LOCAL SPORTS ROUNDUP
STAMFORD OLD TIMERS
The 77th 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 scholarathletes 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 2039623397 or email dmorris06903@gmail.com. For program advertising, please contact Joe at 2038566105 or email jofratt@optonline.net.
Tom Chiappetta has had a lifetime love affair with sports, which continues in his work the past 15 years as the Executive Director of the Fairfield County Sports Commission and Hall of Fame.
The 64yearold Chiappetta has had a 45year career in sports media and marketing to complement his lifelong athletic participation.
Chiappetta was a twotime AllStar for the Lione
Little League as a starting shortstop and pitcher for the Laurel AC. He then helped lead the Stamford American Babe Ruth League AllStars to win the firstever 13yearold Connecticut state championship.
Chiappetta played three years of baseball at Burdick Junior High. At Rippowam High, he was a threeyear varsity letter winner from 197173. His threeyear Senior Babe Ruth (age 1618) stint was highlighted by earning a spot on the league’s prestigious AllStar team in 1973 that won the state title and was New England regional runnerup.
Chiappetta finished his baseball playing days with two years at UConn Stamford for Coach Dave Mazza. In 1975, he posted a teamhigh .406 average.
After graduation from the University of Connecticut in 1977 with a B.A. degree in Communications, he began his work career by becoming a sports writer at the then Bridgeport Post & Telegram, where he spent 11 years.
Chiappetta went on to a notable slow pitch softball playing career of over 25 years, beginning in 1973 as a shortstop/second baseman in Stamford area leagues. From 19761986 he pitched for some of the top teams in Connecticut in VIP Limousine of Stamford and DeVito Brothers of Norwalk. He pitched in seven state championship games, with one title in 1978 as he led VIP to the Major Division crown.
He later played for National Auto from 198691 in the Masters Division that went to three national Masters’ tourneys, finishing 9th in both 1986 and ‘87.
Jaime Camacho was born and raised on the Stamford Westside. Jaime played all sports, but found wrestling at Cloonan middle school. Camacho wrestled varsity two years at Cloonan and four years at Rippowam High School.
Jaime went on to receive a BBA from Hofstra University and MBA from UConn. Camacho opened a SignARama Franchise in Norwalk that he has owned and operated the past 30 years. Shortly after opening the franchise, Jaime and Tish started raising a family. First came son Stefon, and then twins Alexander and Jason.
When Camacho’s sons Stefon, Alexander and Jason each turned age 5, he enrolled them in the Stamford Jr. Wrestling Club. At SJWC he began his 25year career as a wrestling coach. In 2012, Jaime became President of the SJWC and served a sixyear term. The SJWC created Stamford middle school wrestling and also partnered with the Stamford Boys and Girls Club to introduce their kids to wrestling.
The past three years, Camacho has been wrestling head coach at Stamford High School.