November 8, 2018 — A new era began for the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame when it re-opened today at its new Stamford home at Chelsea Piers Connecticut. After 13 years of being displayed at UConn Stamford, the Hall of Fame now will welcome more than a million people a year from the Chelsea Piers community to view the outstanding athletes and coaches that the county has produced. The Hall of Fame is overseen by the Fairfield County Sports Commission.
“Chelsea Piers shares many of the same principles as the Sports Commission,” commented Greta Wagner, Executive Vice President, Chelsea Piers Connecticut. “We introduce thousands of children to sports every year, support and develop their skills as they grow up and coach our competitive athletes to achieve their full potential.”
“When we were searching for the right location to display our Hall of Fame, Chelsea Piers Connecticut immediately came to mind,” said Tom Chiappetta, FCSC Executive Director. “We were not only looking for the proper place and adequate space necessary, but for a like-minded partner that would help us grow the visibility of the Hall. Chelsea Piers fit all of that and more.”
Both organizations hosted a pair of events at the facility to kick off their partnership. In the afternoon, 15 eighth-grade students from the Rogers International School heard an educational talk from Chiappetta and CP’s Field House Director Jeff Brameier, the highly successful Darien High boys’ lacrosse coach. A team-building exercise followed, as well as the students having a chance to see the plaques on the HOF wall.
In the evening, the official re-opening was attended by Hall of Fame inductees, their family members and friends and supporters of the Commission.
Attending were HOFers Gary Liberatore (2008), Joe DeSantis (2011), Sue Merz, Wes Matthews and Harold Jensen (2012), Dennis Paglialunga (2013) and Laddie Lawrence (2017). Family members for deceased honorees Mickey Lione Jr. (2010) and Allyson Rioux (2013) were also on hand. Gregg Hutchings, a 2011 selection of the UConn Wing of the HOF, was also in attendance.
In addition to the HOF, which has been sponsored by Aquarion Water the past five years, the two groups also announced that as part of their partnership, Chelsea Piers is offering the Commission $12,000 in Summer Camp Scholarships for the 2019 Summer session to be awarded by the Commission to the various youth organizations it supports throughout the county.