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09/25/2016 12:00 AMPress release courtesy of Stephan Narracci
The East Haven High School (EHHS) Alumni Association is hosting its 30th annual Hall of Fame awards dinner at the Country House at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20. Seven EHHS graduates will be inducted at the ceremony. The inductees are Ralph Gagliardi (Class of 1951), Louis Anastasio, Jr. (‘58), Ed Crisafi (‘70), Ed Muzyka (‘82), Julie Oca Church (‘90), Robert Coyle (‘97), and Elizabeth “Sissy” Gambardella (‘03). Tickets are $45 and may be obtained by sending a check payable to the EHHS Alumni Association at 247 Bayard Ave, North Haven, 06473. No tickets will be sold at the door.
Ralph Gagliardi (Class of ‘51)
Ralph Gagliardi earned an associate’s degree from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor’s degree from UConn, both in business. After serving in the U.S. Army Combat Engineers, he joined Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance in New York City as a group sales representative. Upon returning to Connecticut, Gagliardi became vice president of sales for Consolidated Group Trust and later founded and was chief executive officer of Group Benefit Administrators of Connecticut. A 45-year member of the Lions Club, he served as President of the Branford Club, received the Melvin Jones Award, and was named Lion of the Year. Other organizations for which he has volunteered and continues to support include Teen Challenge, Branford’s Community Dining Room, the Homeless Shelter for St. Therese Church in Branford, where he also served on the Golf Tournament and Finance committees; and Easter Seals Camp Hemlocks for Disabled Children, where he was recognized as Volunteer of the Year.
Louis Anastasio, Jr. (Class of ‘58)
Louis Anastasio, Jr., distinguished himself as an athlete, coach, educator, musician, and public servant. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Southern Connecticut State University and taught for 34 years, primarily at East Haven High School. In athletics, he started and coached a water polo team and coached the East Haven boys’ swim team, including four All-State swimmers. He founded and coached the first co-op girls’ swim team to several winning seasons. Anastasio additionally founded and coached the Big Blues Swim Club to several championships, served on the CIAC Boys’ Swim Committee, and chaired the Summer Nutmeg Swim League. He served as vice chair of the Recreation and Athletic Commission, as well as on the Tweed New Haven Airport and Wetlands Commissions.
Ed Crisafi (Class of ‘70)
Ed Crisafi lettered in basketball and golf for three years at East Haven High School. As a basketball player, he was named to the All-Housatonic Team. Crisafi received a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Connecticut State University and began his coaching career in 1977 as an assistant coach for Yellowjackets’ boys’ basketball. Crisafi was later an associate head coach at North Haven (1980-’87), the varsity head coach at East Haven (1987-’94), the varsity head coach for North Haven (1994-’05), and a varsity assistant at East Haven (2006-’08, 2013-present). Crisafi has been head coach of the Yellowjackets’ softball team for more than two decades and, during that time, his teams have compiled a 260-186 record, earned six Oronoque Division championships, and the Class L state championship in 2015. He was named to the 2010 New Haven Tap-Off Club Hall of Fame and was recognized by the New Haven Softball Umpires as Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2015. The New Haven Register named Crisafi its All-Area Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2015.
Ed Muzyka (Class of ‘82)
Ed Muzyka was a three-sport athlete for the Yellowjackets, lettering in soccer, baseball, and hockey. During his hockey career, he led East Haven to the state final and was named to the All-Tournament Team as a captain in his senior year. In 1982, Muzyka became the first East Haven hockey defenseman selected to the All-Housatonic Team and was also named to the All-State Second Team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Quinnipiac University and played varsity hockey for four years. He was the first Quinnipiac defenseman to record 100 points and captained the team to its first playoff appearance. Muzyka held several records at Quinnipiac, including the most goals in a season and the most career goals by a defenseman. In 2009, he was inducted into the Quinnipiac Athletic Hall of Fame. Muzyka has worked as an accountant at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he was a member of the men’s softball national championship team. He is a volunteer coach and referee for East Haven Youth Hockey and a member of the East Haven Umpires Association. He’s involved in several charitable organizations, including United Way, Relay for Life, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Julie Oca Church (Class of ‘90)
Julia Oca Church earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Connecticut State University, as well as a certification as an Educational Leadership Intermediate Administrator. For 14 years, she has taught in several elementary school grades in East Haven. Since 2001, she has served as an instructional coach in mathematics, collaborating with math teachers, as well as providing remedial math instruction to students. Oca Church has also coached the East Haven pom-pom squad, which has qualified for both state and regional competitions. She established a uniform depot for families at Momauguin School,and served as a school test coordinator for the Smarter Balanced Assessment. In 2016, she organized the first district-wide Math Bowl.
Robert Coyle (Class of ‘97)
Robert Coyle led area hockey players in scoring with 73 points in his junior year at East Haven and was named All-Area by the New Haven Register. During his senior year, he once again led in area scoring with 89 points (50 goals and 39 assists). As a senior tri-captain, Coyle led the Yellowjackets to a regular season record of 19-0 and a 24-game winning streak. His teams won back-to-back SCC Division II titles and was the state’s Division II runner-up in his senior year. That same year, Coyle was named the Register’s All-Area MVP and was named to the All-SCC and All-State teams. He holds the school record for the most career points with 252.
Elizabeth “Sissy” Gambardella (Class of ‘03)
Elizabeth “Sissy” Gambardella was a four-year letter-winner in softball with the Yellowjackets, was a co-captain, and was named All-Hammonasset in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, she played on the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Coca-Cola Senior All-Star Team East. She finished with career batting average of .385. As a two-year player in volleyball, Gambardella was a team tri-captain in her senior year. Gambardella was also named All-Hammonasset in 2002 and 0303, made Second-Team All-State, and posted a career average of 25 assists per match. An active volunteer, she is a member of the St. Francis & St. Rose School Board and a participant in the Wooster Square Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, Bike MS in New York City, The Community Foundation for New Haven’s Great Give, and the Connecticut Shoreline Greenway Trail. She is an allied health facilitator at the New Haven Adult and Continuing Education Center and an after-school coordinator at the Farnam Neighborhood House.