By Jennifer Small, Courier Sports
Editor:
Lynn Petrillo grew
up involved in East Haven athletics. She grew
up enjoying her passion playing softball in the Foxon Rec league. Since
starting a family, Lynn
has found a new passion in a new sport—basketball.
After growing up
playing basketball, Lynn’s
husband, Steve, encouraged their son, Jeff, to join East Haven Biddy
Basketball.
“It’s definitely
brought our family closer together,” says Lynn.
“We spend our quality time at the courts. If we’re not doing something for the
league, we’re down there watching games.”
Basketball quickly
became a family affair as Steve coached Jeff through his Biddy career. While
Steve was putting his basketball experience to good use, he had a plan for his
wife as well.
“He thought I’d be a
good fit [as the board secretary] because I’m an organized person,” says Lynn. “He thought I’d be
an asset to the program. I keep getting voted in that role year after year.”
The years have seen
Jeff advance through the Biddy Basketball program, then AAU before playing for
East Haven High School where he was a captain his senior year. Despite Jeff’s
graduation from the program, Lynn
has remained on as secretary.
Lynn isn’t the only person who has been involved
for years. She has been working with Ric Raffone, the league’s president for
the past 10 years, as well as Ron DeNuzzo, the league treasurer.
“I’m in touch with
them throughout the year and I need to thank them for their continued support
and confidence in me in my position—as well as my husband and my son,” says Lynn. “My husband’s
love—and my son’s love—of the game got me involved and the people and working
with the kids kept me involved.”
Lynn’s involvement isn’t limited to keeping
minutes at meetings. She organizes all of the correspondence for the board,
lines up sponsors, advertises registration dates, mans the snack stand, manages
the equipment, and schedules scorekeepers and timekeepers.
“I have to make sure
I have a clockeeper and a bookkeeper for every game,” says Lynn. “Biddy has 35 to 40 teams and we play
every night except Tuesdays and Fridays from October through April including
tournaments. It’s exciting but a lot of work.”
While these duties
may seem like enough to be a full-time job, Lynn still works as a manager at Bayer and
finds time to exercise every day. When Jeff played for East Haven High School,
she helped the Yellowjacket Club where she was needed.
Jeff will attend Albertus Magnus
College in the fall, but Lynn still looks forward
to continuing spending family time at the Biddy courts. Jeff continues to
coach, ref, and man the clock and books. Lynn
also looks forward to her favorite part of being involved in the program.
“My favorite part is
watching the kids grow through the league,” she says. “Also, the people I
meet—I’ve met more parents and friends through Biddy so that’s been a great
experience. I feel like I want to give back to the town. I thought I’d try it
for a few years while Jeff played, but now I don’t think I’ll ever leave.”
Registration for
Biddy Basketball will be held on Tuesdays, Sept. 2, 9, and 16; Thursdays, Sept.
11 and 18 from 6 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at the
Biddy Basketball gym at the old high school on Tyler Street. For info, call Ric
at 203-467-9820.
Pictured: Lynn Petrillo is the longtime secretary of the East Haven Biddy
Basketball organization.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Petrillo