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New London – The concept of “Everyman” is a familiar prototype in fiction, the protagonist whose common and modest traits cultivate the audience’s easy identification with him. Everyone faces and often succeeds in the hero’s journey, but faithfully maintains their humble demeanor.
Our part of the world has living proof that Everyman isn’t necessarily fictional. It is real, as evidenced by the dozens who celebrated Bob Bono’s professional life on Saturday night at the Birdseye.
And it was, to use Bob’s favorite word, “huge.”
Where to start with the No. 1 athlete in the region? He is much older than his 35 years in the Coast Guard. “Bones,” as many of us call him, was the academy’s bridge to the athletic community. He is affectionately known as “Prez” in Waterford youth baseball, where he coached the Little League “Black Sox” for many years. He led the perennial Babe Ruth State Championship program. And he became a Pied Piper in Waterford for coaching other people’s children – even when yours are grown up – the main reason the high school has such a successful athletic program.
Bob Bono’s life is the definition of the hero’s journey, while faithfully maintaining his humble countenance. In an area of hard markers, nary hears a disheartening word about a simple man whose one of his greatest gifts is understanding complicated people.
“There are a lot of stats and metrics we can point to the basketball court, but I think its impact on hundreds of future Coast Guard officers is the most important stat of all,” the director said. Coast Guard athlete Dr. Dan Rose.
“Bob has been a key member of the CGA sport family for 35 years. His contributions to basketball have earned him 368 wins and appear in three of the four NCAA tournaments in the program’s history. He recruited / coached and mentored countless cadets who went on to distinguished military service. A trusted friend and colleague for all. Always there when you need help – positive, business-oriented, and people-centered. Bob’s greatest talent is his ability to understand and deal with people. “
Bono was there during the days of Harold Pressley in St. Bernard (and looked a lot like Gabe Kaplan from “Welcome Back Kotter”). His time as an associate head coach with the Coast Guard produced the greatest team athletic achievement in the history of the institution: the 2008 Elite Eight run for the men’s basketball team. He was the perfect complement to Head Coach Pete Barry, two men whose sense of humor was like their American Express card: they never left home without it.
Barry, on the night of 10 years ago the Academy honored Bono’s 25 years of service, said in tribute: “The losses were so bad some nights I couldn’t drink. But you got me have given so much in my life. I hate being emotional. But it’s hard to be a living extension of the tradition. The tradition that you have given to this place is ongoing. “
Barry and Bono were their own show on the floor. The players were entertained daily. Barry was in “TQM” (“Total Quality Management”) while Bono taught non-natives to the area that a big sandwich is called a grinder. The 2008 team actually put on an offensive set that they called “grind-uh”.
Barry’s departure led to Kevin Jaskiewicz, who led the Bears to the conference title and the NCAA tournament in 2020. Jaskiewicz played for Bono at St. Bernard.
“Bob has impacted a multitude of people, not just basketball players. Other coaches, instructors, cadets and other cadet athletes,” Jaskiewicz said. “That impact comes when people come back to the Academy and stop by the office to watch it. It happened last week. That’s why I wanted to coach.”
At the same party 10 years ago, Jaskiewicz said, “Bob had the unique ability to be someone who could put his arm around you and tell you that everything would be fine and at the same time put his foot down. in your behind. “
The retirement party was a surprise and went smoothly by his family. It was the perfect tribute to our No.1 sportsman because it became one of the No.1 sports nights of the year. The Eye was in turmoil at one point watching the fateful eighth inning at Fenway Park, UConn-Wyoming comes down to a two-point conversation and Clemson-NC State in overtime. Everything happens at the same time on several televisions. It was as if the universe wanted to make The Eye the center of the universe for one night, perhaps the best tribute of all to why we were gathered there in the first place.
And so Bono leaves the Coast Guard as his most reassuring presence amidst hectic military life. From Black Sox to Birdseye.
The hero’s journey, indeed.
That’s the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro
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