Master of His Field: DiMasi Settles in as Rec Director

As a former participant, official and program developer, Gabe DiMasi knows his way around the West Caldwell-Caldwell Recreation Department.

Combining his passion for sports and recreational programs with his interest in the community, the longtime West Caldwell resident and 1980 James Caldwell High School grad hasn't missed a beat since taking over in July as the recreation department's new director.

"The transition has been pretty easy," DiMasi said. "I've been here for five years now full-time, but I've been working for the rec department since I was a high school teenager. I did everything. I started in the playgrounds as one of those high school kids. Some of the programs that we run today, I started myself."

DiMasi, who had been the department's assistant director, was appointed director for a two-year term when Gordon Bruchac became the facilities manager under the Division of Buildings and Grounds, one of four divisions of the newly aligned Department of Public Works.

"Our goal here and now is to listen to the people," DiMasi said. "If they want something, we're going to offer it. "

In response to residents' requests, the recreation department will begin offering a basketball program for kindergarten students and first-graders. In addition, the department's travel baseball program will be expanded to include third-, fourth- and fifth-graders next spring.

"For 2011, we've really decided that we're going to offer travel baseball in the spring for grades three to eight. In the past, we've only offered it for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders," DiMasi said.

"We're going to drop it down to third grade, because we've had some parents interested. In fact, they've joined outside organizations to do it. If it's something the community is asking for, it's our job here to fit the needs of the community."

While the delay in the opening of the renovated Kiwanis Oval has altered some of the fall scheduling, DiMasi estimates approximately 700 children will participate in the recreation department's football and soccer programs this fall.

According to DiMasi, about 200 will compete for the Junior Chiefs football program, while about 300 will participate in recreation soccer and 200 others will be enrolled in club soccer with only a few children who overlap programs.

There's also a large number of children who sign up to be cheerleaders for the Junior Chiefs and enrollment for girls volleyball has also continued to grow, DiMasi said.

"Volleyball has become very popular," he said. "We'll probably have 70 middle school kids sign up for girls volleyball. It's really exploding. It has a lot to do with the success of the high school."

DiMasi anticipates the cross country program will attract about 30 to 40 runners at Grover Cleveland Park this fall, while the recreation department's other programs throughout the year include a speed and agility clinic instructed by Fairfield-based Sports University, adult yoga, square dancing and adult aerobics, which is instructed by DiMasi's wife, Dawn.

The couple has two children, Gabriel, a junior at Montclair Kimberley Academy, and Gillian, a seventh-grader at Grover Cleveland Middle School.

While Gabe DiMasi, Colleen Hartwig, an administrative assistant, and Bob Masella, a part-time program supervisor, are the only personnel in the recreation department's office, the total staff actually encompasses close to 200 coaches, officials  and instructors.

"It spans quite a bit," DiMasi said. "It doesn't seem like you have a big staff, because there's not many office personnel. But when the programs are running, when we have five or six fields and gyms going at one time with two or three employees at each spot, it adds up."

DiMasi, 47, couldn't ask for a better job, being in the middle of it all.

"I really do enjoy this quite a bit," he said.