Randy Edsall Receives
Distinguished American Award

UConn head football coach Randy Edsall was chosen to receive the New Haven Chapter Distinguished American Award at the 50th anniversary Scholar Athlete Dinner on April 23 at Aqua Turf. Coach Edsall concluded his 11th year at the University of Connecticut winning their final three regular season games in 2009 including a historic double-overtime win over Notre Dame. UConn posted a 7-5 regular season record facing the 25th toughest schedule in the country. The Huskies finished the season with a 20-7 victory over South Carolina in the 2010 Papa Johns Bowl, their fourth bowl appearance in the last six years. Chapter President Bill O’Brien stated, “we are thrilled to honor Randy Edsall for his success with the UConn football program, the sincerity and caring of his players and his record of academic success.

 

"Joe Paterno calmly points out a replay to Jim Brennan in the 2006 Orange Bowl".

BRENNAN SELECTED TO WIN OFFICIALS AWARD

 

The 2010 season will be the 30th for long time official Jim Brennan who was chosen by the New Haven Football Officials Association to receive the Officials Recognition Award at the New Haven Chapters 50th Anniversary dinner on April 23 at Aqua Turf. Starting as a high school official, Jim later officiated ECAC Division II and III games as well as games in the Ivy League, Patriot League and Atlantic 10. In 2002-2003 he was with the NFL in Europe. Since 2001 he has been a Side Judge in the Big East. Bowl games officiated by Jim include 2002 Liberty Bowl, 2007 Music City Bowl and the 2009 Music City Bowl between Clemson and Kentucky. Jim also officiated the 2006 Orange Bowl game between Penn State and Florida State and their legendary coaches Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden. 

HALL OF FAME MEMBER CARMEN COZZA

SPEAKS AT 50TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER

 

     College Football Hall of Fame member Carmen Cozza returned from Florida just in time to join the chapter at the 50th Anniversary dinner at Aqua Turf on April 23. Carm coached at Yale for 32 years and holds the distinction of being the University’s “winningest” coach in history. He achieved legendary status during his career in which he led the bulldogs to 10 Ivy League Championships and 19 winning seasons. He joined Yale in 1963 as an assistant with John Pont and was named head coach two years later. He retired in 1996 with a career record of 179-19-5. Carm was selected Kodak District 1 Coach of the Year in Division 1-AA seven times. He was selected into the College Hall of Fame in 2002.

 

     We are thrilled that Coach Cozza joined us on our Golden Anniversary in April”, said Bill O’Brien. “He is the chapter’s only member in the College Hall of Fame”. The only other member was Yale’s 1936 Heisman Trophy winner Larry Kelly who was active in the 60’s and 70’s. Coach Cozza was honored in 1997 with the Chapters Distinguished American Award.

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:

  • Inspire young people to excellence with the scholar – athlete awards program.
  • Build character from the qualities of the game of football.
  • Continue to increase membership into the New Haven Football Foundation by involving fans, coaches, educators, media and former players.
  • Offer scholarships to scholar athlete candidates.

 

Photos From The Evening

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 YEAR

After 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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