High School Athletic Fields To Be Named After Local Sports Leaders Following Stamford Board Of Reps Vote

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Board of Representatives on Monday night voted to name the Stamford High School baseball, softball, and soccer fields after three influential figures in the city's athletic history.

The softball field will be named after Donna Lopiano, the baseball field after Robert "Bobby" Augustyn, and the soccer field after Mario Caminiti.

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The legislative body voted 37 in favor, with three opposed (Reps. Chanta Graham of District 3, Lori Hyatt of District 2, and Kindrea Walston of District 9).

A 1964 graduate of Stamford High School, Lopiano has been a national leader in advancing equity in athletics through the development and implementation of Title IX.

Lopiano was inducted into 13 halls of fame, including the Stamford High School Hall of Fame, the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame and the National Softball Hall of Fame, according to the resolution on the renaming proposal. She was offered a spot on the Connecticut Brakettes at age 16 and later became the first director of women’s athletics at the University of Texas.

Augustyn, a 1972 graduate of SHS, played baseball and football in high school and was part of the 1970 state championship football team and earned All-County honors in baseball. He later returned to the school in 1978 as a counselor and coach, leading the baseball program to a state championship. He is a member of the FCIAC Hall of Fame as both a player and coach.

Caminiti served as boys soccer coach at Stamford High School for 42 years while also working as a teacher and department head. Caminiti was named Outstanding Soccer Coach of the Year by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association in 2012 and was inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame in 2018.

The resolution noted his leadership helped establish Stamford High School’s soccer program as one of the state’s top programs over several decades.

To name a city park or facility after someone who is alive, the Board of Representatives first approved a waiver of the requirements outlined in the Code of Ordinances by a vote of 38-2 (Hyatt and Walston opposed).

The ordinance states that someone must be deceased for six months before they can be considered for renaming honors.

Walston voiced opposition to the waiver of the requirements, noting that while it had been done before, it could set a bad precedent. She also said representatives should vote on three separate items, rather than a "ticket" with three names included in one resolution.

While she acknowledged that Lopiano, Augustyn and Caminiti are worthy of the honor, Walston said she wanted to see more diversity and inclusion.

"The people nominated, they don't represent the school. The school is made up of a lot of people, different types of people," Walston said. "There are no people who look like me who the fields are named after."

Walston read a letter she sent to the board explaining her opposition, and she highlighted the contributions to Stamford athletics by the Cobb family.

"I am writing to respectfully encourage thoughtful consideration of Stamford's premier athletes when discussing the naming of the baseball field at Stamford High School," Walston said in part. "This request is not intended to diminish or take away from any individuals or families who have contributed to athletics in the city of Stamford. Rather, it is to ensure that the full scope of impactful contributors are honestly evaluated."

Walston suggested erecting a statue outside of the baseball field in honor of James "Jimmy" Cobb, a standout athlete who captained three varsity teams and earned several FCIAC accolades in football, basketball and baseball, including the FCIAC football title in 1970.

"It would be nice if he could be honored. He did a lot for the baseball team here," Walston said

Cobb attended Dartmouth University and coached throughout Fairfield County before he died in 2012. Walston said he's set to be honored by the Stamford Old Timers Association in a few months. He was previously honored at Boyle Stadium in 2007.

Rep. Candace Weathers said she was "somewhat in agreement" with Walston, although she voted for the waiver and the renaming resolution.

"I think what we'd like to ask is for the boards and committees in the future to be a little more mindful and considerate that when they're proposing resolutions and these lists, they be more equitable and have a little bit more inclusion," Weathers said.

The waiver and resolution were originally submitted by Board President Ramya Shaw on April 8. The Board of Reps. Operation, Parks & Recreation Committee approved the items by a vote of 8-0 each on April 23.