First-ever Mazzie Tournament a resounding success

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Johnston High School alums from many different eras, as well as staunch Panther supporters, held a rather unique celebration Monday at sun-covered Glocester Country Club in Harmony.

It was the first-ever Gary V. Mazzie Memorial Golf Tournament, played in memory of the late teacher, coach and athletic administrator, who after founding the JHS Athletic Hall of Fame, succumbed to a battle with cancer.

So Monday, a field of 60 golfers teed off at gloriously green Glocester CC in hopes of raising revenue for the JHS Athletic Hall of Fame a day after Father’s Day, which would have been Gary Vincent Mazzie’s birthday.

“My dad would have been 70 years old today,” Samantha Mazzie, the late Hall of Famer’s youngest daughter, noted while helping Lee Mazzie – Gary’s widow and former JHS teacher – as well as Lois Hopkins and Cathy Gaskins sign in each and every golfer and arrange the pre-tee off pizza party. My father would be proud of what’s happening here today.”

Jim Hopkins, Mazzie’s best friend and long-time colleague, who like the Hall of Fame founder enjoyed nearly four decades of success at JHS who chaired Monday’s tourney, was thrilled with the turnout and predicted that “this tournament is going to get bigger and better with each year.”

Hopkins also added, while chatting with many former JHS colleagues and alums who distinguished the Panthers’ prolific sports program through the years: “My friend, our friend Gary Mazzie is looking down upon us smiling. He’s happy with the weather and turnout and wants the tourney to grow and grow.”

Perhaps a preview of things to come happened on Glocester CC’s putting green prior to the 12:30 p.m. tee off.

That’s where JHS alums Dennis Cafferty (Class of ’67) and Don Stone (Class of 1966) were enjoying a little friendly putting contest.

“I’m here for my 50th Class Reunion,” said Stone, who like other JHS alumni who played in Monday’s memorial tournament will celebrate that milestone Saturday evening at famed West Valley Inn in West Warwick when the Classes of 1965 and 1966 celebrate another milestone.

Monday’s fun-loving playing also included four starters from JHS’ first-ever true state championship team – the 1963 baseball Panthers – who shocked Interscholastic League powers like La Salle Academy and Cranston East to win the coveted crown. Those four Panthers were: Scott Cooke, pitcher; Ed Skovron, second base, shortstop; Dan Pisaturo, third base; and Mel Steppo, second base.

Likewise, the Panthers’ 1976-77 State Suburban championship hockey team was well-represented Monday by the likes of Brian Monfils, Dave Martin, Mike Mallette, David aRusso and John Graham, who have been elected to the JHS Hall of Fame and will formerly be inducted in October with the Class of 2016.

Laura Tucker Young, a former Lady Panthers’ softball standout who graduated from JHS in 1996, enjoyed Monday’s tourney with her husband Gary, while other alums turned out to support the JHS Athletic Hall of Fame in a golf tourney that now bears the prestigious group’s late founder.

The day’s top golf honors went to the foursome of Kyle Norigian, Dan Hawkins, Mike Riccotti and Mike Tercelli. The runners-up were Joe Hopkins, John Ryan, Don Devine and Jack Oscarson with Mario Mennella, Brandon Parrillo, Richard Parrillo and Tommy Francese taking third. Joe Hopkins won closest to the pin for men and women’s honors went to Ann Sullivan. Pam Sheehan made the day’s longest putt.

Perhaps the most important part of Monday’s highly-successful memorial tourney was that JHS alums – and friends of former Panthers – raised $2,700 that will go a long way in helping the Athletic Hall of Fame that the late Mazzie founded five years ago.

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