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2012 Inaugural Inductees
Homer Ball
Dotty Coleman
David Heller
Christine Ho
William “Bill” King
Charles “Pete” Kinne
Walter Kretz
Norm Maisel
Len Mattera
Ronald A. Moss
John Niland
Pat Pescitelli
Nell Rasmussen
Maxvel T. Rose
Joseph “Joe” Valla
Jodie Walton, Jr.
Bernie Wyatt
Homer Ball
Amityville Teacher, Coach, Director of Athletics and Physical Education 1929-1963
Homer was born March 25, 1901 in Toronto, Canada. He was raised in Yonkers, NY, where he was a standout in football and baseball, and went on to graduate from Springfield College in 1925. Homer was a 4 year member of both the swim team as a diver and the football team, being selected team captain his senior year. His first employment was in Mt. Kisco, NY as a coach and teacher.
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In 1929, Homer came to Amityville as the Director of Athletics, a physical education teacher and coach of football, track, basketball and baseball. He continued as teacher and coach until 1950, serving as varsity football coach for 22 years. He had a 20+ game undefeated streak in football from 1936-1938, coached 5 undefeated teams and had an overall winning percentage of .636.
Homer had success in coaching the other sports as well. In 1930, the track team earned the title of Class B Suffolk Champions. He coached the baseball team to the Suffolk County Section 8 Baseball Championship in 1931 and 32. The team was League Champs in 1934. In 1951, Homer was named Suffolk County Coach of the Year.
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Homer became the full-time Director ofAthletics and Physical Education in 1951 and retired from the Amityville School District in 1963. He started the “first of its kind” athletic program for handicapped children in Suffolk County. He was a charter member of the Suffolk County Athletic Directors Association and served as the executive secretary of the Suffolk County Athletic Association from 1963-1972. He received the NYS Coaches Association Special Honor Award in 1971 as well as the NYSAHPR, Suffolk Zone Recognition Award. Homer was elected to the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
Homer married Clara Bailey in 1927 and they moved to Amityville when he took up employment in the Amityville schools. They remained residents for the rest of their lives and raised two sons, William and Roger.
Dotty Coleman
Sports Contributor
Dotty became active in the Amityville School Sports community in the 1970’s and has continued her commitment to the present day. She is a graduate of Copiague High School and holds a Masters Degree in Education with a specialization in community organization and youth development from Springfield College. In the 1970’s, she coached the girls’junior varsity softball team and served as assistant coach for the girls' basketball team. The basketball team went on to compete twice in the New York State Final Four.
According to former Amityville Board of Education member Carolyn Chikazunga, who nominated Dotty, “Dotty saw first-hand the need for additional support for student athletes outside of the educational system. Parents were rarely able to participate in the athletic or academic activities, games or competitions of their children. Some parents did not believe that their daughters should be athletes.”
Seeing this need, Dotty began working in the community through the North Amityville Recreation Program in 1971. Parents, students and school personnel organized MAKE-IT Inc. in 1989. This organization enabled them to expand programs and fundraise. They visited Washington D.C. and colleges in Virginia and North Carolina. They were able to provide after school, evening, weekend, and summer activities for a large number of youth.
Dotty has provided transportation to athletic events for student athletes. She has organized basketball tournaments to encourage mature competition and self pride. She has also opened a local park (Bolden Mack) for summer recreational programs, provided adult leadership and obtained sponsorships from local businesses.
Six outstanding former Amityville Student Athletes including Mike James (Class of ‘93), Avryl Jones and Teakta Barnes (Class of ‘94), Naja Chikazunga (Class of ’95) and Charese and Oliver Hinckson (Class of’97) submitted letters stating the importance that Dotty played in their lives as students and the lives of other students at Amityville Memorial High School.
Dotty relates that, “while completing my Master's Degree in Education and starting my Ed.D, I enjoyed working with administrators, building educators and, most important, secretaries and custodians, enabling us to make sure our students graduated.”
David Heller
Sports Contributor/ Class of 1967
Dave was born in Brunswick Hospital in 1949, so he is “Amityville” through and through. He attended St. Martins of Tours School for his elementary and junior high school education. He entered Amityville High School in 1962 and was involved in Amityville sports for his four years. He played football for the Crimson Tide, coached by Hall of Fame Coach Lou Howard and was a wrestler, coached by Hall of Fame inductee Joe Valla. After high school, Dave enlisted in the United States Air Force. Upon his discharge from the service, he returned to Amityville and joined his family business, Heller Plumbing.
Dave has been elected to the Hall of Fame for his long-time support of the Amityville School Sports program. In 1989 the Amityville School system was on austerity which meant no sports programs. Dave immediately sprung into action and started the Amityville High School Varsity Sports Club to raise funds to keep the AMHS athletic program functioning.
It was a formidable challenge, as enough money had to be raised to fund ALL fall sports programs. Dave accepted the challenge and the leadership role. He reached out to many people in the community asking for their help and the response was overwhelming. The committee he formed decided the best way to raise the needed funds quickly was to run several fundraisers. With the help of his wife Linda, Dave volunteered his home for a cocktail reception. The entire school community turned out to support the sports program and $10,000 was raised and donated for the sports program. Those efforts saved the entire fall sports schedule. The Varsity Club also sold candy, popcorn and soda at all athletic events to raise money for the sports programs. According to Bob Chester, the second president of the club, over the years, $25,000 was raised to keep the sports program going while the school was on austerity.
Dave is a community minded person, having served Amityville in many volunteer capacities. He coached for the Amityville Little League and Soccer League and as a businessman continues to sponsor teams in both leagues. He also has sponsored men's and women's softball teams at the Amityville Beach.
Dave is an active member of the Amityville Kiwanis Club, serving as president twice. He served as Scholarship Chairman for the club from 1980-1999. In 1992, he initiated a Scholar/Athletic Award. In 1994 Amityville Mayor Emil Pavlik appointed Dave to the Amityville Zoning Board, where he served until 2000.
In 1985, Dave served the school once again in another capacity: being elected to the Amityville School Board. Currently, he is a member of the Amityville Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society and Kiwanis Club.
Christine Ho
Class of 1991
Christine was involved in soccer, basketball and volleyball at Amityville Memorial High School. In soccer, she was named an All-County player. She was named an All County and All Long Island player in basketball. While playing for Amityville, the team was League Champions and Long Island Class B champions. The team, under the guidance of AMHS Hall of Fame member Coach Claude Byer, went to the NYS Finals 2 times.
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Upon graduating from Amityville, Christine attended George Mason University on a soccer scholarship. She was selected to be captain of her team and was an All-Region selection. She played in the NCAA Division 1 National Championship game in 1993 and was an All- Tournament Team selection.
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Christine is a physical education teacher in the Plainview Old-Bethpage School District. She coaches the Plainview Boys Varsity Soccer Team as well as several premier level soccer teams on Long Island. She started her own training organization is 2006.
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Christine relates that her fond memories of the AMHS sports programs include, “being able to grow as an athlete and more important as a player under the great coaches such as Ron Forman and Claude Byer. And of course, playing in the Long Island Championships and having the opportunity to compete for a state title.”
William "Bill" King
Amityville School District Physical Education Teacher, Coach and Athletic Director
Bill came to Amityville to teach physical education in 1954. He started teaching physical education to the 7th and 8th graders at Park South, which housed the junior high school. At the time, the district's sports program consisted of 8 teams and 20 coaches to cover the high school varsity and junior varsity teams.
In 1955, Bill was requested by Athletic Director and Sports Hall of Fame inductee, the late Homer Ball, to start a junior high sports program. Bill started intramurals for 4 sports: 6 man tackle football, basketball, wrestling and baseball. The program continued for 6 years under Bill's direction.
In 1963, after construction of the new junior highschool which contained grades 6 thru 9, Bill became the Junior High SchoolAthletic Director and the schooljoined the Suffolk County AthleticAssociation. Seven additional coaches were added. In addition to being the school's AD, Bill coached the junior high baseball from 1963-1966.
In 1967, Assistant Principal and Interim Athletic Director Joe Valla appointed Bill to the position of Amityville School District Athletic Director. Bill remained the district's AD for 12 years until his retirement in1981.
In 1972, during Bill's tenure, the Title IX Equal Opportunity in Education Act requiring equality for female athletes in the sports programs was passed. Bill supervised the addition of 5 women's teams which included volleyball, basketball, field hockey, and track and field. This required 10 additional coaches.
Bill was recognized as “Outstanding Baseball Coach” in 1978 by the Amityville Superintendent of Schools for his record of 12 consecutive seasons with a win/loss record above 500. He won the League S Championship, Amityville's first baseball championship since 1954. Bill's best season win/loss record was in 1975 when his team went 22-5, losing in the semifinals to West Islip.
Bill graduated with a Masters in Education from Springfield College in Massachusetts in 1954. In his freshman year at Springfield he played 2°d base on the varsity baseball team. He left college the next year to serve his country in the US Navy for 3 years. Upon his return from the war, Bill re- entered Springfield, picking up where he left off as the second baseman on the varsity team for three more years. He was elected team captain in his senior year.
This year, Bill and his wife Betty celebrate their 65° wedding anniversary. They have four children and eight grandchildren. They now reside in Largo, Florida.
Charles "Pete" Kinne
Class of 1947
Charles “Pete” Kinne was born in Amityville to Charles and Angeline Kinne on August 16, 1928.
In Amityville High School, Pete participated in football and wrestling, competing from freshman through senior year.
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In 1946, during Pete's senior year, he was a quarterback of the football team, but it was in wrestling that he excelled.
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Pete was a ‘Kittleman’. Under the guise of wrestling coach and AMHS Sports Hall of Fame member Lonnie Kittle, he won the 135 lb class at the LI Grappling Club and the LI Championship at Mepham. He went on to win the prestigious NY State Wrestling Championship for the 135 lb. weight class.
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After graduating high school, Pete attended Norwith College and Syracuse University. He later enlisted in the US Army and spent time in Germany.
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An avid boater, Pete could be found on his boat ‘The Escape’ at Gilgo Beach.
In 1957, Pete married Martha Burch and they had one daughter, Carol Ann Kinne-Sandick, who proudly nominated him to the Amityville Sports Hall of Fame.
Sadly, Pete lost his battle with cancer on December, 1960.
Walter Kretz
Class of 1940
Walter played varsity football at Amityville Memorial High School in thel938, 1939, and 1940 seasons. The coach was Homer Ball, a man Walter greatly admired. In 1939, Walter led the team in touchdowns and in yards gained both running and passing. In the 1940 season the team was undefeated and won Amityville's fourth Suffolk County Championship. Walter was Suffolk scoring champ.
Walter was recruited by Cornell University and was offered a scholarship to play football. Ivy League Football was among the best in the country at that time. He played two seasons before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He gained national recognition in his sophomore season by playing with a broken leg and leading his team against Dartmouth. He was a triple threat-pass, punt and running-which were important in a single wing offense back then.
Returning to Cornell after the war, Walter played for two more seasons and was named team captain of the 1947 squad. After graduating, he actually signed to play professional football in the All- American Conference with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but he did not pursue this. He settled in Amityville with his wife, the former Joan McDonough from Brooklyn. They have ten (10) children, all of whom live in or near Amityville. He taught, coached football, and was the athletic director and Executive Assistant Principal at Lawrence High School in his thirty-year professional career.
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In 2000, Walter was inducted into the Cornell Sports Hall of Fame. An excellent running back from both the single wing and T-formations, he won letters on the Cornell football teams of 1942, 1946 and 1947. He was named to the United Press All-Eastern team and received AP All-American honorable mention in 1942. He also received Newspaper Enterprise All-American honorable mention in 1946, in addition to earning AP All-East honorable mention.
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Two of Walter's grandsons attended Amityville Memorial High School and played on the football team — Kieran McDermott and Gavin Kretz. Gavin was the starting quarterback for two years and served for three years as the varsity baseball team captain. He was chosen the MVP in Division IV Football in 2009.
Norm Maisel
Amityville Memorial H.S. Social Studies Teacher, Wrestling and Football Coach
Norm started his career at AMHS as head wrestling coach with an outstanding record of 261 wins, 88loses and 2 ties. The record included 15 league titles and 3 Section XI Class B titles. During his wrestling tenure, Amityville had two NY State Champions, 10 Section XI titlists, plus 53 individual place winners. Under his reign, 87 wrestlers have achieved the title of League Champion. Ironically, his first team and his last team were undefeated along with two others.
To encourage youngsters to try wrestling, Norm helped form the Town of Babylon“Kid Wrestling” program. The first Amityville “Kids” grads had 4 section XI finalists.
Among the wrestling honors Norm has received are League Coach of the year(8 times) and Suffolk County Grand Master award. The Amityville wrestling room was named in his honor.
Norm was also involved in freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling. After trying his hand at officiating international style for a few years, he decided he was uncomfortable on that side of the tracks and returned to coaching.
Amityville High School has hosted camps for the elite wrestlers who participated in the Junior Nationals in Iowa. Along with Rick Herman, Norm coached the senior division freestyle and Greco team from LI. This was probably the greatest team that Ll has ever sent to the Empire State Games, winning 9 out of 10 individual titles.
Many outstanding high school coaches have come out of Norm's Amityville program. Among the best are Steve Gaydosh, the most outstanding wrestling coach in Alabama; Ken Maisel, the coach of University High School, Morgantown, West Virginia, a perennial top 10 finisher in the WV State Tournament; Tony Walters, who has built St. Anthony's program to one of the best in New York State; and Bill Maisel, whose 2003 team won the overall Section XI title.
Norm is extremely thankful for the great assistants who have served with him at AMHS. They include Ivan Brower, Kerry Doran, Jerry Pollock, and Mike Gaydosh. Norm left Amityville in the 1990’s to accept a job as Athletic Academic Co-coordinator at Michigan State University. While at Michigan State he had the pleasure of working with two great coaches, Tom Izzo and Nick Saban.
Upon retiring from Michigan State, Norm and his wife Jan moved to Sarasota, FL where they live with their 2 dogs, Sheldon and Lilly. The Maisel family includes his 3 children: daughter Stephanie, sons Ken, a two-time Empire State Game Champion, and Bill, a two-time Section Champion, Amityville Wrestling Coach and physical education teacher.
Len Mattera
Amityville Physical Education Teacher and Football Coach
Lenny Mattera, the second of five children, was born in New York City, in 1943 to Joseph and Carmela Mattera. His family moved to Old Bethpage in March 1957. He attended the Bethpage Junior-Senior High School, where his love for football was ignited by Coach Howie Vogts. He graduated from Plainview High School, playing tackle on the football team.
Len first played defensive end for the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers, then transferred to the University of Bridgeport, where he played center and linebacker for the Purple Knights. He graduated in 1966 from the Arnold College of Physical Education, U of Bridgeport.
Len was hired in 1966 to teach physical education in Amityville. Vic Niemi asked him to coach the 7° grade football team at the junior high school and for the next six seasons he advanced one level. Along with his friend, Jim “Slapshot” Thomson, he scouted for the varsity football team, an experience that proved to be priceless in his coaching career. He coached 14 years in Amityville, and then joined Tom Howard as his assistant varsity coach at Bay Shore High School. During his seven years with the Marauders, they won numerous League and County Championships including the Rutgers Trophy. From 1990 to 1592 Len was head varsity football coach at his alma mater, Plainview High School.
In 1994, his dream coaching job became a reality when he took the reigns as the Warriors Head Football Coach. His goal was to return the Amityville Football Team to the level it had been for many years.. True to his word, during his seven years in Amityville, Len along with his coaching staff, Frank DeVenuto, Matt Swinson and Tom McNulty, brought Amityville football back to its“GLORY” days ofrespectability.
The Tide won 4 League Championships, 2 County Championships, l Long Island Championship and the coveted Rutgers Trophy. Len was honored to have the opportiinity to coach Amityville football and help accomplish along with his players and coaches the respectability Amityville football had under the legendary coaches Lou Howard and Vic Niemi.
Len's honors include the Newsday Football Coach of the Year, Suflolk Football Officials Coach of the Year, New York Jets Tri-State Coach of the Year, Head Coach LI-NYC All Star Foot ball Game, and the Suffolk County Football Coaches Coach of the Year. He was proudest of the many sportsmanship awards earned by the football teams. He is grateful for the support of the fonner Tide players, and to all the parents, who volunteered their free time to make the program a success.
He retired in 1998 from teaching in the “’VILLE” and in 2001 after 33 years of coaching the game he loved and still misses. It allows Len to spend more time with family, including the love of his life, his daughter Laurie, friends and his constant companion and pal, Champ. He resides in Williston Park with his sweetheart, Anita Markey.
Ronald A. Moss
Class of 1968
Ronald was born in Flushing , NY and, in 1957, moved at the age of 7 with his family to Amityville. He enrolled in the Amityville Public Schools, where he quickly became involved in many activities. He was well-liked and outgoing, being elected class president in the 8" grade. He accepted the challenge to run the school store, which he credits with developing his future business interests. High School Social Studies teacher Joseph Clancy recommended that Ronald become “Mayor for a Day” in Amityville, a program Mayor Lou Howard instituted.
Ron's interest in sports was piqued in middle school when he began working out with the high school seniors. From that point on, he developed a drive to excel in sports. From 1964 to 1968, Ron participated on the football, wrestling, and track teams.
In football in his junior year, Ron was selected by Newsday to be a member of the All Long Island team. In both his junior and senior year, he was selected to the All Suflo1k Football 1" Team.
Ron excelled in wrestling, having undefeated seasons in his junior and senior years. He placed second in the NY State championship in 1967, going on to win the Heavyweight Class NY State Champion title in 1968. To date, his record has never been broken.
On the track team, he was a shot-putter, breaking the long-held distance record of Lionel “Train Jardine.
Ron worked in human resource management for over 20 years. He returned to Long Island in 1993 and worked with various organizations, including the North Ainityville Taxpayers Association, Community Development Corporation of Long Island, and the Long Island Housing Services. During the last 10 years, he has been associated with the Nassau County Office of Housing as Program Coordinator. Ron is Second Vice President of the Amityville Board of Education.
Ron credits his sport's successes at Amityville with hard work, determination and great coaches that included Lou Howard, Vic Niemi, Eric Moyer and fellow inductee Norm Maisel.
John Nilanin
Class of 1962
During a fan Q-and-A session on August 8, 2011, John Niland was asked the question, “How was growing up in Amityville?” His reply was, “It wasn't glamorous, it mostly consisted of playing sports, going to the beach and getting in a lot of trouble all the time.” John certainly did play sports. Next to his 1962 yearbook picture was listed: football 1, 2, 3, 4; basketball 2, 3, 4; baseball 2; track 3, 4; and lacrosse 1.
Football is the sport that immediately comes to mind when John's name is mentioned. He played full back at AMHS. Coached by Amityville Hall of Fame Coach Lou Howard, he was named to the All- County team as well as being honored as an All-State fullback.
The 1961 “Crimson Tide” team, of which John was an integral part, brought the ninth straight championship to Amityville. The team was undefeated and untied, winning the Rutgers Trophy for the second consecutive year.
Playing AMHS basketball, John held the basketball rebound record and in track field threw the discus. Other AMHS activities John participated in were Key Club, Student Council and he was elected Class President in his senior year.
John went on to a distinguished football career at University of Iowa, switching from fullback to guard and being selected an All-American in his senior year. He was elected to the Iowa Hall of Fame in 2006.
The Dallas Cowboys drafted John in the first round in the 1966 NFL draft and he played guard for them for nine seasons under Coach Tom Landry. During his outstanding Cowboy career, the team won three NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl. John played in six consecutive Pro-Bowls.
In a note sent to the Sports Hall of Fame committee, John sites, “I remember really being a part of a family at AMHS. Coach Lou Howard was so much more than a coach, he was like a father to me. Lou was also instrumental in my college choice and future. AMHS opened up a wonderful opportunity for a kid like me. I never dreamed I would go to college.”
This past August 2012, John attended his 50° High School Class reunion and spoke briefly to everyone in attendance. He said that the two inost influential people in his life were Dallas Cowboy Coach Tom Landry and Amityville Sports Hall of Fame Coach Lou Howard. John was inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Face in 1997. He now has a proud and lasting legacy in the Amityville Meinorial High School Sports Hall of Fame history.
Pat Pescitelli
Class of 1948
Pat was born in Amityville, where he attended Ainityville Memorial High School and excelled in baseball and basketball. He played varsity basketball for four years (1945-1948) and led the team in scoring in his junior and senior years.
It was baseball that was Pat's passion. He was so talented that he was selected to start on the varsity team as a high school freshman. The team won the championship three years in a row with an outstanding roster that included Danny Curcio, Sherwood Davis, Fritz Della Penna, and Jim Doherty. Coached by Jim Hicks, Pat became a great ball player and in his senior year was drafted by the New York Yankees.
With the Yankees, Pat had stops in Georgia, Wisconsin, Florida, and finally Norfolk, Virginia. Pat played with the minor league Yankees in 1949, 1950, and 1953. Pat had to leave the Yankee organization in 1951 and 52 to serve his country. When he returned to the Yankees, a 17-year-old kid by the name of Bobby Richardson had taken his position at 2°d base. Pat asked for his release from the Yankees and he returned home to Amityville.
Back in Amityville, Pat started playing fast pitch softball and eventually arch softball. Pat played softball all over the country with Local 138, Musicaros and County Sports, winning numerous championships around the country. In 1980, Pat was inducted into the Long Island Softball Hall of Fame.
Pat continued to play and coach softball at the Arnityville Beach and it was through his and Lou Howard's efforts that a men's softball league was formed which continues to this day at the Amityville Beach.
During a New York Yankee broadcast in about 1995, announcer and former star shortstop for the Yankees Phil Rizzuto spoke about a young ball player he remembered in the Yankee organization who had the best hands of any second baseman he ever saw. He mentioned that Pat Pescitelli, a young kid, could turn any double play with the softest of hands. Pat received numerous calls from friends who heard Rizzuto relate that story on television.
Pat enjoyed watching his four boys Dale, Bobby, Bruce and Tommy grow up and play baseball. He would travel all over Long Island to watch his four boys play. There was nothing that Pat loved more than coaching kids at all levels of baseball. He made a name for himself on and off the field and will always be remembered as a likeable person and a teacher of the game of baseball.
Nell Rasmussen
Class of 1946
Nell Rasmussen was one of the first “Gold Key” recipients in Suffolk County. This award was first established by the Suffolk County Women's Athletic Association in 1946 and was the highest award a female athlete could obtain. It was awarded to female athletes that earned 1000 points participating on sports teams for their schools. The accumulation of these points was not an easy task.
In 1972, Title IX Equal Opportunity in Education Act was enacted, creating equality between men's and women's sports. Before this Federal Act, the point system was the only way any records were kept for women athletes.
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In order for Nell to achieve the “Gold Key,” she participated in junior varsity and varsity sports from 1942 to 1946. She played on the field hockey, basketball, volleyball, and softball teams at Ainityville, earning varsity letters in each sport.
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At the time Nell attended Ainityville High School, it was located in the Park Avenue schools. Amityville had one of the few high schools in the area and students attended from Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa, and Copiague, so there was great competition to be selected for the teams.
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Nell continued to be a part of the Amityville School family, being employed by the district as a secretary for over 25 years and retiring in 2001. Ten years of that time was spent as secretary for three Athletic Directors. She worked as secretary for fellow 2012 inductee Bill King, as well as Bill Gray and Kerry Doran, who nominated Nell for this honor. She completed her working tenure in Amityville as secretary to the Superintendent of Schools.
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Nell was quoted as saying, “I went out for sports because I wanted to do something after school and I loved to play sports.” She not only loved playing sports but she was an outstanding athlete who was rewarded with the coveted “Gold Key.”
Maxvel T. Rose
Class of 2002
Maxvel Rose's family settled in Amityville in the late 1950s. Maxvel was born March 20, 1984, enrolled in the Amit ille schools and graduated Amityville Memorial High School in 2002. He was involved in many school activities during his years at AMHS and was an all-around athlete.
As a member of the football team from 1999 to 2002, Maxvel was coached by fellow Hall of Fame Inductee Len Mattera. In 2001, he was honored by being named an All-Metro and an All-County player.
Maxvell played basketball those same years and was an important member of Coach JackAgostino's State Champion Team and received All-County honors for his play.
Hall of Fame chairman Reynolds Hawkins was Maxvel's track and field coach during those same years. He was outstanding, receiving honors as an All-County winner, a two time All-American, and New York State Pentathlon Champion.
During his four years at AMHS, Maxvel was involved in student government, Key Club, Interact Club and Teachers of Tomorrow. He was elected Homecoming King for the class of 2002.
Maxvel attended Long Island University/C.W. Post on a football scholarship and also ran track. He graduated with a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science. He has worked for Suffolk County and New York State governments and was recruited to represent the U.S. Government in Labor Market Reform Policies as a professional at the World Bank in Washington D.C.
Locally, he has served his community as a board member for the North Amityville Housing Rehabilitation Association and was elected a Trustee for the Ainityville Public Library. He is founder and past president of the Suffolk Asafa Lions Club International and organized the Suffolk Asafa 3 on 3 basketball league.
Maxvel wants to thank all his coaches that worked with him from elementary school on and include Coach Richard Cronin (St. Martins CYO Bluethunder), Coach John Gonser (Amityville Villains LIJSL), and Coach Leon Goodman (Amityville Soccer). He includes all his high school coaches mentioned above in his thanks for their guidance and outstanding coaching abilities.
Lastly he thanks his parents for being his lifetime coaches and always inspiring him along with his brothers and sisters. Maxvel is married to Aiso Rose, his college sweetheart and he thanks her for always being there for him.
Joseph "Joe" Valla
Amityville Physical Education Teacher, Wrestling Coach, Assistant Principal
Joe Valla graduated from Penn State University in 1947 and was involved in the Amityville Schools in different capacities for 27 years. He coached football, soccer, cross country, track and wrestling.
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Wrestling is what comes to mind when someone mentions Joe Valla. He coached the sport for 16 years and never had a losing year, compiling a record of 181 dual meet wins, 36 losses and 2 ties. Although none of the teams were undefeated, six teams finished with one loss. His teams won 10 tournament and league championships as well as 3 Suffolk County Championships and 1 Long Island Championship.
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“Valla coached 40 individual county champions and never had a team lose more than four matches in a season,” according to SuffolkHigh School Coaching Legends. His team ended the undefeated streak of archrival and well-respected wrestling dynasty Mepham High School in 1955.
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Joe later became Director of Athletics and ended his career as Assistant cipal
retiring, he continued to live in Amityville and was a flying instructor at SUNY Farmingdale. He moved to New Mexico, where he passed away in 2008.
Jodie Walton Jr.
Class of 1974
Jodie was born in Birmingham, Alabama. His mother, Martha Walton, moved to Amityville when Jodie was in fourth grade. While attending Amityville Junior High School, he participated in football, basketball and track and field and would continue to compete in these three sports through high school.
As a freshman, Jodie started on the junior varsity basketball team until Coach Jack Schmitt (a Sports Hall of Fame member) decided to move him into the starting line up on the varsity team.
Jodie was a three year starter on the varsity football team's defensive line. In his junior and senior year he was selected to wear the Ainityville #31 jersey, a long standing honor. With plays designed by Coach Vic Niemi and Assistant Coach and AMHS Sports Hall of Fame inductee Norm Maisel, and the teamwork of his teammates, Jodie scored over 100 points each season that he wore #31. He was selected as a member of the All League, All County first teams and the 2°d team for the All Long Island team his senior year.
In track and field, Jodie was a discus thrower and shot putter, setting a new high school shot put record in his freshman year. Jodie was voted “Most Outstanding Performer” at the Suffolk County Track and Field Championships in 1973. He set a new Suffolk County shot put record with a throw of 59 feet. In his junior and senior years he was Shot Put League and County Champion. In his senior year he placed 2"d in the State Finals. He currently holds both the shot put and discus records for Amityville Memorial High School.
Jodie graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1978. He was Conference Champion in the Discus from 1976-78 and Shot Put Champion 1977 and 78. He placed 2"d in the discus at the 1978 IC4A Track and Field Championship. Jodie graduated as U Conn's discus record holder with a throw of 172 feet.
Jodie has continued his allegiance to the AMHS sport's program by coaching the Amityville Freshman Football Team for 2 seasons and has assisted Coaches Reynolds Hawkins and Jerry Pollock with the AMHS Track and Field Teams since 1980.
Jodie is married to his high school sweetheart Lorelei (Daniels) Walton. He has four children, all graduates of Amityville Memorial High School. His daughters are Jazzmin, Janaye, and Jalanna. His son Jodie III was a member of the 1999 Amityville Long Island Championship Football Team.
When asked for his fond memories of the AMHS sports program, Jodie answered, “My last Friday before the final football game for Ainityville and my very last discus throw for Amityville which set a new school record.”
Bernie Wyatt
Class of 1957
Bernie Wyatt attended Amityville Memorial High School from 1953 to 1957. The sports he played at AMHS were football, basketball, and track.
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Bernie is remembered most for his terrific football skills. Under the watchful eye of Coach Lou Howard, he developed into a multi-dimensional player. His teammates recognized his abilities, electing him to wear the coveted #31 jersey in his senior year. Bernie didn't disappoint his teammates or his coach. He had played defense through his first 3 years, but in his senior year on the 1956 team, he played tailback and scored 70 points, a new school record. That record also broke football great Jim Brown's LI scoring record. Bernie earned All County honors in football and track as well as being named and All Long Island and High School All American.
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Bernie attended the University of Iowa on a football scholarship, where he made a name for himself and a place in the annals of Hawkeye football history. Bernie had the opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl, in Pasadena California on New Years Day. At the end of the game he was named the MVP.
After graduating, Bernie coached high school football at Regina High School, Iowa City, IA and then returned home to Long Island to be head coach of the Lindenhurst High School Bull Dogs. In 1974, he returned to Iowa and became an assistant coach and head recruiter at the University of Iowa. He again participated in the Rose Bowl but this time as a coach. From 1992 to 1997, he was assistant coach and head recruiter at the University of Wisconsin.
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In 1995, Bernie was inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame. In his letter to the Board of Directors of the Amityville Sports Hall of Fame accepting his induction in the AMHS Hall of Fame he wrote, “I have fond memories of my years at Amityville. I attribute much of my success to Coach Howard and my many teammates whom I remember well.”