Good-bye to my mentor and friend- Mr. Stan Masalsky

Stanley Masalsky in the 1998 yearbook.  He
was honored as the National Athletic Director
of the Year in 1998. 

 It is with a heavy heart that I write this blog entry as my longtime supervisor, colleague and friend- Stanley Masalsky passed away this past week.  Stan was a great man. He led the CHS Athletic Department from the mid-1970s through 1999 as the school's Athletic Director.  He was a class act.  Stan led from the shadows, never looking for the spotlight on him, always praising his coaches and student athletes.

It is always tricky to memorialize someone by sharing how much they meant to you as you run the risk of making it about you rather than the person you are honoring.  However, I think it's so important for people to share how much those who came before us, meant to us.  Stan Masalsky meant so much to me.

Mr. Masalsky was my Athletic Director when I was a student athlete at CHS.  It was clear to me as a teenager, that this man really cared about his student athletes- something that I strive to emulate every day.  He was always on the sidelines with a big smile and always had a nice thing to say to all his Bulldogs.  He was at EVERYTHING and he really cared. I played soccer and tennis for CHS and in the 80s, neither of those sports were ever really recognized or respected by much of the school.  But Mr. Masalsky always went out of his way to support us.  I always appreciated him for that and I do my absolute best to live up to that same challenge.

Mr. Masalsky then gave me my first job in education.  While I was a junior at Stonehill College, my high school coach and mentor George Gianaloudis needed a JV coach and I was injured and unable to play for the Chieftains so, as a 20 year old, Mr. Masalsky entrusted me with a high school JV team. That season changed my life. I loved it and decided to give up my business major and become a teacher and coach.  After two seasons with the JV team, coach Giannaloudis moved on and I applied to be the varsity soccer coach at CHS.  Once again, Mr. Masalsky went out on a limb and put his faith in me- a 22 year old.  He put the entire Boys Soccer program in my inexperienced hands.  He then met with me often throughout the seasons, acting as a mentor, counselor, sounding board, critic and ultimately a great friend.  That was 27 years ago and I still consider myself so fortunate to be in that role today.  I have made so many mistakes as a coach over the years but I was blessed to have Stan as my guide in the early years.  He taught me to be humble, honest and reflective.

Me with Stan Masalsky and Marty Badoian at Ralph
Masciarelli Memorial Golf Tournament- circa 1999. Stan
and Marty ran this tournament in Mush's honor for more than
a decade.  Two greats honoring the great Ralph Masciarelli.  

Three years after Stan retired from CHS, I was named to the position he had held for so many years- Athletic Director at CHS. My first call was to Stan and there would be many more calls over the years.  Since being named AD at CHS, I have always strived to live up to the standard he set.  While I have been AD through many societal changes over the past decade and a half, (things like smart phones being everywhere, Twitter, concussion awareness and so much more) I often think about all of the social changes Stan led the Athletic Department through.  Coming into the position just after the implementation of Title IX, he steered the school through the introduction of so many girls sports teams.  He also saw many new boys sports become part of CHS Athletics.  None of those changes were easy to navigate.  Stan was the right leader for the right time.  He respected tradition but always looked forward.

Bulldogs everywhere lost a true giant this past week. I'm sure there are so many other people who can write similar stories about how Stan Masalsky impacted them. For me, he was a bigger-than-life figure who's footprints are still present at CHS.  My condolences to his wife Carol and his entire family.

One last thought-  After not connecting with Stan for the past several years, I gave him a call this past spring.  We talked for a half hour and it was so nice hearing his voice.  He sounded the same.  He sounded happy.  I am so happy that we talked that day.  Always reach out.

Click here for his obituary.