Vowing to remain active with youth lacrosse, Adolphus "Dolph" Quéripel, who began coaching the sport 30 years ago, stepped down as director of the Levittown Lacrosse Program, a position he held for nearly 25 years.

At the annual lacrosse awards brunch, held at Antun's on Sunday morning, Quéripel announced to those gathered that he was stepping down from his position as director, but stated that he will remain in the background. "I can't pull myself away from lacrosse completely. I love the game too much," said Quéripel.

As a surprise to the man who has served as the director of the Levittown Lacrosse program since 1977, the lacrosse league used the annual awards ceremony to honor Quéripel. Joe Carracino, who will take over the reins of the lacrosse program noted that Quéripel "will never, ever be in the background," and told those gathered that the day was "Dolph's day."

Quéripel began his lacrosse career at Sewanhaka High School in the 1940s. Drafted into the Army in 1945, Quéripel became an II & E Non-Com, and his graduating speech was on lacrosse and the Olympics.

Quéripel and his wife Alice moved to Levittown in 1950, raised three children in the community and have remained active members of Levittown ever since. He became involved in Youth Athletics in 1964 when his son joined LAC baseball. That fall, Quéripel volunteered as a coach for Red Devil Football. In 1970, he became involved with Youth Lacrosse when asked if he knew anything about the sport. Quéripel coached Levittown's first team in 1970. He represented Levittown in LIMLAL, now PAL Youth Lacrosse as coach and director and served as vice president and divisional vice president of the Long Island Midget Lacrosse League. He was involved in establishing divisions and the scheduling of the Long Island Midget League under Bill Mueller, Norm Murray and Al Lucas and he served as a regional vice president of both programs. This past February, Quéripel's contributions to lacrosse were recognized by the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation, when he was inducted into the foundation's Hall of Fame.

Charles Milone, of the lacrosse program, noted at Sunday's ceremony, that he has known Dolph and Alice Quéripel for approximately 10 years and has "never met two people more devoted to their community."

It was in recognition of this devotion to the community and to the youth of Levittown that Congressman Peter King and Assemblywoman Kate Murray honored Quéripel with special citations at the awards ceremony. King stated that he wanted to pay special tribute to Quéripel because, "In this society when so many people are only looking out for themselves, it is really special to find someone who will devote themselves to kids." Assemblywoman Murray, the daughter of Norm Murray who worked with Quéripel on the Levittown Youth Lacrosse League, noted that she has know Quéripel her entire life and commented on all he and his wife have done for the children of Levittown and thanked them both for their contributions to the community.

Although he is retiring as director, Quéripel will remain on the board of the Levittown Youth Lacrosse League.