St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis suffered a heartbreaking loss yesterday when his older brother, Richard, died of an apparent heart attack. He was 64.

“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here today doing what I love to do,” Jarvis said. “He should have been the star ballplayer, but he worked to help support our family and made it so that I could play ball, go to the ballpark and go to college.”

Mike Jarvis was being consoled last night by his wife Connie and the Rev. James Maher, the campus minister to athletics. Jarvis and his wife are to fly to Boston today. Services are scheduled for Sunday.

Because Jarvis will be in New England, associate head coach Kevin Clark will lead the Red Storm against Fordham tomorrow in the Garden. Mike Jarvis II probably will assist Clark tomorrow and then travel to Boston for services.

One of Mike Jarvis’ fondest memories of his brother was a trip to a Celtics game. The Celtics had just obtained a center by the name of Bill Russell. Russell grabbed 49 rebounds in a game against the Philadelphia Warriors. Richard had surprised Mike with a pair of tickets to the game.

“Like Jimmy Valvano said, ‘If you can laugh a little, cry a little, and maybe now and then even cuss a little, you’ve had a good life,’ ” Jarvis said. “I know my brother did.”