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10/19/2017 12:00 AMBranford resident Stan Konesky, Jr., will be presented with the Andrew Gassira Memorial Umpire Award by the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Stan is receiving the honor as a result of working as an umpire in southern Connecticut for the past 51 years. Along with calling balls and strikes, Stan has played an integral role in supporting baseball in the greater New Haven area, particularly in Branford, for many years. He’s also demonstrated a commitment to helping people through his fundraising efforts.
It’s nothing new for Stan to be recognized for his hard work on the diamond. Stan has been serving his community for decades and, as a result, he’s won a number of awards. Stan received the Outstanding Executive Award from the American Football Foundation for his service as president of the Walter Camp Foundation from 1999-2000, along with the Good Guy of the Year Award from the Farnham Neighborhood House in Fair Haven. In Branford, he was given the Little League Outstanding Service Award, the Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Award, and was inducted into the Board of Education Hall of Fame.
Even with all these accolades, Stan remains modest and always feels thankful for getting recognized for his efforts.
“I am so humbled because the Diamond Club is such an outstanding organization,” says Stan. “Along with the umpire award, my God, I’ve been blessed.”
Stan got his start in officiating when he attended Notre Dame High School in West Haven. Due to a medical condition, Stan wasn’t able to play sports for a period of time and was asked to start calling baseball and basketball games. Soon after, people realized that Stan had the potential to be a great official, and so they encouraged him to continue doing so in a variety of different leagues.
“At that time, the New Haven Board of Umpires found out and asked if I would be interested in umpiring baseball and basketball. I started out umping Little League and New Haven recreational basketball leagues,” says Stan. “I was approached by Henry Roche, and he asked if I would be interested in doing baseball. I said, ‘Yes.’ I took the test, passed, and continued with Little League, then did high school ball, American Legion, Twilight, semi-pro, and Babe Ruth.”
Stan has had a long career not just as an umpire, but also as a law enforcement officer. Stan retired as a lieutenant from the Branford Police Department after 29 years and then moved on to work as an instructor for the Connecticut State Police Academy for 13 years. After spending 42 years in law enforcement, Stan taught criminal justice at the University of New Haven for nine years.
With his unique perspective from working in law enforcement and as an umpire, Stan wrote an article that was nationally published in Referee Magazine entitled “What Cops Do That You Should Do,” which details strategies in conflict management that both police officers and sports officials can use.
“It talked about how police and umpires deal with conflict resolution,” says Stan, who’s also received the Connecticut American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. “I wrote this article and it got published about the similarities between officials, coaches, players, and fans; and the bad guys, the victims, and the public.”
Stan also gives back by participating in several fundraising efforts. In 2011, he started Tournament for a Cure with the Greater New Haven Umpires to raise funds for junior diabetes.
“It was an idea I had that the umpires would umpire a tournament for free, and all the money they make would go to junior diabetes,” says Stan. “We raised over $17,000. That was something I was very proud of”
Stan has also given a lot of his time and energy to Branford Little League. The clubhouse at Sliney Field was built in large part due to the fundraising efforts started by Stan.
“In 1993, Branford Little league was trying to raise funds, and they weren’t making a lot of money. So I suggested they build a clubhouse...We went around town and raised $42,000,” he says. “That two-story building, that was our accomplishment, and it’s still going strong. That first year being active, it raised $17,000 in profit.”
Stan thanks many people for helping him throughout his umpiring journey, including Roche, Pop Shortell, Dale DelVecchio, Andy Papero, and Arnie Mann; he also thanks his sons, Stosh and Dru. Stan considers his award from the Diamond Club a representation of the support he’s received from the people around him through thick and thin. That’s why it means so much to him.
“You always have hard times. There were times I might have had a bad call, and I might have felt bad about it. There were people who came to my side. This is an award I share with a lot, a lot of people,” says Stan. “No one, no matter who you are, you need support. You need friendship. You need guidance. In my career, in my life, there were always people there to help me, and we all share in this award.”
Stan also thanks his wife Sandy, whom he says has been the most important person to him throughout his life.
“I could never have done any of this without the support of my family, but specifically, my wife Sandy. She has been behind me 100 percent,” Stan says. “She has sacrificed for my law enforcement career and my umpiring career. I consider this a team award. I couldn’t ask for a better wife or mother to my children or grandchildren. I have to give the appropriate credit to Sandy.”