‘His spirit will always be in our hearts’

Sometime around 6 o’clock Sunday evening, a group of four-dozen men entered the Nardolillo Funeral Home in Cranston to pay respect to Gary V. Mazzie, the legendary Johnston High School teacher, coach, athletic director and Hall of Fame creator and founder who last Thursday lost his three-year battle with cancer.

The group – which represented the award-winning, a cappella barbershop singing group officially known as the Narragansett Bay Chorus – was headed by Mike Maino.

“We’re here to honor our brother, Gary Mazzie,” Maino said. “Unfortunately he was only with our group a short time. So, we’re going to sing two songs in his honor, one being Gary’s favorite, ‘You Raise Me Up,’ that was done by Josh Groban.”

It was that title and song’s words, people would concur, that may have best described the way Mazzie lived his life, and how his dedication and love for helping people left lasting memories in not one but three Rhode Island communities.

As a teacher, he helped students feel as though they could stand on mountains, walk on stormy seas and be more than they thought they could ever be.

He did so as a coach and athletic director, as well.

Although his career in the education world spanned more than four decades and touched the lives of students in several school systems, Mazzie will always be remembered for his untiring efforts to establish the prestigious Johnston High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

That’s why his best friend, Jim Hopkins, told people that Gary would not have wanted Saturday night’s induction ceremony cancelled under any circumstance and insisted it be the celebration of a distinguished organization he set into motion five years ago.

“This is not a sad night,” Hopkins offered prior to emceeing Saturday’s induction ceremony. “It’s a celebration of what Gary has put forth for these people.”

Back when his three daughters, Kira, Becky and Samantha, attended West Warwick schools and played such sports as soccer, basketball and softball, Mazzie made sure he did more than his fair share to help adult volunteers that coordinated those valuable programs.

Even back then, Mazzie made lasting memories, just as he did during an extraordinary tenure in Johnston schools and with people from all walks of life and a number of different sports squads.

“Gary was a true renaissance man,” Hopkins said of his friend, with whom he coached and assisted in the sports of basketball and golf. “He loved to travel and the history what went with it. He loved science. He always demanded excellence of himself and his students as a teacher.

“When coaching he always asked the players to work hard. And he always made sure everyone played, regardless of the score,” Hopkins continued. “He loved performing in the Narragansett Bay Chorale group and was a very talented musician. But most of all, for me, Gary was like a brother and his physical presence will be truly missed. But we all know his spirit will always be in our hearts.”

What a lot of people didn’t know, Hopkins related, “was that Gary played the piano and organ and played them well. One time when we were in Bermuda, he sat down at the piano in the lounge and started playing. Many guests thought he was the entertainment. So, I put a tip jar out with a couple of dollars in and out and he made some money.”

Just as he did during that fun-filled time, Mazzie did many things without much fanfare or show.

“My initial reaction to Gary came several years ago when he joined our chorus,” Maino recalled. “He just lighted up the room, no inhibitions … no apologizing not knowing what he was getting into. Sure, he was new, but he came in with a very positive attitude and wanted to know what this was about.

“We found out very quickly that Gary just loved people and every week the chorus grew to know him,” Maino continued. “He eventually would take on more and more responsability and became our vice president. When he got in front of the chorus, people chanted ‘Ga-ry, Ga-ry’ … almost like he was a football coach. We shared great camaraderie with him.”

Dennis Quaranta, who chairs the Johnston Memorial Cancer Events and is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame, knew Gary Mazzie for a number of years, dating back to when they both served in the U.S. Army reserves.

“Gary was a good guy,” Quaranta said Saturday night prior to the Hall of Fame ceremony. “He was the best.”

Zach Farrell, the current principal at Johnston High School, has also known Mazzie and of his many marvelous works for a number of years.

“He was such a great man,” Farrell said. “Gary was a fixture as a coach, teacher and athletic administrator and will be sorely missed by the entire Johnston High School community. I am deeply saddened by his passing. Gary had so much life and was always giving back to help each and every student whose lives he certainly touched in a number of positive ways.”

Richard “Dick” Hagopain, a former Johnston High teacher, coach and member of the Hall of Fame and its coordinating committee, said: “Gary was always thanking us for all our help. But if it wasn’t for his tireless work, none of us would have received that great honor. Although we couldn’t present him with a special plaque last week, his name will never be forgotten.”

Hopkins announced at Saturday’s Hall of Fame Induction Dinner that the group has changed its fundraiser name, which will forever be known as the Gary V. Mazzie Memorial Golf Tournament.