It was one of the best kept secrets going in a county where secrets usually last as long as a fuse on a firecracker.
Bill DeFazio was told by his wife, Alice, the athletic director at New Jersey City University, that he was going back to Marist High School last Sunday afternoon for a brief minute to speak with the school’s principal, Brother Steve Schlitte.
DeFazio was the long-time girls’ basketball coach at Marist before retiring that position at the end of the 2008-09 season. He also worked full-time at the school, until a recent bout with pancreatic cancer ended that stint.
DeFazio was under the impression that he was going to Marist to receive some sort of card of thanks from Schlitte.
However, when DeFazio arrived at the school, there were about 400 or so of his closest friends, family members, former players, all united to honor him.
The school unveiled a banner that proclaimed DeFazio to be the all-time leader in girls’ basketball coaching victories in the history of the old HCIAA.
But more importantly, they did something that will live on in perpetuity: the school renamed the basketball floor the Bill DeFazio Court in his honor.
According to Marist athletic director Larry Arico, the decision to rename the court in DeFazio’s honor was done long before he was diagnosed with cancer two months ago.
“The banner we talked about a long time ago,” Arico said. “We talked about that after Bill retired. But then we thought about what we could do to honor Bill more and the thought of the gym floor came up. We just decided to do it all together.”
With the help of his DeFazio’s wife, Marist then put together the ceremony honoring DeFazio’s dedication and devotion to the school. It was more than the 570-plus victories, the county and state championships. It’s a lifetime of memories.
“People remember Bill for more than just the wins and losses,” Arico said. “And it wasn’t for just the coaching aspect. It’s about him.”
“Bill always has a permanent home here,” Schlitte said. “And now, it’s on our floor. He made an extraordinary contribution to our school and it means a lot to us to honor him this way. He was a teacher first and foremost and he taught through the sport of basketball. That’s what we try to do every day at Marist. We try to be teachers first. So this is an important day for all of us. He thought he was coming in to see just a few people and he walked into the gym and saw everyone. It was an emotional moment for him.”
Added Schlitte, “This was the right thing to do, whether he was sick or not. Maybe this will inspire him and help him get better. But he’s a permanent fixture here at Marist High School.”
DeFazio was totally surprised by the outpouring of love and support he found waiting for him on Sunday. He knew about the possibility of the banner being unveiled, but had no idea that the school was going to name the floor in his honor.
“I had absolutely no clue,” said DeFazio, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February. “We were just going to go to Marist for about an hour. I thought I was getting a card or something from Brother Steve. When I walked in, I can’t explain the way I felt. I didn’t even think of the floor.”
But then DeFazio remembered that just within the last year or so, New Jersey City University honored long-time men’s basketball coach Charlie Brown by naming the floor after him.
“I was there when they honored Charlie,” DeFazio said. “This reminded me of Charlie’s night.”
DeFazio said that it was hard for him to control his emotions, seeing all his friends, coaching colleagues and former players together again.
“It’s hard to explain it, especially after what has happened to me,” DeFazio said. “This has forced me to realize how many people have touched my life. You don’t realize how many people love you, until something like this happens. It’s more so now. I realize it a lot more now.”
DeFazio said that he always has something to say for every occasion. It’s usually a wisecrack or a humorous line. Chances are, the line will be one of abuse, but in a loving sort of way.
“But I really don’t know what to say here,” DeFazio said. “I’m usually never lost for words, but I am today. There are so many emotions going on and everything that is associated with it.”
DeFazio couldn’t last long at what was best described as a reunion of honor for a beloved coach. The treatments DeFazio are undergoing are taking its toll on him. There’s a ritual and strict regimen for prescriptions to be followed, almost hour to hour.
But for a day, all of the troubles that come with fighting cancer were pushed aside, as Marist chose to honor the school’s all-time coaching victory leader.
“It’s great that my grandchildren can come and see this,” DeFazio said. “And they can bring their grandkids.”
Vinnie Smith, one of DeFazio’s nearest and dearest friends since childhood and someone who coached with DeFazio over the years, put it in perspective.
“I think this is phenomenal,” Smith said. “We’re all here because we love him and he gets to know it. We can appreciate him and he can appreciate us.”
Even Smith knew that keeping the secret of the ceremony from DeFazio would be a chore.
“When I walked up to him, I said, ‘I can’t believe how hard everyone worked to keep this a secret,’” Smith said. “The one thing about Billy is that no matter what he did, it was never about him. This was a day for him. There’s no one better. He’s the best of the best.”
DeFazio admitted that he might not have liked the idea if he truly knew about it.
“I probably would have been a little ticked off,” DeFazio said. “But it’s a little humbling, knowing that all these people care so much. I appreciate it so much.”
And now, everyone who ever enters the gymnasium at Marist High School will have a reminder of the beloved mentor, friend and coach named Bill DeFazio. q
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.