John F. Kennedy High School - Class of 1969

Football, Wrestling, and Lacrosse

Inducteed in 2019

Jim played 3 sports while he attended the John F. Kennedy High School. He was a three year starter in Lacrosse, Wrestling and Football. During his senior year Jim earned All-Division and All-North Shore lacrosse teams honors. He was also named team MVP. He was a 3 year starter on the varsity wrestling program. In his senior year, Jim went undefeated during all league matches and posted a 15-4 overall record.   He was also named team MVP. Jim was selected to be the team captain of the football, wrestling and lacrosse programs. After graduation, Jim went onto John Hopkins University were he played football and lacrosse. He was a 3 year starter on the football team. In 1972 and 1973 he was a member of the Blue Jays Lacrosse team that reached back to back the National Championship Games. Jim resides in Hanover, PA. He is married to fellow Kennedy High School Alumni ,Judy Aitken Adams, for 45 years. He has 3 beautiful daughters, Jessica, Jacquelyn and Jillian.

Plainview-Old Bethpage

Board Member

Mario was born in 1924 to immigrant parents. He lived, in poverty, through the Great Depression as one of 8 children. At 17, he left Queens Vocational HS to enlist in the Army in WWII, boxed professionally and then volunteered to become a decorated combat airman in the 15th Army Air Force where he flew 23 missions over Europe. Returning home, he obtained his HS Equivalency Diploma, became a New York City Motorcycle Police Officer, and in 1950, married Mary Tassi with whom he had two children, Mark and Donna. After again serving during the Korean War, he returned to police work, began attending Hofstra University and in 1956, moved the family to Old Bethpage. He retired from the NYPD and obtained his degree in Accounting from Hofstra, became recognized as one of the foremost budget experts in New York State. In 1967, Mario, was elected to the Board of Education where he served multiple terms over the next 3 decades. As a member of the BOE, he applied his leadership skills and budgetary expertise to benefit the community. This budgetary expertise was especially evident in the impact he had on POB Athletics. Working with Ralph Dryer, Mario introduced the motion that established Soccer as an interscholastic sport in POB. In similar ways, he took actions to benefit Women’s Swimming, Volleyball and other programs. In 1985, following the collapse, due to   injuries, of the District Varsity Football team, Mario worked with the BOE, Athletic Director and coaches to develop a plan to resurrect the program and to establish the District Strength & Conditioning Program which benefited male and female athletes in all sports and brought Plainview Old Bethpage national recognition as having one of the most successful Strength & Conditioning Programs in the country. Two years after his intervention, POB Football was back in Conference play for the first time in many years and just 3 years after that, the Football Team was Conference II, “Big Four Champions” playing at Hofstra University. When Mario passed in ’97, Phil Revien wrote, “Mario never asked how I played, he always asked how I was doing in school – was I keeping out of trouble? After a tough Football loss he told me, ‘It’s not important to be the best, it’s important to be your best!’ He will be in my heart forever.” Tennis player, Pam Halprin wrote, “He had a way of reaching out to people, especially kids and warming their lives. He lives on in my heart as well as countless others whom he touched.” In his final official act, Mario, went straight from being discharged from the hospital following an episode of heart failure, to attend a Booster Club meeting at POBJFKHS to lend his support for the final location of the Wall Of Fame. Mario lived to serve his community and especially the kids of POB. His was truly a life well lived. 

John F. Kennedy High School - 1967-1995

Boys’ Soccer Head Coach

Inducteed in 2019

Ralph was born in 1938 in Israel and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1956. After graduation Ralph went to Cortland State University, where he graduated in 1961 with a degree in Physical Education. While at Cortland he was a member of the Men’s Soccer program. Coach Dreyer also received his Master’s from Hofstra University. Ralph starting teaching Physical Education at Manetto Hill School in 1961. He moved to Kennedy High School when it opened in 1967 and remained there until he retired.Ralph Dreyer started the Boys’ Soccer Program At Kennedy High School in 1967 and coached the team until 1995. Within four years Ralph lead Kennedy HS to the North Shore Division 3 Championship. In total Coach Dreyer won 5 Division Championships, 2 County Championships, and the 1983 Class “B” State Championship when they defeated the defending state champs Pittsford-Mendon. The 1983 Soccer team is still the only State Championship won by a Plainview-Old Bethpage team in school history. During his career Ralph  won 3 Nassau County Coach of the year honors (1977,1983 and 1984) and has an astonishing record, with 267 Victories . Ralph also served the district as the Head Coach for Boys’ Bowling, Swimming, Outdoor Track, Assistant Boys’ Lacrosse and as the Athletic Director.  Ralph currently resides in Greentown, PA. He is married to Roberta Dreyer for 58 years. Roberta was Physical Education at Parkway Elementary School. He has 2 children , David And Douglas and 3 beautiful grandchildren. 

John F. Kennedy High School

Lacrosse

Class of 1973

Richard played 4 years as a starter at attack and midfield from 1970 to 1973 for the John F. Kennedy High School Lacrosse  team. Rich was instrumental in leading Kennedy High School to back to back Division II titles. These are still the only conference or division titles in school history. He was named All-Division as a freshmen, and then he was selected 1st All Nassau County for his sophomore, junior and senior years. As a senior he was also named to the High School All-American team. After graduation Rich attended John Hopkins University where he became a 4 time All-American. He played in 2 national championship games and scored 3 goals in 1974 leading John Hopkins to its first national title. As a senior he was presented with the schools Unsung Hero Award. During his John Hopkins career, Rich had the distinction of scoring a point in every game he played for 4 straight years. Rich was inducted into the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame in 2016.

John F. Kennedy High School

Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, and Football

Class of 1984

Jeff played four sports while attending John F. Kennedy High School. He was a 4-year member of the school’s Varsity Soccer program. In 1980, he was the first freshman ever to play varsity. During his career, he had 60 career goals and led Kennedy High School to the Class "B" State Championship in 1983; still the only team to win a State Championship in school history. As a senior in 1983, he led Nassau County with 32 goals and was named All-County. As a junior, he scored 17 goals and was named All-Conference. He was also a 3-year member of the Varsity Football program and still holds the school record with a 43-yard field goal. He was a 3-year Varsity Baseball player, serving as team captain in his senior year when he earned All-Conference honors. He was also a 3-year Varsity member of the Kennedy Basketball team. After high school, Jeff  attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he played soccer for the Quakers and majored in Entrepreneurial Management and Marketing. Jeff is an attorney and currently resides in Woodbury , NY with his girlfriend and better half, Connie Henriquez.  His two children, Rachel and Jason, both graduated from POB JFK High School.

Plainview- Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy HS - Class of 2002

Soccer and Basketball

Inducteed in 2019

Dan was a two sport standout while at POB-JFK HS. He was a member of the  varsity soccer team for 3 years. In 2001 Dan led the Hawks’ Boys Soccer team to a Conference Championship. That year he led the team with 22 goals and 5 assists. As a senior Danny was named to the All-State team and selected to Newsday’s All-Long Island 1st team. He was also named to the All-County team in his Junior year and All-Conference team his sophomore year. He was also a member of the  varsity basketball team for 3 years. Dan helped lead the Hawks to back to back conference championships in 2001 and 2002 (the only back to back championships in boys’ basketball history). He was named team captain and earned All-County honors his senior year. Also, he received All-Conference honors his Junior year. After graduation Dan attended Duke University and played 4 years of soccer as a starter for the Blue Devils. During his time at Duke, as a Senior captain Dan helped led the Blue  Devils to an ACC Championship in 2005. In 2004 he lead the team with 11 goals, 7 assists and the Blue Devils reached the NCAA Men's Soccer semi-final game, but fell to eventually National Champion runner-up Santa Barbara.  In 2006 he was selected 5th overall in the USL 1st Division draft by the Rochester Rhinos. Danny played professionally for the Rhinos from 2006-2008.Dan currently resides in East Norwich. He is married to Kaitlin for 5 years. He has one beautiful child, Duke who is 13 months and a baby girl on the way.

Plainview- Old Bethpage John F.  Kennedy HS - Class of 1997

Gymnastics

Inducteed in 2019

Ila was a 4 year member of the varsity gymnastic team. She is the only person in Plainview-Old  Bethpage history to win four Nassau County Gymnastic county titles (1994,1995,1996,and 1997). In fact, she is one of only 2 gymnasts in Nassau County history to accomplish this feat; and no one has four-peated since Ila. She was named All-State, in 1994 and 1995. She was also named All-American during 1996 and 1997 seasons. During Ila's 4 year career she never lost a regular season meet. During her senior year she led the gymnastic team to their 1st ever County Championship. She also competed at the High School Nationals. She placed 2nd on floor, 5th on beam and 6th all-around. She was named National Team All-star. After High School Ila attended Northern Illinois, where she competed for the Huskies from 1998- 2001. She then    received her PhD in Molecular Biology from University of Maryland, Baltimore and is currently the Director of Forensics at Applied DNA Sciences in Stony Brook. Ila currently resides in Dix Hills, NY. She is married to David lansky for 15 years. She has  3 beautiful children, Carly (9), Anna (5) and Aaron (5).

Plainview- Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy HS - Class of 1995

Football, Ice Hockey and Lacrosse

Inducteed in 2019

Chris played three sports while at POB-JFK HS -  football, Ice hockey and lacrosse. During his high school career he earned BFS Sectional All-American, All-Conference honors in football. In lacrosse he earned Honorable Mention All-County and was also selected to participate in the Nassau County Lacrosse All-Star game. Chris also led the Hawk’s Ice Hockey team to the County Championship Game in his senior year. He was a team captain in all three sports. After high school Chris attended Nassau Community College where he played lacrosse. In 1997 he was named team captain and led the Lions to their 16th NJCAA Men's   Lacrosse National Championship. The awards didn't stop there as Chris was named to the 1st team NJCAA All-American. Following NCC, Chris moved to Hofstra University and was a member of  the 1998 and 1999 American East Championship teams. In 1999, he was named team captain and earned 2nd team All-American honors. After college Chris was drafted by the NY Saints in the National Lacrosse League. He won three World Championships with the Bridgeport/Philadelphia Barrage (‘03, ‘04 and ‘06). Chris has also served as the POB-JFK HS Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse coach 17 years earning Coach of the Year awards in 2012 and 2016. Chris has worked with the football program since 1998, and has served as the Varsity Head Coach for the past 8 years. Chris currently resides in Garden City, NY. He is married to Janet for 17 years. he has 3 beautiful children. Hayden (12), CJ (9) and harper (6).

John F. Kennedy High School - 1967-1995

Boys’ basketball head Coach

Ozzie graduated from Lafayette High School in1954. After graduation Ozzie went to Western Maryland College, where he graduated with a degree in Biology. Ozzie starting teaching in New York City in 1965, before moving on Kennedy High School in 1967 to teach science. Ozzie Stewart started the Boys’ basketball Program at Kennedy High School in 1967 and coached the team  until 1995. During his tenure as basketball coach he lead Kennedy to five division titles, won 3 sportsmanship awards and was named Division Coach of the year.  For his career Coach Stewart amassed over 250 career victories. Ozzie also served the district as a Middle school and JV boys’ Soccer coach. He also coached JV football, Outdoor Track, Varsity Softball and Girls’ basketball. Coach Stewart’s legacy also extends to the coaching world with well over 20 former Kennedy Basketball players becoming basketball coaches in their own right. Ozzie currently resides in Allentown, PA. He is married to Aimee Stewart for 25 years. He has 2 children, Douglas and Dina and 7 beautiful grandchildren.