Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 School sports stadium dedicated in memory of Coach Chris “Christie” Serino Guided countless student-athletes down the right path By Tara Vocino T he Saugus Middle-High School sports stadium was dedicated in memory of football, baseball and hockey coach Chris “Christie” Serino last Friday night at halftime during Senior Night. The Wickford Street resident died in 2012 from environmental cancer at the age of 63. The 1967 Saugus High School All American tri-sport athlete taught physical education for approximately 20 years and coached baseball, football and hockey, touching many players’ lives in the process. Former teammate Coach Robert Maccini, who paid his respects at Serino’s gravesite earlier that day, said Serino was a father figure to everyone. “He was the greatest hockey mind that ever was,” Maccini said. “He guided endless players and helped them not only graduate high school but enroll in college.” One of those students, James Quinlan, spoke publicly at the dedication about his guidance, adding that Serino was a father figure to him. “I never would have graduated high school if it wasn’t for him,” Quinlan said. “I very easily could have gone down the wrong path, but he taught me about life.” Cousin Thomas O’Connell said Serino had the “secret sauce,” a combination of a charismatic personality along with a unique coaching style. “He knew when to knock you MEMORY | SEE PAGE 7 In front of the Christie Serino Jr. Memorial Stadium sign: in front row, pictured from left to right: niece Raylyn Scuzzarella, granddaughter Bobbi Serino and grandsons Beckett and Braden Serino; in back row, pictured from left to right: brother-in-law Skip Glavin, sister Maddie Glavin, niece Courtney Glavin, brother Frank Serino, daughter-in-law Kristin Serino and sons CJ and Matthew Serino. Family members took a group photograph at half-time: In back, from left to right: son Matthew Serino, granddaughter Bobbi Serino, brother Frank Serino, grandsons Braden and Beckett Serino, daughter-in-law Kristin Serino, son CJ Serino, niece Jessica Serino-Cipoletta, brother-in-law Skip Glavin, sister Maddie Glavin, niece Raylyn Scuzzarella, cousin Ginny Neff and niece Courtney Glavin; in back, from left to right: fiancé Janaye Dion, grandson Kash Christie Serino and son Tony Serino. Speaker Michael O’Connell said his coach, cousin and mentor had the “secret sauce,” including having a charismatic personality, and he was a talented tri-sport athlete. During last Friday’s night Christie Serino Jr. Memorial Stadium dedication at the Saugus Middle High School Complex, James Quinlan said he and countless other players likely wouldn’t have graduated high school if it wasn’t for his mentor, Christie Serino.
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