The 37th annual East Haven High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27 at noon at Woodwinds, 29 Schoolground Road, Branford. Slated for induction are Nick Lamberti (’14), Destiney Coward (’14), Joseph Deko (’05), Lisa Broadfield (’96), Bryan Dion (’98), Brianna Spadacenta (’13), and Sean Clark (’95).

Tickets at $50.00 will go on sale on Sunday, Sep. 1 by sending a check Payable to the EHHS Alumni Association, 103 Leigh Drive, East Haven, 06512. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Nick Lamberti (Class of 2014)

During his time at East Haven High School, Nick Lamberti amassed an impressive record of statistics, honors, and recognitions.

As a Yellowjacket, Lamberti was named three times to the All-Oronoque squad and was twice honored as a Connecticut High School Coaches Association and New Haven Register All-Stater for baseball. He batted .501 – an East Haven school record – including a .600 average as a junior. Overall, he had 138 career hits and 78 stolen bases.

During his college years at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Lamberti’s baseball prowess grew. In 2017, he was both a First Team All-Conference and Northeast-10 Conference Commission’s Honor Roll selection. He led the team with 66 hits, tied for second with 26 walks, and scored 37 runs, which was the third highest on the squad. In 2018, he was a First Team All-Conference selection, leading the team in runs, stolen bases (24), and walks (27).

In 2019, Lamberti again made the Second Team All-Conference squad, hitting .326 (61/187) with 14 doubles, three triples, two homers, 36 RBIs, and 33 runs scored. His batting average was .465, with a team-leading 87 total bases, also drawing 20 walks for a .407 on-base percentage. He became the team’s all-time stolen-base leader, with 22 successful steals (25 attempts). He finished the year with 17 multiple-hit games, with three or more in a team-leading eight games, and led the squad with three six-RBI outings. He finished the year as the NCAA Division II’s 10th “toughest player to strike out” (one strikeout every 18.8 at-bats).

Before graduating in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management, Lamberti became a member of the Owls’ 200-hit club, finishing at SCSU with 223 career hits (fourth all-time). He also broke the all-time stolen base record, finishing with 80, the most in program history. He hit .326 during his college years (223/684), with 135 runs scored, 96 RBIs, 37 doubles, and eight triples.

Today, Lamberti is part-owner of the Wow Factor East Coast baseball program, managing day-to-day operations, scheduling, training openings, and athletic camps. There, he teaches young athletes the physical and mental skills that translate to the baseball diamond and life. He’s placed 50+ young people in colleges to play baseball and more than 100 who have earned bachelor’s degrees. He’s also a full-time paraprofessional at New Haven’s Barack Obama Elementary School, where he works with pre-K through second grade students with special needs.

Lisa Broadfield (Class of 1996)

Commissioned U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer Lisa Broadfield traces her roots to East Haven, where she lettered in three sports: swimming, basketball, and softball. From there, she went on to build a distinguished 19-year military career nationally and internationally. Her current military assignment is with the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM-71), San Diego, California, where she serves as a Weapons Officer, managing weapons teams, technicians, and assets for global operations and training needs.

Broadfield completed Military ‘A’ School in 2004, later earning a bachelor’s degree in Recreation from Southern Connecticut State University (2006) and a master’s degree in Psychology from Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota (2010). She completed Military ‘C’ School in 2011, later accumulating advanced training in aviation, maintenance control management, ordnance management, and leadership.

Her previous U.S. Navy assignments include Marine Strike Squadron (HSM-40), Mayport, Florida, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM-48), Mayport, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HLS-48), Navy Munitions Command, Sicily, Italy, and the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Bremerton, Washington. During her service, she had six overseas deployments: two in the Persian Gulf aboard the USS Hue City, and tours aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, the USS Mobile Bay, the USS Gridley, and the USS Spruance.

Broadfield’s many military acknowledgements include being named the National Helicopter Association “Maintenance Chief of the Year” in 2019, receiving two letters of commendation for superior performance, and earning five Military Good Conduct Medals. She is also the Education Service Officer, overseeing testing and eligibility for Sailor promotion.

Her prestigious national and international athletic awards and acknowledgements include being named SCSU’s 2010 Kay Fromer Award recipient, and holding and breaking multiple NCAA Division II university swimming records. She has participated in athletic events and swimming competitions in Brazil, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Ireland, and Italy.

Joseph Deko (Class of 2005)

After graduating from East Haven High School in 2005, Joseph E. Deko built a life of distinguished service to his community, fellow citizens, family, and friends.

At East Haven, Deko was an outstanding, engaged student and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, the Italian Club, and the Student Council. During his senior year, he interned with the East Haven Fire Department (EHFD).

In 2007, Deko completed his certification in Emergency Paramedicine (Yale University as sponsor hospital). In 2010, he joined the Guilford Fire Department (GFD), where he still serves as a career firefighter, EMT, Fire-Rescue Boat Captain, and Union Vice President. He earned several GFD certifications and awards, including two Unit Commendation Ribbons for lifesaving cardiac arrest saves, lifesaving actions during Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy, Administration Commendation for coordinating a recruit class graduation/swearing-in ceremony, and various Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certifications in Emergency Operations. He was also honored with the EHFD’s T. William Webster Award for outstanding service and dedication.

In 2013, Deko was named Manager of Operations for East Haven Memorial Funeral Home (EHMFH), a well-established family-owned business since 1939.

In 2019, he earned an associate degree in Business/Funeral Service Management from Goodwin University, West Hartford, Connecticut. That same year, he became co-owner of Shoreline Cremation, LLC, continuing his responsibilities with EHMFH. In 2022, he became owner of EHMFH, where he’s involved in every aspect of the business, including operations.

Deko is active in the Town of East Haven. He has been a member of the Town Council since 2017, currently serving Chairman. Among its many duties ensuring smooth operations, the Council enacts ordinances and maintains a $93.5 million annual budget. Per the town’s charter, Deko serves as Acting Mayor in the absence of Mayor Joseph Carfora.

Deko is also President of Operations for the Shoreline Trolley Museum in Branford, the oldest continuously operating trolley museum in America. The museum owns more than 100 vintage cars and operates a three-mile scenic trolley line for 10,000+ annual visitors.

Brianna Spadacenta (Class of 2013)

Brianna Spadacenta’s skill on the softball diamond is just one of many facets of her broad range of interests, talents, and career achievements.

During her high school athletic career, Spadacenta, a catcher on the girls’ softball team who lettered as a freshman, was named to the All-Oronoque squad, an All-Stater in her junior and senior years, and achieved a four-time berth on the All-Southern Connecticut Conference team. As a senior, she batted .377 with 24 RBIs, 22 runs, and five home runs, and she finished her career with 124 hits.

Upon graduation from East Haven, Spadacenta entered Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, earning her bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2017. At Albertus, she played in 20 games, had 46 at-bats and 13 hits, and scored five runs. She had four doubles, one home run, two stolen bases, and seven RBIs, earning a .283 batting average and an on-base percentage of .346.

Spadacenta’s goals extend far beyond the classroom and the softball diamond, however. Using her college degree, she created a new career path by founding Wax to Beauty Aesthetics, a solo business that she manages. She is a licensed esthetician, having completed 650 hours of classwork and hands-on training at the Institute of Aesthetics & Art Sciences in Southbury.

Spadacenta’s career journey continues. She hopes to one day continue her education by pursuing a nursing degree, which she believes will enable her to provide her valued clients with a wide range of medically-based esthetic service.

Destiney Coward (Class of 2014)

Her remarkable track and field endeavors have served her well throughout her life. The strength, work ethic, and desire to succeed that Destiney Coward displayed both academically and in athleticism, determination, and grace were clearly evident during her high school years and beyond. At East Haven High School, she was undefeated in the shot put in every indoor and outdoor state track and field meet and was named All-Division, All-SCC, All-State, All-New England, Class M champion, and State Open champion for indoor and outdoor track, and she earned recognition as an All-Area athlete by the New Haven Register.

Among Coward’s many track and field achievements at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), she was named the Northeast 10 “Rookie of the Year.” During her sophomore year, she was recognized as “Northeast 10 Conference Women’s Field Athlete of the Year” and earned berths on both the All-New England and All-Region teams for the shot put. She also became the 2018 NCAA Division II National Champion for the indoor weight throw and was NCAA runner-up in the outdoor hammer throw.

After graduating from SCSU with a bachelor’s degree in Science in 2019, Coward worked as a laboratory chemist at Aerotek in Stratford, followed by stints as a family-employed caregiver for two years, and then as a laboratory associate at Yale New Haven Hospital. In 2023, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Coward is currently working as a registered nurse at NYU Langone Health in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sean Clark (Class of 1995)

From the very start, Sean Clark’s remarkable speed, grit, and intelligence as an athlete were clearly evident.

On the gridiron, he was a two-way player (cornerback and halfback) and a return man, amassing 1,159 total offensive yards. He was named to the All-Housatonic Team in 1993 and as an All-Housatonic Team defensive back in 1995.

Clark also excelled in track and field. He was named to the All-State First Team in the 4x100 meter relay in 1994. At the 1995 New England Championships, he placed seventh in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.56, also setting a school record.

After graduating from East Haven, Clark attended Highland Community College in Highland, Kansas, where he played football for one year, accumulating 28 tackles (two for losses) and six pass breakups during five starts. He later transferred to Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU).

The trajectory of Clark’s future shifted when he left SCSU and joined the United States Navy, which he proudly served for 14 years and received many awards. While assigned to the USS Wasp LHD-1, he volunteered to fight a fire aboard a commercial vessel in the Mediterranean Sea, for which he received his first Navy Achievement Medal, established in 1961 to recognize outstanding achievement or meritorious service.

While assigned to the barracks at Naval Station Portsmouth (Virginia) Hospital, Clark organized a committee of young sailors to help new recruits adjust to Navy life. His next duty station was as a 25mm gunner aboard the USS Cole DDG-67 during maritime missions in Yemen. During that tour, he organized meal distributions to local fishermen who needed food, and kept peace with pirates operating in the area.

Bryan Dion (Class of 1998)

Bryan Dion was a standout basketball player for the Easties. He was named to the All-Hammonasset Teams during his junior and senior years, and he ranks seventh in East Haven’s all-time boys’ scoring with 1,010 points.

Dion entered Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Since then, he has leveraged his broad skillset in information technology and his entrepreneurial savvy into a lucrative, rewarding career.

Dion started as an IT Manager at Garcia and Milas, later becoming a Transportation Engineer for Wilbur Smith Associates. He then joined Transcendigital LTD as a Lead Web Developer. In 2005, he became co-owner/operator and lead developer of JumpStart Web Services, a web design/development firm that assists small to medium businesses with all their website needs. To date, the company has deployed and assisted on over 250 website projects.

Since 2013, Dion has also served as Senior Software Developer at Professional Photographers of America (PPA), the world’s largest nonprofit association of photographers. In that role, he developed multiple websites and applications to serve PPA’s 35,000 members, also assisting with everything from insurance and copyright protection to education, membership, paying dues, attending conferences, and much more.

In 2021, Dion also became owner/operator of Aylo Logistics LLC, an Amazon Delivery Service Partner logistics company. This company, which operates out of Indianapolis, Indiana, employs 50 to 80 full-time employees and has delivered nearly three million packages to date for Amazon.