Waterbury Journalist Among 2026 CT Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame Inductees

WATERBURY, CT — The Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Committee recently announced its 2026 class of inductees, including a Waterbury journalist.

According to a news release provided by the CT Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Mark Jaffee will be inducted this year in the "Honorary" category.

A New York City native and 1984 University of Bridgeport graduate, Jaffee devoted 44 years as a daily newspaper writer at the Bridgeport Post-Telegram, New Haven Journal-Courier/Register, Meriden Record-Journal, Middletown Press and nearly 30 years at the Waterbury Republican American, according to the release.

An advocate for scholastic and women's college basketball, Jaffee covered many of the elite teams in New Haven in the 1980s, including Wilbur Cross, Westbrook, Branford, Guilford and Southington in the mid-1990s and Holy Cross-Waterbury, Naugatuck, Thomaston, Wamogo-Litchfield, Northwestern-Winsted and Pomperaug-Southbury over the past quarter century in western Connecticut and Litchfield County, according to the release.

Jaffee was the beat writer for the 1987 NCAA Division II national champion University of New Haven women's team and was at courtside when Killingly's Tracy Lis broke Walter Luckett of Bridgeport's all-time scoring record, the release notes.

A Cheshire resident, he was inducted into the CHSCA Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012 for long-term service to scholastic sports, according to the release.

The 37th Annual Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony and luncheon will be held April 26 at the Aqua Turf Club, located at 556 Mulberry Street in Plantsville.

Ticket information may be obtained from Diane Dietman at 203-537-0918 or dietz021@hotmail.com.

According to the release, the Hall of Fame "honors those who have contributed to the enhancement of women’s basketball in Connecticut -- either through participation, through service, through support, or through achievement. The 2026 Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Famers exemplify the finest achievements in Connecticut."

More information about the event and each inductee is available at ctwomensbasketballhalloffame.com.