Rev. Daniel Mclernan, 72

August 10, 1988 By FRANK DOUGHERTY, Daily News Staff Writer

The Rev. Daniel J.A. McLernan, OSFS, one of the most successful Philadelphia high school soccer coaches ever to take the field, died Monday at the Immaculate Mary Home on Holme Circle. He was 72 and had lived in the home for the past year.

"My brother coached 16 soccer All-Americans, including our brother, Joseph, a retired Marine Corps major general who was All-American while playing soccer at the U.S. Naval Academy," recalled Robert McLernan.

"Dan coached enough All-Americans to field an All-American team of his own, along with all the necessary substitutes," continued McLernan, dean of students at Father Judge High School in Holmesburg.

Father McLernan coached Northeast Catholic High School for Boys soccer teams from 1944 through 1947, and again from 1955 through 1966. Under his guidance, the Falcons of Northeast Catholic captured five city championships titles, and 13 Catholic League titles.

When he ended his coaching career career in 1966, McLernan's teams had established an overall record of 243 wins, 26 losses and 18 ties. Many of those games were played at the old Lighthouse Field, Front Street and Erie Avenue.

A member of Northeast Catholic Class of 1934, the Kensington native the following year entered the Novitiate of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales at Childs, Md.

After completing his theological studies at Catholic University of America, he was ordained to the priesthood in June 1943.

Following his ordination, he returned to Northeast Catholic, where he taught mathematics for 21 years. During his years in the math department, McLernan was regarded as a hard marker, a man students fondly referred to as ''Flunker Dan."

If during the normal school year McLernan suspected a student of not applying himself to his studies, that young man would be advised of the peril of "Going West" later that year.

And a good number did just that - West, in their case, being West Catholic High summer school sessions, where students who flunked McLernan's course had to repeat it.

In addition to Robert and Joseph, he is survived by two other brothers, John and the Rev. Richard McLernan, OSFS; and a sister, Marie McLernan Martin.

Fr. McLernan's Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Ascension of Our Lord Church, F and Westmoreland streets.

He was buried in the Oblate Cemetery at The Center for New Life in Childs, Md.