EHSA News

Legendary English High Baseball Coach Celebrates Latest Winning Season with Generous Donation

The coach who led English High’s 2006 baseball team to an undefeated 18 – 0 season and to the Boston City Championship has made two generous donations – one to the EHSA Scholarship Fund, the other to the recent championship team for new equipment.

This past year’s championship brought back great memories to John Rooney who was an English High teacher and varsity coach from 1984 to 2006. He included a heartfelt note to EHSA with his donation: “My sincere congratulations to the team and coaches! I remember having to put out money for such things as undershirts and a reliable backup catcher’s mitt, for example. I would like the coach to use this donation for the team as he pleases. I have had failing health the last couple of years but am feeling better and plan to be back in Boston in early June.”

In the note to English High Physical Education teacher and Head Baseball Coach Christian Ortiz, Rooney reminisced: “I certainly remember Jhonneris Mendez and Nelfi Zapata, good players and good kids. I remember when the 2006 season started I had a good team but lacked a good catcher. Something told me to give Nolfi a shot at catching even though he had never done it before. He took to it like a duck in water! He was excellent and made that team complete.”

Rooney continued, “What I remember about Jhonneris and Nelfi and Cruz Villar and others was that they not only liked to play, they liked to practice, do drills, anything to do with baseball. Their love of baseball was equal to mine. Please give a shout-out to both players next time you see them.”

Coach Ortiz replied to Rooney, “On behalf of our baseball program, I want to thank you for your generous donation. Your support means a great deal to us and it will make a significant impact on our team. Your contribution serves as a reminder of the strong legacy and community that EHS has to offer. We are incredibly grateful for your continued commitment to EHS Baseball. I have attached both our V and JV Schedules. Would love for everyone to come and catch a game this Spring.”

“I am so impressed that you took on such a challenging schedule of not only city teams, but outside the city,” Rooney noted. “In many ways in those days, my hands were tied. It was difficult to schedule games on weekends at EHS as the soccer moms demanded they had the field. It was very difficult to get buses to travel outside the city. I hope that has changed. Again, best of luck in the upcoming season. Maybe when I’m back in town, you’ll be in a tournament game and I can catch it in person. I wish you the best of luck.”

Addressing past students, Rooney says, “I want to give a shout-out to all my former students and ball players while I was at English. I hope you’re all doing well.”

Asked for advice to today’s EHS students, he says, “Take your school work seriously. It may be your best opportunity to help improve your outlook on life and your standard of living. Your education is something that people cannot take from you. I recommend to all students to be lifelong learners. Continue to be curious and learn about a wide variety of subjects and topics. It can make your life much more interesting.”

Reflecting on his life since retiring from EHS, he says, “I worked for two years in Bradenton, Florida, at the internationally known high school and sports complex called IMG. Students and athletes literally come from throughout the world to sharpen their athletic skills in a wide variety of sports. When money is no object, it amazes me how well we did as city coaches and athletes do with the limited finances that we have at our disposal, credit to all city coaches and athletes past and present.

“In my retirement, I enjoy playing golf but illness and three major surgeries to both shoulders and to my right hip have slowed me down and limited my golf. I enjoy watching spring training baseball as the Pirates and Orioles training facilities are nearby. I am most proud of my two children. My daughter is a third grade teacher and my son is a Boston police officer. Their mother and I instilled in them to contribute back to society. And I want to wish all my past EHS colleagues good health and good fortune.”