Enfield Mourns the Passing of a Community Icon

ENFIELD, CT — Francis Slattery, one of the longest-tenured volunteer coaches in Connecticut history, passed away Monday after a brief battle with cancer. He was 82.

Slattery devoted more than 50 years to coaching youth baseball and basketball, helping shape the lives of literally thousands of Enfield youth.

"Fran was the true embodiment of Enfield athletics," said Mike Cotnoir, chairman of the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame. "He always gave his heart and soul to the children of this town for almost 60 years. He loved to win and led many teams to championships. However, his legacy will not only be defined by his amazing team records, but by the teamwork, values, and discipline he instilled in his players and coaches. His tireless efforts in coaching basketball and baseball was unprecedented, and he often spent his own money to be part of leagues and tourneys. He is beloved in this town and touched the lives of so many families here. He taught us all not only to win, but to do it with hard work and respect."

Slattery began with a 20-year stint coaching in the Hazardville Little League, piloting six league championship teams between 1967 and 1980. He coached the Senior League all-star team to the Connecticut state championship in 1979, and to a runnerup finish the following year.

He took over as coach of the Enfield American Legion baseball team in 1980, and was still involved in that program as an assistant coach as recently as this past summer.

Slattery also devoted his time to youngsters on the basketball court, guiding the highly successful St. Martha's CYO program for more than three decades.

"I know that as a coach, he really impacted many lives over the years," Enfield mayor Scott Kaupin said.

Longtime coach and official John Hogan said, "All the time I knew him he had a passion for youth athletics. The sport he was coaching but more importantly the kids that played for him. I not only coached against his team at St. Martha's, and at the time they were far better than us, but he would never run up the score or allow the other team to be embarrassed. I also officiated games for him in the CYO league as well as Travel and he was always the professional and we all know the fragile relationship between coaches and officials. The Enfield sports community lost a special unreplaceable man, one who truly earned the title of "Coach.""

Among the many accolades Slattery received over the years include being named the Enfield Jaycees Outstanding Citizen in 1991, election to the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and receiving the John Wentworth Good Sport Award from the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance at the annual Gold Key Dinner in 2014.

Slattery served on the Hall of Fame board of directors for more than 15 years, chairing the nominating committee.

"I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Mr. Slattery’s passing — he was such a pillar in the community for so many kids that played baseball and basketball in Enfield," Hall of Fame founder Bill Chaves said. "When Mr. Slattery joined us to establish the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, he told me to call him Fran – which I did, but I never felt comfortable doing so. The respect and admiration that he has from the thousands of youth that he served is immeasurable. We are a better place for having had Mr. Slattery in our lives."

"He will be sorely missed here, and we are honored to have him as part of our community for so many years," Cotnoir said. "The man upstairs must have had a coaching opening and called the best person for the job. There will never be one like him, and our prayers go out to the entire Slattery family."

He leaves his wife, JoAnn, six children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

For a complete obituary, including calling hours and funeral services, click here.

Photo courtesy of the Slattery family