Danbury High School Golf Team
(1946)
There was a Danbury High Golf team before the war, but this one was organized by Mr. Walter Peterson right after World War II. According to team member Aldo Butera, "If it wasn't for Mr. Peterson, we would never have had a team. He drove us in his car and used his own money. After we won the (golf) state championship, he made sure we were recognized and given varsity letters. This team beat Stamford High School at Weeburn Country Club in Darien. The 1946 DHS Golf team were also Fairfield County champions. All the members of this championship team were caddies at the Ridgewood Country Club and included the following:
ALDO BUTERA
Aldo started caddying at the Ridgewood Country Club as a young boy. He also became a member there and won many club championships. Aldo also won the second Danbury Amateur Open and went on to qualify for two U.S. Amateurs. He played in California and was beat at the last hole by football player John Brady. In 1993 he qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur Open. He is still playing and shooting under his age.
CARMEN BUTERA
Carmen started caddying at the Ridgewood Country Club at the age of ten. Carmen has the distinction on playing on both the 1946 and 1950 Danbury 1946 Danbury High Schoo1 Golf Team High State Championship Golf teams. Carmen was told during his state championship round that if he made pars on the 17th and 18th holes that he would be low scorer, and he did! Known as "Ace", Carmen was offered a golf scholarship to Miami University. Carmen worked for many years as a purchasing agent for Connors, Inc. of Danbury. He also served on Danbury's Civil Service Commission.
JOHN DZUBAK
John's nickname was "Chi", and he also started out by caddying at the Ridgewood Country Club. He was known for being helpful to the younger caddies by teaching them the rules of golf. According to many who knew him, John had a" perfect swing". Danbury High Hall of Fame inductee Ralph LaPine was quoted as saying, "John was one of the best golfers to come through DHS".
PAUL FAKO
After being a member of the 1946 Championship Golf team, Paul went to Springfield College. While in college he served as captain of the golf team. He went on to a long career in the Ridgefield school system where he coached the golf team for 35 years. He was inducted as the National Coach of the Year in 1992 and was honored as National District Coach of the Year for five years. During his time in the military, Paul worked with amputees at Walter Reed Hospital, teaching them how to play golf. Paul was the golf pro at Candlewood Country Club for 25 years.
SAM JACOBELLIS
While at Danbury High, the only sport Sam participated in was golf. But after high school, he played in many local leagues. He played basketball for the Knights of Columbus at Rogers Park and won a state CYO championship playing for Saint Joseph's. Sam worked at Levine's for 25 years.
MIKE "MICKEY "TIMAN, Jr.
Like many of the other members of the 1946 DHS State Championship Golf team, Mickey got his start as a caddie at the Ridgewood Country Club. Mickey was an exceptional athlete who was a 2013 DHS Hall of Fame inductee. While at Danbury High, he earned twelve varsity letters in baseball, football, basketball and golf. Mickey holds the distinction of playing for both legendary coaches Gideon Roy and Ed "Copper" Crotty. Mickey joined the Danbury Fire Department in 1956 and retired as a captain. Mickey has played in numerous golf tournaments, including the Alumni at Mount St. Mary's in Maryland, winning four times there.