Pete Lindauer, of Hamilton, New Jersey, discovered his love for soccer at an early age. He also discovered the thrill of victory. From 1957 until 1965, Lindauer played in the Tom Hamnett Little and Little Bigger leagues. In 1964 and 1965, as a member of the Hamnett Select Team, he and future MCCC teammates Jim Solarski, Jr., Art Kearns, Dan Knox, and Mickey Forker won successive national invitational tournaments. He played soccer, basketball, and baseball for St. Mary’s Cathedral High School from 1964 to 1968 and was named to the AllCity and All-County first teams all four years.
Lindauer enrolled at MCCC in January 1969, joining his Hamnett teammates who were fresh off the 1968 national title win for Mercer. He was invited to go with them on a four-game trip to El Salvador and Nicaragua, where they held their own against professional opponents. Back at MCCC, the team’s winning ways continued. They were undefeated and ranked no. 1 going into the post-season but lost 1-0 to Essex (Md.) in the regional final. In 1970, they came in third nationally. In both 1969 and 1970, Lindauer was selected to the All-Tournament Team and was named a First Team All-American.
After playing for Mercer, Lindauer joined six of his former Mercer teammates for several seasons with the Trenton Extension, one of the top teams in the state. He also played for the German American Kickers, United German Hungarians of Philadelphia, Breidenbach ‘09 in West Germany, and North Trenton VFW Post 458.
Lindauer earned a B.S. in Aviation Technology and a master’s degree from Seton Hall University. He became a rated helicopter and airplane pilot and joined the New Jersey State Police, where he was assigned to the Aviation Bureau. He also worked for Jet Professionals Inc. as a flight crew member on corporate aircraft. He retired from the State Police in 2002 as commander of the Aviation Bureau and then worked as a helicopter and jet airplane captain for corporate and charter flight operations internationally and domestically. He retired from flying in 2013.
He was inducted into the Mercer County Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000.
Lindauer volunteered as a trainer and coach for his daughter’s Hamilton Recreation soccer team until she chose dancing over soccer. He has remained active with the German American Society/German American Kickers, currently serving as the club’s vice president.
Lindauer still works out daily and enjoys family time with his daughter, her husband, and his grandchildren. He lost his wife, JoAnn, in 2008 and misses her dearly.
