WHS Athletic Hall of Fame deadline for nominations is August 5

Special to the Transcript

John Domenico, President of the Winthrop High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, would like to remind members of the public that the deadline for nominations for the next Hall of Fame Induction is August 5.  Nomination forms may be obtained from Richard Thibeau, Member of the Committee, by telephone at 617-846-5943, or by email at mccannthibeau@comcast.net.

“Anyone may nominate an individual or individuals,” Domenico said.  “In addition to the nomination form, which must be completed and signed, nominations should be accompanied by additional information pertaining to the nominee such as newspaper articles, letters and photographs.”

Membership in the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame is open to those individuals who have made significant contributions to the Winthrop High School athletic programs, either through their participation in athletics or their association with Winthrop athletics as a coach, faculty member, or through exceptional service.

To be eligible as an individual athlete or as a team, the individual or team members must have graduated from Winthrop High School, and must have been part of a class that was graduated at least ten years prior to the nomination.

The WHS Athletic Hall of Fame also recognizes other significant individuals, such as administrators and others, who have made special contributions to the Winthrop High School Athletic Program.

Nomination forms must be returned by August 5, 2021 to Richard Thibeau in order to be considered for the 14th Winthrop High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction.

The WHS Athletic Hall of Fame Committee consists of ten members who are graduates of Winthrop High School and have been involved in athletics in the community and elsewhere.  Last month, five members of the committee were profiled.  This month, the remaining five are recognized.

Vice President Robert DeGregorio, Jr.; WHS Class of 1965.  Robert was a four-sport athlete, having played football, basketball, hockey, and baseball. He was a member of the 1964 Winthrop High School Northeast Conference Championship football team.  Bob coached seventh and eighth grade football, known as “Barney’s Raiders”, boys and girls seventh and eighth grade track, freshman football and track, and junior varsity hockey. He was the assistant varsity hockey coach of the WHS undefeated state hockey champions. Professionally, Bob has served as Director of Athletics at Merrimack College, Commissioner of Hockey East, and currently serves as the Commissioner of Atlantic Hockey, College Hockey America, and the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance.

Dale Dunbar; WHS Class of 1979. Dale participated in football, hockey, and baseball during his three years at Winthrop High School. He was selected as a Boston Globe All Scholastic and a Northeast Conference All Star hockey player in his junior and senior years. Dale went on to Boston University where he was a four-year starter in hockey and was selected for the Unsung Hero Award in his senior year. He then became a professional hockey player in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins, and he is presently the WHS Boys Hockey coach.

Susan Goldstein Freedland – WHS Class of 1983. Susan was a three-sport athlete in cross country, indoor track and spring track at Winthrop High School.  She was a Northeast Conference and Lynn Item All Star all three seasons and voted “outstanding” track athlete by the NEC coaches. Susan was the captain of all three teams in her senior year and at graduation received the Wallace B. McLean Award given to an outstanding female athlete who has done the most for athletics during her high school career. She continued her athletic career at UMass Amherst where she was All New England and All East in both indoor and outdoor track. Susan was selected to represent the United States in the World Maccabean Games in Israel in 1985 and 1989 and won a silver medal both times.

Howard Conley- WHS Class of 1960.  Howie was a standout athlete at Winthrop High School in baseball and basketball. He was captain of the baseball team and a Northeast Conference All Star pitcher and played forward on the 1960 Northeast Conference championship basketball team.

Bill Schmidt – WHS Class of 1969.  Bill played tennis for three years at Winthrop High School.  At graduation, he received the Robert Belcher Memorial Award.  Bill taught tennis for the Winthrop Recreation Commission for three summers.  He has served the Town of Winthrop as a member of the Board of Health since 2016.