Page 26 - North Haven Magazine Issue 32 Winter 2024

Heroes of Yesteryear: by Mike Proto
Tom Grillo

Co-Founder of the Midget Football Program
and the North Haven Babe Ruth League

There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. In my experience, this is true.
And, there is no “village” quite like North Haven. From the time my parents made
the decision to move to North Haven in 1960 when I was just three years old, I
had the benefit of being mentored by countless people of the utmost quality. The
education I received in the North Haven School system was second to none. How-
ever, equally important were the great number of selfless, caring individuals I came
across through my participation in the youth programs in football, basketball, and
Baseball. All of these Coaches volunteered their time and provided me with many
valuable lessons as well as setting exemplary examples for me to emulate as I pro-
gressed to the high school level and young adulthood.

Coach Tom Grillo with his signature cigar
hile each one of these individuals game of football. And, this is what has
Wleft their own unique mark on my stuck with me all these years later.
soul, there is one man who stands out
above the rest. His name is Tom Grillo, Not surprisingly, during the three years
and he was my Midget football coach. I played for the Cadets, we won the
From the moment I stepped on the foot- league championship my first two years
ball field as an 11-year-old youngster before finally finishing in second place
and formally met him, I knew that I was my last year when the Tigers finally un-
in the presence of someone special, an seated us. They were coached by Ben
individual who would have a profound
effect on my life. In retrospect, he really
wasn’t exceptionally big. He was stocky Tom Grillo and his family
and stood about 5’9” inches tall. How-
ever, in my young impressionable eyes, and were taught to always secure the ball
he was bigger than life. To me he was a when we were about to be tackled. He
cross between a Five-Star General and strived to teach us how to think when
legendary NFL Coach, Vince Lombar- we were in the midst of a game. The fol-
di. He had a military style haircut and lowing example perfectly illustrates this
had round and solid facial features. But, point. In my first year, I was a reserve
what I remember most of all is that he quarterback, and we were scrimmaging
always seemed to have a well chewed one of the teams in our league. In a pre-
cigar either in his hand or his mouth. vious practice, he had mentioned to me
Even now, when I smell cigar smoke, that if I saw a certain defensive arrange-
I am brought back to my Midget foot- ment, I should call what he referred to
ball days. He spoke with authority, and, as a quickie pass at the line of scrim-
mage. Sure enough, it didn’t take very
long before I saw the exact arrangement
he had talked about. So, I switched the
play at the line of scrimmage and then
perfectly executed the quickie pass. He
got so excited that he gave me a bear
hug, and affectionately slapped my hel-
met with his bearlike hand. What posi-
tive affirmation for a player just starting As a young man with his parents prior to
Team Photo of the Cadets 1968 out in the game! shipping out for Battle of the Bulge. A 38
day battle thru brutal winter conditions
While teaching us the fundamentals of preventing Hitlers frantic and last push to
when he spoke, we listened. He had a the game was very important, he more his naval reinforcement. We lost more sol-
diers in that 38 day period than we did in
complete understanding of the game importantly taught us to always con- the 13 years of the Vietnam War. The men
of football and focused on teaching us duct ourselves with class and integrity. he fought with remained close for the rest of
the fundamentals of the game. We did He was as interested in developing our their lives. - Mark Grillo, Son
countless blocking and tackling drills character as he was in teaching us the

26 North Haven Magazine - Winter Issue 2024