Glen Ridge NJ Baseball 1975 1976

Congratulations to your son; I hope he has had continued success!  I grew up in Glen Ridge and was two years younger than Scott (Class of '79). 

I knew your cousin, Scott.  He was not a rising star; he was already a star at Glen Ridge High School. 

In the summer of 1976, I played basketball with him and another 16 year old at Forest Avenue School in Glen Ridge, NJ.  Both Scott and the other kid were killed in separate car crashes a couple of weeks later.  Anyone from Glen Ridge at the time will know the other kid.

Scott was an inspring athlete.  That winter, one of my father's childhood friends who was a teacher in the Newark school system came to a basketball game in Glen Ridge  to watch Scott play.  He had heard he was a great athlete and wanted to see his game first hand.  All three of us went to the game and Scott won that game with two free throws in the final seconds while the opposing fans were doing everything to distract him.  

The August 1976 pick-up game at Forest Avenue playground was the last time I ever saw Scott.  He did not take one shot that game.  He only passed the ball.  He made pinpoint passes to me and the other kid killed within one week.  He could have won the game on his own but wanted us to do the scoring.  This sounds trite bit that was an awesome thing to do and I never forgot it or his game winning free throws.  I sensed that Scott was one of those people who could do anything well. 

No one ever talks about Scott or the other 4 kids killed that summer.  I do think about them.  I often remember that summer pick up game where the other two kids on my team were killed within the month but left a lasting impression on me.