Port Washington Natives to Be Inducted to PYA Hall of Fame

Photo: (l-r) Chris Callahan, John “Pepe” Salerno

Port Washington Youth Activities will induct two new members into its Hall of Fame at the 25th Silver Anniversary annual fundraising dinner/dance.

PYA will honor Chris Callahan and the late John “Pepe” Salerno for both helping to shape and grow the organization to what it is today.

The event will be held on Friday, June 19 at the North Hempstead Country Club in Port Washington.

About Chris Callahan:

• Will be honored as a key volunteer contributor to the organization.
• First enrolled his kindergarten-aged son in PYA baseball in the Spring of 2000.
• Coached the PYA baseball, basketball and football teams.
• Served as Commissioner of the PYA basketball and baseball programs.
• Runs the kindergarten/first grade grade girls’ softball program.
• Volunteered as a coach for St. Peter’s CYO basketball teams.
• Elected to the PYA Board of Directors in 2003 and has served on committees including the Nominating, Dinner Dance, Disciplinary and Fundraising groups.

About John Salerno

• A former PYA athlete
• A PYA football and lacrosse player from 1977 through 1983.
• Played lacrosse at Schreiber High School and earned All-League honors in 1988 as one of the leaders to the Nassau County Class A finals that year.
• Achieved Second Team Junior College All-American status in 1990 at Nassau Community College.
• Served as St. John’s team captain and held the team all-time goals scored record at the time.
• Played professionally for the New York Saints indoor team in the 1990’s. At the same time, he held a sales career which led him to Cantor Fitzgerald on Wall Street.
• Moved to Westfield, NJ with his wife Dina. He served as head coach of the town’s fifth and sixth grade youth lacrosse team from 1999 – 2001 when he was tragically killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. He was 31 years old.

These new inductees will join other Hall of Fame members like Dennis O’Brien, Greg Pond and Colonel John Kelly as past PYA honorees.

The dinner will kick off with a cocktail hour at 7:30 p.m. and dining and dancing from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

There will be a silent and a live auction and raffle prizes. Cost is $150.00 per person, which includes an open bar, in advance and is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

A souvenir journal will also be published.

Any questions can be directed to Ron Henderson, PYA Executive Director at (516) 944-7921. You can also visit the PYA website at www.pyasports.org for more information.

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