Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) will induct two new members into its Hall of Fame at its 25th silver anniversary annual fundraising dinner/dance on Friday, June 19 at the North Hempstead Country Club. PYA will honor Chris Callahan as a key volunteer contributor to the organization, and the late John “Pepe” Salerno as a former PYA athlete. These two men, each in their own way, have helped shape and grow the organization, which was founded in 1963.
Chris Callahan first enrolled his kindergarten-aged son in PYA baseball in the spring of 2000. Over time, in the early years of his involvement, he coached that baseball team, as well as basketball and football. Within 2 years, Callahan stepped up to be Commissioner of both the PYA baseball and basketball programs. Most recently, he has been involved with running the Kindergarten/1st grade girls’ softball program. He has also volunteered his time as a coach for St. Peter’s CYO basketball teams.
Callahan continued his dedication to the PYA kids and the programs, and was elected to the PYA Board of Directors in 2003. In his time on the board, he has served on various committees, including the Nominating, Dinner Dance, Disciplinary and Fundraising groups.
Pepe Salerno was a PYA football and lacrosse player from 1977 through 1983. He continued his lacrosse career at Schreiber High School, earning All-League honors in 1988 as one of the leaders to the Nassau County Class A finals that year. He followed this up at Nassau Community College, achieving 2nd Team Junior College All-American status in 1990, and capped off his collegiate career at St. John’s as team captain and held the team all-time goals scored record at the time.
Salerno parlayed his post-collegiate career into professional lacrosse, playing for the New York Saints indoor team in the 1990’s, while developing a sales career which led him to Cantor Fitzgerald on Wall Street. As he and his wife Dina settled into Westfield, NJ, Salerno was head coach of the town’s 5th/6th grade youth lacrosse team from 1999 – 2001 when he was tragically killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. Salerno was just 31 years old.
On the night of June 19, these new inductees will join other Hall of Fame members, such as 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. The price is $150 per person (including open bar) in advance, which is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. A souvenir journal will also be published. Direct inquiries and reservations to Ron Henderson, PYA Executive Director at 516-944-7921 or visit the PYA website at www.pyasports.org for more information.
