Just Remembering

We all have dates on the calendar that impact us. 

Good dates. 

Bad dates. 

And everything in between. 

Dates where we remember people we have lost. 

I know I've written about this date multiple times. 

It's a date that always brings up memories and reflection. 

We remember Uncle David who passed away on this day in 2005 and my Grandma Bea who passed away on this day in 2011. 

Top: Me, Grandma, Michael
Bottom: Dad, Uncle Bobby, Uncle Dave (top), Uncle Tommy (bottom), Uncle Gary

Memories of the day. How we found out. What happened after. 

Memories of the prior days. Memories of the days following, including the services. 

Memories of holidays, family parties, vacations and special events that they were a part of. And ones since where we are missing them. 

Memories of bad days, good days and great days. 

Memories of average days.

We think about them every day, but especially on significant days like today, the anniversary of their deaths, their birthdays, and on holidays where they are deeply missed. 

We think about the other family members who are impacted by these loses. 

We all have different stories from different perspectives. As family, extended family and friends. 

I know I am generalizing, which I don't always like. I could tell stories, but for several reasons, I won't. We still have the stories and the memories. 

It's how you honor them in the way in which you live your life. 

Miss you both. Always in our hearts. 

My Ornament on Uncle David's tree (written Christmas Eve 2005)

Holidays and Games

Happy New Year. With the flip of the calendar, changes don't happen automatically. Actions cause change. All the best to everyone in 2026. 

Speaking of change....

I've written before about how traditions change. I lot of that happens during holidays or other special events, as well as everyday life. 

The changes happen as a result of families and life changing. People move, others have families and extended family and unfortunately sometimes family issues or family members passing away change traditions. It's also just a fact that people get older. New traditions get created. 

I've noticed this with holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, to name a few. The groups get smaller, the activities change. The days become more low-key. 

It's still about spending time with family and friends and those who matter. 

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Every year, while we celebrate great moments of the year, we also look back as tough moments. We think about those going through difficult times, and we remember those who we lost in the past year. 

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I write about often in regard to my sports life but it's not so much about the wins and losses when it comes to the sports, it's about the relationships both built and strengthened. It's about caring for and supporting one another in good times and bad. 

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It's been a tradition to do top games of the year. With a few obvious exceptions, I felt like there were less games or moments that stood out to choose from. 

There was a lot of high school basketball and baseball, but there wasn't as much summer baseball as there has been in the past. I hope that changes in 2026. 

Before we get going with the list, please note a couple of things. This is my list and has nothing to do with my work or coaching affiliation and does not represent those entities. In addition, this list only encompasses games I was in attendance for. 

Here we go with my top games or moments of 2025 locally. 

FCIAC Baseball Championship

Ludlowe vs Norwalk. This is an easy one. My favorite moment of the year. A tremendous game in which Ludlowe took a 2-0 lead before Norwalk tied the game in the sixth and then Ludlowe re-took the lead for good in the seventh. 

You can read more here and listen to Rob Adams' broadcast below. 

2025 FCIAC CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/Ws3Z3fU0Y4

— Fairfield Ludlowe Baseball (@LudloweBase) May 30, 2025

Photo Credit: Stacey Scruggs

FCIAC Baseball Quarterfinal - Ludlowe vs Warde

Two games prior to the FCIAC Championship, Ludlowe and Warde squared off for the third time in the season, this time in the FCIAC quarterfinals at Warde. Warde held a 3-1 lead through five innings and a 3-2 lead through six innings. 

In the top of the seventh with two on and two outs, Ian Moore singled down the left field line to bring home two runs and give the Falcons a 4-3 lead. Tyler Geriak got the save, stranding the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom half of the inning. 

Kieran Scruggs Walk-Off Playoff Hit for Barnums

In a Connecticut College Baseball League playoff elimination game, Kieran Scruggs came up with a pinch-hit game winning single. 

Read my game story on the Bridgeport Barnums Blogger site. Also included is video of the hit. 

Ludlowe football win over Norwalk on Miko Marano's PAT in OT

Ludlowe and Norwalk have a tendency to play exciting, close football games over the years, and this year was no exception. 

Ludlowe had to come from behind late to tie the game and send it to overtime, before Miko Marano's PAT following a Ludlowe touchdown in OT tied the game again, gave the Falcons the victory. 

Video of Miko Marano’s game-winning extra point. Video via @coachkeyes. #cthsfb https://t.co/31CFwrZktp pic.twitter.com/LZbd2mYrN2

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) October 11, 2025

Ludlowe Basketball FCIAC Quarterfinal OT win over New Canaan

On Super Saturday in the FCIAC Quarterfinals at Fairfield Warde, Ludlowe defeated 61-50 behind 26 points from Ryan Torello and 10 points apiece from Gavin Mertz and Carlo Noecker. 

Ryan Torello breaks the Ludlowe single season scoring record in the FCIAC semifinal game vs Staples

In the latter part of a tremendous season for Ludlowe's Ryan Torello, he broke the school's single season scoring record in the Falcons FCIAC semifinal game vs Staples at Wilton High School. Ryan broke Brian Spring's record of 474 points, which he set in 2006. 

Ryan finished his tremendous senior season with 542 points for the season and 749 points for his career, which puts him second all-time in career points, behind Spring. 

*All this information is public in that it is on the Ludlowe Athletics social media and/or on the record board outside the gym at FLHS for anyone to see when they come to the gym. 

Warde's Jack Cramer scores 1,000th point in FCIAC semifinal game vs Ridgefield 

Like talking about Torello above, I love talking about records and milestones. On the same night that Torello broke the Ludlowe scoring record, Warde's Jack Cramer scored his 1,000th career point in the Mustangs FCIAC semifinal game vs Ridgefield. The accomplishment happened in the fourth quarter of the game and was acknowledged during the next stoppage in play. I always enjoy when these records and milestones are acknowledged. It's important for the people to get the recognition they deserve. 

Ludlowe/Trumbull Football

This one has zero to do with the game. This is a favorite game of the year due to the relationships I have made with people in Trumbull. As I wrote about at the time, it's people like Mike Buswell, Brayden Jagoe, Luke McDermott and their families and many others. It's always fun to watch them play and to talk and support them. 

I wrote more about this when it took place.

Ludlowe/Trumbull Baseball 

This was a big for us at Ludlowe as we unofficially clinched a berth in the FCIAC tournament with the win. It was a crazy game. We built up a 10-4 lead before Trumbull made a comeback and cut the deficit to 10-8 and had a chance to do more. A cool moment in the game was Jagoe, mentioned above, hitting a home run for the Eagles. Obviously mixed emotions for me as it happened as I'm coaching in the Ludlowe dugout. 

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On to 2026! 

July 4

Happy Fourth of July! 

Hope everyone is enjoying the day and staying safe.

Whether it's hanging with family and friends, having a barbeque, playing or watching sports, watching fireworks or just enjoying the day, hope it was fun. 

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July 4 big day in baseball history and specifically, Yankees history. 

"The Boss," George Steinbrenner was born on this date in 1930. Happy birthday to the former Yankees owner. 

Oh, how things have changed since Steinbrenner passed away in July of 2010. Imagine if George was still in charge with the way the team is performing of late. 

Additionally, former (okay that's weird to say) Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling was born on this date in 1938. 

Happy birthday to "The Boss" and John. 

Also, on this date in 1939, Lou Gehrig delivered his "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech. 

This can be debated, but it's one of the best speeches of all time, at least sports wise. To me, this and Jim Valvano's ESPY's speech are both right near the top, sports-related wise. 

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The annual Fourth of July Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest took place today in Coney Island. 

It definitely lost some of its luster with Joe Chestnut not competing as he was banned due to a sponsorship deal with a rival hot dog company, who sells plant-based dogs. You can read more here from USA today.

That being said, congrats to Patrick Bertoletti, who won while eating 58 hotdogs. 

While some people like the contest, others don't like it. The sports competitor in me enjoys watching the competitive aspect of it. 

I heard on the broadcast that one of the competitors recently was in a pasta-eating contest. That's definitely more my speed.  

All that said, certain things are tradition, like the hot dog eating contest on July 4. 

Loss

January 4

2005

2011

Uncle David

Grandma Bea

So many memories. So many I could write about. 

Both good and bad. 

However, I don't feel like they are my stories to tell, and a lot of my memories are not important. 

So many more stories I have heard since your passings. 

We think of them often, but especially on a day like today and other specific days of note throughout the year. 

Always in our hearts. 

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Sorry to continue on a sad note, but condolences to good friend Susan and the DeCristoforo family on the passing of her seven-year-old niece Rory on New Year's Day in a fire in their house in Staten Island. 

You can read more here courtesy of ABC7 New York. There is a GoFundMe set up to support the family but support any way you can. 

I'm not going to try to say I know anyone in their family other than Susan more than I do. I don't know her brother Mark or sister-in-law Megan (Rory's parents), or their kids or Susan and Mark's father. But I know Susan and I've heard a lot about the family. A good family. 

This loss comes after Susan and Mark's mom and Rory's grandmother, Mrs. Jane DeCristoforo passed away in November. 

Heartbroken for them all. 

Traditions Change

Christmas Eve 2023 

Traditions change over the years. 

I am not a fan of change. And I love tradition. But I know change is inevitable and not necessarily a bad thing. I need to get used to those changes. 

Some of those traditions that change are holiday, and specifically Christmas celebrations. 

Even though I am Jewish, we do Christmas with "extended family" in New Jersey. It's too hard to explain. 

For Chrismas Eve, we go to my Aunt Ellen's. When we were growing up, we went to my Uncle Tommy's but then they moved to Florida and Christmas Eve moved to my Aunt Ellen and Uncle David's. 

Christmas Day, since I've been born, has been at my Uncle Gary and Aunt Tina's. They moved towns in NJ a few years ago, but still continue to host. 

More than who is hosting, it's the actual events and the people who have changed. 

As all the "kids" get older, they have their own families that they do the holidays with, so everyone is more spread out. 

In terms of the events of the days, those have even changed. 

It used to be, all the kids would get presents from aunts and uncles on Christmas Eve. We'd change into our pajamas, take a group photo and then open presents. 

It was also part of the tradition that you had to wait for someone (normally the oldest adult present) to say it was okay to open. From what I remember, that was Aunt Shirley for many years, and then sort of was more random years after that. 

Then, a number of years ago, it was decided that rather than everyone get multiple presents everyone, we would do the "White Elephant" gift exchange. This was different. The adults partook rather than just the kids' getting gifts. The gifts varied in types. 

One year, I got a sack of Five Guys potatoes. This was perfect for me as someone who loves potatoes, and I picked it without knowing what was in the gift bag until after I had picked and opened it. 

Another part of Christmas Eves past was watching either a Christmas movie, like Shrek or The Grinch Stole Christmas, or watching home videos. 

There were also Christmas Days where we would play board games, such as Apples to Apples and others. 

Now, both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ends up mostly being just sitting around talking. It's still great to spend time with the family. 

There are other memories throughout the years from specific years, but again, different years make for different experiences. 

Another part of our Christmas, is visiting other family, specifically my dad's sister and her family. 

In terms of other traditions and changes, when my grandmother was living in Jersey City, we would stay there, then, for many years we would stay at an Embassy Suites. Part of this experience was the happy hour and snacks on Christmas Eve and the breakfast on Christmas morning at the hotel. 

Then, this year, and one other, I think during COVID, we stayed at a different hotel. 

As I said in the beginning, all the changes are weird to me, and as much as I may not like it, I understand it. 

Christmas Eve 2005 or 2006

Christmas Eve 2013

Christmas Eve 2016

We have some other photos from over the years, but these are just a few.

 

A date always remembered

I'll just to keep this short and not ramble. 

January 4 will always be a date that sticks in my mind. It is the day we lost both my Uncle David and my Grandma Bea, seven years apart. Uncle David passed away in 2005, while we lost my grandmother in 2011. 

I've wrote about this before, and while nothing has changed other than the length of time, stories always come up and they are both often on my mind, especially today. 

I have so many memories, and for the most part, it's not my story to tell. I have memories of the exact days, the days prior, and the days following both of their deaths. Not only is it not my story to tell, but in the big picture, my memories are random and mostly irrelevant. 

I will add, I have memories of the wake (uncle) and funerals (both) and of visiting both of them before they passed  There is too much to say but the thing I remember is my grandmother passed the morning of the fourth, while my uncle was in the evening. 

In some ways, this entire post is irrelevant, in other ways it means a lot.  I could write a lot more, but as I said above I won't. 

We honor them always, and they are always in our hearts.