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TUXEDO MAN TONY FONTANA RECEIVES MERIT AWARD
According to Bill O’Brien Chapter president, one of the luckiest days in the chapter’s history was when this year’s Merit Award winner, Anthony “Tony” Fontana became a member. Since 1996 Val’s Formal Wear has provided over 400 tuxedos to our scholar athletes, at a low cost to our chapter. “We are fortunate that Tony enjoys what our chapter stands for and the young men we honor”, said O’Brien. Almost half of the scholar athletes the chapter has ever honored have been fitted by Tony at Val’s. In 1998 Tony became a Lifetime Member a title he enjoys having and is proud of.
Born in Sicily, Tony’s family later moved to Ansonia. After graduation from Ansonia HS in 1968, Tony attended the U of Bridgeport, before starting in the automobile business. In 1971 he became a Sales Associate at Dworkin Chevrolet in Derby, and later joined McDermott Chevrolet as President and General Manager in 1984. Always wanting to own his own business, Tony purchased Val’s in 1995, and soon after acquired Lucille’s Bridal Shop, combining both into the same location in Orange.
Over the years Tony has donated numerous dresses and tuxes to a number of statewide organizations, including Marrakech, schools in Woodbridge and Orange, the DCF YMCA in Bridgeport and the Westport PAL. He has two daughters, Kimberly and Dina. He also has 3 grandchildren, Ryan 18, Molly 15 and Brady 5.
LEGEND RETURNS FOR CHAPTER’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY When someone looks over the early history of the New Haven Chapter one name stands out as legendary. Larry McHugh has been a member since 1965 and held various offices, including that of President in 1973. His extraordinary work during the formative years of the New Haven Chapter resulted in his selection as the Merit Award winner in 1972 and Distinguished American Award winner in 1989.
“Who better to talk about the early days then Larry McHugh. He had a key role during the time the chapter was getting established and I think it’s great that he’s able to join us for our 50th and speak about our early history”.
Besides his contributions to the chapter, “Coach” Larry McHugh was the record setting head coach at Xavier HS from 1963 to 1983 and amassed a record of 152-36-6 for a remarkable .799 winning percentage. Included in his overall record was a 34 consecutive game win streak from 1970-74. Among his coaching honors was the New Haven Chapter Coach of the Year Award in 1979 making him the only person to win all three of the chapter’s major awards.
In 1975 Larry became the Executive Director of the M-X Development Corporation, raising funds for both Xavier and Mercy high schools. In 1983 he became President of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and took that organization from 282 members to 2,400. Typical of Larry, the chamber is one of the most active in the state, offering their members a large variety of activities including monthly speaking programs that brings in nationally recognized Individuals.
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The Gene J. Casey/New Haven County Chapter is one of the oldest in the Northeast. It has the largest membership base and has been a long time community leader in the New Haven area. Each year their banquet, with 300-400 people in attendance, honors student athletes from our 37 member schools and gives out more than $5000 in scholarship aid. Other outstanding contributors are also honored. Chapter Activities include Fall Dinner Meetings, including the popular pre-Thanksgiving Coaches’ Dinner and the Hall of Fame Classic, an all-star football game between the chapter schools in New Haven and Fairfield County. The New Haven Football Foundation will embrace the National Football Foundation’s mission by continuing to promote and develop the power of amateur football in developing the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal and the drive for academic excellence in the County of New Haven. The New Haven chapter will also:
NEW HAVEN COUNTY CHAPTER NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
50TH ANNIVERSARY AWARDS DINNER 2010 SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARDS SCHOLAR ATHLETES
BRETT BIESTEK SHEEHAN RYAN KINDULAS HOLY CROSS MATTHEW BORSUK AMITY DANIEL MARIANO NAUGATUCK MICHAEL BOHNE LYMAN HALL DeSHAWN MURPHY HYDE LEADERSHIP JOSHUA BUDWITZ PLATT NICHOLAS O’CONNOR ANSONIA DOUGLAS DANIELLS FORAN ADAM O’LEARY MALONEY ADAM DEAR GUILFORD DANIEL PFAU NOTRE DAME GIANLUCCA DELAROSA EAST HAVEN MUSTAQIIM PLAIR WILBUR CROSS ANGELO DISORBO DERBY ALESSANDRO POWELL HAMDEN HALL RYAN D’SOUZA HOPKINS NICHOLAS PRUTTING ST. JOSEPH WILLIAM ERNST WATERTOWN JAMES QUISH JONATHAN LAW ALEX FLANDERS DANIEL HAND LUKE SHEARMAN OXFORD MATTHEW GORHAM CHESHIRE CONNOR SHUGRUE SEYMOUR JAMES HART WOODLAND REGIONAL ALPHONSE SIMEONE XAVIER EVAN JACKSON CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL TAYLOR SULLIVAN BRANFORD QUINN KENNING FAIRFIELD PREP MATTHEW VECE NORTH HAVEN
AWARD WINNERS DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN AWARD RANDY EDSALL COACH UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT CHAPTER AWARD OF MERIT ANTHONY FONTANA VAL’S FORMAL WEAR ORANGE CHAPTER COACH OF THE YEAR TOM MARCUCCI NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIAL RECOGNITION AWARD JIM BRENNAN 30 YEAR OFFICIAL ORANGE
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER WAS HELD ON APRIL 23 AT AQUA TURF IN SOUTHINGTON
TOM MARCUCCI SELECTED CHAPTER COACH OF THE YEARAfter an 11 year absence from coaching, Notre Dame Coach Tom Marcucci returned to the sidelines and led the Notre Dame Green Knights to 11-1 record and the Class L State Championship. For his success he was selected New Haven County Chapter Coach of the Year and was honored at the 50th Scholar Athlete dinner at Aqua Turf on April 23.
Finishing the regular season 9-1, the Knights defeated the Chieftains of Conard 42-14 in the semi finals of the Class L playoffs and then the Panthers of Pomperaug 28-21 for the title. Both were undefeated at the time. The Knights only loss was a 29-28 defeat to arch rival Xavier on a 2 point conversion with less than a minute to go in the second week of the season.
Notre Dame’s juggernaut scored 468 points averaging 39 point per game on their way to the title. In addition the Knights were selected the top team in the state in all polls and were honored in January as the #1 team in the state at the 43rd Walter Camp Football Foundation annual awards dinner at Yale Commons. Coach Marcucci previously led Notre Dame from 1982 to 1998 before accepting a position as Vice Principal of the school. He also was selected the chapter Coach of the Year twenty five years ago in 1984. Matthew Vece, North Haven 2010 Donald Lewis, Sacred Heart 1962 50TH PROGRAM INCLUDES FIRST AND LAST SCHOLAR ATHLETES
The speaking program for the 50th anniversary dinner was heightened by having a member of the first scholar athlete class honored, and the last one to be honored this year, speak about being chosen as scholar athletes.
E. Donald Lewis graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury in 1962. He played for three years and was a starter for two. He was a co captain and was selected All City as a quarterback. He was active in school as a member of the English, History, Science and Spanish Clubs and was also a member of the Glee Club. Don was also a member of the basketball, baseball and track teams. He received the first scholarship presented by the chapter and attended Boston University where he graduated in 1966. At the present time Don is the President of USI New England, A Goldman Sachs Capital Partner Company in New Hampshire.
Matt Vece of North Haven High School played offensive guard and linebacker for Coach Tony Sagnella and the 7-3 Division II West Champions. He was a member of the Spanish and Asian Clubs and a peer mediator. Matt is an Eagle Scout and volunteers with autistic adults. Matt also learned sign language. He will attend UConn.
“Don Lewis represents the past and Matt Vece represents the future. They represented over 1000 scholars honored by the chapter since the first dinner.
CHAPTER GETS GREETING’S FROM NATIONAL CHAIR
The 50th anniversary dinner had a special guest when Ron Dilatush, Director of Membership, traveled from headquarters in Irving, Texas to give greetings to our award winners and those attending. A native of Princeton, New Jersey, Ron graduated from West Windsor Plainsboro High School. As a senior, he earned numerous area and state accolades in football including First Team All American honors. He later attended the University of Delaware where he participated in football and baseball.
Prior to joining the National Football Foundation, Ron was the Commissioner for “Pop” Warner Little Scholars, the largest youth football program in the country. In 2004 he became the Eastern Region Coordinator for the National Football Foundation and in 2006 assumed the position of Director of Membership. In this position he oversees the Foundations 120 chapters and the overall development for the chapter system. Ron is the father of 3 and lives in Flower Mound, Texas.
Chapter President Bill O’Brien said, “we are extremely pleased that Ron Dilatush came to our 50th anniversary to bring greetings from our National organization. Steve Hatchell, President of the National Football Foundation, has always supported us in our activities and having a key member of his team be with us is special”.
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