Dugout Pals Dig into Diamond Days

Michele Reed — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:54:26 +0000

The golf course and not the pitching mound was the site for a recent meeting of three figures from Oswego State baseball history. From left, Ted Grinnell ’60, Coach Emeritus Walter Nitardy and Fred Parrow ’60 reunited at Battle Island Golf Course in July, some 50 years after Ted and Fred played for Coach Nitardy at Oswego State in the late 1950s.

“Coach Nitardy racked up 503 career wins at Oswego State and he was our mentor, leader and role model,” Ted said.

Three baseball greats got together this summer. From left are Ted Grinnell ’60, Coach Emeritus Walter Nitardy and Fred Parrow ’60.

“Ted was an outstanding right-handed pitcher and I was one of those notoriously wild and wacky lefthanders,” said Fred. “We had a talented team in the late ’50s.

“Coach Nitardy always placed an emphasis on playing to win, playing fair and maintaining a focus on our studies,” Fred reflected. Nitardy was a strong influence on the two men, who went on to take his winning advice and create successful careers.

The work ethic he practiced under Coach Nitardy stood Fred in good stead at Shell Oil as he beat out Ivy Leaguers on his way up the career ladder to a top position in the oil company. His 36 years at Shell, which began with a letter he wrote as an Oswego senior, would take him from Albany to Worcester, Mass., and from Seattle to Houston.

“Coach Nitardy was one great person. We all looked up to him and he always was there to help,” said Ted, who went on to a 33-year career in teaching technology education. During six years in the Sodus district, the Oswego Baseball Hall of Famer coached baseball, and while at Horseheads for 27 years, he spent some time coaching soccer.

The years melted away when the three finally reunited this past summer. “We came together as old friends with a common Oswego State bond that allowed us to make a new memory that will always remain fresh in our minds,” concluded Fred.

— Michele Reed

Class of 1960 Celebrates Golden Anniversary at Reunion 2010

Staff Report — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:42:59 +0000

Members of the Class of 1960 celebrated their golden anniversary in June at Reunion Weekend 2010.

Pictured at Shady Shore, front row, left to right, are: Stuart Douglas, Cale Douglas, Willard “Bill” Kesel, Sal Canzoneri ’59, Judy Kaiser Canzoneri, John Podstupka, Arlene Madalena Weyer, Carol Moehler Harrison, Phyllis Teta Myers and President Deborah F. Stanley. Second row, from left, are: Gerrie Maldonado Jordan, Mary Wall Jones, Edee Zeidner Tenser, Janice DenBleyker Hutko, Barbara Gilbert Bernstein, Carole Blum, Lilli Iori Brehm, Cecile Turner Whitney, Fran Poillon Campbell and Mary Canale Ghent. Third row, from left, are: Geraldine Humphrey, Marilyn Cox Sherman, Margery Nickles McGuire, Diane Damon Geloff, Annette Rinaldo Liebezeit, Grace Siliato Siciliano, Kathleen “Tina” Dyer, Audrey Chaback Straus and Marcia Abernathy Couch. Fourth row, from left, are: Elizabeth DeVito, Bob Larsen, Robert Vienne, Betty Matthews Vienne, June Gehm Tryon and Nancy Lehner Manning. Back row, from left, are: Valerie Schoff Nicholson, Barbara Holmes Meyer, Judy Conlin Ilnitzki, Lida Kucko Kruse, Mary-Lloyd Burns Burroughs, Charles Casler, Janet Neumeister Leonard, David Mead, Janet Flugger-Stile Delaney, Curtis Cooper, Tom Bowes, Joanne Subach Larkin, Walt Ramsey, Dolores Malorzo Ferlo, Janice Stoutner Esse, Mary Ellen Clarke St. Amour, Joe Farmer, Fred Monner, Vincent D’Ambrosio, Joan Fowler D’Ambrosio, Sue Lechner Goetz, Jeanne Kuelling Ludwig, Raymond Mann, Tom Smolinski, Betty Ricchi Pronko, Gwen Porter Watkins, Helene Sharo Mann, Jim Tynan, Cynthia Savas Vlatas, Bob DiFlorio, Winnie Anner Gunsalus and Bill Gunsalus.

Oswego Alumni Magazine » Class of 1960

Dugout Pals Dig into Diamond Days

Class of 1960 Celebrates Golden Anniversary at Reunion 2010