Twelve to be inducted into Middletown Hall of Fame

Tickets remain available for the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on April 24 at the Elks’ Crystal Ballroom on Maynard Street. The festivities recognizing the 28th class of honorees begin with a social hour starting at noon. The induction phase of the program at 1 p.m. will be followed by a buffet lunch.

The deadline to buy tickets — $45 per adult and $15 for children 12 and younger — is April 15. For more information, email Johanna Bond (johanna@middlesexchamber.com) or call 860-347-6924.

After not inducting a class last year because of the pandemic, the hall will recognize 12 individuals as well as the 1987 state champion Middletown High School football team and the 1968 state tournament champion American Legion Post 75 baseball team.

Since 1994, the hall has honored nearly 400 individuals and dozens of teams for their prowess and contributions to athletics in and outside the city. Joining the scroll are Will Tye (football), Al Marshall Jr. (track and field), Demont Highsmith (football), Gregory White (track), Goran Vasic (soccer), Aleana Sutton Reeves (softball), Rick Murray (baseball), Dave Pierson (umpiring), Michael J. Brown (martial arts), Edward Kosloski (baseball), Lou Petruzzello (rugby) and Bernard Pacholski (football). Petruzzello and Pacholski will be inducted posthumously.

The new year also has seen the hall undergo improvements and upgrades in the display cases that house a significant number of artifacts and memorabilia, most of which has been donated by the public.

“We are certainly pointing toward the future with these improvements,” Hall president David Gallitto said. “It is an attempt toward a larger goal of relaunching the hall later this year. We want to connect the community to the hall of fame and continue to shine a light on the individuals and teams we have honored and will continue to recognize.”

Once improvements are complete, the hall will reopen to the public in the coming months.

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Lynn Baldoni / Contributed Photo A wall in the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame identifies the names of each individual, as well as teams, inducted since 1994.