Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 18, 2024 NUZZO FAMILY | FROM PAGE 1 captain in 1975 and helped lead the Crimson Tide to a 9th Greater Boston League championship with an 8-2-0 record. That year, Louis and Joseph combined for 14 TDs, 3 conversions and 90 total points. Joseph added another 4 TDs and a conversion, 26 points, in his 1976 senior year campaign. He loved watching his beloved Everett Crimson Tide football team. As a young father, Frank would pack up his children and travel near and far to watch the Crimson Tide compete every weekend in the fall. What made it more special was having his sons and three grandchildren be part of the historic football program. He would never miss a practice, never mind a game. He would pack a cooler full of Gatorades to pass out to the players and take a seat high in the bleachers, watching the team practice from afar. And, on game days, he could be found in his infamous top corner seat in the visitors’ bleachers. Win or lose, he would always be one of the first to give words of wisdom to the young men. Coach John DiBiaso honored Frank’s commitment to the program with the Fan of the Year Award. Frank Nuzzo, Jr. was a member of the 1969-1973 Everett Crimson Tide football teams. In 1970, as a sophomore, Frank scored 10 TDs and had a 2-point conversion for a total of 62 points, which was the best effort by a sophomore running back since Bobby Leo in 1960. That year, he also had 2 long TD runs (59 and 60 yards) called back against Chelsea. As a sophomore, Frank won the prestigious Jeffrey Jewelers Award, which was given to the most outstanding player on the team. In 1971, Frank guided Everett in winning their seventh GBL championship since 1955, with a 6-2-1 record. That year, Frank had 13 rushing TDs and a 2-point conversion for a total of 80 points, which led the entire GBL. In 1972, Frank again led Everett Frank, left, and Matt Nuzzo are shown with grandparents Frank and Mary Nuzzo. to a GBL championship, which would be the program’s 8th since 1955. As a Senior, Frank scored 11 TDs, for a total of 66 points. He was named to The Boston Globe’s All Scholastic teams on both sides of the ball. He was a first team defensive player as a defensive back, and second team offensive player as a running back. Frank’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown helped Everett stun the Medford Mustangs. Frank was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 18th round of the 1973 MLB June Amateur Draft, where he played 3B. He played 2 seasons with the Cardinals minor league affiliate before retiring from the sport in 1974. After baseball, Frank worked for Air Canada as the Senior Aircraft Service Coordinator for over 31 years. After retiring from Air Canada, he became the Director of Code Enforcement for the City of Everett and held the position for over 14 years. Frank was also a longtime Alderman of the City of Everett – for over 29 years. For many years, Frank has helped coach his three sons as they played for the Everett Eagles, Everett Little League Baseball and Everett Babe Ruth League Baseball. He is considered one of the most influential coaches by many of his former players. If you ask Frank Jr. what was the best part of his involvement in Everett football, he would say it was watching his three sons play for the historic program. He admired the teams his sons played for and really enjoyed watching those young men grow. He enjoyed watching the talented group of players during the 2000-2008 years. He also appreciates how his children were able to be so successful under the leadership of the legendary coach John DiBiaso. In October 1982, Frank Jr. married his wife, Diane, a Malden girl whose father also followed the Crimson Tide program. Frank Jr. and Diane met at Jacob’s Ladder in Revere, Mass. That night Diane NUZZO FAMILY | SEE PAGE 9
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