Hall of Fame

Bethpage inducts six individuals and two sports teams, that have had a positive impact on the district, on October 12, 2013. The event was sponsored by the Bethpage Educational Foundation which raised more then $100,000.00 over the past six years in support of programs and scholarships for Bethpage students. Those honored for 2013 were:

Anne DiPrima - An athletic coordinator at JFK Middle School for 27 years and who coached sports at the middle school and high school levels.

Tom Frost - A 1968 graduate of the district who ran the Bethpage PAL and served on the Bethpage School Board for 21 years.

Edward Mangano - 1980 graduate of the district and the current Nassau County Executive whose family resides in and very involved in the district.

George McElroy - Principal of the Bethpage High School for 19 years and active in the Bethpage community.

Mary Morante - A staff member in the district for 46 years and whose family is active in the district.

Patrick Rhatigan - 1987 graduate who recently obtained the rank of colonel and is currently commander of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.

The 1981-82 Girls Swim Team - The team was the most successful team of any sport in the district history.

The 1993 Varsity Football Team - First team to win the coveted Rutgers Cup, starting a 32 game winning streak.

Above information from the "Bethpage Tribune" October 13, 2013

Distinguished inductees for 2014 - Honored on October 18, 2014 at the Bethpage High School Gym. Information from the BETHPAGE TRIBUNE - September 26, 2014

Ellen Lang - Class of 1967, went on to sing for the Metropolitan Opera.

Jack McCaffrey - Former teacher and Assistant Principal at Bethpage High School.

Wayne Rhatigan - Class of 1981, a retired NYC Police Officer who foiled the Times Square Bomber.

Steve Schanwald, Class of 1973, and currently a Vice President for the Chicago Bulls.

Marc Sieben - Class of 1970, President of the Bethpage Educational Foundation and officer at MetLife.

Louis W. Uccellini - Class of 1967, and currently the Director of the National Weather Service.

Bethpage Hall of Fame - Induction Ceremony - October 17, 2015 Sponsored by the Bethpage Educational Foundation. The Honorees are:

Gary Bretton - Class of 1972 - "Gary has championed all things in Bethpage."

Patrick Calabria - Class of 1969 - "Pat has returned to BHS on numerous occasions to talk about his career and to honor past greats of BHS athletic history."

David Kessler - Class of 1957 - "David is very active in alumni affairs at Bethpage High School, Cornell and Princeton."

Walter Kross - Class of 1960 - Four Star General in the United States Air Force. "Walter retired in 1998 and became a partner at KPMG. He later became CEO of Flight Explorer, a software company, and currently serves as Chairman of a small California Defense firm."

Linda Mangano - Class of 1981 - First Lady of Nassau County. Linda continues to promote the small town culture of the community she has spent her whole life in. "At home, Linda is surrounded by Golden Eagles - her husband Ed, and her two sons Sal and Alex."

Robert Moraghan - Class of 1956 - "Robert has mentored countless school administrators in the metropolitan area and they are the better for the wisdom he shared with them."

Marge Zuk - Longtime Teacher Aide - "Marge worked for the Bethpage School District for 42 years. She was a beloved figure at the JFK Middle School who touched many lives."

2016 inductees to the Bethpage Hall of Fame:

Anita Disanza - Retired Spanish Teacher at BHS

Bobby Macholz - A longtime volunteer for athletics

Signor Vincenzo Maio - Retired Italian Teacher BHS

Judith Claire Mitchell - BHS Class of 1970, novelist and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Wisconsin

Lenny Mulqueen - BHS Class of 1961, President of the Central Park Historical Society since 1994

Joie Tyrrell - BHS Class of 1985, journalist for "Newsday"

1996 Lacrosse Boys Team - Winners of the State Championship - this will be the 20th anniversary of that accomplishment.

2017 inductees to the Bethpage Hall of Fame: Timothy Cloonan - Class of 1958 - Drafted into the US Army and went to Vietnam serving as a surgeon in the Army Medical Corps. He worked at a POW evacuation center in Central Vietnam and received a Combat Medical Badge and Bronze Star. Retired as Colonel from the Air Force in 2005.

Brian Hickey - Class of 1972 - New York City Fireman where he rose through the ranks earning the respect of his colleagues. He was killed in the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Rosalie Walsh Niemczyk - Class of 1956 - Rosalie's family is steeped in Bethpage history. Rosalie first graduating class from BHS and held the honor as class salutatorian, attended NYS College for Teachers at Albany and became a teacher and Guidance Counselor at BHS, and active in school and community. She documented Central Park/Bethpage history in her "I Remember When" articles for the "Bethpage Tribune".

Frank Procida - Class of 1993 - Graduated from Bucknell University and went on to received his masters degree from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and he went on to study abroad. Frank spent 17 years working in the US intelligence community. He published a number of articles on weapons proliferation and Iran's nuclear program. He also served as both editor and briefer for the Presidents Daily Brief.

Charles Melone - Class of 1960 - Attended Georgetown University for both undergraduate and medical degrees. Charles became one of the most knowledgeable hand surgeons in the United States. Charles is Director of the Division of Hand Surgery at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Mount Sinai Ichan School of Medicine and Director Mount Sinai Hand Fellowship Program.

Barbara Keiler - Class of 1970 - Barbara graduated from Smith College and then attended graduate school at Brown University. During her college days she became a playwright. In 1983 she wrote and published her first novel under the pseudonym of Judith Arnold. Since then she has written over 90 romance novels and several crime fiction novels.

Antoinette MacLeod - Bethpage High School Principal 1987-2003. Toni was an energetic principal and proud of the academic progress made by Bethpage during her tenure. For all her accomplishments she received the Town of Oyster Bay Woman of Distinction award.

Al Blau and the 1968-69 Wrestling Team. Al was a Science teacher at Bethpage High School from 1962 to 1998. He was a legendary coach at Bethpage HS in both JV Football and Varsity Wrestling. Al and the 1968-69 Wrestling team were the first undefeated wrestling team in school history.

2018 Inductees to the Bethpage Hall of Fame:

Steve Furrey, Class of 1973 - Steve Furrey graduated from BHS in 1973 . He played football, baseball and basketball. He is regarded as one of the best passing quarterbacks in Golden Eagle history and passed for 34 touchdowns over two years while playing for legendary Coach Howie Vogts. He received a full scholarship to play football at the University of New Mexico.

Steve entered the field of education after attending C.W. Post for his Bachelors and Masters degrees. He taught and coached at Carle Place and was inducted into the Carle Place Hall of Fame as a Coach. He returned to Bethpage twenty two years ago to become Principal of Central Blvd. Elementary School. He has worked to create an inclusive school environment that serves the needs of some of the districts neediest students. He has balanced that with a rigorous academic climate for all students as noted by last year's BHS Valedictorian Smiti Shah a graduate of Central Blvd. who stated that her wonderful love of learning started in her elementary school. Steve has received the CBS PTA Honorary Life Award for his commitment to the children of Bethpage.

Steve has taken leadership roles in the Nassau County Elementary Schools Principal Association where he has shared many of the Bethpage success stories.

Steve married another Golden Eagle - Karen Cassidy. Class of 1975. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Brian McGrath, Class of 1992 - Brian McGrath graduated BHS in 1992. He played lacrosse, football and was active in Student Government. He went on to Georgetown University on a lacrosse scholarship and graduated in 1996. Brian attended graduate school at Harvard and ultimately earned his medical degree from Nova Southestern University. He completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City and served as Academic Chief Resident during his final year at training.

Brian served in the US Army for twelve years attaining the rank of Major and left active duty service in 2015. During his time in the military Brian deployed to Afghanistan with 1st Armored Division and 7th Special Forces Group. He last served as the Chief of Emergency Medicine at Fort Rilley, His military awrds and decorations include the Bronze Medal, the Flight Surgeon Badge and the Combat Medic Badge.

Brian currently lives in Wilmington, NC with his wife and two sons. He is a physician in the Emergency Department in New Hanover Regional Medical Center and is an Assistant Professor at the UNC School of Medicine.

Robert Saril, Retired Educator, Bethpage High School. Robert Sarli started teaching English at BHS in 1967 and retired in 2003. He was a popular and active English teacher who became Chairperson of the Department in 1997. His love of Greek culture was infectious and he received a grant in 1986 from National Endowment of the Humanities to study Greek Culture and Drama. During his career in Bethpage, he introduced numerous new courses for students - Greek Drama. Shakespeare, Rock as Lit as well as college and credit courses through Adelphi and C. W. Post.

He was very active in the life of the school community as an advisor to a large number of extracurricular clubs. His first club was the Folk Club started in 1967 with students who wanted to use their musical talents to sing folk songs that were in vogue at the time. He was Stage Crew Advisor for almost twenty years working with the very successful Masquers Guild. He served as the Audio Visual Advisor and was a pioneer in the use of computers in education. During the 1990's he served as co-advisor to Perspectives, the school Art and Literary magazine. In 2002 Mr. Sarli was chosen by Channel 55 as one of their Educators of the Week honorees. The class of 1974 dedicated their yearbook to him. He was also the Senior Class Advisor for many years and in charge of the Senior Prom and the annual Commencement Ceremony.

Mr. Sarli was a guiding force in the creation of the Bethpage Congress of Teachers in the early 1970's, His wife, Kathy, also an educator, was a fixture at all the events Mr. Sarli ran over the many years. Their son Andrew also spent a great deal of time among Golden Eagles.

Bernard Schutz - Class of 1964 - Bernard Schutz graduated BHS in 1964. He was voted most likely to succeed. He went on to Clarkson University, then to Caltech for his Ph.D. There he was supervised by Ki Thorne, one of last year's Nobelists. He then worked for a year with Stephen Hawking in Cambridge, England, returned to the US for two tears at Tale and then took a lectureship at Cardiff University of Wales.

Bernard Schutz is a leading member of the international team that made the breakthrough first detection of gravitational waves in 2015, verifying Einstein's prediction and opening up a new kind of astronomy. Three of the founders of this project received the Nobel Prize in Physics last year. He and his family moved from Wales to Germany in 1995, where he helped found the Albert Einstein Institute, which has grown into one of the main centers in the world for gravitational wave research. After retiring from his director position there in 2014, he returned to Wales with a part-time professorship in Astrophysics and data science, becoming the first director of Cardiff's Data Innovation Research Institute.

His three daughters were all born in Cardiff in the 1980s, and they are his greatest pride of all.

Michael Trotter, Class of 1990 - Michael Trotter

Trotter graduated BHS in 1990. He was on the football and baseball teams and was an active member of the Student Civic Organizations. He went on to attend and graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Geography and Systems. Engineering from West Point and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the Marine Corps University (Marine Corps War College). He went on to Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School and served as Rifle Platoon Leader.

Colonel Trotter has had a distinguished career in the military and past assignments have included Company Commander in 3rd Battalion, 504th PIR, Company Commander of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), Aide de Camp to the Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR) / Military District of Washington (MDW), 82D Airborne Division CJ-5 Assessments Chief, Division Chief of Operations, the 508th PIR (4th BCT) Chief of Operations, 1st Battalion, 508th PIR Operations Officer, Executive Officer, and Brigade Operations Officer. While assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR) COL Trotter was the lead military planner for consequence management for the 57th Presidential Inauguration.

COL Trotter's recent assignments include battalion command of 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment (2nd SBCT) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM, WA). After he served as the Combined/Joint-CJ 3 Operations Officer in support of the Train Advise Assist Command-South (TAAC-S) Kandahar, Afghanistan supporting both RESOLUTE SUPPORT (RS) and OPERATION FREEDOM'S SENTINEL (OFS)

COL Trotter has numerous combat deployments in support of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)and his awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (2 OLCs), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Medal (OLC), the Navy Achievement Medal, NATO medal, the Combat infantryman Badge (CIB), Expert infantryman Badge (EIB), Senior Parachutist Badge, German Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

In June 2018 he became Brigade Commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), part of the storied 1st Armored Division in Fort Bliss, TX.

Sandra Watson Board of Education Trustee - Sandy Watson has served on the Bethpage Board of Education since 1986. She has been involved in every major education decision impacting Bethpage students for the past 33 years. She has served at various times as President or Vice President of the Board of Education. She has been a catalyst for continuous school improvement and she advocated for years for Full-Day Kindergarten, improved SAT scores, the integration of technology science research programs and a focus on academic achievement. She has advocated for the expansion of buildings to accommodate Full Day Kindergarden, new STEM Labs in the elementary schools and a renovation bond that revitalized our school buildings. Thirty years ago, she and others founded he Bethpage Discovery Program as a means to provide childcare opportunities for families with working parents as well as to provide a program of academic enrichment during the summer months. Both those programs have been a lifetime to thousand of students and families over the years. She is an astute businesswoman who operates multiple daycare facilities in Bethpage.

She is married to her high school sweetheart - Burton - and they raised four Golden Eagles who all graduated from BHS - Lisa, Patricia, Jimmy and Eric.

2013 Girls Gymnastic Team & Coach Kim Rhatigan - Throughout the late 1990's and early 2000's one team dominated Nassau County Gymnastic - the combined team of Bethpage and Plainview Old Bethpage. They were a dynasty winning nine consecutive County Championships (seven of them undefeated seasons). Coached by Kim Rhatigan and Debbie Rut, these teams crushed opponents. In 2008 Section VIII decided to split the team. Deb Rut, a Bethpage teacher became the Coach of Plainview and Kim Rhatigan became the Coach of Bethpage, now ably assisted by Assistant Coach Vicki Vitale. Both teams continued to impress and were often neck and neck for top awards.

The 2013 Bethpage Gymnastics team was one of the most outstanding to ever take to the mats. Coaches Rhatigan and Vitale knew this team had the heart of champions. The 17 girls on the team were exceptional athletes and scholars. They went undefeated, narrowly getting by OB to become Conference and then County Champions. Four of the athletes received ALL-State honors and five received All-County honors.

If ever a team mirrors its coach, it is the Gymnastics team led by Kim Rhatigan-Drexler. Kim graduated from BHS in 1984 and was Captain of the Gymnastics team (she also participated in Swimming and Cheerleading). She has been coaching at Bethpage for 30 years and has assumed leadership positions in the County and State Gymnastics associations. In 2012 she was the Newsday Coach of the year and she is currently the 6th winningest coach in New York State Gymnastics. She is a force to be reckoned with.

HALL OF FAME 2019 Inductees - Information from the BETHPAGE TRIBUNE, September 6, 2019 and the program from the Induction Ceremony - October 26, 2019

Susan Mittermeier Brooks - Bethpage High School Class of 1968 - She was a Cheerleader as well as a member of the team that went to the Volleyball County Championship. Her mom, Loretta Mittermeier, was a beloved secretary at BHS for many years. She went on to graduate from SUNY College Buffalo for her undergraduate degree and later attended Columbia Teachers' College for her Masters In Special Education. She taught for a few years in Brooklyn and later in Northern Virginia and again in Rancho Palo Verdes when her own family moved to California.

Susan had a keen interest in Community and was chosen to serve on the Rancho Palo Verdes Planning Commission. Later she was elected to serve on the City Council and subsequently served three non-consecutive terms as Mayor of Rancho Palo Verdes, a city renowned for its beauty, its resorts, the Wayfarer Chapel and its Preserve of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

Susan was asked to run for Congress in 1994 and 1996 as she served on state commissions for both Gov. Pete Wilson and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is active on the Boards of YMCA, National Assistance League and the Kiwanis.

She is currently on the Ranch Palo Verdes City Council, but has decided not to run for reelection and will instead concentrate on the things she loves most in life - her two children, two grandchildren and her relationship with God.

Linda Candela - Bethpage High School Art Teacher/Chairperson, Retired - She joined the BHS Art Department in 1987. A year later she took on the role of yearbook Advisor. a position she kept until she was appointed Art Chairperson in her fourth year. Over the following years she worked tirelessly to increase the role of the Visual Arts in the high school by adding a number of new courses offerings that included Humanities, Fashion Design, Computer Art, School as Canvas, Digital Photography and AP Studio Art.

Over the course of 25 years at Bethpage High School Linda started the Art & Literary Magazine Prespectives and was the Art advisor for a number of years. She was one of eleven Nassau educators selected for the first Russian-American Educators Cultural Exchange. Linda was active on the Art Supervisors Association as Treasurer ad Membership Secretary, and a Senior Class Advisor for 12 years and the Yearbook Business Advisor towards the end of her teaching career. In addition to her role of educator, Linda also served as a high school representative for the Bethpage Congress of Teachers, then became the Treasurer for the BCT and upon her retirement was the HS vice-president for the BCT.

Linda is an artist who specializes in portraits in various mediums. Her main focus is first and foremost, her family, her husband Robert, children, Jennifer, Robert Jr., Peter and Vincent her daughter-in-laws Susan, Tina and Christina and her six grandchildren.

Dr. Alex Carbo - Bethpage High School, Class of 1990 - He was the class valedictorian and played in the marching band and on the varsity soccer and volleyball teams. He received the undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Harvard College. He earned his MD degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)in Boston.

Alex has spent the last wo decades working as a hospitalist at BIDMC; he is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His interests include patient safety and medical education. He is the Quality Improvement Director for the Department of Medicine at BIDMC, where he serves as co-chair of the Medical Peer Review Committee. He has also served as a co-director of the Patient Safety Imperative continuing medical education courses.

Alex has numerous teaching roles and serves as the course director of the medical subinternship at Harvard Medical School. He has won numerous teaching awards including multiple Harvard Medical School Class Day awards for Best Clinical Instructor at BIDMC.

Alex and his wife Ally live in the Boston area with their two young daughters.

John DeGuardi - Retired Art Chairperson - John graduated from New York University with a degree in Art Education and later received his MFA from Columbia Teachers College. He began his teaching career at Hicksville Elementary School where he met his wife Anne.

In 1957, John joined the Bethpage High School Art Department and embarked on his 30-year career as an art teacher and department chair. Under his leadership, the course offerings for students expanded in leaps and bounds to include Puppetry, Photography, Ceramics, and Art History.

A turning point in John's career came in the summer of 1968 when he led a group of Bethpage High School students on a three-week trip to Europe. This became one of John's passions throughout his life as he led hundreds of high school students, college students, and fellow parishioners to the great cities and museums of Europe.

John served as the Bethpage High School yearbook advisor and contributed his artistic talents to the sets on many of the school's theater productions. John retired from Bethpage High School in 1987, but his passion for art and for teaching led him to St. Joseph's College where he continued to inspire art students for the next twenty years.

The capstone of John's career came in May of 2000 when he became an ordained Deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Center. Today John's "art students" are his nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and his four children and spouses (Mary and Steve, John and Melanie, Liz and Jay, Christina and David).

Thomas Frost, Jr., - Bethpage High School, Class of 1996 - He was a member of the State Championship Lacrosse Team. He also ran Cross Country and was a member of the BHS Swim Team. He went on to graduate from the University of Hawaii.

Tom is a professional investor and runs TG Frost Companies Inc. which has various interests in agriculture, real estate development, and private equity. He has a passion for historic buildings and has been a significant part of restoration efforts in Leesburg, FL. Additionally, Tom and his wife Georgina run TG Frost Land and Cattle, a working cattle ranch in North Central Florida.

Prior to TG Frost, Mr. Frost founded Datum a national technology and consulting company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida.

Tom lives with his wife Georgina, daughter Findley and son Beau in Weirsdale, Florida. The family enjoys working livestock and exploring the ranch.

Michael Kelly - Bethpage Board of Education, President - Over the past 20 years, Michael Kelly has worked collaboratively with Bethpage community members and education leaders to support the needs of all students. His hard work and commitment to education have led Bethpage to being recognized as one of the top school districts in New York and the nation.

Michael has served as a Bethpage Board of Education trustee since 1999 and its president since 2006. He is an active trustee who is frequently seen at school functions, plays, art shows, science fairs, and sporting events. Michael has been a strong advocate for upgrading and maintaining the school buildings and athletic complex, the full-day kindergarten program, the introduction of the K-12 computer technology program and the recently opened elementary STEM labs.

In 2011, Michael was recruited to represent Bethpage on the executive committee of the regional Nassau-Suffolk School Board Association (N-SSBA). The N-SSBA represents the interests of Long Island School districts and is the recognized voice of school boards in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. He has held various positions with the N-SSBA such as chair of the Legislation, Finance and Budget committees. He currently serves as the N-SSBA Vice President.

Michael has been married to Clare for 43 years. They have three daughters-Eileen, Denise and Sheila-all graduates of Bethpage High School, who now enjoy successful careers. He also has one granddaughter, Bridget.

Tom Rousakis - Bethpage High School, Class of 1989. He played football and was MVP of the County Championship team and was the Captain of the Lacrosse team. He went on to Harvard with a degree in Russian Studies. He later received a Master's Degree in Public Policy at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, focusing on housing, urban development and transportation.

His career has centered around improving government performance and the state of public infrastructure. Tom worked for the Special Commissioner of Investigation for New York City Schools, investigating high-level crimes and corruption in the New York City school system

He moved into the private sector and worked sixteen years (1997 - 2013) in investment banking for Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, where he financed or advised on over $20 billion of transportation infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships.

Tom currently leads Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors, which advise state and local government agencies on the financing and procurement of large scale and complex projects. Locally he has advised on the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement and Moynihan Station redevelopment, and is currently advising on the Gateway Hudson River Tunnel project.

Tom lives in Brooklyn with his wife Anna Beth, son Henry and daughter Mary. They enjoy playing Tennis, fishing, gardening and summers in Fire Island and Greece.

Colonel Glenn Waters - Bethpage High School, Class of 1984. He was on the football, wrestling, and lacrosse teams. Glen was Student Council President. Lacrosse Team Captain and Captain of the Football Team. After attending the Military Academy Preparatory School he went on to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point where he played lacrosse. In 1989, Glenn graduated USMA and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army with the Field Artillery branch.

From 1984-2018, Glen faithfully served our Nation while traveling all over the world moving nineteen different times, lived in seven different countries, deployed to the First Gulf War, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq. During this last deployment to Iraq in 2009, Glenn was a Battalion Commander and responsible for over 750 soldiers. While there, Glenn was shot by an Iraqi sniper in Tikrit. Glenn would be a recipient of the Purple Heart for this "thru and thru" combat wounded.

In August 2018 Glenn retired after his last assignment as the Deputy Director for the Army Human Resources Staff at the Pentagon. In this job, he was responsible for the army's resiliency program, suicide prevention program, substance abuse program and risk management program.

He is a graduate of Combined Arms Service Staff School, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College and earned master's degrees from Central Michigan University in Human Resource Management and from the United Stated Army War College.

Glenn's awards and decorations include the three Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals, Purple Heart as well as the as the Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, Airborne Badge, and Ranger Tab.

Glenn currently lives in Lawton, Oklahoma where he runs his own energy and cellular service company. He volunteers with the Association of the United States Army, the USO, Friends of Fort Sill, Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Church, and mentoring military members. Glenn has two daughters - Kayleigh, Kelsey and a son Kyle.