Page 34 - North Haven Magazine Issue 25 Autumn 2022

by Colleen Redmond Neleber
In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word Coach has several meanings, including one who
trains athletes or performers in their chosen field. For North Haven Coach Bob DeMayo, it has
been giving his heart and soul to the legions of young people he works with.

oach DeMayo began his own career at er saw myself leaving; I had always been
CNotre Dame High School, where he that impressed by Coach, he has been in-
played basketball, football, and baseball, strumental in helping me to grow up. He
and won the Outstanding Athlete of the is a man of integrity, “said Proto,“ he says
Year Trophy, in his senior year. However, what he means and he means what he says.
that was just the beginning for Bob De- Playing for him, you are never the same,”
Mayo. After graduating from Notre Dame he said fondly. “One of the reasons North
High School with a Baseball scholarship, Haven has had such success is because of
DeMayo went on to Fordham University. him.” Proto also said that the people in the
Upon graduation, DeMayo signed a minor stands watching their kids and grandkids
league contract with the Baltimore Orioles playing ball are more often than not, for-
in the Minor leagues, playing in the Ap- mer students of Coach Bob. “He’s actively
palachian league. In his first professional coached grandkids of kids he has coached,”
at-bat, the future coach would hit a grand said Proto. “He knows how to motivate
slam. He played a baseball game each day you to perform your best; we have always
and twice on Sundays. But it was when he been a team no one wants to play because
returned home that a career began which he is the most competitive individual I
not only has had a huge impact on De- have ever met. “While the coach has a
Mayo, but future generations of North reputation for being fair and making sure
Haven kids as well. “When I was in high his kids are not only in good shape physi-
school, I was just influenced by my coach- cally, he cares about each kids well-being.
es”, said DeMayo, “and If you looked in my “As intense as he is on the field, he is a big
high school yearbook where it asked what Nevertheless, he gives special credit to not teddy bear off the field. I have been with
do you want to be, outside of a profession- only his other coaches and staff but to his him 40 years and that’s just coaching,” said
al baseball player, I wrote a teacher/coach.” wife of 41 years, Bette. “My wife has been Proto. “It’s been an honor to play for him
After playing, DeMayo was offered a posi- a teacher at North Haven, that’s where and coach with him. If you go to any state
tion by his former coach and mentor John we met, and she been right along with championships we played for, you will see
Janenda, at Notre Dame, to come and be me through the years, she is my ‘assistant players in the stands that played for him
an assistant coach for the sports he loves coach’, “ he said. “My wife is my number through the years. It meant that much to
so well. “So I took the position at Notre one fan and I would not be coaching if not them”.
Dame,” said DeMayo, “coached there for for her, she has been great. “ It is a fam-
a couple of years and then got an oppor- ily affair with the DeMayo family since
tunity to come to North Haven, where I DeMayo’s own children attended school
have been ever since.” In 1957, the coach in North Haven. The father of three said
began his longstanding role of not only that he enjoyed coaching his own children
teaching sports in North Haven but les- along with the thousands of kids whose
sons in life as well. While Coach DeMayo lives he has touched, and enriched. “My
has led North Haven teams to many victo- son played football and baseball, he is in
ries on the field, it is also his unique insight the North Haven Hall of Fame, and he
that makes him a standout as a coach. It went to UConn on a baseball scholarship. “
has been an incredible experience for me,
“said DeMayo.“ The kids have been tre- In 1979, North Haven resident and for-
mendous; it has been a great experience all mer student-athlete, Mike Proto, said that
the way through, people I have gotten to Coach DeMayo asked him if he would like
work with, and just about everything else. to join, and his immediate response was
“Coach DeMayo said that the help he has yes. “He is kind of like a second father to
received from people he has worked with me, “said Proto, “Since I played for him
through the years is what has contribut- when I was 14 to 18,” Proto said that once
ed to the success of North Haven sports he came on board, he knew it was a com-
teams. mitment he would not take lightly. “I nev-

34 North Haven Magazine - Autumn Issue 2022