New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Amity coach helps bring back fundraiser to honor late father
Chris Raffone has had plenty of success coaching boys tennis at Amity. From the start in 2007, win or lose, Raffone always made that first phone call after the match to the same person.
His dad Ralph was his youth coach while growing up in Hamden. He introduced tennis to Chris. Their bond was strong.
Ralph Raffone died of cancer in December of 2015. Chris started a fundraiser the following spring season benefiting both the American Cancer Society and a scholarship in his father’s name. It was held for four years before COVID-19 forced the postponement of the event the last two years.
Chris was determined to bring the event back when it was OK to do so. And it will return on Saturday when Amity travels to face Hamden at noon.
“It was a special bond between my father and I. We shared the love of tennis. He introduced me to the sport. This is my way of honoring him and his memory and giving back by having a scholarship in his name,” said Chris Raffone, a 1996 Hamden High graduate.
The official name of Saturday’s event is The Ralph
V Raffone Coaches V Cancer Fundraiser. Chris Raffone said the raffle will be for tennis lessons at the Oak Lane Tennis Club in Woodbridge and gift certificate at Racquet Koop in New Haven. There will also be a bake sale.
The fundraiser is closing in on $2,000. Raffone contributed some of that himself. The money raised will go to a senior tennis player