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50th Scholar Athlete

Awards Dinner

Friday April 23, 2010

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CHAPTER BOARD MEMBER KEN SWEETEN

THE GENE CASEY NEW HAVEN COUNTY CHAPTER SUFFERED A BIG LOSS WITH THE PASSING OF FORMER BOARD MEMBER KEN SWEETEN WHO PASSED AWAY ON JULY 5, 2010.

A NATIVE OF NEW HAVEN KEN GRADUATED FROM HILLHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL, ATTENDE THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND AND SCSU WHERE HE STUDIED TO BE AN ATHLETIC TRAINER. HE BECAME A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS ASSOCIATION. HE WORKED FOR THE NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BEFORE JOINING THE FACULTY AT THE TAFT SCHOOL IN WATERTOWN.

KEN WAS RECOGNIZED IN 1995 WHEN HE WAS PRESENTED THE CHAPTER AWARD OF MERIT FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CHAPTER. MEMBERS WILL REMEMBER HIM AS THE OFFICIAL GREETER AT CHAPTER MEETINGS EACH FALL.

IN ADDITION TO HIS AWARD FROM OUR CHAPTER KEN WAS ALSO AWARDED THE PRESTEGIOUS GOLD RING FROM THE NEW HAVEN BOY’S AND GIRL’S CLUB, WAS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE NEW HAVEN DIAMOND CLUB AND WAS A FOURTH DEGREE IN THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.

Field Dedicated To Joe Bruno

LONG TIME HAMDEN FOOTBALL COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JOE BRUNO WAS HONORED JUNE 24, 2010 WHEN THE FOOTBALL FIELD WAS NAMED AFTER HIM. THE EFFORT TO NAME THE FIELD AFTER JOE WAS STARTED BY LARRY DENARDIS AND GEORGE GRANDE. JOE BEGAN TEACHING AND COACHING IN 1947 AND RETIRED IN 1985. CURRENT HAMDEN MAYOR, AND GREEN DRAGON PLAYER, SCOTT JACKSON READ A PROCLAMATION NAMING THE FIELD AFTER JOE. THE NEW HAVEN CHAPTER CONGRATULATES JOE ON THIS GREAT HONOR.

DYER TO COACH NEW HAVEN COUNTY ALL STARS

HILLHOUSE COACH TOMMY DYER IS READY TO GO AS OUR NEW HAVEN COUNTY ALL STARS BEGIN PRACTICE ON MONDAY JUNE 28 AT WILBUR CROSS. THE SCHEDULE FOR ALL PRACTICES IS SHOWN ON THE HOME PAGE UNDER “UPCOMING EVENTS”. TOM AND HIS STAFF HAS SELECTED ANOTHER OUTSTANDING GROUP OF COUNTY ALL STARS AND HOPES TO BRING HOME ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP. NEW HAVEN LEADS THE SERIES 9-4. ANY CHAPTER MEMBER CAN PURCHASE PRE GAME TICKETS FOR $5 BY SENDING A CHECK PAYABLE TO “NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION” AND SENDING IT TO PAUL CRISCUOLO, 110 DAMASCUS RD, BRANFORD, CT 06405 NOT LATER THEN JULY 5. NO TICKETS WILL BE MAILED AFTER THAT DATE. TICKETS SOLD AT THE GATE WILL COST $7. WITH A LARGE CROWD EXPECTED I SUGGEST GETTING THEM IN ADVANCE.

2011 Scholar Athlete Dinner

April 8, 2011

Fantasia Restaurant

nhff2010@gmail.com

CHAPTER CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY

The Gene Casey New Haven County Chapter celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the chapter at the annual scholar athlete dinner on Friday April 23 at Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. The gala was attended by almost 500 including 130 former scholar athletes and past award winners.

The honorees this year included 30 new scholar athletes along with UConn coach Randy Edsall who was presented with the Distinguished American Award joining a long list of previous honorees. Tom Marcucci of Notre Dame High School was selected the chapter Coach of the Year, Tony Fontana, long time member and owner of Val’s Formal Wear in Orange, the Chapter Award of Merit and veteran official Jim Brennan with the Official Recognition Award.

Also participating at this year’s event was Donald Lewis from the first scholar athlete group honored in 1962 and Matt Vece of North Haven High School representing this year’s scholar athletes. Chapter Past President Larry McHugh returned to give an overview of the early years of the chapter and Hall of Fame Coach, and chapter member Carmen Cozza, dazzled the audience with his stories of some of his kickers at Yale over his 32 years as Head Coach.

Representing the National Football Foundation were Ron Dilatush Director of Membership who came from Irving, Texas and Howie Vanderesea Northeast Region Coordinator who came from the State of Maine. Cited for their long term dedication were scholar athlete chair Dan Martin who has chaired the selection committee for 32 years and Chaplin Rev Owen Sanderson who has been Chaplin for 40 years.

The following photos were taken at the reception and dinner.

Larry and Sean McHugh with Randy Edsall

Scholar Athlete Luke Shearman of Oxford

Yale All American Dr Rich Diana, Carm Cozza and

1972 Yale Captain and Scholar Athlete Bob Perschell

Scholar Athlete Taylor Sullivan of Branford with his family

Randy Edsall and Carm Cozza chat during reception

Alex Flanders of Hand with Coach Steve Filippone and parents

Matt Gorham of Cheshire with Coach Mark Ecke and parents

Alessandro Powell of Hamden Hall

with Coach Ron Carbone and parents

Connor Shugrue of Seymour with Coach Tom Lennon and parents	Adam Dear of Guilford with Coach Tom Unger and parents
Northeast Region Coordinator Howie Vandersea takes pictures of Evan Jackson’s Family and Randy Edsall	Award winners and head table guests include (L-R) Howie Vandersea, Tony Fontana, Larry McHugh, Bill O’Brien, Randy Edsall, Tom Marcucci, Jim Brennan, Carmen Cozza and Ron Dilatush
Head Table guests line up for the march in	Scholar Athletes march in to the music of Mr. Touchdown
Almost 500 attended the dinner	Standing for the National Anthem
Chaplin Rev Owen Sanderson gives the Invocation	Guest’s look at old articles of chapter activities
National Membership Chairman Ron Dilatush gives greetings	Past President Larry McHugh (1973) discusses the early years of the chapter
The head table was all in black tie	Taking pictures of the award winners and scholar athletes
Scholar Athlete Daniel Pfau of Notre Dame receives his award	Scholar Athlete Matt Vece of North Haven speaks for the 2010 scholar athletes
Donald Lewis who now lives in New Hampshire represented the 1962 scholar athletes	Merit Award winner Tony Fontana with presenter Paul Criscuolo
Official Recognition Award winner Jim Brennan with presenter Dan Martin	Coach of the Year Tom Marcucci of Notre Dame accepts his award
Hall of Fame coach Carm Cozza greets the audience	Carm’s stories of his former Yale kickers had the crowd in hysterics
Former Yale All American Dr Rich Diana smiles at his coach’s talk	Former Seymour coach Paul Sponheimer listens to coach Cozza’s comments
Randy Edsall accepts his award	Coach Edsall tells the scholar athletes to work hard in college
State Champion coaches Mel Wells, Hyde, Chapter President Bill O’Brien, Notre Dame Coach Tom Marcucci and Cheshire coach Mark Ecke	Vice President Paul Criscuolo presents Hall of Fame Classic scholarships to Adam O’Leary of Maloney and Nicholas O’Connor of Ansonia
Board member Eileen Moriarty presents the Francis “Midge” Moriarty Memorial scholarship to Alphonse Simeone of Xavier	Bill O’Brien presents the Mary Chieppo scholarship to James Hart of Woodland
Ralph Zingarella presents the New Haven Football Officials scholarship to Mustaqiim Plair of Wilbur Cross	Donald Lewis presents the first Alumni Scholarship to Luke Shearman of Oxford
Friends and colleagues gather at the conclusion of the dinner	Chapter President Bill O’Brien, addresses the honored guests

NEW HAVEN COUNTY WINS 14TH HALL OF FAME CLASSIC

In an exciting game New Haven County earned a hard fought victory over Fairfield County 16-13 on July 9 at Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School. New Haven was led by Offensive MVP Paul Piccirillo from Shelton and Defensive MVP Byron Pinkston of Hamden. Winning coach Tommy Dyer of Hillhouse selected a talented group of players from chapter schools that combined size and speed. The victory gives New Haven County a 10-4 edge in the series. Click on Past Results to see pictures of the 2010 game.

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