All St. Dominic football alumni and friends are invited to attend a dinner on Thursday, Feb. 8 in the St. Dominic Social Room for a dinner for the presentation of a Humanitarian Award to be presented posthumously in memory of Thomas Capozzoli. He died on Sept. 19, 2006 at the age of 79.

Pat Considine, St. Dominic development director said, "We are starting a new award and he is the first recipient. Each year another person will receive the honor."

Mr. Capozzoli' credits are numerous. He was an employee of Grumman for over 41 years, head coach of St. Dominic's High School football team for 17 years, past president of the Italian-American Citizens Club of Oyster Bay, member of the East Norwich Fire Company, past president of the Oyster Bay/East Norwich School Board and a parishioner of St. Dominic's Church for over 50 years.

He was the husband of Carole Capozzoli and the father of six children, five of whom attended St. Dominic High School: Tony who graduated in 1976; Donna who graduated in 1968; Debbie who graduated in 1971, Joanne Dori who graduated in 1972.

Mr. Capozzoli was dedicated to his family and to football. He played football and baseball at Flushing High School in Queens. He played third base for the 1944 city championship team and earned a scholarship to New York University where he played both sports. Mr. Capozzoli was an All-American in baseball in 1946 and went on to sign with the Yankees, playing two years in their minor-league team.

As head coach at St. Dominic High School his teams won four division titles and one Catholic High School Football League championship. He created the St. Dominic football program in 1959, the members of which became an extended family for him.

His son, Tony, won the 1975 Thorpe Award given by Newsday to the outstanding high school football player in Nassau County. His oldest daughter Donna Capozzoli Beary is a cheerleading coach whose students have won national champions. She was attending St. Dominic's in 1968, that was the year they won in football, baseball, basketball and cheerleading. Mr. Capozzoli was the football coach at that time.

Players in Mr. Capozzoli's teams always stayed in touch and were trying to bring football back to St. Dominic High School where he coached until his son Tony graduated in 1976 earning a scholarship to Penn State. Mr. Capozzoli organized a football reunion for all St. Dominic players hoping to bring back the team but both the cost of the program - too large- and the size of the school - too small- foiled the attempt. The school has centered their athletic efforts on lacrosse, baseball and basketball.

If you would like to attend the dinner, a donation of $85 per person will cover the dinner and open bar. Please RSVP by Jan. 29 by calling 922-4888, ext. 2222 or email alumdev@stdoms.org.