Naugy Hall of Fame to induct 40th class

0
70

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck Hall of Fame is holding its 40th annual induction ceremony Oct. 15 at the Continental Room in Naugatuck.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Ray Rossi Jr. at (203) 729-4865 or Gordon Rossi at (203) 723-7893. Tickets are also available at the Tax Collector’s office at Town Hall. No tickets will be sold at the door.

This year’s induction class is as follows:

Donald Beauchamp

Donald Beauchamp

Although Beauchamp played sports in high school, he didn’t shine as a local sports hero. His team spirit has been demonstrated throughout his life in the contributions he has made to the community.

After serving four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict, he began volunteering for the Union City Little League. He was also a charter member of the Naugatuck Junior Football League, and has coached, officiated, and served as a commissioner for the league.

As a member of the Western Connecticut Football Officials Association, Beauchamp volunteered for many high school scrimmages and NJFL games. He has also served on the Naugatuck Hall of Fame selection committee and the annual recognition and installation dinner committee.

 

 

Bernard Ardry Jr.

Bernard Ardry Jr.

Ardry got his start in sports playing baseball for the Peter J. Foley Little League and St. Francis School. He was voted MVP, with a .412 batting average. He went on to play for the Rotary Club Babe Ruth team and the St. Francis CYO basketball team.

From 1961 to 1965, Ardry played football, basketball, and baseball for Naugatuck High School. He excelled in baseball as a first baseman and catcher. In one game of note, Ardry laid down a squeeze bunt along the third base line, beating it out for a hit and earning a RBI to give the Greyhounds a 3-2 win over Hamden.

 

 

 

Steve DiVito

Steve DiVito

DiVito’s sporting career began in 1961 with the Union City Little League Cubs. As a member of Poust’s Babe Ruth league team, he was selected to the all-star team and named the Most Outstanding Batter with a .500 average.
From 1965 to 1968, DiVito earned three varsity letters as a three-year starter for the Naugatuck High School football team. He was named All-NVL as an offensive guard and was chosen for the Nutmeg Bowl All-Star game as a defensive tackle. He went on to play football at Cornell University until medical reasons ended his season in 1970.

In 1981, DiVito finished third in the Connecticut Section Long Driving Championship and was invited to the New England Regional Competition.

DiVito also excelled in pistol shooting from 1989 to 1991. He placed first in the civilian/service division-marksman classification. He competed in the first Nutmeg State Games and won a silver medal in Olympic Free Pistol.

In 1990, he won a gold medal in Olympic Free Pistol and Air Pistol. He also won first place in the sharpshooter classification during the Connecticut State Indoor Pistol Championships.

Cathy Shea

Cathy Shea

As a three-sport athlete at Naugatuck High School, Shea was named to Who’s Who in American Athletes in 1983. During high school, Shea played and lettered in varsity basketball, softball, and volleyball all four years. She led the volleyball team as its captain, traveled to Belgium with the basketball team and led the softball team to NVL titles all four years she played. She was selected to the All-NVL Softball team and chosen as the Class Athlete in 1983.

Shea went on to play Division II volleyball at Keene State College. She also remained involved in sports as an assistant coach at Connecticut’s girls sports camps, and coaching softball for two years to inner-city Chicago girls.

To date, Shea has also completed 15 marathons, including the Boston marathon twice.

 

 

Raymond Chrzanowski

Raymond Chrzanowski

The late Chrzanowski was an outstanding member of the Naugatuck High School football team in 1961 and 1962 as well as the baseball team in 1962 and 1963. With Chrzanowski playing as an end, the football team 5-2-2 in 1961 and 9-1 in 1962, including a win over Ansonia on Thanksgiving.

Chrzanowski also lettered and won the NHS Outstanding Athlete Award in 1963 for basketball when he averaged 21 points a game.

 

 

 

 

Thomas Szaraynski

Thomas Szaraynski

Szaraynski’s athletic achievements began with Naugatuck youth sports. He was a member of the Little Pal Basketball league-champs Knights of Columbus in 1963, the Naugatuck Junior Football League All-Star team, and Hillside Junior High School basketball team.

Szaraynski then moved to Tucson, Ariz., where he played football and basketball in high school. He returned to Naugatuck to letter in football as an offensive and defensive tackle. He was honored as Player of the Week three times and earned All-NVL, All-State, and All-American recognition.

Szaraynski went on to play center for the University of Connecticut and made the starting line-up as a freshman. At the time, he was the youngest UConn player to receive the Connecticut Mutual Life Player of the Week honor.
During his sophomore year, Szaraynski joined the U.S. Marines, where he played club football. As a stand-out in boot camp, he was named Honor Mariner and given his choice of any field in the Marine Corps.