Classical Hall of Famers Inducted
Edward "EA" Anderson, Class of 1980
Anderson was a junior/senior football captain on both the 1979 and 1980 Super
Bowl teams. Anderson was well-known throughout the Northeastern Conference for
his gritty running/blocking style and hard-nosed play in the Rams' defensive
backfield. During his senior year, EA was selected to play in the annual Agganis
Game and was named to the NEC All-Star Team as a First Team Defensive Back. The
former Daily Evening Item All-Star also took home the Team Leadership Award from
the team's annual awards banquet. In addition, Anderson (The General) played a
vital role of 6th man on Classical's 1980 Division 2 State Basketball
Championship Team. A 19-year custodian for the City of Lynn, he now works for
the Lynn District Court.
George Demers, Class of 1943
(Deceased)
Demers didn't have to go to war. He needed to go. Described as an "outstanding
academic achiever" at LCHS and, according to Classical's famed Bill Joyce, a
leader and influence "on the other boys," Sergeant Demers was destined. Exempt
from service as an only child, according to family members, George begged his
mother, Lillian, to sign his papers. The two-year varsity football and track
team member was accepted on Aug. 9, 1943 to the Army Air Corps elite pilots'
program based on high school performance. The program was cancelled, and George,
trained as a gunner, arrived in Saipan, Japan, in March 1945. It is presumed
that the Lynn Classical standout, described as a "clean, courageous competitor,"
died on May 24, 1945, on board the "Z Square 7," his B-29 bomber, over Tokyo. He
died 11 weeks before the end of the war. He is remembered at City Hall and on a
city memorial monument. His family also dedicated the corner of Western Avenue
and Mall Street as the "George P. Demers Square."
Ken Noyes, Class of 1959
Noyes founded Lynn Youth Soccer, and, along the way, he found a few of his own
highlights. The four-sport high school athlete, soloist in Classical's only
Barbershop Quartet and 38-year Lynn educator went from Classical to Southern
Illinois University's Dean's List, Division 1 two-sport status and
all-conference track team. After graduating in 1963, Ken pursued graduate
studies at Salem State, UNH, Fitchburg State and Boston University. The 1969 MVP
of the World's Slow Pitch Softball Tournament in Ohio also coached tennis at
Lynn English for six years, qualifying for the state tournament four times and
earning Coach of the Year accolades from the Lynn Item and the Northeastern
Conference. This U.S.S.F. licensed coach ran clinics for youth soccer for
several years and coached eight county champions and a state champion. The
former Pickering, Breed, Lynn Tech and Lynn English teacher views the "talent
and character" of Lynn youth as his inspiration and highlight of his personal
success.
Frederick E. O'Connor, Class of 1918
(Deceased)
O'Connor followed the path to the 1924 Olympics. The son of Daniel and
Elizabeth, and brother of Daniel, Arthur and Gertrude O'Connor, played soccer
for the Lynn Hibernians, Standards, Lynn Gas and the General Electric. He was
awarded a tryout for the Olympic team headed for Paris, France. Despite only
scrimmages prior to the big games, his team bested Estonia in its first outing.
The second game, played against Uruguay, was a 3-0 loss in a one-game
elimination rule. These US reps played two exhibition games (against Poland and
the Irish Free State) before returning home. Frederick, who died in 1952, earned
caps in all four games before finishing his time with the US National team and
returning home to the Lynn Football Club, GE employment and marriage to Mary (Maclaine)
O'Connor. The couple had two sons, Paul and Kevin, and nine grandchildren.
Maureen (Magner) Rystrom, Class of 1997
Maureen (Magner) Rystrom was committed to winning long before she took an
Agganis Scholarship to play softball at Bentley College. The 1997 LCHS varsity
soccer, basketball and softball team all-star was a four-year starter and triple
captain. As Director of Marketing for J. Calnan & Associates, the former
National Honor Society member, with a 4.4 GPA, continues her commitment by
advising the Mass. Youth Committed to Winning, an education-based athletic
program for Boston's at-risk youth, grades fifth through tenth. Among her own
early wins, Maureen was named NEC All-Star (first base/centerfield), Post
All-Star, Item All-Star for the NEC co-championships in softball, Agganis
All-Star, NEC All-Star, Post All-Star in Soccer and Post All-Star and Item
All-Star in basketball. The Bentley honors alum holds a degree in marketing and
information technology. An active participant in Bentley's Alumni Association,
she lives in Lynn with her husband, Adam, and enjoys running and spending time
with family.
Richard F. Sakowich, Class of 1962
Dick Sakowich, currently an assistant principal at LCHS, started participating
in sandlot sports at GE Field and Barry Park in the early '50s. He moved on to
the West Lynn National Little League, Lynn's P.A.L. program, and then St.
Michael's CYO. It was there, the 42-year Lynn educator says, with leadership
provided by Harold "Harpo" Neenan and Walter Dembowski, St. Michael's went
undefeated on its way to a New England Championship. Dick was the leading scorer
and chosen regional CYO MVP, while also playing JV basketball at LCHS in 1960.
During his sophomore year, he was the starting left fielder for Classical. In
his junior year, despite a knee injury, he was able to help the baseball team to
the 1961 Essex County League Championship. In his senior year, Lynn merged all
its sports teams into one, the Lynn Lions, coached by Classical's coach, Herb
Brenner. Dick was a co-captain, along with Joe Burton from Lynn English High.
Despite missing the first six games due to a knee injury, Dick led the team in
scoring and to a 18-2 record. The 1966 Salem State graduate with a bachelor's
degree in business education then went on to earn his master's degree in school
administration in 1972. With few exceptions, the man who is still there says he
has worked with or been "a member of" the Lynn Classical faculty for 40 years.
Harold W. Samuelson, Class of 1952
Samuelson always went the distance. The athlete, coach, veteran and retired Lynn
Fire Department lieutenant is best recognized for his long-distance running.
Once compared to the 1948 Olympic team's Ted Vogel, this LCHS track team member
(1950-52) and Outdoor Essex County Class A Mile Champion placed 4th in the
Greater Boston Invitational Mile in '51 and was recognized as the 10 Mile
Champion at the Mack Park Race. A national walk for the BAA Club (25 miles in
under five hours) and a ninth-place finish preceded runs against the well-known
Jesse Van Zandt and Johnny Kelley in a 15.5-mile race, where he finished 13th. A
Navy veteran of the Korean Conflict, Hal served as a radioman and later letter
carrier before joining the LFD and devoting time as an EMT on Lynn Rescue Squads
I and II. Organizer and first vice-president of the Lynn Athletic Club, he also
served as cross country coach for Lynn Trade and started its outdoor track
program. A member of the Pine Grove Cemetery Commission since 1997, Hal works as
a ranger for the Gannon Golf Club.
Sam Sapira, Class of 1963
Sapira managed the early career in a 1-2-3 fashion, specifically, one year of
basketball, two years of football and three of baseball. The triple play player
took a full football scholarship to the University of Arizona, graduating,
however, from Northeastern University with a bachelor of science in business
administration. He administered the business plan in a career that includes
management positions at the General Electric, Raytheon, DEC, Data General and
Bearing Point, among others. Sam is currently the sole proprietor of a
consulting business that specializes in Oracle Supply Chain Management. Married
to the former Ann Belkas for 43 years, Sam is the father of one son and daughter
and grandfather of four boys.
Jacob "Jake" Stahl, Class of 1949
Stahl reached high from the start. Basketball teammates Harry Agganis and Vic
Pujo in 1948 were named captains of the Essex County Champion Classical Rams the
following year. He was the team's leading scorer, All Essex County and
second-highest scorer in the league behind Lou Tsioropoulos. Jake left Classical
with a four-year basketball scholarship to Suffolk University, where he also
departed, in 1953, as its then all-time highest scorer. The junior/senior team
captain even filled in as coach most of his last year, when the coach suffered
from a serious illness. Jake married the sweetheart he met at the Lynn Jewish
Community Center, Arlene, and the couple has three children: Susan, Elizabeth
and David. With his friend and business partner, Arnold Kline, Jake built a
successful business, Boston Traders, in the building that now houses the
Juvenile Court and District Attorney's Office. The internationally known
clothing business employed over 200 people. A major philanthropist, Jake is also
the past president of the North Shore Jewish Community Center.
Jim Tgettis, Class of 1968
Tgettis's streak just keeps going. The 35-plus-year baseball coach, who lettered
in baseball, track and football before graduating, is headed for a 400-win
milestone. This year's appointment to Salem High's head coach adds to the run.
The US Marine veteran began coaching in 1975 with a Lynn Babe Ruth all-star
state championship. In '79, he became assistant varsity baseball coach at LCHS
under Dick Maag, moving, in 1981, to a 13-year stint as head coach at St. Mary's
High. He led the Spartans to three state championships (1983, 1987 and 1988) and
a state record of 48 consecutive wins ('87-'89). He was honored as the District
1 National High School Coach of the Year in 1989. Jim moved to assistant varsity
coach at Princeton University in 1993, where he coached Division 1 ball for
three years before returning to Classical. This winning coach led the Rams to
ten consecutive state tournament appearances and two Northeastern Conference
championships. An assistant coach for the North Shore Spirit during its time in
Lynn, he is a member of the Mass. Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Jeff Waldron, Class of 1995
It's his field, and, for Waldron, a seven-season veteran of professional/minor
league baseball, drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1999, it's
Classical-connected. The Lynn Classical assistant varsity baseball coach was
traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and later the Texas Rangers after his Sox
run. The two-time high school Eastern Mass. All-Star and Mass. vs. Conn.
All-Star/MVP, as well as a Boston Globe and Herald All-Scholastic, also took NEC
honors as League MVP. He is currently completing his master's degree/Ed.S. in
school psychology. While at Boston College (Class of 1999), he earned honors
including First Team All-Big East and Second Team All-Big East as well as two
All-New England designations. Jeff's high school feats also included being
captain of the football team and a member of the 1994 Lynn Classical state
champion basketball team.
Charles E. White, Class of 1972
White buys into quality. From Classical to family and career, Lynn's 15-year
purchasing agent remains selective. The son of Warren and Anne White, Chuck
played high school football for the legendary George Moriarty and Don White and
hockey under Bob Melanson. He was chosen to play in the Agganis All-Star Game as
a senior. The Manlius Pebble Hill School, Idaho State University and
Northeastern University attendee played for Whitey Anderson at Pebble Hill and
Bob Griffin at Idaho State. The GE Apprentice course graduate is noted for
writing a technical manual implemented by the company and, after moving to
management, for expertise in turbine/aircraft engine department acquisitions.
The Pop Warner, Breed and West Lynn Nationals Little League standout married
Carol Tomczykowski in 1983. The couple, keeping with the tradition of quality,
has three children: Hilary, a senior at Lynn English and MCROTC Sergeant Major,
Andrew, an LCHS sophomore, and Alison, a sophomore at Lynn English.
Bill Wise, Football Coach
The path led from Cathedral to Classical and back, and, for Wise, LCHS football
coach from 1972-83, it's here again. The Cathedral High graduate, a member of
Purdue University's 1966-67 victorious Rose Bowl team, led Classical to a
76-24-0 record while winning two of three Super Bowls and five of six
Northeastern Conference titles. He was chosen eight times to coach the Harry
Agganis North-South All-Star game. After earning his master's degree in physical
education at Purdue, Bill was Middle Tennessee State University's assistant
coach, head freshman coach at New Mexico State University and offensive
backfield coach at American International College. In 1983, he returned to
Cathedral to lead the Panthers to a record of 63-18-0 and wins in three of four
Super Bowls. A member of the Mass. High School Football Association's Hall of
Fame, Bill was a finalist for the NFL High School Coach of the Year and inducted
into Cathedral's Hall of Fame in 2003. The father of Stephanie and Billy III,
and grandfather of one-year-old Madison, lives with his wife, Mary, in East
Longmeadow and is chairperson of Cathedral's physical education department.
Hall of Fame Members Photo