The 56th anniversary of the Casey‑O’Brien New Haven County Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete dinner will be held on Friday, April 8 at Fantasia, 404 Washington Ave., North Haven.
A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the march to the head table at 6:30 p.m.
Twenty-eight high school and prep school scholar athletes who play football will be honored for academic excellence, leadership and citizenship.
“These young men never cease to amaze us”, said chapter president Bill O’Brien. “Their accomplishments in the classroom, on the field and in the community are exemplary. All they have achieved makes their family and school very proud.”
In addition, other award winners include Michael Barbaro of Wallingford, senior vice president of Town Fair Tire and a former football official who retired at the end of the 2014 season after 35 years on the field. He has been a member of the New Haven Football Officials Association for 36 years serving as president in 1989. He was elected to the Connecticut Football Officials Hall of Fame in 2010.
Also being recognized are chapter member, author and former radio talk show host Rich Marazzi of Ansonia with the Chapter Award of Merit.
Marazzi is well known as the first rules consultant in major league baseball history. He is affiliated with 10 different teams including the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers. He also authored “A Bowl Full of Memories: 100 Years of Football at the Yale Bowl,” published in 2014.
Shelton coach Jeff Roy, who led the Gaels to consecutive 12 – 1 records, as well as appearances in the Class LL State championship games in 2014 and 2015, will receive the ‘Chapter Coach of the Year Award’ and former 30+ year football official John Manzi of Hamden will receive the ‘Official Recognition Award’ as selected by the New Haven Football Officials Association. More recently Manzi serves as Assistant to the Commissioner for the NHFOA, aiding Commissioner Steve Narracci in building schedules and making assignments for the organizations members.
Tickets can be purchased for $50 by sending a check payable to ‘National Football Foundation’ to Donna Limone, 10 Ludlow Court, Branford 06405 or by calling her at 203 – 481-8375.
See www.newhavenfootballfoundation.com for further information.
Full list of award winners below.
SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARDS
La’Trell Alston-Hyde
Sean McAllen-Woodlan
David Barber-Hopkins
Justin McClain-Hillhouse
Colton Brown-Lyman Hall
Thomas Moore-Fairfield Prep
Nolan Cloutier-Sheehan
Shane O’Connor-North Haven
Angelo DiMonaco-Hamden
Robert RJ Oris-Cheshire
Luke DiStasio-Branford
Jake Palmieri-Ansonia
Matthew Dodson-Oxford
David Patrick-Jonathan Law
Jordan D’Onofrio-Amity
George Poleschuk‑N. Branford
Christopher Edwards-Wilbur Cross
Keith Prior-Shelton
Noah Hubler-Foran
Daniel Robinson-Seymour
Ryan Kaufmann-Hand
Charles Sampson-Derby
Marquis Lockhart-West Haven
Kyle Smith-Hamden Hall
Kameron Matthews-Notre Dame
Austin Thornberg-East Haven
Zachary Mason-Holy Cross
Jonathan Wintenburg-Xavier
AWARD WINNERS
DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN – Michael Barbaro Wallingford Senior Vice President Town Fair Tire
Chapter Award of Merit – Richard Marazzi, Ansonia, author, rules consultant, talk show host
Chapter Coach of the Year – Jeff Roy Shelton High School Class LL State Finalist
Official Recognition Award-John Manzi, Hamden, member NHFOA Board 32 years
