Herb Brenner, who won 258 games as a Lynn Classical basketball coach, was honored recently for his illustrious life as a coach, teacher, friend, husband, and racetrack official.Brenner called his night “the greatest of my life,” as friends, family, teachers and co-workers saluted him.It was the occasion of a surprise birthday party – his 90th – at Wonderland in Revere. (He has spent 52 seasons as an official there.) The event featured a “This is Your Life”-style interview, conducted by local TV broadcaster John Hoffman. Brenner’s brother, Robert, flew in from Oregon, and his sister, Marilyn, arrived from Minnesota. Herb Brenner was thrilled to tears.In his career, Brenner had a tryout with the Celtics. A teacher in Lynn schools for decades, he is inducted in both the English and Classical Halls of Fame. The Classical gym on the Commons, which now houses the ninth-grade academy, is named in his honor.At the party, everyone had heartfelt praise, including Brenner’s favorite Classical player, Robert McManus, a retired Lynn city treasurer, who was Brenner’s first captain at the school in 1954.”I came from a broken home, and lived at about 18 different places when I was a kid,” McManus said. “Coach Brenner made a big difference in my life at that time, because this great man treated me like a member of his own family. He never wanted me to feel ashamed of my early life. Herb has continued to treat me like family every day for the past 54 years.”Wonderland Track officials also praised Brenner, a six-decade employee.”Herb brought great integrity to racing, and was a mentor and friend to our staff. We admire him,” said President and General Manager Dick Dalton.Brenner, who was born when Babe Ruth played for the Red Sox, recounted his life as a young basketball and baseball player.He recalled when he, Jim Twohig and Al Levy played varsity basketball together at the small Salem State Teachers College with its tiny enrollment.”And we still somehow upset larger and favored Boston University in a 1940s thriller,” Brenner said gleefully.Twohig and Brenner later wound up as Classical head coaches, while Levy became hoop mentor at English. The three amigos remained tight friends forever. Another beloved friend was Lou Falkoff, who succeeded Brenner as Classical coach.On the court, Brenner, tall, slender, and dark-haired, began shooting foul shots one-handed in the 1930s.”Everyone else shot two-handed or underhanded,” said Brenner. “I tried it one-handed and had success. I was credited with inventing the style.”Herb led the professional Goodwins, and other powerhouse Jewish fives. He caught the eye of the Celtics. He came close to making it; one Lynner who did join the Celtics was Lou Tsioropoulos of English, coached by Herb’s friend Al Levy.When Brenner coached Classical (1954-77), he occasionally showed off his one-hand touch from 20 feet out to the amazement of the players. Swish. Swish. Swish. Nothing but net.He also played baseball at Salem State with members of the Spirito family, and starred for the New England diamond champions at East Lynn Post 291. A couple of years later, Post 291 captured the national title, and although Brenner wasn’t on that squad, he was a fan, watching catcher Jim Hegan and pitcher Ray Bessom as batterymates.Among Brenner’s early coaching jobs was a stint at Beverly High. Next, he succeeded coach Twohig at Classical, as Twohig returned to his alma mater at Salem State to run the Vikings.While at Beverly, Brenner witnessed Classical’s McManus helping Rams teammate Eddie Robinson score 64 points in a victory over Beverly.”That night, Bob refused to take any shots,” Brenner said. “He concentrated on feeding the ball to Eddie Robinson, whose 64-point record still stands (as a North Shore best) today. Bob showed unselfishness and class.”Brenner praised former English principal/coach Tom Whelan as his role model.”I only weighed 100 pounds when I met Tom, yet he called me Power House,” said Brenner. “He treated me lik