Abe Najamy

Abe Najamy

Abe Najamy
(Honorary)


Generally, Hall of Fame candidates fall into one of two categories: either they had an outstanding playing career or they were legendary head coaches of a particular sport. There is a third category and that is an individual whose presence was felt in a multitude of capacities both official and unofficial. Abe Najamy was such a figure, and he is our next 2011 inductee into the Hall of Fame. A 1949 Danbury High graduate, Abe received his Associate Degree from Western Connecticut State University in 1951 and his BS degree in communications from Boston University in 1953. From 1954 to 1965 Abe was employed at WLAD as a disc jockey, salesman, news director and sports announcer. From 1965 to 1969 he was the general manager of WSHU-FM, the station at Sacred Heart University where he was also a lecturer in communications. Then he returned to WLAD and introduced Danbury High basketball games for broadcast. Abe along with Paul Baker broadcast hundreds of Danbury High athletic contests. Eventually they included Little League baseball, city baseball and industrial softball games. In 1977 Abe, along with Paul Baker, became co-owners of Paul and Abe Productions as operators of Channel 10 until 1983. In 1978 Abe was hired to fill a new position at Immaculate High School. As development director, Abe was responsible for coordinating volunteer activities, working with parent groups, alumni and other Immaculate High supporters and organizing fund-raising programs. Abe introduced and led the Jimmy Fund and PAL Bail Days for many years. The Danbury Jaycees honored him as the Young Man of the Year in 1960. Abe, along with his broadcast sidekick, Paul Baker, received the Old Timers Civics Award in 1981. Unfortunately, Abe recently passed away this past August. To quote a recent editorial in the News-Times, Abe "will be remembered as a beloved, kind, generous man who loved his city, his church, his profession and his family and friends."