Stephen A. Kaplanis
(Special Award, 1973)
This 2014 Danbury High Hall of Fame inductee earned varsity letters in football, wrestling, and baseball, but he is remembered for his community service off the playing field, Stephen A. Kaplanis. In 1976, Steve was one of the founding members of the Danbury Athletic Youth Organization (D.A.Y.O.). Other co-founders included Tony and Lucy Almeida, Gene and Pat Callahan, Carole Cole, Ed and Pat Fernand, John and Pat Fossi, Ted and Dotty Johannssen, James McGlynn, and Henry and Pat Messer. A very active member of the Assumption Greek Orthodox community, Steve served as past president of the Danbury parish council. Steve coached DAYO football for twenty years, from 1976-1997. His overall record was 200 wins and 9 losses. His teams played in two national Pop Warner championship games, winning in 1990 and losing in 1995 to the Elgon, Illinois Steelers. His teams were five time New England Regional Champs and won the Candlewood Valley League an amazing sixteen seasons. Aside from his youth football, Steve also coached bambino baseball and youth wrestling. Steve played recreational softball and basketball and was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. He coached at the Joe Namath football camp for over fifteen years. His Danbury High coaching experiences included assistant wrestling to head Coach Ricky Shook and assistant football coach to head Coach Mike Cioppa. As the head football coach at Immaculate High School from 1997-2005, his teams won six divisional championships and qualified for the state championship in 1997. Sadly, Steve passed on May 24, 2005. He is survived by his wife, Kim Mortara Kaplanis, and children Christopher and Lauren, both accomplished scholar-athletes who graduated from Danbury High. The Steve Kaplanis Memorial Scholarship and Steve Kaplanis Memorial Field have both been established in his memory.