Hall of Fame

Bethpage inducts six individuals and two sports teams, that have had a positive impact on the district, on October 12, 2013. The event was sponsored by the Bethpage Educational Foundation which raised more then $100,000.00 over the past six years in support of programs and scholarships for Bethpage students. Those honored were:

Anne DiPrima - An athletic coordinator at JFK Middle School for 27 years and who coached sports at the middle school and high school levels. Tom Frost - A 1968 graduate of the district who ran the Bethpage PAL and served on the Bethpage School Board for 21 years. Edward Mangano - 1980 graduate of the district and the current Nassau County Executive whose family resides in and very involved in the district. George McElroy - Principal of the Bethpage High School for 19 years and active in the Bethpage community. Mary Morante - A staff member in the district for 46 years and whose family is active in the district. Patrick Rhatigan - 1987 graduate who recently obtained the rank of colonel and is currently commander of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. The 1981-82 Girls Swim Team - The team was the most successful team of any sport in the district history. The 1993 Varsity Football Team - First team to win the coveted Rutgers Cup, starting a 32 game winning streak.

Above information from the "Bethpage Tribune" October 13, 2013

Distinguished inductees for 2014 - Honored on October 18, 2014 at the Bethpage High School Gym. Information from the BETHPAGE TRIBUNE - September 26, 2014

Ellen Lang - Class of 1967, went on to sing for the Metropolitan Opera. Jack McCaffrey - Former teacher and Assistant Principal at Bethpage High School. Wayne Rhatigan - Class of 1981, a retired NYC Police Officer who foiled the Times Square Bomber. Steve Schanwald, Class of 1973, and currently a Vice President for the Chicago Bulls. Marc Sieben - Class of 1970, President of the Bethpage Educational Foundation and officer at MetLife. Louis W. Uccellini - Class of 1967, and currently the Director of the National Weather Service.

Bethpage Hall of Fame - Induction Ceremony - October 17, 2015 Sponsored by the Bethpage Educational Foundation. The Honorees are:

Gary Bretton - Class of 1972 - "Gary has championed all things in Bethpage." Patrick Calabria - Class of 1969 - "Pat has returned to BHS on numerous occasions to talk about his career and to honor past greats of BHS athletic history." David Kessler - Class of 1957 - "David is very active in alumni affairs at Bethpage High School, Cornell and Princeton." Walter Kross - Class of 1960 - Four Star General in the United States Air Force. "Walter retired in 1998 and became a partner at KPMG. He later became CEO of Flight Explorer, a software company, and currently serves as Chairman of a small California Defense firm." Linda Mangano - Class of 1981 - First Lady of Nassau County. Linda continues to promote the small town culture of the community she has spent her whole life in. "At home, Linda is surrounded by Golden Eagles - her husband Ed, and her two sons Sal and Alex." Robert Moraghan - Class of 1956 - "Robert has mentored countless school administrators in the metropolitan area and they are the better for the wisdom he shared with them." Marge Zuk - Longtime Teacher Aide - "Marge worked for the Bethpage School District for 42 years. She was a beloved figure at the JFK Middle School who touched many lives."

2016 inductees to the Bethpage Hall of Fame: Anita Disanza - Retired Spanish Teacher at BHS; Bobby Macholz - A longtime volunteer for athletics; Signor Vincenzo Maio - Retired Italian Teacher BHS; Judith Claire Mitchell - BHS Class of 1970, novelist and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Wisconsin; Lenny Mulqueen - BHS Class of 1961, President of the Central Park Historical Society since 1994; Joie Tyrrell - BHS Class of 1985, journalist for "Newsday"; 1996 Lacrosse Boys Team - Winners of the State Championship - this will be the 20th anniversary of that accomplishment.

2017 inductees to the Bethpage Hall of Fame: Timothy Cloonan - Class of 1958 - Drafted into the US Army and went to Vietnam serving as a surgeon in the Army Medical Corps. He worked at a POW evacuation center in Central Vietnam and received a Combat Medical Badge and Bronze Star. Retired as Colonel from the Air Force in 2005. Brian Hickey - Class of 1972 - New York City Fireman where he rose through the ranks earning the respect of his colleagues. He was killed in the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Rosalie Walsh Niemczyk - Class of 1956 - Rosalie's family is steeped in Bethpage history. Rosalie first graduating class from BHS and held the honor as class salutatorian, attended NYS College for Teachers at Albany and became a teacher and Guidance Counselor at BHS, and active in school and community. She documented Central Park/Bethpage history in her "I Remember When" articles for the "Bethpage Tribune". Frank Procida - Class of 1993 - Graduated from Bucknell University and went on to received his masters degree from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and he went on to study abroad. Frank spent 17 years working in the US intelligence community. He published a number of articles on weapons proliferation and Iran's nuclear program. He also served as both editor and briefer for the Presidents Daily Brief. Charles Melone - Class of 1960 - Attended Georgetown University for both undergraduate and medical degrees. Charles became one of the most knowledgeable hand surgeons in the United States. Charles is Director of the Division of Hand Surgery at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Mount Sinai Ichan School of Medicine and Director Mount Sinai Hand Fellowship Program. Barbara Keiler - Class of 1970 - Barbara graduated from Smith College and then attended graduate school at Brown University. During her college days she became a playwright. In 1983 she wrote and published her first novel under the pseudonym of Judith Arnold. Since then she has written over 90 romance novels and several crime fiction novels. Antoinette MacLeod - Bethpage High School Principal 1987-2003. Toni was an energetic principal and proud of the academic progress made by Bethpage during her tenure. For all her accomplishments she received the Town of Oyster Bay Woman of Distinction award. Al Blau and the 1968-69 Wrestling Team. Al was a Science teacher at Bethpage High School from 1962 to 1998. He was a legendary coach at Bethpage HS in both JV Football and Varsity Wrestling. Al and the 1968-69 Wrestling team were the first undefeated wrestling team in school history.

2018 Inductees to the Bethpage Hall of Fame

Steve Furrey, Class of 1973. Steve Furrey graduated from BHS in 1973 . He played football, baseball and basketball. He is regarded as one of the best passing quarterbacks in Golden Eagle history and passed for 34 touchdowns over two years while playing for legendary Coach Howie Vogts. He received a full scholarship to play football at the University of New Mexico.

Steve entered the field of education after attending C.W. Post for his Bachelors and Masters degrees. He taught and coached at Carle Place and was inducted into the Carle Place Hall of Fame as a Coach. He returned to Bethpage twenty two years ago to become Principal of Central Blvd. Elementary School. He has worked to create an inclusive school environment that serves the needs of some of the districts neediest students. He has balanced that with a rigorous academic climate for all students as noted by last year's BHS Valedictorian Smith Shah a graduate of Central Blvd. who stated that her wonderful love of learning started in her elementary school. Steve has received the CBS PTA Honorary Life Award for his commitment to the children of Bethpage.

Steve has taken leadership roles in the Nassau County Elementary Schools Principal Association where he has shared many of the Bethpage success stories.

Steve married another Golden Eagle - Karen Cassidy. Class of 1975. They have two children and two grandchildren.