Baseball coach who died in canoe accident honored
Moment of silence is observed at Bates Woods
New London — Peter Rodney Fajayan Sr., a longtime Little League and Babe Ruth League coach, attended every New London High School baseball game — no matter what his schedule.
A Whalers fan, he loved baseball and would continue to support the players he once coached at their games, said his friends and family.
On Monday afternoon, the team, family and friends, honored Fajayan at Sal Amanti Field at Bates Woods Park for the “major impact” he had on the lives of some of the players in uniform.
Fajayan, 50, died following a canoeing accident on Sunday morning. He and his adult son, Peter Rodney Fajayan Jr. of Uncasville, were fishing at Lake of Isles in North Stonington when the 14-foot canoe they were in capsized, according to police.
The team and crowd of loved ones paused near the field Monday for a moment of silence to remember his legacy on Senior Day, in which New London High School seniors are honored at their last home game.
“He was an awesome father and a better grandfather,” his son said after the moment of silence. “He had four grandkids. He was a hard worker and just all around loved. He will be missed.”
Fajayan Jr. said that his father started coaching him in Little League and Babe Ruth and continued coaching for years later. He even inspired Fajayan Jr. to become a coach as well.
“He was a coach, a father, and a grandfather before anything,” said Fajayan Jr.
Fajayan Sr., of Farmington Avenue, had served in the U.S. Army, loved to fish and was family-oriented and a “die-hard Whaler,” said Alma Santos, a friend and relative.
“It’s a really big loss, because he was a great man,” said Santos, who helped organize Monday’s dedication to Fajayan. Her son, Jeremy Santos, was playing in Monday’s game and had been coached by Fajayan.
Alma Santos said Fajayan was a good friend. He was dependable and hard-working and helped raise her sister’s children.
Even if Fajayan had only a few minutes in his schedule to spare, he would still go and stand by a rock near the bleachers to watch a New London game, she said.
Her son, Jamie Santos, 21, said Fajayan loved baseball so much he came to every game. He said he was generous and humble and spoke to everyone.
“He was awesome,” he said. “He was a great guy.”
Alma Santos said she spoke to Fajayan on Friday night and he was looking forward to Monday’s game. She said he continued to attend the games of the students he once coached as they grew older.
“He got to know the kids he played with and he got involved in their everyday lives,” he said.
Day Staff Writer Lindsay Boyle contributed to this report.