A Golden Night in Westchester for Fordham’s Frank McLaughlin
The 50th Anniversary of the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame proved to be a Golden Night for Frank McLaughlin as the Fordham University sports legend was enshrined into the pantheon of Hudson Valley sports on Thursday night, October 19th.
The cheers were as loud as they were well-deserved from 40 vociferous, delirious family members and friends as the beloved “Pride of the Woodlawn” and adopted, favorite son of Briarcliff Manor was inducted into the hallowed halls with four other members in the “Class of 2017.”
Frank and Susan with John & Fran Cirillo (Chappaqua)
Frank was joined by four dozen devotees led by his wife Susan,daughter Heather and son-in-law Chris Simko (Chappaqua), Frank’s brother Walter and nephew Jim, a horde of fellow Fordham alumni that included: Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Julio Diaz (Ossining), who spearheaded his nomination and deftly orchestrated those who gathered, John and Fran Cirillo (Chappaqua), Mike Cosgrove (New Rochelle), Billy Mulligan (Fleetwood), Frank Aiello, Joe Favorito, Charlie Elwood (Briarcliff Manor), Master of Ceremonies John Marino, Mike Fitzgerald (Katonah) and his lady Grail; a slew of friends from Fordham staff to Harvard pals to basketball cohorts that included Stephanie Gaitley, Ed Kull, Ryan Kirwin, Dr. Martin Zwiren, Mike DePaoli, Rodney Crawford, Linda Bruno, Lynette and Bruno Gioffre, Chris Monasch, Ed Manetta, Rich Ensor, Jeff Prough, Kara Field, Joseph and Julie Carrabino, Terry O’Connor, Tom Mannix, Tom Clarke, Bob Nash and Kevin Plutnicki.
McLaughlin with Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino
McLaughlin, a star player at Fordham, returned to his alma mater to serve as Fordham’s Athletic Director for 27 year’s on the heels of outstanding coaching stints at Fordham and Notre Dame under Digger Phelps, and then as the fourth winningest coach in Harvard basketball history. He is currently Fordham’s associate vice president of student affairs for athletic alumni relations and external affairs.
Adding to the festivities was the enshrinement of the Pride of White Plains, NBC Sports Emmy-Award recipient Jimmy Roberts, accompanied by a full table that included his wife, mother and sister. Roberts recalled: “This is home, I’ve had a ‘914’ area code forever. My father took me to see Bruno Sammartino vs. Killer Kowalski at the County Center, Peter Paul and Mary, and my son played basketball here. It’s a special place.”
Rick O’Keeffe, Yorktown High School, Paul Natale, Hendrick Hudson High School, and Rich Leaf, Scarsdale High School, completed the impressive quintet enshrined in the “Class of 2017.”
It was indeed a Golden Night to remember!
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