Nancy LeFebvre Riccio was a 1967 graduate of Windsor High School where she was a varsity cheerleader and named the outstanding female athlete of the senior class. Nancy has seen first hand the evolution of girls’/women’s sports. Although Windsor High School had no varsity sports for girls at that time Nancy went on to play intercollegiate sports at Central Connecticut State College including basketball, volleyball, field hockey, and golf. She graduated from CCSC in 1972 with a BS degree in Physical Education and Biology. Upon graduation she moved to Western New York for her first job teaching Physical Education at Lewiston Porter High School. It was 1972 and Title IX had just been passed allowing Nancy to play an integral role in developing a varsity athletic program for the girls. She coached several high school sports and won numerous league championships. In 1980 Nancy went on to coach the Women’s Division I Intercollegiate Basketball program at Niagara University for ten years where she also acted as the primary women’s athletic administrator. In 1990 she was the first person and female to be hired as a full time Director of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics at Amherst Central School District where she directed a massive athletic program for high school and middle school boys and girls. She was directly responsible for expanding the athletic programs to include Boys and Girls Varsity Ice Hockey, Boys and Girls Varsity Lacrosse, Boys and Girls Indoor Track, and last but not least brought Friday Night Lights for the Varsity Football and Soccer teams. Nancy retired in December of 2011 after a forty-year career in the sports arena.

Ellen graduated from Windsor High School in 1982, where she earned nine varsity letters, seven All-Central Valley Conference Honors, and All-State Second Team Honors for basketball. She excelled in field hockey as a forward/link; basketball as a guard/forward; and track & field in the 800m dash, 4x400m relay and the high jump. Ellen was a member of the 1980 Class LL runner-up girls’ basketball team, the 1981 CVC championship field hockey, and track & field teams, respectively. Junior year, she set a school record in the 800m dash at the Class LL State Track & Field Meet. In her senior year Ellen captained all three teams, was a recipient of the Windsor Cup Award and was voted “Class Athlete” by her peers. Ellen briefly played basketball at Mitchell College (AS), before sustaining a career-ending back injury. She studied Movement Science, and graduated from Southern CT State University (BS) and Central CT State University (MS). While working and traveling abroad, Ellen played Ladies Football (soccer) for Bank of Ireland, City Division, London. Ellen has spent her adult life working with children. She was a CCD teacher, and coached Windsor Youth basketball, soccer and girls’ lacrosse. Presently, she is in her 27th year as an elementary physical education teacher for the Enfield Public Schools. Ellen currently resides in Windsor with her husband Alan Dowgewicz, and two children, Rachel and Jacob.

John grew up in the Wilson section of Windsor. John attended the newly opened Windsor High School from 1952 to 1956. John was a three sport athlete over a four-year period. In addition he was elected class president in his junior and senior years as well as President of the Student Council. John was selected as the Outstanding Athlete by the coaches, teachers and peers. Upon graduation he enlisted in the the US Air Force where he continued to excel in sports, he played Fast Pitch for the base team at Lowery AFB, Colorado, making the USAFB All Tournament Team. He was transferred to Eielson AFB, Fairbanks, Alaska. There he played basketball for the base team and also played semi pro baseball with the Sportland Bees a local team. The team was managed by former St Louis Cardinal Pitcher Clarence Beers. The highlight his career was playing in the traditional Midnight Sun Baseball Game which also signified the inauguration of Alaska becoming the 49th State. Upon his discharge he went to work for Hartford National Bank and rose to the position of Vice President. John served the community in various capacities, became the first coach in Windsor Little League to draft a girl to play the sport [ Janet Diefenderfer], closed his sports career with the East Hartford Dovellettes the top fast pitch team in the state, facing the famous Eddie Feigner and the King & Court. John now enjoys trying to play the game of golf. John lives in Windsor with his wife Yolanda. They have two children James and Joanne, as well as several grandchildren.

Michael Huyghue is a widely recognized sports executive with a professional career spanning over 30 years. Michael most recently served as Commissioner of the United Football League. Prior to that Michael oversaw football operations for the Detroit Lions (during which time they won their only playoff game in the last 30 years) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (who in their first five years went to an unprecedented two AFC Championship games). He also served as Labor Relations Counsel to the NFL Management Council before being tapped to lead the Birmingham Fire in the NFL’s World League as its General Manager. Michael later oversaw the NFL Europe Spring League. Mr. Huyghue briefly worked in the legal department at the NFL Players Association and also represented a number of top professional athletes as a Player Agent with his own firm. He attended Cornell University, where he played baseball and football and then attained his law degree from the University of Michigan. Michael is married to his wife Kimberly and has three children Kristen, Kathryn and Tyler.

Bill Lesinski started his football career as a four year letterman at Hartford Public High school and graduated in 1960 as a captain and All State player. He continued his exceptional career with a football scholarship to Boston University where he was also a captain, an All American, an All East and All New England player. Bill graduated from B.U. in 1964 and continued his professional football career by joining the Hartford Charter Oaks, The Waterbury Orbits and The Harford Knights from 1964 -1968. In 1969 his career changed as he joined the staff of Windsor High School as a Physical Education teacher and Head Football Coach. Bill had winning seasons 10 out of 11 years with two CVC Championships in 1973 and 1975. He was also the Head Boys Track Coach from 1969-1980 and had winning seasons each year with three undefeated seasons in a row and in 1970 Class LL State runner up. Bill was a strong advocate for Women’s Athletics and started the Girl’s Track team in 1972. In 1981 Bill became the K-12 Supervisor of Physical Education/Athletics and Intramurals until leaving the district in 1993 to move on to Consolidated Schools of New Britain as the Coordinator of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Safety. During his career Bill very proudly raised two fine young sons William Lesinski Jr. and Scott Lesinski. Bill has been recognized as Athletic Director of the Year through CAAD and was the Eastern Regional Athletic Director of the Year through NASPE and also a finalist for the National Athletic Director of the Year. He retired in 2000 from the New Britain Schools and has been married to Kathy Tiernan Lesinski for the past 25 years.

Fred was born and raised in Albany, New York. He was an Army Combat Veteran of the Pacific Theatre and the Korean Conflict, where he attained the rank of Captain. After his military service, he and his wife, Pat, and their four children settled in Windsor, CT in 1969. When his children became involved in Windsor sports, Fred served the purpose of a spectator and innovator in Windsor’s baseball, football and hockey teams. After starting the first Booster’s club in Windsor, his real contribution was recognizing that one Booster’s club could not support all the sports at one time. As a result, he introduced the concept of an individual Booster’s club for each of the individual sports. Along with the other inductees, Jim Blanchard, Fred Weisher and Jack O’Shea, they were instrumental in keeping junior high school baseball and softball teams in the school budget when the Board of Education tried to cut them in the late 1970’s. During the time his children were involved in Windsor sports, he held the titles of President of the Booster’s Club and Senior Little League for many years. His contributions will not soon be forgotten and still continue today in Windsor sports. On behalf of his family, we are honored to accept this award on his behalf and know he would be thrilled to receive this accolade of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Jim was a well-known semi pro baseball player in Manchester and the Hartford Twilight League. He was an accomplished pitcher with a nasty curveball and a basketball player with a dead eye shooting touch. Jim served his country with pride and was a Veteran of the Korean War. With his playing days behind him, Jim married Mary Lou (Williams), moved to Windsor and raised a family. He gave back to his community by serving in many volunteer positions in Windsor Little League and Senior League. For over 25 years, Jim was active in local sports as president, umpire and coach, winning many town league championships and District 8 titles along the way. He also served as president of the Windsor High School Diamond Club and led many significant fund raising events. Through his support of Windsor sports programs, Jim made lifelong friendships and shared in so many memorable events. Throughout the years, Jim enjoyed coaching his four sons – Jimmy, David, Steven and Bobby – and supporting his daughter Susan’s gymnastics and cheerleading competitions.

Fred was orphaned as an infant and raised in foster homes in the Bristol area until being adopted by the Weisher family in his early teens. He attended Windsor schools to the eighth grade when circumstances forced his leaving school to work to support the family. Fred served in the U.S. Army in Korea raising to the rank of First Sergeant. Upon returning stateside he married Mary Ann Hayden of Rainbow and started and raised his family there. Fred worked for Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, and rising to the position of General Manager. Succumbing to the loss of his legs, due in part to wounds he received in Korea, he retired from Hamilton Standard with over thirty five years of service with the company. When son Mark began to play Windsor International Little League Baseball in Poquonock in the late 1960’s, Fred was coaxed by Poquonock’s Jack Welch and Chuck Yuscavitch to start helping out with the league as a volunteer coach. The rest is history. With the difficulties he faced in his youth, Fred remained consistently driven to support the very best character building activities he could. A natural leader, with no fear of offending anyone not supporting Windsor’s youth, he worked with a team of other dedicated adults to nurture youth baseball, softball, football and basketball in Windsor. Among his most satisfying work was providing challenged youth the opportunity to enjoy organized sports and activities. Fred was proud to be a founding member of the Windsor Police Athletic League and strong supporter of Special Olympics and Windsor High School activities in any way his time would allow. His work with the Civitan Club on behalf of youth access projects, continued well into his retirement to Florida, until his passing in 2004.

John “Jack” O’Shea was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, just a few blocks from Shibe Park and Baker Bowl. He served in the Army during the end of World War II. After the War, he was employed by a cartography company, a job that took him to Canada and Africa. He then met and married his wife, Agnes, and together they moved to Windsor in 1953. They raised their four children – Barbara, Susan, Judi, and Tom – here. Jack worked for 40 years at Pratt & Whitney as a Lead Draftsman and Design Analyst. Jack was an advocate for youth sports in Windsor before, during, and after the time his children were participating. During that time he served as a coach and President of the Windsor National Little League, coach and director in Windsor Youth Basketball, assistant coach of the Windsor Sixth Grade All-Star basketball team, and a major contributor to the development of the Windsor Diamond Club that supported Windsor High School Baseball. After his retirement, Jack and Agnes were fixtures selling tickets at all Windsor High School Football and Basketball home games. Jack’s service to Windsor went beyond sports. He served on the Windsor Town Planning & Zoning Commission, and was a beloved CYO instructor for St. Gertrude’s Church where his devotion forged lifelong relationships with a number of his students. Also, Jack served as the head of the St. Gertrude’s Parish Council and received the Archdiocesan Medal of Appreciation from Archbishop Mansell in 2011. In addition to Agnes and his children, Jack loved being Father-in-Law to Pete and Beth, Grandfather to Christine, Beth, John, Tim, Chris, and Bryan, as well as Great Grandfather to Gabrael, Sophia, Ashley, Jack and Tony. Jack would be very proud and humbled to receive this recognition alongside three people he respected - Fred Burton, Jim Blanchard, and Fred Weisher.

The 1973 football team is the first Windsor football team to win a conference championship, at a time when the CIAC had yet to institute state championship playoffs. Coach Bill Lesinski led the team to Windsor’s third consecutive 8-2 record, but first Central Valley Conference title. The team was led offensively by All-State player Bobby Cooper, QB Dennis Wolf, tackle Jim Weymoth, and receiver Bobby Thompson. Defensively, Cooper, Bobby Lareau, Wendell Smith, Tim Burgess, and Brian Cosker were key cogs in helping the Warriors in their title run. The season began with a loss to non-conference member Ledyard, annually one of the top teams in their division in the state. However, the next week, Windsor came from behind, to provide the Warriors 9-6 win over a tough Rockville team. Simsbury the only conference defeat that season, 28-21, in the last 20 seconds of the game, following a controversial call on what should have been an intercepted pass by Lareau, but which was awarded to Simsbury. Windsor had come back from a 20-0 deficit, in the 4th quarter, to take a 21-20 lead, only to see it go by the boards in the last minute. Needing to beat a tough Southington team the next week at home, the Warriors played one of, if not their finest game of the season, especially defensively, defeating the Blue Knights, to create a three-way tie for first place with Simsbury and Southington, who had also been undefeated before the Windsor game. Southington defeated Simsbury and Windsor defeated Bloomfield in a high-scoring affair at Bloomfield, giving the Warriors a share of the league title with Simsbury and Southington, and its first ever Central Valley Conference title.