By Joe Siegel
A Cigar Night fundraiser to benefit the Smithfield High School Hall of Fame will be held May 11 at the Portuguese American Club.
The money raised will pay for a scholarship and a banquet to recognize the 2024 inductees.
The Hall of Fame began in 2016. Awards are presented in several categories, including the Green Star Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Athletic Awards for students who have excelled in various sports.
There were 20 inductees the first year. In 2018, 17 more inductees were entered into the Hall of Fame. Three of those were Gold Star Awards, seven Lifetime Achievement Awards, and seven Athletic Awards.
Past Athletic Achievement honorees include Margret Conaty, Kathy Hawkins Connell, Robert DiMuccio, Lauren Drury, Mark Gilchrist, Paul Passano, and Susan Raposa.
Past Green Star honorees include Master Sergeant Gregg Bellucci (Class of 1994), a Marine Corps. veteran with 20 years of service, Major Nancy Emma (Class of 1972), who served as a trauma nurse in the United States Army for 26 years, and Colonel Reynolds (RJ) Lillibridge Jr. (Class of 1985), who served as Battalion Commander in Iraq and Brigade Commander in Afghanistan.
Past Lifetime Achievement honorees include Town Councilman John Tassoni (Class of 1976), James Dunn, Robert Cleasby, Bruce Ewart, John Fogarty (Class of 1974), Henry Shepard, and Derek Wagner (Class of 1995).
An awards banquet has not been held since 2018 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, said Ann Andrews, a member of the committee for the Hall of Fame.
“The original committee started this in 2015 when they were going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Smithfield High School,” Andrews explained.
A decision was made to honor the school’s alumni every other year.
The event will be held rain or shine. A steak dinner is included.
“Everyone who buys a ticket gets four cigars,” Andrews said, adding a raffle is held with the chance to win “higher-end” cigars.
The fundraising goal is $3000. Tickets are $50 each. Event is from 6 pm to 10 pm at Portuguese American Club on Fenwood Avenue.
Send checks to:
Smithfield High School HOF
P O Box 17006
Smithfield, RI 02917