Town Council to Vote on Naming Ballfield for Enfield Sports Icon

ENFIELD, CT — For nearly four decades, most summer afternoons and evenings would find Fran Slattery coaching young baseball players at the Fermi High School field. Now a resolution is being considered by the Enfield Town Council to make the late town icon a permanent part of the landscape there by naming the varsity ballfield in his honor.

Slattery, who began coaching youth sports in Enfield in the mid-1960s and coached American Legion baseball for more than 35 years beginning in 1980, passed away Oct. 31, 2016 after a short battle with cancer. He was 82.

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.

Last fall, Tanguay-Magill American Legion Post 80 junior vice commander Brian Delano approached Mayor Scott Kaupin about the possible field dedication.

"Fran was very involved in Enfield youth sports for many years," Delano said. "A season didn't go by that you didn't see him on the baseball field or the basketball court mentoring and coaching Enfield's youth. He has coached thousands of players over the years and truly dedicated himself to improving players on and off the field. He certainly deserves such an honor."

Delano, the general manager of Enfield American Legion baseball, said he chose the Fermi field due to Slattery's numerous years as head of the Legion program there.

"He kept the program alive for many years using his own funds with very limited support from the community," Delano said. "Fran was an excellent role model, friend and mentor, and should be remembered as such."

Kaupin said the council will be voting on the resolution during Monday's regular meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers.

"Fran Slattery was an extremely dedicated volunteer for decades here in Enfield, working with Enfield's youth both on and off the field," the mayor said. "He impacted so many youth and their families in a very positive manner. Dedicating in his memory the field that Coach Slattery spent so many baseball seasons on is a very fitting tribute to a great coach, mentor, father, and friend to many."

Patch file photo