“What unites us is greater than what divides us.”
Unfortunately, we have all become too familiar with the divisive rhetoric coming from our many different politicians. So much so that I have even started to wonder if the above quote is meaningful at all during these tumultuous times.
I have hope that it does still hold true for our nation, and I see situations along the way that keep that hope alive for me. It can be something as simple as a reunion of old school football teammates.
Each year I attend the East Aurora Football “Old Timers” meeting and banquet. The school’s team of 25 years ago (the 1999 team this year) is welcomed into the group to join the squads from all the previous years. Naturally, much of the talk at these reunions is about games and practices from bygone eras.
But their story is not just about football. At recent banquets, and again this year, I have begun to realize that each reunion is a celebration among men with a continuing love of their teammates, their coaches, their school and their “side of town.” Football seems only secondary.
Ethnic differences are never talked about, and I’m sure that they aren’t even thought about. Our nation could take note of what is possible.
The East Side of Aurora has long been a melting pot of different nationalities and races. My dad’s East Aurora school yearbook from 1932 was already indicative of that. In even earlier times, as long ago as 1887, Aurora Historical Society photos show elementary school kids on the East Side coming from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds.
I asked three East Aurora “Old Timers” for their thoughts on a subject that they really haven’t thought about — a difficult “ask.”
Tom Madden was a student athlete in the 1960s, and returned to the school as a teacher/coach in the 1970s.
“I don’t believe there was ever any plan to foster inclusiveness and to teach us all to get along and work together,” Madden said. “It was the way that the adults acted toward each other and the students.
“When adults treat each other, as well as students, with respect, that becomes a powerful example for all. The consequences of such a culture were inclusiveness and a desire to work well together.”
Wendell Jeffries was a student athlete in the early 1980s, and also returned to the school as a teacher/coach. He notably advanced to become the head football coach, and later the head boys’ basketball coach.
“At East Aurora, I participated as a student athlete and as a coach,” Jeffries said. “Even though this covered a period of 40 years, the bonding of all ethnic groups was second to none during this time.
“I played three sports at the varsity level, and never felt slighted or treated differently as a Black athlete. We always got along like a family and the team that we were, and we still get together today for different events. I witnessed a change in the percentage of Black, Hispanic and white athletes, but the togetherness, love and support for everyone never changed.”
The son of Greek immigrants, Bill Deligiannis was a three-sport athlete in the mid-1980s, and was East Aurora football captain in both his junior and senior years.
“I assumed that kids followed their passion, and the options at East were available for dreams to be made,” Deligiannis said. “My friends consisted of everyone in the school I interacted with because we all shared some passions together.
“To me, everyone at school was different because I was one of the only kids of Hellenic (Greek) background. That was neither a problem nor an obstacle. Without realizing it, we were learning about others and ourselves in the great melting pot of the East Side of Aurora.”
Art Panka, East Aurora head football coach in 1999, welcomed his “boys” into the East High Football Old Timers Association at Thursday’s annual reunion. Each is now about 41 or 42 years old, many now having daughters and sons of their own, but still remaining Tomcats at heart.
Each man was given the mic for a minute to update everyone on his life after high school. The room got quiet, and all paid attention to each person. There was genuine interest in how each “brother” had progressed in his life.
I asked Coach Panka about the brotherhood of East Aurora football.
“I just saw students and football players, and we were all one and all in it together. That’s what I loved about East,” Panka said. “As I’m facing retirement now, that is one of my favorite memories — that we were one.
“I don’t look at my players from 1999 and see old-timers. I still see teenagers. I’m really proud of the spirit with which they played, and the men they have turned out to be.”
Tom Strong is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
