Steady Presence in Weston Baseball Remembered

No matter what, David Conlon was always there. Always at his son Chris’s baseball game, from Little League through high school—anyone who knew anything about baseball in Weston knew that Conlon was a steady, patient and welcome presence.

“Dave set a good example as a father,” said friend Rob Provenzano.

After Conlon died of an aneurysm on May 30, 2010, friends and family knew something had to be done to remember the steadfast coach and father.

On Tuesday night, they unveiled the very thing—the foul pole at the newly-renovated baseball field at Weston High School.

“The pole is a reminder to all fathers of the importance of showing encouragement and support to your son and the positive outcomes that come from doing so,” said Provenzano, recalling his speech from Tuesday night’s ceremony before an American Legion game against Newton.

Dedication Committee chairperson Chris Nelson credited Provenzano with the idea of dedicating the foul pole to Conlon.  

“When Dave Conlon passed away about a little over a year ago, a lot of the baseball families wanted to do something to remember him,” she said. “He had been the father of one of the co-captains and was very, very active in baseball throughout his child’s career at Weston. Rob Provenzano was the first to come up with the idea of a pole, like a Pesky’s Pole. So we just started reaching out to people and doing fundraising, talking to the school committee for approval, and all those things. And we were able to buy that pole and name it in his honor.” 

However, Provenzano quickly gave all credit for follow-through to Nelson, who spear-headed the effort to raise funds and to organize the dedication.

"Chris [Nelson] made this happen," said Provenzano, before the dedication ceremony.

Nelson's son Paul and Provenzano's son Rob played baseball from an early age with Chris Conlon. Paul served as co-captain with Chris Conlon during their senior season at Weston High School.

Provenzano called both young men quiet leaders.

“They led by example, not by words,” he said.

In his speech, Provenzano jokingly added a direct appeal to Dave Conlon to intercede in Weston baseball games "when necessary", while Nelson joked that she hoped the foul pole would magically keep Weston's long drives inside the first base line, while deflecting opponents' fly balls into foul territory.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Chris Conlon and his mother, Anne, expressed their appreciation to the Weston community for their support and kindness.

Anne remembered her husband fondly.

“It means a lot,” she said about the ceremony.

“David was a wonderful fan‑always there for the team, do anything, take off work to see a game.

When Conlon would drive home after work, said Anne, he would pass the baseball fields and say “’This is how every kid should grow up,’ because he played on a cement schoolyard. He loved sports, but in the North End back then there was very little opportunity. He was always proud that his son got to play on a wonderful facility like this. Now he has a little piece of the ballpark.” 

Anne said she was also grateful to the Weston community for setting up the pole.

“His death was sudden and the community really reached out to us. I didn’t know that this fundraiser was going on, and they got over and above the cost of the foul pole, and they are putting it to the lights,” she said.

“Obviously, you know, it shows how much the community really cares about us,” said Conlon’s son Chris. “Friends and family, even strangers come out who we never met, but gave a contribution or supported our family. It isn’t the easiest time, but they certainly made it so much easier for us. And we really are forever grateful for that.” 

Chris said baseball meant so much him and his father.

“It gave us a really good common ground. We would either be watching the Red Sox or he would be helping me out giving me tips, just showing up at every single game. It was really something that we had a great connection with and I’ll never forget,” he said.

A plaque inscribed with Conlon's motto, "Turn up the fun dial", will be installed at the base of the pole later this summer.

Following the ceremony, the Weston Legion Wildcats team took on Newton. , 25-14.