It may never be business as usual at McCoy Stadium, home of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

That’s because Ben Mondor, the team’s beloved owner who turned both the once decaying ballpark that was built in 1942 and one-time bankrupt franchise into award winners, died two weeks ago at age 85.

But loyal PawSox and baseball fans have nothing to fear; the franchise – as well as the stadium – will still have its usual fan- and family-friendly atmosphere when the 2011 season rolls along.

“We are all grasping with Ben’s passing,” said Mike Tamburro, the PawSox president who worked hand-in-hand with Mondor during his 34-year ownership run, in an interview last week. “We are all going to do our best to run this club in the tradition of excellence that Ben Mondor was known for.”

In fact, Tamburro and the entire PawSox organization have made a pledge, of sorts.

“We are also going to dedicate ourselves to working even harder,” Tamburro added, “we will continue to operate in Ben’s memory and honor!”

Madeleine Mondor, Ben’s widow, will assume ownership of the International League franchise that her husband turned into a national model.

Tamburro will remain as the president and Lou Schwechheimer, the PawSox highly respected vice president and general manager, will remain in his long-time capacity.

“We will continue to give fans the same type of treatment they got when Ben was here,” Tamburro went on, his soft voice cracking with obvious emotion. “We are going to do our best to make it better. The whole staff will stay the way it has been.”

And Mondor, Tamburro noted, “would want it that way!”

For Tamburro, though, the passing of Ben Mondor was more than just losing a friend and boss.

“I lost a piece of me,” Tamburro emphasized. “Remember, we were connected at the hip for 33 years. We have lost a special guy!”

Indeed.

For there were few people and businessmen like the late Ben Mondor.

His life story was like a movie.

Mondor earned his fortune by his unique business savvy. He bought and restored old textile mills then sold them off at a handsome profit.

Back in 1977 when the former PawSox franchise went into bankruptcy, one-time Boston Red Sox pitcher Chet Nichols – who was a Lincoln, R.I. native – told Mondor that the team was up for sale and suggested that he purchase the club.

Trouble was, Mondor – even at age 52 – was said to be retiring from the textile business.

“The rest is history,” Tamburro noted. “Ben had a vision … he loved people, he loved to interact with people … he loved coming here [at McCoy Stadium] … he treated everyone, the players and their wives, the media, the fans like family.”

Now, as Tamburro so aptly put it, “the community has lost a legend. We have lost a Rhode Island treasure.”

Mondor was a champion for the underprivileged. He cared deeply for the community and especially children. He came to McCoy Stadium for 33 years, always with a smile and some special stories.

“How many times he said he wanted to retire,” Tamburro mused in a respectful tone of voice. “But he couldn’t leave.”

So now, people will tell you it can never be business as the way it was during Ben Mondor’s marvelous memory ride of 33 years.

The sale of season tickets is underway and the pro shop is open for business as usual. There is even more construction going on at McCoy Stadium, this time in the form of a new sidewalk and walkway project that is part of a redevelopment plan that will improve pedestrian safety conditions around the ballpark.

And as usual, there will be those fantastic fireworks that the PawSox have become famous for.

They will all happen this season without the legend, Ben Mondor.

But as Tamburro said yesterday, “We lost a special guy. His memory will outlive us!”