STAMFORD OLD TIMERS
The 77th annual Stamford Old Timers Association dinner is set for Monday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Stamford Italian Center at 1620 Newfield Avenue.
Proceeds help fund scholarships for needy and deserving local scholar-athletes and local sports teams.
The 2019 local honorees include Jaime Camacho, Tom Chiappetta, Mickey DeVito, Jim Sabia, Steve Summa and Tom Vitti.
National honorees will be former USC and NFL standout linebacker Garry Cobb along with current NHL executive and former Major Indoor Soccer League Commissioner and CEO Steve Ryan.
Cocktail hour is at 6 p.m. with the dinner starting at 7 p.m.
Tickets priced at $85 are available. For tickets, call Dan at 203-962-3397 or email dmorris06903@gmail.com. For program advertising, please contact Joe at 203-8566105 or email jofratt@optonline.net.
For more information, please visit stamfordoldtimers.org.
Michael “Mickey” DeVito was the first born to Anthony and Edith DeVito, both lifelong residents of Stamford. He grew up playing a variety of sports from an early age
After four years in The National Little League with Holy Name winning three Championships, he played All-Stars at 11 and 12, and went on to play three years of 13-15 Babe Ruth ball and three years of Senior Babe Ruth. Mickey was an All-Star as a 15 year-old, and at age 17 and 18 in Senior Babe Ruth. He traveled to Morristown, N.J. at age 17 where they finished in second place. And at age 18 to Wellington, Kansas where his team took third place.
Through his baseball and football careers, Mickey was coached by some of Stamford’s elite coaches: Walter Gasiewski, Stan Barosky, Sharkey Laureno, Fred Giuliani, Bart Gerardi, Nick Galiatses, Bob Horan, Lenny Rivers, Joe Anzalone, Mickey Lione, Andy Wasil and Gerry Esposito
Mickey graduated from Stamford Catholic High School in 1969 and earned a football scholarship to C.W. Post College.
After finishing school, he went on to coach Pop Warner Football with Mickey Lione and Tony Esposito and Senior Babe Ruth baseball with Bob Kennedy. He refereed high school football, basketball, and baseball for both boys and girls teams. He was umpire to the first girls Miss America Softball league in Stamford.
Mickey and his wife Diane live in Stamford. He has three sons, Michael, Jeffrey and Robert, and has four granddaughters, Lia, Samantha, Josephine and Gloria.
Jim Sabia was born and raised in Stamford. He graduated from Rippowam High School in 1967. Now retired, he worked for 36 years as an educator for Stamford Public Schools.
In 1966, the inaugural year of the Stamford Senior Babe Ruth League, Jim was selected to play on the Atlantic National Bank team. That team won the League Championship in its first two seasons. Jim also played on the League’s All-Star teams in 1967 and 1968. In 1968, the team headed to Morristown, N.J., where Stamford won the first-ever Senior Babe Ruth League World Series.
By the early 1970s, Jim coached The Atlantic National Bank team in the 16-18 Senior Babe Ruth League with his long-time friends, Bennett Salvatore and Michael Passero. Several years later, Jim’s career turned to umpiring. Jim became co-umpire-in-chief along with the infamous Nick Koules, who along with Sharkey Laureno, became his mentor. Eventually, Jim became a board member and then president of the Stamford Senior Babe Ruth League.
At around age 16, Jim began umpiring in the National Little League. He worked his very first game with Clarence Fedeli, launching his 30-year umpiring career.
CLUB VOLLEYBALL
The CT Stars Under Armour Girls Volleyball Travel Team tryouts at Wooster School (91 Miry Brook Road, Danbury) are set.
The Girls tryouts are set for November. Girls (Grades 6-9) tryout on Sunday, Nov. 3 (9-11:30 a.m.) and Tuesday, Nov. 5 (6-to-8 p.m.). Grade 10 tryouts are Nov. 17 (9-11:30 a.m.) and Nov. 19 (6-8 p.m.).
Grade 11 and 12 girls tryouts are Nov. 17 (noon-2:30 p.m.) and Nov. 20 (6-to-8 p.m.). For more information or to register, please visit www.ctstarsvolleyball.com or call 203731-4935.