Somers Education Foundation to Honor 3 at Annual Event

Again this year the Somers Education Foundation’s annual gala includes several honorees.

This time it’s three individuals who work and live in Somers being thanked for their contributions to the Somers school community.

SEF, founded in 1994 to enhance education with grants and scholarships to the Somers School District, topped $1 million in grants in 2014.

Here’s the first Patch post about the honorees: meet community leader Bob Antonucci:

Bob Antonucci, born in the Bronx, has been a Somers resident since age 12, making him a near lifelong “Tusker.” He is a graduate of Somers High School and Pace University.

Bob was a Somers teacher for 31 years, first spending 15 years teaching fourth grade at Somers Intermediate School and then 16 years teaching sixth grade math at Somers Middle School. Bob retired from teaching in 2005 but still works selling custom sports apparel and corporate promotional products. In addition to teaching, Bob also has had a long and distinguished career as a coach in football, softball and baseball for nearly 40 years. Today he still serves as Somers High School junior varsity football head coach and assistant freshman football coach, and is the public address announcer at varsity home games.

He also served as the varsity girls softball coach from 1999-2013, and as commissioner of SYSA Girls Softball from 1994-2008, also coaching in-town and travel programs during those years.

Bob has been very involved in the Somers Lions Club since 2001, serving as president from in 2007-08 and remains a member of the Board of Directors. A winner of the Melvin Jones Award for his service to the organization, he has also chaired the annual town Pancake Breakfast since 2012. He also served as president of the Somers High School Booster Club for many years. He and his wife, Jan, a fellow Somers teacher for 42 years, have been married 40 years and have two daughters, Jaclyn and Robyn, who are also teachers.

The Somers Education Foundation’s Blackjack Ball will be held Jan. 23 at Villa Barone Hilltop Manor in Mahopac. Cost per person will be $115. Info and registration: www.sefny.org/casino