AA2 WEATHER AA3 HAPPENINGS AA4 RELIGION people, places AA1 AA5 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE & things www.theaegis.com WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010 pp&t| AA1 For 25 years, scholarship helps honor late Bel Air High football coach Al Cesky’s memory lives on BY RACHEL KONOPACKI amounting to $5,000 each over a four-year period. The responsibility; [email protected] remaining 22 will each receive $2,000 awards. ❏ Student’s propensity toward service to others; In the 1950s and early 1960s, high school football All past classes and some individual recipients ❏ Level of athletic achievement; became synonymous with one name in Harford County will be honored in a special booklet, and a special ❏ Academic achievement; and — Coach Albert “Al” Cesky. presentation on Mr. Cesky’s life will also be given at ❏ Financial need. And rightfully so: Mr. Cesky was the first football tonight’s banquet. “It’s designed to come up with the best of the student coach at Bel Air High School and, arguably, the most ‘Great honor’ athletes in each school,” Bob Slagle, president of the successful coach in the 61 years the sport has been “I think it’s a great honor,” Dave Cesky said. “The foundation, said. played in Harford County high schools. surprising thing about this is that it has lasted 25 years. Slagle has served as the president for the last two He was known for instilling values and morals in A lot of his players and personal friends got together years, and as a member of the foundation for the last his players and encouraging them to be the best they and were determined to make this a really big deal seven. can be. and go on forever.” Each participating public or private high school must Mr. Cesky, who spent 30 years with the county’s public select its two athletes, one male and one female, from school system, was dedicated to helping student the foundation’s criteria, but the method in which athletes succeed on the field, in the classroom those students are chosen varies from school and in life. His legacy lives on today to school. through the Al Cesky Scholarship “I think it’s fabulous that the Fund Inc. school system and schools do all Mr. Cesky died in April 1985 the work that they do,” Ann at age 57 after suffering a Ramsey, secretary of the heart attack. One month corporation, said. “It’s very later, former players, time consuming at the students and longtime school level.” friends established a Once each school scholarship program has submitted its two for Harford County athletes for the honor, high school scholar- someone with the Al athletes in his Cesky Scholarship memory. Foundation, usually The Al Cesky the president, Scholarship Fund will make all of Inc. will celebrate the applications 25 years of success anonymous for the tonight (Wednesday) corporation’s selection at its annual awards committee. banquet at the Richlin Each member of Ballroom in Edgewood the selection committee beginning at 6 p.m. ‘Gratifying’ program reviews the applications, and “It is very gratifying to see together they select one male the Al Cesky scholarship fund and and one female for the $5,000 its activities are alive and well after scholarships. 25 years, still recognizing and encouraging The winners are announced at the young people to unselfishly contribute to things annual banquet. bigger than themselves,” Donald Pardew, a former Members of the corporation serve three- player of Mr. Cesky’s and one of the founding fathers of year terms and may serve more than one term. The the corporation, wrote in an e-mail. “This unselfish duty corporation has 30 members, 10 of whom are selected Dave Cesky, 56, who has been the by the Chamber of Commerce, 10 by the Harford County to do the right thing was really what Al Cesky taught. athletic director at Fallston High School for 26 years, Athletics in general, and football in particular, was just Board of Education and 10 by the Cesky family, according said unlike some other scholarships and foundations, to the foundation’s Web site, alceskyscholarship.org. a forum in which the lesson could play out in a way that the Al Cesky Scholarship Fund is still going strong. young people could understand and internalize it.” Each member of the foundation serves on a committee “There can’t be many other scholarships in the within the corporation. The fund honors one male and one female student country like it,” he said, adding that the foundation Involved students athlete a year from each high school in the county, who gives away almost $50,000 in scholarships every year. Page Brannan, who was the 2000 school winner for not only participates in sports, but also succeeds in “It continues to grow each year.” C. Milton Wright, serves on the selection committee for academics and is involved in the community. The 2010 Al Cesky Scholarship nominees are: Matt the scholarship. “The purpose of the Al Cesky Scholarship Fund Inc. Adams (Bel Air), Kaitlin Ames (Harford Technical), “Every year I am more amazed by what the students is to preserve and keep visible the values reflected in Megan Appold (Havre de Grace), Monica Ashton are doing and all of the community events they are the life and work of Al Cesky, with special reference (Aberdeen), Amanda Baker (Joppatowne), Wade Baker involved in,” Brannan said. “It’s very refreshing to be to his contributions to the spiritual, emotional and (Fallston), Will Edwards (Harford Christian), Daniel reminded that there are great kids out there and that intellectual development of youth and his role in Gallen (John Carroll), Andrew Gilley (C. Milton Wright), are going to do really well in the future.” fostering community life,” according to the annual Courtney Grant (Harford Christian), Rachel Green (John The scholarship award for those who are not the program for the banquet. Carroll), Noah Hutton (North Harford), David Jacobs major award winners is $2,000 today; it started at $500 At the 25th anniversary banquet, the keynote speaker (Havre de Grace), Evan Kahl (Aberdeen), Adam LaFleur and then grew to $1,000. The two $5,000 top awards will Janie Cesky, Mr. Cesky’s widow. Their children, (Patterson Mill), Taylor Mannix (Bel Air), David Miller have been at that level since the program’s inception. Dave Cesky, the current Fallston High School football II (Joppatowne), Monica Negron (Patterson Mill), Tim “We were in a position financially where we could coach and athletic director, and Kathy Garcia and Mary Polack (Edgewood), Ryan Porell (Harford Technical), increase the value of the scholarship,” Slagle said, Jo Newman, spoke at the 20th banquet. Emotional time Amy Poteet (North Harford), Shannon Rafferty (C. adding it’s been within the last 10 years the secondary “It’s very emotional for me,” Janie Cesky said. Milton Wright), Meghan Welch (Edgewood) and Sasha scholarship amount has increased to $2,000. “It’s a wonderful thing, but it does bring back lots of Wrobel (Fallston). Ramsey said she thinks all of those who are chosen Scholarship winners for this award are winners. memories... I am looking forward to it, I really am.” More than 500 students from 10 public and two The couple was married for 33 years before Mr. “The students appreciate it,” she said. “It’s really a private schools in Harford County have benefited from prestigious thing in the schools to win this award.” Cesky’s death. this award over the years, and more than $600,000 has How it began “He was not only my husband, he was my best been awarded over the fund’s history. After the sudden passing of Mr. Cesky, Mozelle friend... The kids in school, they remember him and it’s The scholarships are based on the following five Brown, whose five brothers played football for Mr. a wonderful feeling. I know he would be tickled to death, criteria: Cesky, called her siblings to inform them of the loss of but I am in amazement, too,” she said. ❏ Meaningfulness and significance of sports a legend. Of the 24 student athletes selected as school winners, participation to the student’s personal growth When Brown called her brother, Donald Pardew, to two of them, one male and one female, will be chosen and development as reflected in adherence to the break the news and inform him that she was sending as major award winners and will receive scholarships spirit and principles of sportsmanship and personal Please see SCHOLARSHIP, AA6 It’s a branded world we live in, day in and day out

On weekday mornings, my son in eye-catching But over the proliferation. typically eats cereal for breakfast colors and brand years, I have No matter how much I try to stay since we are usually in a rush to get designs, all come to develop a organized and put products away in to school and work. His routine is intended to have distaste for brand cabinets, closets and drawers, my to read the cereal box while he eats optimal consumer identification home — a supposed refuge from — even if he’s read it many times appeal. The on what I wear; the world and the worldly — is still before – despite my efforts to keep laundry room was although, it is a place where dozens and dozens of more of the same. often a challenge the table cleared off. vendors can be found hawking their During a recent breakfast, I It is a cacophony to find unmarked wares depending on the room. considered his Honeycombs, which of words and clothing in advertised the adventures of a symbols. an affordable Barry Schwartz, the author of character named “Bee Boy” and I don’t know price range, the “The Paradox of Choice: Why encouraged a visit to postopia.com much about Andy particularly More Is Less,” contends that the for fun games and prizes. I looked Warhol, but I quality active staggering number of options around the kitchen and was struck believe he was on wear (try finding we are confronted with in the by how many brands, logos and to something quite a top at T.J. Maxx marketplace has a paralyzing effect other forms of advertising I saw, profound with his or Marshall’s on the brain for many of us. In his between the table and counters. brand-replica art, that doesn’t have local supermarket, he found 285 (No, I was not caught up on my for example, the BY PATRICE DIRICAN a Nike, Adidas varieties of cookies, among them cleaning.) There were my Quaker giant size boxes [email protected] or Reebok logo 21 types of chocolate chip cookies Oats, in the patriotic red, white and of Brillo scrubbing on the front alone. And that’s just one product. blue canister with the pious face of pads and Campbell somewhere). I I would venture to say that if you soup cans he created in the 1960s, guess I have come to feel that I am the Quaker Oats man smiling from named any of those brands, I could the front. Yellow Splenda packets heralding the coming brand culture losing my freedom in identifying that was overtaking American life. myself with labels. describe the packaging and selling proclaimed the slogan, “No calorie points for a majority of them.

ETC… sweetener,” while the paper recycling When I was a teenager in the As I get older, I am increasingly I wonder how much of my bin a few feet away overflowed ‘80s, I was all about brand names. I sensitive to how often an attempt with broken down cardboard boxes proudly wore my Calvin Klein jeans is being made to sell me something. mental space is filled with all these for soda cans, medicines and food with the name across the back For this reason, I can only tolerate companies vying for my money and packaging, along with newspaper pocket and my Ralph Lauren polo commercial television in small loyalty. I am not ungrateful for circulars, junk mail, etc. shirts with the trademark horse doses. our nation’s prosperity; however, And that was just in the kitchen. sewn on the chest. I believed what I do have to say that moving to a I believe all that visual noise and Later, I surveyed my bathroom and the designers were banking on — relatively small condo with limited clamor takes a toll on my mind. counted no less than 20 different that is, that my status was vastly storage space has only exacerbated It all leaves my head feeling too product names and labels, packaged improved in buying their products. my preoccupation with brand crowded. AA6 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010 www.theaegis.com Al Cesky’s memory lives on

SCHOLARSHIP, from AA1 “In short, Al Cesky was too much of an Bel Air by a group of prominent Harford the late 1950s, he brothers had already flowers on behalf of the family, Pardew influence, too much of a force to leave us, County residents who were trying to get played for Mr. Cesky. said sending flowers just wasn’t enough. and he did not.” a football program started at BAHS. One “By the time I reached high school, “To say that I decided to start the The first Al Cesky Scholarships were of those who recommended hiring him and it was my turn to play football, I was scholarship would be to give decision awarded in May 1986, nearly one year was another ex-Maryland player, the late facing a rather difficult life situation, not making a bad name,” Pardew wrote in after the passing of Mr. Cesky and also Bill Greer. exactly predicted to run for president or an e-mail. “I did not decide to start the the beginning of the foundation. He was the coach of the Bel Air football win a Nobel prize in the future,” Pardew scholarship. I was emotionally jolted into Teresa Boyd and Eric Crabtree of team until 1965, when he ended his 15- wrote in an e-mail. “But by then it had starting it.” Havre de Grace High School were the year association with the program when become, at least in our family, a moral Pardew wrote that he could recall the first winners of the award and received he was promoted from physical education duty as well as an honor to play football exact moment his sister called — he was $5,000 each in scholarship money, teacher to assistant principal. for Mr. Cesky. So I did, and as a result sitting in his office in Albany, NY. according to an article published May During his tenure at Bel Air, Mr. Cesky I came to have a respect for, and belief “I was very distressed,” he wrote. “He 29,1986 in The Aegis. also coached baseball and basketball. in, myself and my ability to accomplish had been so much and meant so much to Fundraising efforts In 1974, Mr. Cesky became the whatever I put my mind to, but more the community, had positively affected When the charter members formed the supervisor of secondary physical importantly to put my mind to honorable the lives of so many young people like Al Cesky Scholarship Foundation Inc., education and interscholastic athletes things. myself in their hour of personal doubt. they decided their initial fundraising for the school system. “This was the real lesson. And while I felt like my life had been stripped of goal would be $50,000. As a school administrator, Mr. Cesky I went on to play much more football, its legitimacy. I could not let his passing The late William McGuirk, who was introduced boy and girls lacrosse, soccer, it was what Al Cesky taught me about take with it the message he had managed then chairman of the board at Mercantile swimming, golf, tennis and other sports myself that made it possible, not what he to get through to so many young people Bank and member of the group that at the interscholastic level, according to developed out of my very average athletic for whom it made all the difference in started the foundation, and his wife, Mary, the program for tonight’s banquet. ability.” the world: ‘You can accomplish whatever donated $25,000 to get the corporation Mr. Cesky retired from the school Pardew wrote that Mr. Cesky was a you set your mind to if you believe in off the ground. The McGuirks and system in 1979 and then started a second saint-like icon in his family and provided yourself, and I am going to be here for Ceskys were friends and fellow tennis career in private business. mentoring to Pardew and his brothers you believing in you so long as you make enthusiasts. In 1988, Mr. Cesky was posthumously that was quite profound. the effort and believe in yourself.’ So I did “People were sending in any amount inducted into the Maryland Scholastic “So, to the extent that the route my not decide the action, the action decided of money,” Brown said. “It just came Football Coaches Association’s Hall of life journey has taken has been a series me. I had no choice. Something had to be from everybody. Everybody wanted to do Fame, and in 1995, Bel Air High’s football of opportunities met and acted on, each done to preserve the Cesky force in the something.” field was dedicated in his memory. made possible by the occurrence of the lives of young people in the community, The foundations surpassed its On the gridiron previous one, I owe my current, very and the times were, more generally, in fundraising efforts its first year, collecting High school football was in its in its satisfying life largely to Al Cesky,” he need of the Cesky message.” $85,000. infancy in Harford County when Mr. wrote. “As a psychoanalyst friend of mine So, Pardew called back his sister to Since the initial sum of money was Cesky arrived in Bel Air. asserted, football saved my life, and Al ask if she could organize a meeting of raised by the charter members, Slagle said Within two years, he had a winning Cesky was the reason I played football.” community leaders as soon as possible, the corporation has been able to maintain program and soon, the Friday night Remembering a legend and he would make the trip down from the funding source for the scholarships games became the hottest ticket in town, “Al was a football coach among other New York to chair the meeting. through subsequent fundraising events with crowds routinely estimated at 3,000, things, but the most important thing Honoring a mentor and donations. more than half the town’s population in he did, in my opinion, was to teach Immediately following Mr. Cesky’s Slagle said the banquet is pretty much those days. sportsmanship and fairness and the funeral, a group of about 30 people, self-sufficient, but that the foundation “Football back then in the early to values we all want to live by,” Brown both former students and players of Mr. also hosts a golf tournament almost every mid-’60s at Bel Air was a happening,” said. “I think that is why everyone Cesky’s and members of the community, year, and has held a community run in Peter Schlehr, 62, who has served on the cared for him so much, he was always met in Brown’s living room to discuss the past to raise funds. He said business foundation in the past, said. “There were dangling those values in front of you and starting a foundation. and personal donations also contribute to football Friday nights like there are in challenging you to grab onto them.” “That’s when they laid the groundwork,” the success of the scholarships. Texas, the whole town would come out.” Brown heard positive things about Mr. Brown said. This year’s golf tournament, the 22nd Mr. Cesky’s Bel Air football teams had Cesky from her brothers growing up. The group began meeting once a month Annual Al Cesky Scholarship Fund Golf four undefeated seasons, and he compiled “He kept his team members on the and Pardew would make the trip down Tournament, will be June 14 at the an overall record of 90-33, according to straight and narrow,” Brown said. “They from New York to attend the meetings. Maryland Golf and Country Clubs in an article published Nov. 8, 1995 in The respected him so much that he also “After the initial meeting, at which memory of foundation sponsor George Aegis. influenced other parts of their lives other a scholarship was agreed to be a fitting “Corky” Connolly Jr. In the 1965 season, Bel Air played only than their athletic endeavors.” memorial, the dedication to and energy Mr. Connolly, a former Aberdeen one Harford County team — Aberdeen, Mr. Cesky was dedicated to football, for the idea was so high it really did High football and baseball coach, was according to Schlehr. The other games but he had other athletic passions, not need my participation to maintain posthumously inducted into the Aberdeen were against traditional powerhouses especially tennis. its momentum, and although I did stay High School Hall of Fame in March. from elsewhere in Maryland and in When Brown was in her 40s, Mr. actively involved for the first couple “We would love to do more, but with surrounding states. That team, Mr. Cesky did what he did best — he took of years, the power of the idea and the the economy, we are just not able to do Cesky’s last, was undefeated, going 10-0. another interested athlete under his dedication of initial organizers … was all that right now,” Brown said. Schlehr, who played on the 1965 wing to coach, and taught Brown and her the propellant it needed,” Pardew wrote. Family members said the committee team, said they played Loyola, Calvert husband, Joseph, how to play tennis. members’ dedication to keep Mr. Cesky’s Hall, Westminister and Gonzaga from Bud and Ann Ramsay, who both serve legend alive is remarkable, and is Washington, D.C. on the foundation, can also attest to the something that should be commended. “We played all of the big schools in type of person Mr. Cesky was. “I’m just so proud of the volunteers,” the state; there was no Harford County “He had the ability to bring out the Jane Cesky said, adding that she goes league at the time,” he said. “For anyone best in anybody,” Bud Ramsay said. “It’s to all of the meetings even though she in the county to attempt to play that a gift.” cannot be a voting member because of schedule today, couldn’t.” Bud Ramsay has served on the the corporation’s bylaws. “I do go because But Mr. Cesky’s football successes foundation for the last eight years and is they work so hard, you just have to praise were not a one-man feat. a past president. Ann Ramsay, serving as them all of the time. A lot of people who “Al had some really good people around secretary, has been on the foundation for were winners are now on the committee, him,” Schlehr said. more than 10 years. and that is wonderful.” Pat Hennessey was Mr. Cesky’s Bud Ramsay said Mr. Cesky stood for The legend assistant coach and also the baseball true values, which have carried forth for Mr. Cesky began his career in education coach at Bel Air High School. He took 25 years in the lives of his students and as a teacher and football coach at Bel Air over the head football coach position those student athletes selected for the High School in 1950 after graduating upon Mr. Cesky’s retirement. honor. from the University of Maryland, where Schlehr, along with two of his brothers, “It’s a very simple thing when you he played varsity football. Michael and Chris, played four years of think about it, but it is very important,” A Baltimore native, he was brought to football under Mr. Cesky. he said. “We were the whole left side of the Bud Ramsay, 70, knew Mr. Cesky line,” Peter Schlehr said. “Al [Cesky] briefly at the end of his football coaching made sure that we had an outstanding career, but Ann Ramsay had the privilege football program. He was a football guy. of being a student at Bel Air High when He was going to make sure the kids had Mr. Cesky was a coach. the best possible experience they could. Ann Ramsay, 69, who graduated in He was well-known around the state, and 1958, was in marching band under the he looked after his boys, too.” direction of Ray Dombrowski. Demanding excellence “He [Mr. Cesky] taught me everything Chris Schlehr, 60, who graduated I know about football,” Ann Ramsay said, from Bel Air in 1968 and serves on adding that she learned the game from the foundation, saw Mr. Cesky as a the bleachers by watching Mr. Cesky disciplinarian. coach. “He was a disciplinarian, there was no Ann Ramsay also worked alongside question about that,” Chris Schlehr, who Mr. Cesky when he became a school is Bel Air’s town administrator, said. “He administrator. demanded excellence and he got it. He “It was weird to know him as Mr. demanded excellence, but commanded Cesky, and then get to know him as Al it at the same time. Obviously, he was Cesky,” she said. “I think my memory a great football coach who had a great of him is that he was always a happy football mind.” person. He was just happy.” Chris Schlehr said Mr. Cesky taught But what impressed Ann Ramsay his players that personal accountability most about Mr. Cesky in high school was was important. his devotion to students. In addition, Schlehr said, he taught Showcasing the best student athletes individual achievements Slagle, the athletic director at are important, but that the team is most Edgewood High School when Mr. Cesky important. was the county’s supervisor of athletics, “There was no reason not to celebrate worked under Mr. Cesky for some time. individual, but to him [Mr. Cesky] the “I’ve always admired him,” Slagle team was more important,” he said. said. “I have always felt the scholarship Chris Schlehr said the 1965 team is a tremendous award to showcase the of nearly 50 players was certainly not students we need to showcase.” the fastest or the biggest, but had a As athletic director at Edgewood, chemistry no other team had. Slagle saw numerous student athletes “The chemistry among the players recognized with the scholarship. was special and the chemistry with the Once he retired, Slagle said, he was coach and coaching staff was special,” he asked to serve on the foundation and said. “I never had that again on any other jumped at the opportunity. athletic team.” “It was an honor to do so,” he said. Not only was Mr. Cesky instrumental With the Al Cesky Foundation Inc., in molding his young men on the field, he Mr. Cesky’s legacy will continue to live on also helped many of them choose a path for years to come. after high school, including helping them “I just wish the younger generation get into college. could know a guy like him,” Peter Schlehr “He got us into college,” Chris Schlehr, said. a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, said. “He encouraged us and helped us in that regard. I played a year of football Representing North Harford High at Navy, and the way I got there was by School, Rachel Konopacki received a Al Cesky.” $1,000 Al Cesky Scholarship in 2004. Family tradition — Editors When Pardew reached high school in