The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
A ‘Pioneer of sports’
Pat Kidney complex dedicated to superintendent committed to youth sports
MIDDLETOWN — By all accounts, Pat Kidney, superintendent of parks and recreation from the late 1920s through the ‘30s, was a civil servant who dedicated his life to ensuring young people had access to a multitude of sports.
Common Councilman Gene Nocera, chairman of the city’s 21st Century Parks Commission, said Kidney, a “pioneer of sports,” was a probation officer for the city and court system before heading the department.
On Friday afternoon, officials inaugurated the Pat Kidney Sports Complex, which includes a baseball and football field, tennis courts, a walking trail, and a track named for Middletown Track Coach Deborah Petruzzello. A crowd of more than 100 people assembled for the program.
Kidney founded the first summer program for children and “is credited with finding the funds — and believe me, they’re weren’t many — to put together 15 playing fields for those children back in the early days,” Nocera said.
“He begged, borrowed ... and went to the city of Hartford, which was getting rid of sports equipment, because he knew our kids needed it,” Nocera said.
Kidney’s grandson, Phil Pessoni, of Westbrook, who used to play Little League
at the field by the old grandstand, remembered watching the Sons of Italy Blue Jacket football team games.
As a child, he’d make the rounds of all the parks and playgrounds in the city with Kidney, who was beloved by youth.
“He used to take me in his old prewar Oldsmobile ... and he went almost every day. He would greet all the kids, and they would love it and hang around him. Whenever there was a driver that wasn’t doing the right thing, he’d call him a fathead. That was his most terrible word.”
Among those honored Friday were Lucille Gecewicz, Petruzzello, Edward Collins, Harold “Hal” Kaplan, Buzzy Levin, Detroit Hunter and Cleveland “Cleve” Lowman.
Already, the fields have been inaugurated: Middletown Youth Football and baseball players have begun playing games there.
“This is mind-blowing. It’s fantastic. It’s something beyond words,” Pessoni said. “All it takes is money, and he never had any. He used to provide his own tools when they did work in parks and playgrounds.”
Pessoni wrote an article a few years back for the Middlesex County Historical Society, “Who was Pat Kidney?”
“Most people that live in town now don’t know,” he said.
The fields, track and court will “create an environment for the creation of memories for children, the acquisition of skills, learning teamwork, and all the associated positive things that go with participating in athletics for the enjoyment for recreational facilities,” according to officials.
The sports complex was made possibly through the $33.5 million parks renovations bond approved by voters in 2015, earmarked for upgrades to city parks for the following eight to 10 years.
Already, the money has paid for a state-of-the-art $400,000 playscape at Butternut Hollow Park, renovations at the soccer fields on Long Hill Road, a second set of lights at the Little League fields at Hubbard Park, and synthetic skating rink at Harbor Park. In addition, the funds paid for upgrades to Macdonough Elementary School’s fields and new basketball court, and renovations to Spear Park on Main Street.
Middletown Sports Hall of Famer Lorenzo Marshall, of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, spoke about Lowman, who “created a spot for everyone to come and exercise their recreational rights. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be standing here today.
He then referenced Hunter: “How many lives did he impact in this town?” he asked, to much applause.
Fellow Hall of Famer Lucille Gecewicz, former softball coach at Woodrow Wilson, Wesleyan University and Central Connecticut State University, knew all the honorees. She is also a former member of the two-time world champion Raybestos Brakettes, world and national champions in 1974, and the Connecticut Falcons.
“They were the core that allowed me to play as an athlete, as a girl, because there was nothing for girls. I’m so grateful times have changed, because it’s pretty amazing what (female athletes) can do now.”
Without organized sports for women, Gecewicz had to travel to Middlefield after she graduated from Middletown High School to join the only softball league she found that would admit young women.
“From then on, that was my journey to working my way up to playing with the best in the world.”
Following the dedication, Middletown Common Councilman Phil Pessina, 21st Century Parks Committee member, conducted a brief ceremony at the site of the Miller-Fillback Veteran’s Memorial Field. The area is dedicated to 23 Woodrow Wilson High School students who lost their lives in service to the Army, Marines, Coast Guard and Navy in WWII.
It was completed in July 1985. He said the 23 athletes “fought valiantly on the grounds of tyranny — just a band of high school brothers.” He then laid combined sands from the beaches of Normandy — Sword, Gold Juno, Omaha and Utah — at the base of the monument.
“It is my deepest hope that it will signify the end of WWII to these 23 student heroes. May it lend to the comforting of their souls that this band of high school brothers did not die in vain.”