Sports Hall of Fame relaunches with Class of 2023
Hagan, Scalzi, LaRusso among honorees
STAMFORD — It was a banner day for the newly named Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame and Youth Foundation, which celebrated a relaunch with the introduction of its Class of 2023 Monday at Chelsea Piers in Stamford.
Formerly known as the Fairfield County Sports Commission, the new name more accurately reflects the group’s main focuses, according to executive director Tom Chiapetta.
“Tonight is a relaunch,” Chiapetta said. “We want to let people know that we’re back, we’re still doing things, and we’ll be here for the community. “We decided with this relaunch, we wanted something different and these are the two things (Hall of Fame and youth activities) we’re focused on.”
The ceremony featured the introduction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2023, which includes eight stars.
The inductees are Dan Iassogna (Shelton) and Scott Sharp (Wilton) in the Jackie Robinson Professional Wing), John Scalzi (Stamford) and Lynn Spagnesi (Norwalk) in the James O’Rourke Amateur Wing, and John Hagan (Stamford), Mary Kehoe (Norwalk), Laurie LaRusso (Darien) and John Stratton (Stamford) in the J. Walter Kennedy Community Service Wing. They will be honored on a yet-to-be-determined date later this year.
Monday’s event also included the unveiling of bronze plaques for the last three classes from 2019, 2020 and 2021. No class was selected for 2022.Since it was formed 19 years ago, the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame has recognized 119 county sports legends.
The inclusion of the words “Youth Foundation” into the organization’s name emphasizes one of its primary focuses, Chiapetta said. It is still collecting gently-used sports equipment to be distributed to county athletes and youth groups, and recently donated $65,000 to 17 different youth organizations.
“All the board members, all the people who are involved and especially the Hall of Fame, needs to keep going,” Chiapetta said. “This was great tonight for the Hall of Fame, and for the (youth) foundation part, we have two or three other ways to make money and that’s what
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