Dedication at Miller Field: Fucillo Field House Officially Opens

Richard Fucillo had the ideal introduction for “my big brother, Coach Tony Fucillo, the richest man in town,” at the dedication ceremony of Tony Fucillo Field House at Miller Field.

Richard, who was an assistant coach on his brother’s staff during a golden era of Winthrop High football, borrowed one of the most memorable lines in the classic Christmas Movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” to describe Tony Fucillo, Winthrop High’s Hall of Fame football coach.

“I would like to take a moment to acknowledge a few people who are watching from their front row seats up in heaven, my mom and dad, Anthony and Annette Fucillo, my aunts and uncles, Eugene and Helen Eruzione, Jerry and Anne Jaworski, as well as my cousin, Nettie Eruzione Mailhiot, who was a longtime cheerleading coach here and secretary at the high school,” said Richard.

“Tonight, we honor Winthrop’s best, Winthrop’s very best, our very own Coach Tony Fucillo,” continued Richard.

Richard spoke of his brother’s superlative three-sport athletic career that earned Tony the coveted Irving P. Alexander, Thomas Keating, and Bentley Swift Memorial Trophies.

Tony Fucillo played three sports at Worcester Academy and received a full scholarship to Xavier University of Ohio.

“In 1972, he came home and started his teaching and coaching career in Winthrop,” said Richard.

And what a wonderful career it was. A popular physical education teacher at the school who brought out the best in his students, Tony Fucillo continued the tradition of championship-caliber football after succeeding his mentor, Bob DeFelice, as the leader of the Vikings. And one can only imagine how many more Super Bowls in which Winthrop would competed, had the current playoff format been in existence in the Fucillo years.

Known for his intense pre-game preparations (“Every game was a bowl game to him” said Richard), Tony Fucillo prepared and delivered a beautiful speech.

He began by noting the presence of “my rock, Frank [Fabiano],” who approached the podium for a warm embrace from his friend and mentor.

Fucillo thanked “all the people out here tonight that have supported this dedication.”

“I am so humbled by this tonight,” said the coach, his voice breaking for the magnitude of the moment. “This is an incredible honor to be recognized by your hometown. I don’t think believe there is anything bigger, and I am so proud to be a Winthrop Viking. And I do want to say that although my name gets to be on this building, I want you all to know that every nail, every brick, every board, and especially effort to build this has your name on it.

“I can only accept this honor and recognize and thank all the people who have made this possible: the great community of Winthrop, all the teachers and administrators that I had the pleasure to work with, the amazing students that I have taught, the incredible and dedicated coaches that I had the pleasure to work with, who made this all possible, my talented and supportive cheerleaders – I certainly want to a shout-out to former Speaker of the House Bob DeLeo for all his help and all his support for the Viking football program – and to my great mentors, Coach Bob DeFelice for 15 years, I want to tell you how it meant so much, I love you, Coach, and to athletic director James Evans, who believed in me. And most importantly my players. I coached you hard and I hope that I have respected and love you like my own children. Although you are grown men, you will always be my boys.”

Fucillo paid a special tribute to his immediate family including his wife, Carolyn Fucillo, his sons, Anthony and James, and his sister, Jennie, and his extended family.

“Thanks for always being there win or lose,” said Fucillo. “And finally to my wife, Carolyn, for all her understanding, patience, and support throughout my coaching career, when this guy was never home, your name deserves to be on this building, not mine.”

Just beyond the seating area stood Tony Fucillo’s coaching colleagues at Tufts University, and a contingent of his football players, all dressed neatly in their Tufts blue jerseys and representing their school so admirably. It was clear by their presence that Tony Fucillo is being a positive influence through his coaching at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities. From Winthrop to Medford, Tony Fucillo, once a Viking, always a Viking, is still helping young men excel beyond the football field.