Bridgeport’s Pied Piper
Bernie Lofton remembered for his dedication to city’s youth
“I called Bernie the Pied Piper because everywhere Bernie went, everyone followed him. The kids loved him. They followed him because they knew he was going in the right direction. They lost a man who loved his community and provided opportunities for young people.”
Walt Luckett and Bernie Lofton knew each other for over a halfcentury. They were friends. They spoke on the phone almost daily, Luckett said, usually having something to do with basketball.
The two have been involved in projects together over the course of time, many of which benefited Bridgeport’s youth. The city kids always benefited from Lofton’s presence.
“His philosophy was, ‘If God blesses you, you need to share your blessings,’ ” Luckett said.
Lofton, the former longtime Bassick boys basketball coach, died last week at 65.
“I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since I heard the news,” said Luckett, the former Kolbe Cathedral and Ohio University standout who once graced the cover of
Sports Illustrated and is still Connecticut’s all-time leading CIAC scorer with 2,691 points.
Bernie’s son, Marques, said he did not know his father’s cause of death, but did say that his father was in remission from a battle with prostate cancer several years ago and had recently told him he had not been feeling well. Marques was named Bassick’s interim coach Wednesday.
A 1977 Bassick High graduate, Bernie Lofton had been Bassick’s head coach since the 2013-14 season. He led the Lions to two trips to the CIAC tournament semifinals and was an assistant under Harrison Taylor for approximately three decades.
Former longtime Bridgeport Central coach Barry McLeod coached against Lofton for a handful of seasons before he retired in 2019 after 26 seasons at the helm.
“He was a loyal Bassick guy through and through,” McLeod said. “For this city, community and Bassick, it’s a big loss. … He was there for an awful long time.”
Lofton won five of the six matchups over McLeod in the 2013-19 annual matchups.
“I knew how much basketball meant to him,” McLeod said. “He was the backbone of that program for awhile.”
Tributes to Lofton have been pouring in on his Facebook page since he died. His services have been moved to Breakthrough Church in Bridgeport on Feb. 10 with viewing hours from 8-11 a.m. followed by the funeral.
Marques, 45, played for Bassick and was