Robert Dinardo

 Dinardo Robert "Bob" Dinardo, Sr.
Coach

Robert Dinardo Sr. served the Danbury community in many capacities.  His famous quote that exemplified how students and adults remembered him as a great teacher and coach was: "Doing the right thing isn't always easy, but it's always right."  He was a 29-year veteran of the Danbury Police Department.  For twenty of those years, he served as the community police officer at Broadview Middle School where his banner still hangs in the hallway.  In 2000, he was not only voted city Police Officer of the Year but National DARE Officer of the Year. 

Aside from the hundreds of Danbury youths he mentored as a police officer, he also coached many more in youth sports.  He was a coach for the 1999 Bambino World Series Championship team, on which his older son, Bobby Jr. played.  He was also an assistant on Danbury High's Baseball LL State Championship team in 2004.  Bob was also an assistant coach for the Lady Hatter's Basketball team where he coached with his wife Jackie for 22 years.  Bob's contribution helped develop championship teams and athletes who went on to play competitively at the college level.  In addition to being a great coach, he was a terrific athlete who played football, basketball and baseball.  Bob was inducted into the Brewster High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.  Sadly, Bob passed away on June 25, 2009. 

WCSU assistant Women's lacrosse coach Rea Tarsi, who played for Bob on his DHS freshman basketball team summed up his positive influence on her and others by saying, "Coach D was somebody who was there for everyone who needed him.  He loved his players, he loved his friends and family and he loved everybody he worked with.  And he was absolutely loved in return.  Some would say he was like a second father to them and I could say that as well.  He is and always will be truly missed."