PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
The 2017 Agganis Scholarship recipients are, front, from left, Mike Cerulli, Justin Faia, Tyler Way, Exhidio Gjuraj, Matthew Page, Samuel Rogers. rear, Katherine Scacchi, Caroline Buckley, Raven Riggs, Lilli Patterson, Jessica Jellison,Sydney Rocheville, Casey Fraher, Alaina Gridley, Coral Gonzalez, Tajahane Francis, Emma Trahant.
By STEVE KRAUSE
LYNN –– The Agganis Foundation recognized scholarship winners and its All-Star athletes in six sports Sunday morning at Manning Field.
The foundation presented new scholarships to 19 recipients, putting the total amount of grant money awarded since Harry Agganis’ death in 1955 at $1.85 million, to 945 scholar-athletes.
Agganis was voted the best athlete in the Lynn area in an end-of-century poll in 1999. A three-sport star at Lynn Classical, Agganis went onto play baseball and football at Boston University. After graduation, he joined the Boston Red Sox, and was the starting first baseman for the team when he died on June 27, 1955, of a pulmonary embolism. Tuesday is the 62nd anniversary of his death.
The Agganis games are played in his honor. All-Star baseball and softball games were played Sunday. Tonight, the Agganis All-Star Boys (6) and Girls (7:15) basketball games will be played at the Lynn Classical gym.
Tuesday, Agganis All-Star Girls (5:30) and Boys (7) soccer games are at Manning Field, and the following night it’s girls and boys lacrosse, same times, also at Manning.
Finally, on Thursday, the 56th annual Agganis All-Star Football game will be played, starting at 7 p.m., at Manning Field.
Three new members of the Agganis Hall of Fame were also inducted Sunday — St. Mary’s football coach Matt Durgin, Swampscott nurse Sue Sussman, and broadcaster and Lynn native Tim Kearns.
Durgin, winner of the Dr. Elmo F. Benedetto Athletics Award, is the All-Star Football game chairman — a job he has had for a decade. After a successful coaching career at Lynn Classical, Durgin moved to St. Mary’s, where he has led the Spartans to two Massachusetts state championship games.
“This is such an honor,” Durgin said. “It’s humbling. Elmo helped my dad (Harold) get into college. Then, when the teachers went on strike in 1974, some of them were sent to jail. Elmo bailed my father out.”
Sussman has two children, both of whom participated in the soccer game (2008 and 2010). She began helping out at concessions at that time, something she still does today. She’s also active in several charities on the North Shore, including Autism Speaks, the Greater Boston Walk for Hunger, and the North Shore Cancer walk.
Sussman received the Paul F. Cavanagh Award for sportsmanship, education and community service.
“I’m really touched for the honor,” Sussman said. “I love the whole idea of this fabulous day, and the games, which raise money for the scholarships. I love all of it.”
Kearns, of Beverly, received the David C. Weidner media award. He is one of the broadcasters who streams the football game over the internet via MSONews and Sports. He has been associated with MSO since 2005.
“You don’t do this so that you can win awards,” said Kearns, who grew up in West Lynn, “but it’s nice when you are honored. Our message is a positive one, both in the games and the kids we cover. I’m honored to receive this.
Also inducted into the Agganis Hall of Fame were Chris Tsiotos, who received the Attorney Charles Demakis Award that honors Agganis’ Greek heritage and the ideals of education and the law; and Edward L. Cahill, who was named the Harold O. Zimman award winner. Cahill, whose father, Edward H. Cahill was the sports editor of The Daily Evening Item, is a trustee of the Agganis Foundation and a director of Essex Media Group, parent company of the Daily Item.