Babylon Boosters announces this years Wall of Fame inductees

By Tony Spota

Sal Cesciola

The Babylon Varsity Boosters have announced their Year 2002 Wall of Fame inductees. Babylon’s Wall features those who have achieved significant success in the school’s athletic program. The induction ceremony is held in the spring of every other year.

This year’s inductees include four individuals and the undefeated 1958 Babylon High School Football Team. This year’s induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 8, at the Wall of Fame in the BHS gymnasium lobby. The individual honorees are Sal Casciola, Sean McLaughlin, Kathy Powers DeSilva and Harry Suddueth.

Sal Casciola (Class of 1974) was a multisport athlete in football and track. As a halfback, Sal was a leading rusher on the 1972 and 1973 league championship football teams. In track, he was a member of the 4X200 relay team which set the school record for the event, a mark that still stands. He then went on to graduate from C.W. Post where he achieved a BS in Science. While at Post, Sal starred in football for four years. After college, he had a career in public service and served as the Health/Safety Chairman for the New York State Public Employee Federation, representing over 50,000 state professionals. He also served as a basketball official. Sal and his wife Deborah live in Babylon and have two sons, Chris and Jake.

Sean McLaughlin (Class of ’90) was a wrestler and football player. He was the Suffolk County co-champion at 250 pounds and placed fifth in the 1990 New York State Championships. He was selected to the All-County Football Team in 1989. He then was awarded an AA at Nassau CC, a BA at SUNY Buffalo and an MA at Hofstra. In 1993, Sean was a National Junior College All-American wrestler and placed seventh in the nation. From 1992 through 1998 he was a gold medalist seven times in the Empire State Games and was an All-American six times in free style and Greco Roman wrestling. He is a teacher in the Sayville school district and the head wrestling coach at BHS. Sean and his wife Charlene reside in West Islip.

Kathy Powers DeSilva

Kathy Powers DeSilva (Class of ’87) was a star in field hockey, basketball and softball. She was a key to the school’s field hockey success for four years as the team won championships in 1984-85 and ‘86-87. She was awarded all-league honors in 1984 and ’85 and was all-county in 1986. She played basketball and softball in 1986 and 1987 and made the all-league softball team in her senior year. In college, she received a BS in Accounting at Ithaca College and a JD in Law at Touro College. Kathy was admitted to the Bar in 1995. At Ithaca, she starred in field hockey for four years, winning a number of awards and was selected the Defensive MVP in 1990, the year her team won the State Championship. She was the team co-captain in 1989 and ’90. She is now a manager in Sales Account Finance at Computer Associates in Islandia. Kathy and husband Rob reside with their two boys, RJ and Luke, in Kings Park.

Harry "Babe" Suddueth (Class of ’48) was a basketball and baseball star. The late Mr. Suddueth played basketball from 1946 through 1948 and was selected to Newsday’s Western all-scholastic team in 1947 and 1948 when he finished second in scoring both years. Babe played varsity baseball in his junior and senior years when BHS won the Suffolk County championships both seasons. He batted .500 in 1948. In addition, he served on the Student Council as a junior. He is a charter member of the BHS Wall of Fame, having been inducted in 1990 as part of the 1947 BHS championship baseball team. This year, he is being inducted as an individual. Babe retired from the Suffolk County Police Department. His son and daughter are Long Island residents.

The 1958 Babylon Panthers Football Team was undefeated (7-0) and the top team in their division. Coached by Bob Cox, the team outscored the opposition 148-32 beating Brentwood 27-2, Half Hollow Hills 19-0, Hauppauge 14-6, Harborfields 13-6, Copiague 20-0, Central Islip 27-6 and Selden 28-12.

Team members include Joe Campagnola (Class of 1960), who played three seasons and made All League in ’59. Joe served in the Army and later married Susan and had three children. He began a cesspool business and now resides in Bay Shore.

Sean McLaughlin

Bob Cognato (Class of ’60) also married and had three children. He works in maintenance in the Deer Park School District where he now lives.

Bob Corcoran (Class of ’60) played three sports and was the sophomore class president. He was All county basketball two years. Bob went to Ithaca where he played football and basketball and was on the wrestling team and earned a BS in Phys Ed. He then earned an MA at Adelphi and an SAS from Hofstra. He taught and was the head football coach at Uniondale HS. He and wife Dawn now live in Port St. Lucie, FL and have three children and two grandchildren.

Ron Frole (Class of ’60) was a four sport athlete. He earned a degree in Criminal Justice from SUNY Farmingdale and attended the University of Miami. He and wife Lorraine have three children and one grandchild. He now lives in Lindenhurst and has been a Suffolk County police officer for 22 years.

Bob Hochheiser (Class of ’60) was a three sport athlete winning twelve letters. He became a financial consultant and a horse breeder. He and Christina raised five children and now have four grandchildren. They live in Winter Springs, FL.

Harry "Babe" Suddueth

Lee Mairs (Class of ’60) played football at BHS for four years and golf for a year. He was in the National Honor Society for four years and made the all state band. He earned a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Business from the University of New Mexico and the University of Rochester. Lee now resides in Romney, WV and is a retired Navy Commander and was a director of a research firm. He has one son.

Frank Registrato played football and was a wrestler for BHS. After high school, he went into the US Army. He is a retired construction supervisor. Frank now resides in Homasassa, FL. He is the father of three children and has three grandchildren.