspeed, Trina.”

Mangano remained active throughout her battle, including frequently participating in one of her passions — paddle boarding. In December, on her final post on a Caring Bridge website, Mangano did what she often did, putting others before herself. She wrote, “Life is quiet and COVID is keeping me from doing more than my usual anyway. I am hoping for a few more adventures in the new year before these snarky tumors catch up with me. I am sure everyone is hoping for more adventures in 2021, so here is to a vaccine, your health, adventures and all the fun you can wish for!”

Mangano’s sister, Lisa, shared Trina’s own words regarding services: “I do not wish for anyone to have a memorial service. My children, family, and friends have their memories of me. Everyone who wants to remember me will in their own way.”

The lacrosse world will remember her as someone who loved the game and the people involved, and did everything she could to make it better.