News Detail
Two La Salle Alums To Be Inducted Into Aquatic Hall of Fame
We received a note from Ken Reall, ‘65, former La Salle faculty member and a board member of the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame letting us know that on Friday, April 29 two La Salle Alumni -- Bert Pellegini, ‘62, and Paul McCaffrey, ’72 will be inducted into the Hall.
Bert and Paul will join other 17 previous La Salle inductees. The previous inductees are:
- John A. Galvin '59
- Roy Watmough, ‘81 (coach)
- Roy Watmough, ‘81 (coach)
- Richard Fadgen, ‘83
- Kerry Donovan, ‘85
- Harold Miroff, ‘87 (coach)
- Kenneth Reall, ‘91
- Neale McGarry, ‘92
- Newell Roberts, ‘92
- Thomas Gleason, ‘93
- George Taterosian, ‘93
- Gary Henson, ‘94
- Timothy Pheland, ‘94
- Matt Chrostowski, ‘98
- James Phelan, ‘99
- James Quinn, ‘00 (coach)
- Gerald Prior, ‘06
- Daniel Spaight, Jr. ‘07 (coach)
- Bill Curran , ‘10
The Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony will be held at Quidnessett Country Club. For ticket information contact Ken Reall at (401) 230-0032.
The aquatic biographies of Bert and Paul are below -- click on the red headline above to read more.
John Austin Galvin "59"
John Austin Galvin "59"
We received a note from Ken Reall, ‘65, former La Salle faculty member and a board member of the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame letting us know that on Friday, April 29 two La Salle Alumni -- Bert Pellegini, ‘62, and Paul McCaffrey, ’72 will be inducted into the Hall.
Bert and Paul will join other 17 previous La Salle inductees. The previous inductees are:
- John A. Galvin '59
- Roy Watmough, ‘81 (coach)
- Richard Fadgen, ‘83
- Kerry Donovan, ‘85
- Harold Miroff, ‘87 (coach)
- Kenneth Reall, ‘91
- Neale McGarry, ‘92
- Newell Roberts, ‘92
- Thomas Gleason, ‘93
- George Taterosian, ‘93
- Gary Henson, ‘94
- Timothy Pheland, ‘94
- Matt Chrostowski, ‘98
- James Phelan, ‘99
- James Quinn, ‘00 (coach)
- Gerald Prior, ‘06
- Daniel Spaight, Jr. ‘07 (coach)
- Bill Curran , ‘10
The Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony will be held at Quidnessett Country Club. For ticket information contact Ken Reall at (401) 230-0032.
The aquatic biographies of Bert and Paul are below.
BERT MICHAEL PELLIGRINI
Bert began his swimming career at the Wanskuck Boys’ Club in Providence. An outstanding Age Group Swimmer, Bert won the Rhode Island Age Group Championship title in the 10 & under, 11 & 12, and 13 & 14 age groups. He set new state records in the backstroke and freestyle as a 10 and under. Also, as an 11 year old, Bert set a new state record at the New England Championship meet. He was named to the Rhode Island Coaches and Officials All Star Team in all three age groups. Bert qualified and competed in the National Boys’ Club Championship held at Yale University in 1956.
As a ten year old, Bert won the New England Championship title setting New England records in both the backstroke and freestyle events. As a twelve year old, Bert broke and set a New England record in the 50 yard backstroke. In that same meet he went on to win the 13 & under 100 yard backstroke championship. Bert broke many Rhode Island Age Group and pool records during his age group career. Although backstroke was his specialty, Bert was an excellent individual medley swimmer and sprint freestyler often ranking in the top five in New England.
Swimming interscholastically for La Salle Academy, Bert won many dual meet victories and was part of a great La Salle tradition. All three years Bert qualified for the finals at the Brown Interscholastic Invitational, the Rhode Island Interscholastic State Championship Meet, and the New England Interscholastic Championship Meet. During his junior year of high school, Bert placed 2nd at the Brown Interscholastic Meet, 2nd at the New England Interscholastic Meet and 4th at the National Catholic Championships Swim Meet held in Philadelphia. In 1961, Bert won the 200 yard individual medley at the Rhode Interscholastic Championship Meet. The medley relay team of Bert Pellegrini, Bill Curran (Hall of Fame Class of 2010), Gary Henson (Hall of Fame Class of 1994), and Charlie Walsh, won the Brown’s, the Rhode Island State Championship meet, 2nd at the New England Interscholastic Championships, and placed third at the prestigious National Catholic Championship Swim Meet held in Philadelphia. During his three years at La Salle Academy, Bert earned Providence Journal Second Team All State Honors in his individual events.
After graduating from La Salle, Bert went to the University of Maryland and later transferred to Providence College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Providence College and enlisted in the United States Air Force as a member of the America’s Aerospace Team. For five years Bert served in a position vital to our peace and freedom. As a navigator, Bert flew maore 100 missions during the Viet Nam conflict. He was a team leader, at Wanskuck Boys Club, at La Salle Academy, and in the United States Air Force.
Bert resides in Madison, Connecticut with his wife Janice. Bert has four children and five grandchildren.
PAUL McCAFFREY
Paul McCaffrey’s swimming accomplishments have been demonstrated as a competitor, as a coach, and as a teacher. Paul began his competitive swimming career in 1965 as an age group swimmer at the Pawtucket YMCA. From 1969-1972, he competed for La Salle Academy. In his senior year, he served as team captain and won honors as a second team All-State Diver. Over the past several years, Paul has remained active in competitive swimming and has participated in several major open water swim events and Master’s events.
As an instructor and coach, Paul has been committed to youth, high school, and college level programs over the past several years. He has also been active as a Water Safety Instructor for nearly thirty years. Paul has coached swimming and diving teams in the Narragansett swim league and diving teams at La Salle Academy, Barrington High School, and at the University of Rhode Island.
Perhaps Paul’s greatest contribution to swimming has been in the development of several notable swim programs in the state. From 1979-1986, Paul developed a swim program for autistic and behaviorally challenged children and adults at the Groden Center in Providence. He instructed the swimmers in that program and also served as a Special Olympics Swim Coach. He then went on to develop a swim program for special needs children for the Bi-County Collaborative in North Attleboro, MA. From 1988-1990, he served as Co-coordinator for the RI Special Olympics State Games Aquatic Competition. Since 1988, Paul has been a developer and instructor of physical education, adaptive physical education, health, and swim programs for special needs and elementary school children at the Narragansett Elementary School.
Paul’s dedication to swimming continues as he remains involved as a Master’s swimming competitor, as a swim instructor at the Tootell Center at URI and at the Narragansett Elementary School, and as a Co-Director of the Narrow River Preservation Association open water swim event.
La Salle Academy is a high school rich in history and grounded in the person and teachings of Jesus and the Catholic faith, which are core to the school's life and culture. The De La Salle Middle School provides a strong holistic foundation for students to transition into high school. The high school and middle school provide students of diverse ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds, a community to foster growth in the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s ideals of faith, service, and community.
