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Rich Acritelli

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Police car

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating after human remains were found on
a beach in Shirley on Dec. 23.

A man and a woman found were walking on the beach at Smith Point County Park in Shirley when they found what appeared to be a human jawbone. They brought the remains to a park attendant working at the beach. Suffolk County Police were called at approximately 4:55 p.m. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner determined the remains are human and belonging to a male. The remains were transported to Medical Examiner’s office for positive identification.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.

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Trevor Green. Photo from Rich Acritelli
Trevor Green. Photo from Rich Acritelli
Trevor Green. Photo from Rich Acritelli
Trevor Green. Photo from Rich Acritelli

By Richard V. Acritelli

Halfway through the daunting 5K cross-country course at Bowdoin State Park at Wappingers Falls on Nov. 23, Rocky Point High School Junior Trevor Green was running one of his best career high school races.  Competing with the top ten best runners from Montauk to Buffalo, Trevor, in his final race of the season, had a special moment.  Running hard through the hills that overlooked the Hudson River, Trevor utilized the massive downhill to strengthen his position within the second half of this race.  At the very end of this course, there was no letup in the mindset of Trevor to solidify his spot as one of the premier cross-country competitors in New York state.  After a grueling finish that saw him utilize a mighty kick around the fields and straightaway of this park, Trevor placed ninth in this race, and second overall from a talented contingent of Long Island runners.

I have been his coach for the last three years. Trevor is truly a special young man who is armed with a big smile and a can-do attitude.  This dynamic student-athlete is one of the finest athletes that has been my privilege to coach and see as an educator over the last two and half decades.  Going about his business in a quiet manner, this unique young man has cemented his athletic legacy at Rocky Point.   Over the last several months, this outstanding runner and swimmer has exhaustively been training for both sports. Trevor maintains the ability to run and swim at a high level and to also establish himself as a serious honor roll student.  Always embracing his training regiment, there are many days that Trevor is coming from one sport or heading toward another practice.  After pushing himself through numerous swimming strokes across this pool, this tenacious swimmer has a heart of steel, as he runs through the trails, fields and the “camel” hills within the Rocky Point Conservation Area.  He utilizes his strength to quickly defeat the opposition at both Snake and Cardiac hills at the Sunken Meadow State Park 5K Race.  Always observing the competition and understanding the times that he needs to earn, Trevor never takes a race lightly, as he understands that any runner can win at any given time.

This running philosophy has been cultivated over the last several years.  As a freshman, Trevor stayed with the best runners in the county and finished among the top five individuals to represent Rocky Point in the New York State Cross Country Championship at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School.  During the second half of this race, this 14-year-old kid realized that he had to adjust and elevate his aggressiveness to ensure that he finished in a top spot.  Beating several runners in the final mile of this hard course, Trevor placed 17th overall.  This freshman flashed a brilliant smile, was praised with heavy cheers, as he was the second highest Suffolk County participant in this exciting contest.  A week later and opposing the best city, private-, and public-school runners in New York, Trevor gained his first taste of racing at the challenging Bowdoin State Park 5K course.

The following year as a sophomore, Trevor continued to excel, as he earned his second all-league and division honors.  During the state qualifiers race, he upset some of the finest runners in the state as he won his first Suffolk County B Championship.  Coaching girls cross-country and track for the last three decades, Rocky Point High School Guidance Facilitator Mathew Poole has watched many of Trevor’s races and he observes that he “always runs from the front and I have explained to him over the years, there will be a time when you’re challenged at a pivotal moment.  When he won the Suffolk County Championship in 2023, I believe he realized this was happening and he refused to relinquish his opportunity.  Trevor is truly a warrior.”   For a second time at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School, Trevor was near the front of the pack at a quick pace, but he had difficulties breathing, and this setback diminished his time and placement.  While it seems like this young man is always competing, Trevor expects to achieve his many athletic goals, where he places pressure on himself to do well.  Never one to forget about a rough outing, Trevor greatly learns from all contests and has become one of the most experienced and successful athletes on Long Island.

At the start of this past season, near West Point, Trevor ran in the Bear Mountain Invitational. As he was still getting into shape, he ran well and placed second on a new course that featured a major hill.  Quickly, he pushed himself to train in the distance, hills and track workouts that enabled him to place high in all his invitationals and gained a second undefeated dual-meet season.   Trevor was also a key motivator of his teammates, as this squad placed second in the league, and missed an undefeated season by three points.  Whereas he has won many races, Trevor is an approachable young man who is easy to coach and like.  Senior Matteo Gravinese is a two-time all-league runner and the captain of this team.  Running numerous miles with Trevor, he believed that his friend, “is not only an exceptional athlete but also an excellent teammate.  While others with his level of skill may have gloated or bragged, Trevor was always kind to those of all running abilities on our team.  I think this sportsmanship is what makes him the best athlete I ever met.”  Kristian Hald is also a senior captain and an all-league runner, who like Gravinese, has enjoyed running with Trevor.  He has observed the attributes of Trevor in being “absolutely the best teammate you could ever ask for.  His incredible talent is not all that he brings to the team, as he always expresses an important sense of comradery to his fellow teammates.  Trevor is a modest athlete, where he has taken first many times, but quickly, he will always enquire about how his teammates finished in our races.”

Just finishing this season several weeks ago, Trevor defeated an extremely tough opponent in Hartley Semmes from Harborfields to be crowned his second County B Suffolk County Champion.  While Trevor is always pleased with his running, he quickly starts looking ahead toward the next approaching contests.  For the second time in three years, he was an all-state runner who competed at Queensbury High School outside of Saratoga and Lake George.   Trevor did not finish as he expected, but he made all-state honors and was picked as one of the top runners to represent Suffolk County for the Federation’s/Nike Regional Race.  Although he was exhausted from this race and his swimming schedule, he prepared for the harsh course at Bowdoin State Park.  With a brisk chill in the air and the winds coming off the Hudson River, Trevor finished the season on a high note showing his dominance on a course that he only ran once before.  Long time Mount Sinai Track and Field and Cross-Country Coach Bill Dwyer watched this race, and he believed, “that Trevor is a great athletic competitor, who is strong and powerful, and even tougher within the hills of Bowdoin.  Adversity from the previous week at Queensbury High School made this talented runner that much more difficult to beat at the Federation/Nike Regional Race.” 

Constantly showing an outpouring of love and support toward Trevor are his parents, who make every race, where they enjoy not only seeing their son do well, but the other boys from this team as well.  Trevor’s mother Toby is an educator, who coached her boy when he was 5 years old in running.  On a regular basis, she drives Trevor to and from practice from these two busy sports.  Always looking at a calendar of meets and practice times, she drives her car with the license plate Team Green.  His father Anthony was a talented football player and runner at New Field High School, where he mentors his son, and helps him navigate the difficult waters of highly competitive sporting contests.  Looking at his son’s strenuous daily schedule, Anthony believes that, “it has not been an easy road.  Competing in swimming all year and finding time to run cross-country in the Conservation Area.  There are moments that my son finds himself exhausted from these two highly disciplined sports.”

Whereas it has been my chance to coach this fine young man in cross-country and to see him strive for greatness, to watch him swim is a special experience.  Since his earliest years, Trevor’s first love has always been swimming, where he has established himself as one of the best swimmers in the state.  Like in cross-country, in swimming, Trevor has many friends, where they speak about the different times that are needed through the events of this demanding sport.  Recently, it was my opportunity to chaperone his first race at Sachem East and to listen to these boys speak about this unique sport.  Quickly, you notice the bond of these young men and it did not take long for Trevor to establish his presence, as he quickly qualified for the New York State Swimming Championships.  After Trevor defeated his opponent, he quickly exclaimed that he had plenty of work to do to bring down his times.

It was a big family moment for the Greens, when Trevor learned that he would be accepted onto the University of Minnesota Division I swim team.  It has been the dream of this exceptional student-athlete to swim at this college level and to major in engineering. 

These skills have not gone unnoticed, as Trevor was selected for the USA Swimming National Select Camp.  During 2023-2024, Trevor, along with five other male swimmers, had the highest individual IMX Power Point scores.  For several years, as in running, Trevor constantly improved his times against the opposition in the pool.  As a seventh grader, Trevor made the Suffolk County Qualifier in 100 Butterfly and 200 Individual Medley.  As a freshman, he took third place in the county in the 100 Butterfly and Backstroke events.  A year later, Trevor was the Suffolk County Champion in the 500 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke.By six seconds, he broke the 26-year record that was held at the Stony Brook University pool for the 400 Medley.  In a message by Swimming Managing Director of Sport Development Joel Shinofield stated, “as these athletes set their sights on LA 2028, we look forward to seeing them follow in the footsteps of Olympians who attended this camp, including Bobby Finke, Carson Foster, Lilly King, Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh.”  Shinofield certainly hopes that this younger crop of swimmers in which he includes Trevor are possibly the future to represent the United States against foreign competition.  

Thank you to Trevor Green for always giving his very best in being a tremendous student-athlete to represent Rocky Point High School in cross-country and swimming.  The future is bright for this old-fashioned athlete, who after a major running race, will ride his bike to school or walk home after practice.  As he is still a junior, the University of Minnesota will gain a “winner” within every sense of this word through the work ethic, drive and character of this devoted competitor.

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Pixabay

By Rich Acritelli

Eric Strovink and his friend Eric Reichenbach are supporting the Suffolk County Police Athletic League Blue Line Rangers baseball teams.

Both well-known coaches and players, they are determined to teach high-level baseball at an affordable price. As costs for travel teams have risen, the league’s affordable approach stands out. For $1,000, these youngsters will receive the same quality of training as other similar programs that can set families back thousands a year. The league’s founders believe kids shouldn’t be penalized for family financial constraints.

Brett Engmann, a police officer who helps run the Police Athletic League for various sports and community programs, said, “It’s a shame that many capable players don’t get noticed because they can’t afford travel teams.”

“Kids who aren’t at tournaments aren’t being seen and have a lesser chance of playing in college. Regardless of family funds, this team offers an affordable way to play our pastime and gives kids an opportunity to play under tremendous coaching,” he continued.

The students are eager to compete against strong opponents, under the tutelage of coaches who are not only passionate about baseball, but also highly qualified.

Strovink batted .516 at Shoreham-Wading River High School, hit three home runs in a single game, and helped his team win the New York State Championship in 1987. He spent three years at Louisiana State University, where he befriended major leaguers Ben McDonald and Russ Springer. Strovink returned home to care for his ailing mother and played for CW Post, where he hit 17 home runs and drove in 52 runs, helping his team win a conference title.

In 1991, Strovink played a minor league season for the Texas Rangers. Over the next two decades, he coached travel and high school teams and directed clinics and lessons.

His two sons continue the Strovink baseball tradition. Brennan, an All-State standout, played and coached at Limestone University.

Kyle, an All-American catcher, later played at Limestone with his brother. Both sons now coach high school baseball teams. Kyle also coached at Princeton and Long Island University.

Reichenbach was one of the area’s finest pitchers and a runner-up for the Suffolk County Carl Yastrzemski Award. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in 1988, pitched at the University of Tennessee, and later transferred to St. John’s, where he became an All-American. Reichenbach played three years in the minor leagues for the New York Mets before becoming a teacher in 1996.

For years, Reichenbach led successful baseball teams at Mount Sinai High School, winning league titles, and the 2016 County Championship, among other accomplishments.

The pandemic was a setback for Mount Sinai, as the team had six Division I pitchers who missed the chance to chase a state title.

Reichenbach, who also guides travel teams and gives lessons, believes in the PAL baseball team’s mission to give back to local athletes and help them become better ballplayers.

These experienced local and college coaches will share their expertise with the mostly 15- to 16-year-old boys who will make up these teams. The Blue Line Rangers will play games on Long Island, at Diamond Nation in Flemington, New Jersey, and on Staten Island.

All baseball statistics and game accounts will be posted on the bluelinerangers.org website, where they can be seen by college scouts.

Both coaches say they are excited about this new travel team, which will have 15 players for the summer and fall seasons. All players are expected to complete 25 hours of community service. Strovink and Reichenbach aim to develop not just skilled ballplayers, but also responsible young men who contribute to their community.

On Oct. 12, the team will host a baseball showcase. Non-PAL players can participate for $99, while Blue Line Rangers members can attend for free. These young athletes will have the chance to play for scouts, from schools like Stony Brook, LIU and St. Joseph’s University.

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From left, unidentified man, Tony Musso, Tom Hespos and Mike Denimarck. Courtesy of family

By Rich Acritelli

As a long-time educator, I had the opportunity to meet recently with my former teachers and coaches and hear their interesting sports stories.

Mike Denimarck

Mike Denimarck

Sound Beach resident Mike Denimarck was a talented offensive guard and middle linebacker at Newfield High School, chosen for the Daily News All-League team. He decided to enroll at Kansas State Teachers College, but the Vietnam War disrupted his plans as he did not receive a draft deferment. His father was a Marine who witnessed the World War II flag raising at Iwo Jima, and wanted his son to gain an education and play football.

Denimarck solidified his defensive presence, earning All-District and later All-American football honors at the Teachers College. He played for former Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer in the East-West College All-Star game and was the only player from Long Island and his college to participate. In 1974, Denimarck was drafted in the eighth round by the Detroit Lions. While he had a good training camp, he was placed on waivers. He then signed with the World Football League’s Southern California Sun, but during practice he severely injured his knee and needed surgery.

The next season, he had offers from the New York Giants but signed a three-year contract with Detroit. He was later traded to the Green Bay Packers, where he was briefly coached by iconic Super Bowl quarterback Bart Starr, who advised Denimarck to gain experience in the Canadian Football League. In 1976, the New Orleans Saints invited him to their training camp, where he was with quarterback Archie Manning under coach Hank Stram.

Again, Stram advised him to play in Canada. Instead, Denimarck returned home and was hired by Comsewogue school district in October 1976. For 43 years, he was a dean of students, gym and special education teacher, and taught fifth and sixth grade. He was the defensive coordinator who helped make the football team one of the most successful in Suffolk County. His teams kept rivals scoreless, won numerous league and county titles, and captured the Rutgers Trophy as the best on Long Island in 1990 and 1996. A warm educator, Denimarck also coached junior high wrestling and track, always positively guiding his players.

Tom Hespos

Tom Hespos

Tom Hespos, a Wading River resident, grew up in northern New Jersey and excelled in football, basketball and baseball. Descending from a sports family, he had a “major league” curveball in high school but wanted to play football in college. At C.W. Post, Hespos was a 6-foot 2-inch, 205-pound quarterback known for passing over 2,000 yards in his career and, in one game, throwing for four touchdowns and 400 yards. Alongside some of his teammates, he sang at the 1965 World’s Fair in Queens.

Hespos was C.W. Post’s most valuable player in 1963-64 and was selected to the Little All-America team. After graduating with a business degree, he learned that the Green Bay Packers sent him a free agent contract. He recalled head coach Vince Lombardi’s “agile” mind, expecting his players to be punctual and productive.

Hespos attended meetings with legendary players Starr and Paul Hornung, who took him out for some fun in Green Bay. Lombardi’s first coaching job was at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, New Jersey, in the 1940s, and he knew that Hespos had defeated his former team 7-6 to win the Tri-County championship in 1961. Competing against veteran quarterbacks, Hespos had an impressive camp and still sees himself on the sidelines through film documentaries, but was cut by Lombardi. That season, Hespos played semi-professional football for the Jersey City Jets and won a championship. After injuring his shoulder, he began his teaching career at Comsewogue in 1969.

Hespos guided winning teams at Comsewogue, North Shore and Hampton Bays school districts. He lives now in Florida, enjoys playing golf, and is pleased that his grandson Zach recently scored 24 points in a summer league basketball game.

Tony Musso

Tony Musso

A soft-spoken Wading River resident, Tony Musso grew up playing soccer and basketball and was an All-County baseball player for Bellport High School. He was a center fielder and third baseman scouted by the New York Yankees. Though his parents did not expect him to attend college, Musso was accepted into Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where he earned an education degree. While he enjoyed playing baseball and was a teammate of former Cleveland Indians manager Mike Hargrove, Musso felt discrimination from the coaching staff for being an Italian from Long Island.

After graduating in 1972, Musso was hired by Comsewogue school district as a physical education teacher. By 1980, his teaching schedule allowed him to coach, and he became involved with the dominant sports of football, basketball and baseball. In the mid-1980s, he coached softball, won a state championship in 1985, and over four years his teams earned a 70-8 record. He assisted Bob Davis with the girls basketball team, which emerged as one of the finest in the county and state.

At St. Joseph’s College, Musso coached softball for several years, had many fine teams and was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame. He played on several notable travel softball teams, always excelling as a pitcher, fielder and hitter, and was later inducted into three halls of fame for the sport.

Years after retiring, these educators are still remembered fondly by their former students for being special teachers and coaches.

Author Rich Acritelli is a history teacher at Rocky Point High School and adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College.

 

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The LoRusso boys. Photo courtesy of Rich Acritelli

By Rich Acritelli

Monday, May 27, is Memorial Day, which remembers all of those service members who were lost for the defense of America. It was created after the Civil War as Decoration Day to honor the lost Americans from both sides of this terrible conflict. Whereas our citizens fought in additional wars, it was originally recognized on every May 30, but it was changed in 1971 for the last Monday of May. As Americans will surely enjoy the warmer weather, this is a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day. 

Many of these memories are on display at the exhibit picture Wall of Honor at the VFW Post 6249 Suffolk County World War II and Military History Museum. There are a multitude of different pictures and military experiences from our local veterans. 

Frank Asselta

Rocky Point native Frank Asselta was taught by Joseph Edgar and enjoyed playing soccer, basketball and baseball. Graduating from Port Jefferson High School in 1963, Asselta attended Suffolk County Community College to earn his associates degree. In 1965, directly after graduation, he was drafted into the Army and attended basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. By 1966, he was deployed to South Vietnam as an infantry combat medic and he observed the massive escalation of this war to oppose the strength of the North Vietnamese Army and the Vietcong. Asselta was wounded in combat and he received the Bronze Star for his duel capacities of fighting the enemy and treating his own men under the duress of warfare.

Exposed to graphic warfare that resulted in fighting that never left him for the rest of his life, Asselta suffers from PTSD that he has managed for his entire adult life. This Sunday, May 26, Asselta is the driving force behind the annual VFW Post 6249 PTSD 5K Race at Rocky Point High School at 11 a.m. Asselta believes “all members of the Armed Forces who have been in combat need to be properly supported by our citizens. This run is a reminder to take care of all veterans who battle the difficulties of PTSD and I am proud of this mission to never forget about those veterans who are forced to deal with this condition.” The post’s Cmdr. Joe Cognitore marvels at the “immense energy” that Asselta displays on a daily basis to ensure the success of this race to care for our local veterans. 

Charles Pisano

Another infantry combat medic was a physical kid from Smithtown who was an extremely talented wrestler within Suffolk County and New York state. Charles Pisano was sent to South Vietnam and saw the powerful enemy buildup and their battlefield presence from 1968-69. He is one of the highest decorated medics to have served during the Vietnam War for the U.S. Army. Pisano for his immense time in the field was awarded the Combat Medic Badge, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, the Army Air Medal for 50 missions in the field, two Bronze Stars for Valor, the Silver Star and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for continually saving wounded American soldiers.

During every Memorial Day, Pisano’s prayers are always for those comrades who were killed from the Vietnam War. His daughter Jamie, a social studies and special education teacher at Rocky Point High School, recalls that “from a young age, my dad always made sure I understood how important Memorial Day was to honor our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for America.” This family has devotedly assisted guide dogs who help blind veterans and those that are suffering from PTSD.

Nicholas LoRusso

Graduating Rocky Point High School in 2003, Nicholas LoRusso was a captain of the lacrosse team and a talented wrestler. He is one of four brothers to have attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In January, LoRusso, a military combat engineer, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and he has been in the active army for 17 years. He is married to Tricia with two kids, Madison and Cole, and has moved eight times during his career. LoRusso served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and taught at West Point. 

During the height of the War on Terror, LoRusso vividly recalled his time in uniform, “I have classmates that were killed in combat within the first 12 to 18 months of service after we graduated. I served in units that have lost people. Ramp ceremonies on Bagram Airfield and memorials on combat outposts and forward operating bases in the mountains of Afghanistan are burned in my memory. I get to see, hug, laugh and share moments with my family and friends, and those we remember on Memorial Day are unable to do so. There are children, mothers, fathers and siblings missing a piece of them. Mine are not. These are things I think about on Memorial Day and it makes me cherish what I have. Those we remember on Memorial Day stood up, said ‘Send me,’ and unfortunately didn’t come back. I am honored to have served among these brave and selfless people and I hope the service I have continued in the military and the life I am living is worthy of the lives they gave up for our nation.”

Kevin LoRusso

The LoRussos represent the multitude of American families who have sent many family members abroad. Kevin LoRusso was an artillery officer who was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, where he fought in Mazār-e Sharīf. Like his older brother, he reflects on friends that he served with and recognizes Memorial Day as “a time I remember West Point classmates that have paid the sheer sacrifice while protecting this nation. Recently, a good friend Steve Dwyer was my lacrosse teammate at the West Point Preparatory School. He was a helicopter pilot who was killed with his crew on a training mission, leaving behind his wife and three young boys. As I spend time with my friends and family, I will be fondly thinking about my military friends who are no longer with us today.”

Gregory Monz

An all-around good kid who graduated from Rocky Point in 2005, Gregory Monz was a tough kid who was the first All-County football player for this high school. Before shipping out, Monz could be seen carrying a full ruck sack of rocks to prepare for his training. He descends from a family that has supported the defense of America over the last several decades and continued this military tradition during the height of the War on Terror.

  A corrections officer, Monz is married with a growing family of his own. He believes “Memorial Day for myself is exactly what this day is supposed to be about — remembering. I want to instill the same respect for our fallen warriors to my sons as my parents have taught me. I take my four sons to Calverton National Cemetery to help place American flags at every headstone. As a veteran, Memorial Day is a quiet day for myself. Many thoughts replay a bit more about my brothers I served with, not only about those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, but also the ones who could not move on stateside. To this date I have lost more Marines to PTSD than overseas. We must do better and we also must remember them.”

Never forget

May this nation never forget about those lost veterans from all national defense conflicts and situations. Thank you to those current Armed Forces members who still operate in harm’s way that are determined to support this nation on Memorial Day. And may we always show appreciation to those current veterans who are out of uniform that have made our people proud of their services to support the citizens and ideals of this great country.

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Photo from Rich Acritelli
Photo from Rich Acritelli

By Rich Acritelli

As Rocky Point High School special education teachers Jessica Gentile and Kristina Muratore sought new ways to enhance their life skills classes, Rocky Perk was started on March 17, 2023.The program offers students an opportunity to shop for needed items to make different types of coffee, refreshments and snacks. Started by using donations from staff members, Rocky Perk has seen substantial growth over the last year.

Muratore has been pleased with the progress of her students as “over the last few years our 12:1:1 program [for students with intellectual disabilities] has evolved into this outstanding experience that our students, staff and community has enjoyed. It warms my heart that everyone is able to see the daily talents of our students.”

As part of the program, the students work in a hands-on classroom that has a stove, sink, refrigerator, washer and dryer to handle the rigors of Rocky Perk, which has strengthened independent living skills. The students have also created a menu for the cafe and will be expanding their repertoire with an exciting new vanilla raspberry spritzer, which will be offered to its customers sometime soon. 

Gentile glowingly identified the remarkable growth of her students as “they thrive on serving others through Rocky Perk and are independently functioning to ensure that different types of orders are properly fulfilled and delivered.”

But the life skills program does not end in the kitchen. Continuing to follow the best interests of her students, Gentile also spearheaded the implementation of the Unified Eagles basketball team led by the life skills students. The team is made up of players who have intellectual disabilities paired with mainstream student-athletes. Gentile credits the district’s athletic director, Jonathon Rufa, in being a driving force in establishing this new initiative. 

As the Unified Eagles, the team has played two games. Gentile firmly believes “there is a growth of confidence in her players, who have an iron sense of pride who have also forged unique friendships. I am grateful to be part of this amazing group.”

High school students Brett Condos, Sydney Woods, Sarah May and Ella Rau have assisted the Unified Eagles on the court. A talented athlete, Woods said, “I love guiding members of this team and watching them try their very best.” 

When asked about the future of this Eagles squad, it is the goal of Gentile to garner more school and public support to rally this wonderful group of players. When asked if she would again lead this team next year, Gentile said, “Heck yeah!”

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Matt LoNigro

By  Rich Acritelli

“Matt would give you the shirt off his back and you always had his support.”

These were the words of Paul LoNigro on the positive qualities of his older brother Matt, who passed away May 10, 2023, at 51 years old. Paul and Matt LoNigro, only two years apart, were inseparable. 

Through the support of former neighbor Jeanine Ross and the Daleo, Peck, McFarland, Bach and Kortbus families, the neighbors asked the Town of Brookhaven to add Matt’s name to Biscayne Drive and Comet Road in Selden to honor Matt and the legacy of the neighborhood kids. 

Matt LoNigro. Photo courtesy of Rich Acritelli

Paul recalled his father Richie bringing home from their family business, Port Jefferson Sporting Goods, a priceless gift for the LoNigro kids and the local children — they were given defective sports jerseys with “Bombers” imprinted on them. 

From that moment, these active kids were known as the Biscayne Bombers as they played numerous hours of kickball and football on this street. This community represented the simpler times of small-town America through the constant activity of these kids on the street. 

Decades ago, Richie LoNigro often drove to work from Boyle Road in Selden, over Old Town Road, and onto Terryville Road, when these areas still had farm fields and woods. As Long Island’s housing population grew, Port Jefferson Sporting Goods increased in size to meet the sporting needs of children from Montauk to Manhattan. 

Matt spent 22 years working at this store and in the sporting industry along with many of the 11 children of the LoNigro family. He was proud of his Selden roots, was loyal to his friends and at Newfield High School he played soccer, basketball, lacrosse and was the class president. Matt later attended college and played lacrosse at Salisbury University in Maryland, where he met his wife, Julie. 

For years, Matt presented unyielding support toward the needs of Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson and was a president for the Miller Place lacrosse and booster clubs. At his family’s sporting goods business and later at BSN Sports, Matt thoroughly loved all aspects of lacrosse. He handled the retail and sales of lacrosse items for local, travel, high school and college teams. 

Retired St. Anthony’s High School athletic director, Donal F. Buckley, recalled “Matt was an incredibly warm person, who created smiles when working with the staff of this school. He was a master salesman who fully understood all sporting equipment and was an approachable figure who loved talking about all aspects of sports with our staff.” 

Over the years, Matt continually learned about lacrosse equipment, uniforms, coaching and the promotion of this sport that he truly loved. Matt advocated for lacrosse through the Police Athletic League and coached numerous Miller Place teams over the last several years to help further this sport. 

Town of Brookhaven honor

On April 4, Town of Brookhaven Councilman Neil Manzella (R-Selden) sponsored the request with the support of Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) for the authorization for the addition of “Matthew G. LoNigro” as an honorary street name between Biscayne Drive and Comet Road in Selden. Bonner believed that “Matt’s impact transcended the playing field, as he instilled invaluable life lessons through sports, cheered on every child with boundless enthusiasm and exemplified the epitome of goodness for our children to emulate. His legacy is etched in the hearts of those he inspired.” The resolution was unanimously adopted.

Matt learned two important lessons from his father: hard work and supporting his community. As a driving force at Hope House, this local organization helped troubled children and it recently named one of its buildings Matt’s House. This special person quietly supported others through the vital programs of Christmas Magic, that provided gifts for underprivileged children during the holidays in different areas of Long Island. In the near future, Matt would eventually take over this large Christmas initiative. When students returned to school, the Backpack Pirates initiative provided supplies to children to donate much-needed items toward their education.

The LoNigro family has a long and proud history of giving back to the community. While Matt passed away far too early, he cemented his legacy of giving back through a myriad of humanitarian efforts to make Long Island a better place. 

The Biscayne Bombers will always remember their youthful moments decades ago. As a former member, Matt’s older brother Craig marveled at “all the street sports, break dancing and shoveling driveways of older neighbors.” He added, “Matt brought out the best in all of us in making this into a special place to grow up. Matt was the heartbeat of Biscayne Drive and now his name will forever be linked to a place where so much love and happiness cultivated a unique generation of kids.” 

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Jesse Owens. Pixabay photo

“It’s not a question of whether you will hurt, or of how much you will hurt; it’s a question of what you will do, and how well you will do it, while pain has her wanton way with you.”    ― Daniel James Brown, The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

Gazing over the tens of thousands of foreigners entering the arena that would be the 1936 Berlin Olympic games stood the presence of dictator Adolf Hitler. During the midst of the Great Depression, the tyrannical leader of Nazi Germany promised to rebuild his nation to its former glory.

In 1931, the International Olympic Committee permitted the summer games to be held in Berlin as a peaceful way of putting World War I behind the Europeans. Instead, the world saw the flying of Swastikas signaling the rise of Nazi Germany. The games began on Aug. 1, 1936, with Hitler present to watch his country prove its status as a restored national power.  

A rumored American boycott to oppose the fierce Nazi treatment of its minorities, loomed over, though President Franklin D. Roosevelt granted his country’s athletes to participate in these games. 

Watching the ignition of the Olympic flame, stood Jesse Owens or “Buckeye Bullet”. Owens a famed-athlete, grew up in an Alabama sharecropping family, where much of his childhood was riddled with racism. Despite his adversarial childhood, Owens went on to become a talented track and field athlete at Ohio State University. It soon became a goal of Owen’s to dispel the Nazi “Aryan” propaganda promoting others inability to defeat Hitler’s “Master Race” of athletes.  

Hitler’s much-publicized hatred did not shake the American resolve of Owens and the other African American participants. American runners went on to earn 11 gold medals in track and field; six by Black athletes, with Owens earning four gold medals and two impressive Olympic records. 

Later in the games, a fatigued Owens sought rest, with this, he offered the torch to American teammates, Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller suggesting they could compete in 4×100 race in his stead. Instead, Owens was directed to race and Glickman and Stoller, both of Jewish culture, were barred from participating. Concerns arose that American coaches were fearful of upstaging Hitler by using Jewish-American athletes to gain additional medals. 

An aspect of these games often overlooked is the athlete’s personal contention with the economic and social issues of the Great Depression. The economy was poor in Germany and its regime paid for the training and living expenses of its athletes. Many American athletes looked at sports in a secondary manner as they tried to gain essential items to survive. Americans had to contend with twenty-five percent unemployment and a struggling economy.

On Christmas Day, Hollywood released a heartwarming look at the tribulations of the Great Depression through the production of ‘The Boys in the Boat’, written by Brown and directed by George Clooney. Like ‘Cinderella Man’ and ‘Seabiscuit’, this film delves into the intersection of sports and the Depression. 

Even as the New Deal was established by Roosevelt, American people faced difficulties in finding work and buying food. ‘The Boys in the Boat’ is based on the Washington State Rowing Team’s quest to win the gold medal during the Berlin Olympics.  

This film, set on the outskirts of Seattle, chronicles the harsh extent of the Depression. It focused on Joe Rantz, who was abandoned by his family and forced to care for himself. Actor Callum Turner portrayed an engineering student facing the threat of removal from Washington State for being unable to pay his tuition. With holes in his shoes and making a home in an abandoned car, this student desperately sought a chance to improve his economic situation by trying out for his school’s rowing team. 

Joel Edgerton stars as Coach Al Ulbrickson, an uncompromising figure who demanded athletic and physical excellence. The film takes some artistic liberties depicting the triumphs of the team modifying the succession to highest levels of college and Olympic competition to one year as opposed to the three years presented in Brown’s book.  

As a director Clooney scores in the eyes of film, history, and sports fans. He portrays the determination of the team’s coach in utilizing a junior varsity team that would eventually become the best in the nation and would go on to win a gold medal. 

There are many moments that present Rantz’s competitive side. In the film, Rantz found a father figure in the team’s boat builder, a man who took a special interest in his athletic talents by constructing and maintaining their equipment. The builder provided sustinent advice on handling the complexities of life and listening to authority. This film identifies the American-will to persevere, showcasing a team pitted against highly-respected Ivy League crews. The film shares an outstanding story of American resilience to achieve greatness through the masterful stroke of Clooney’s direction.

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By Rich Acritelli

During the 1980s, there were many Vietnam War veterans raising families among us. Many of these veterans rarely spoke of their combat experiences. Richard Kitson is a local leader who tirelessly advocates for all veterans.

A longtime resident of Port Jefferson Station, president of the Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 11 and a Rocky Point VFW Post 6249 member, Kitson has always cared for veterans. Originally from Manhattan, he moved to Levittown in 1954 and lived among the massive veteran population that had used the Montgomery GI Bill for housing.

Coming from a large family, his father fought during the Battle of the Bulge, receiving the Purple Heart for his valor against the Germans during World War II.

Kitson enjoyed the bustling suburban community, where he swam at town pools, ran track, played basketball and was a talented baseball catcher who later coached his two sons.

After graduating high school in 1965, Kitson briefly attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn and moved back to Manhattan. Working and going to school full time, Kitson eventually joined the United States Marine Corps in 1966. He graduated from Parris Island, South Carolina, and was trained at the demolition and heavy equipment school.

After going to the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Pendleton, California, Kitson was deployed to South Vietnam’s I Corps, stationed at Đông Hà Combat Base, located near the North and South Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone.

As a result of heavy casualties, Kitson’s job soon changed. He was ordered to be a mortarman to support the Marines fighting in the field. Quickly learning this new task, Kitson aimed to help American infantry “grunts” operate against the enemy.

This hotly contested area is remembered for its heavy American casualties. Years later, Kitson still vividly agonizes over the memory of lost comrades whom he considers close friends.

After completing his tour in South Vietnam, Kitson was ordered to Okinawa, Japan, to be stationed with his original company. Promoted to corporal, Kitson helped create many engineering products on the island. Arriving home in 1968, Kitson was sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and quickly returned to civilian life.

Kitson observed the political and social upheaval of the war, remembering the poor reception veterans received on their return home. These feelings hardened when his younger brother, John, joined the Marines and was later killed in Vietnam.

The war shaped Kitson’s feelings. He committed that no veteran, regardless of tour of duty, should ever be forgotten by the public or other veterans.

Life grew increasingly difficult as Kitson encountered the hardships of veterans who could not find quality jobs. His family continued facing tragedy when another brother, Joseph, died in a car accident.

Married in 1969, Kitson worked in the bar business for over 10 years and had three children. In 1980, he was hired by the United States Postal Service. He was happier as this job provided more stability and insurance for his family. Kitson later became supervisor and postmaster for the Babylon Post Office, overseeing five buildings, four ZIP codes and 300 postal workers.

Kitson advocated for building the Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park at Bald Hill in Farmingville. He and his “Green Jackets” members of the Vietnam Veterans county chapter helped raise the $1.3 million to create this memorial structure seen from the Long Island Sound, the Atlantic Ocean and Connecticut.

Eighteen years after America pulled out of South Vietnam, Kitson’s group and local, state and federal officials unveiled this special monument on Nov. 11, 1991.

VFW Post 6249 Cmdr. Joe Cognitore, who grew up some 4 miles from Kitson in Farmingdale, marvels at his contributions.

Kitson “is a great guy who continually strives to care for veterans and to represent our citizens who fought in Vietnam decades ago,” Cognitore, also a Vietnam War vet, said. “He is an asset to the drive of this VFW to fulfill the needs of veteran causes in this community and nation.”

Kitson’s organization on Memorial Day reads the names of Vietnam veterans killed during the war from Suffolk County. Always understanding the importance of history, the Suffolk County chapter of Vietnam Veterans has been involved in teaching this conflict through classes at Ward Melville High School and the former Veterans Day program at Rocky Point High School. The group is always at the Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies held annually at Calverton National Cemetery.

Kitson, now 76, is the chief of community development and civic engagement at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Helping veterans from World War II to the war on terror, he organizes transportation for vets to the hospital, offering guidance for tapping into government benefits.

During this holiday season, Kitson has already distributed hams and turkeys to feed needy veterans. A big, burly man with a voice reminiscent of actor Jack Nicholson’s, when one sees Kitson, one also receives a hearty hello, a big handshake and the question, “What can I do to help?”

For his valuable contributions through the Suffolk County chapter of Vietnam Veterans “Green Jackets” and his altruism and charity for local veterans, TBR News Media recognizes Richard Kitson as a 2023 Person of the Year.

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The USS Shaw explodes during the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. Public domain photo

By Rich Acritelli

“We thought they were U.S. planes until we saw the big red sun on the wings, and they began to bomb and strafe, and there was that big red sun on their wings, and it was war.”

 — William Harvey, USS Sacramento, 1941

Eighty-two years ago on Dec. 7, the Empire of Japan struck the United States Armed Forces stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

In the early morning hours, a massive Japanese naval and air presence was just 200 miles off the coast of these islands as military personnel and civilians awaited a leisurely Sunday. In an attack that lasted a little over two hours, an American population was thrust into a global conflict.

The surprise attack stunned government and military officials alike. Many Americans were shocked by this news, deluded by the inaccurate perception that the Japanese were not capable of hitting Hawaii with any robust force.

Instead, airmen, army forces and naval ships were reeling from continual aerial assaults by the Japanese Zero fighter aircraft that openly strafed American targets. From Japanese aircraft carriers, 40 torpedo planes, 103 level bombers, 131 dive bombers and 79 fighters opened up the war against American targets.

Once the smoke cleared, 2,403 American service members were killed, more than 1,000 injured and 19 American ships were crippled or destroyed.

The United States was fortunate that its three aircraft carriers were at sea. Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto initially stressed caution against this attack. He openly believed that if the American carriers were not hit, he could “run wild” for a year before the “sleeping giant awoke.”

Yamamoto, who traveled extensively around the United States, fully understood America’s economic and military potential, worrying that Japan would lose any long war against this country. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) rallied a shaken nation, announcing that a “state of war” existed between the U.S. and Japan.

Americans from all walks of life entered the U.S. Armed Forces to avenge this national tragedy and oppose the rise of fascism. The Japanese and Germans faced limited military achievements, but they underestimated the American resolve to mobilize every facet of its government, economy and population. 

By 1945, America and its allies had achieved “complete” and “utter” victory first against Germany and then Japan.

A way to remember

Dec. 7, 1941, is a national day of remembrance of service for many past, present and future veterans. Recently, Thomas Semkow, a lifetime member of Rocky Point VFW Post 6249, died of cancer on Nov. 13, at 78. A soft-spoken man who was born in Manhattan and enjoyed every aspect of the Rocky Point VFW, Thomas was a Vietnam veteran. He was sent to Vietnam during the height of the fighting. Thomas had the unique experience of being a member of the Green Berets as a medic who worked closely with American and South Vietnamese forces who directly fought the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army.

Never one to speak about his experiences during the war, Thomas’ military achievements are on display at the VFW 6249 Suffolk County World War II and Military History Museum, opening Thursday, Dec. 7.

His death is a continual reminder of the older World War II, Korean and Vietnam war veterans who are dying on a daily basis. They sacrificed greatly to defend this nation. Let us remember now their valor during the Japanese attack.

Rich Acritelli is a history teacher at Rocky Point High School, adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College and curator of the VFW 6249 Suffolk County World War II and Military History Museum.

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