Hall of Fame Member Bios 1994

View: Alphabetical List - Members by Induction Class - Biographies

DAVE EDINGER
David Edinger was a graduate of East Stroudsburg University. He coached football, wrestling and basketball at Overbrook and Collingswood High Schools. He started the Jersey Wrestling Officials Association. He officiated in the wrestling state finals for many years. He is the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Co-Founder and was presented the Harry Lake Award, which was given by the State Wrestling Association for his contribution to the sport.

ASTOR RITTER
After completing a brilliant athletic career at East Stroudsburg State College and serving as a Naval officer in World War II, Ritter arrived in Collingswood in 1948.
Few schools have been as fortunate. As head coach in both basketball and track, he turned out a succession of strong units. He was a valuable assistant coach in baseball and football, serving as defensive coordinator of the Golden Eleven championship team of 1958.
He became an administrator at Collingswood at Collingswood in 1959 and remained active in athletics as one of the area’s premier football, basketball and track officials.

JIM McQUESTON
Jim McQueston earned 10 varsity letters during his brilliant career as a four-sport athlete at Collingswood.
During the spring sport season he was one of South Jersey’s top sprinters and was recognized as the finest scholastic shortstop in the area. He was a basketball starter for three years and recalls defeating Millville for the Camden Suburban League title in 1933 as one of his greatest thrills.
As a senior he played football for the first time and became a superb receiver and rugged defensive end.
Following graduation in January 1934, he started in semi-pro baseball for years and played professionally with Trenton at the Inter-State League. For years he was a top football official.

LEROY STANTON
Stanton ranks as one of the most versatile athletes to play for Collingswood. He performed superbly for three years in baseball, basketball and football.
On the gridiron he was a runner, passer, punter, defensive back and place kicker. In basketball he was both a gifted outside shoot and used his size and strength as a rebounder.
On the diamond he was scouted by professional teams, which could not decide if he was a better prospect as a slugger or pitcher.
For many years he was one of the principal figures in the development of the Collingswood Little League.

JOE KIRK
Joe Kirk was one of the most highly recruited baseball players to ever attend Collingswood. Both professional and college scouts pursued the talented young slugger who could hit with exceptional power and seldom struck out.
As a senior he joined the football squad and played an important role as a two-way end on the championship team of 1936.
When he graduated in 1937 he accepted a scholarship to Compton Junior College in California with a promise that his next step would be with the powerful University of Southern California.
After a year in the west, he came home and matriculated at Ursinus College.

BEATRICE “BABE” FOSTER DECKMAN
“Babe” Foster was an excellent all-around athlete at Collingswood High School. She received varsity letters in field hockey, basketball, tennis and swimming. While “Babe” won acclaim for her athletic accomplishments, she was also well-known as the daughter of the town funeral director. “Babe” was another fortunate female athlete in that she was coached by Hazel Nickerson Gallagher and Ruth Woolston Pond while at Collingswood High School.

ZITA SWIECICKI WRAY
Field hockey, basketball, swimming and tennis were the girls’sports available in the late 1930’s and Swiecicki excelled in them all.
One of her fondest memories were the basketball games against Hallahan of Philadelphia, at the time considered one of the nation’s best.
She received All-Star recognition in every sport in which she participated and was considered South Jersey’s finest girl athlete in her senior year of 1939.
In later years she played basketball for RCA Victor, a team that competed against the strongest competition on the east coast.

JOHN WURSTER
Although on the small side, John Wurster was one of the greatest linebackers to ever wear the Gold & Blue. In 1938 he was named All-South Jersey center as he amazed observers with his ability to make tackles from sideline to sideline.
He was chosen as the team’s most valuable player in 1938 and Coach Irvine always considered Wurster one of the most inspirational players of his long regime.
The speed he displayed in football was transferred to track as he set a school record for the 880 yard run that lasted two decades.

BETTY SMITH LOUDY
Betty Smith earned a total of 12 varsity letters during her years at Collingswood High – four in swimming, three in tennis, three in field hockey and two in basketball. Swimming was the area of Betty’s greatest achievements. During her career from 1938-41, she set swimming records in the 20-yard freestyle (10.2 seconds), 40-yard freestyle (23.8 seconds) and 80-yard freestyle (46.9 seconds). Following graduation, Betty played field hockey with the Saturday Morning Club in Philadelphia and the West Jersey Field Hockey Association for several years.

GRACE SCHULER McGEOY
A classmate of Betty Smith and just one year behind Babe Foster, Grace Schuler was another outstanding all-around athlete who helped produce championship teams in women’s sports at Collingswood High. Grace also earned 12 varsity letters, with three each in field hockey, basketball, swimming and tennis. She excelled in all of them and enjoyed competing in sports of any kind. After graduation, Grace went on to attain All-American honors in field hockey for the United States Field Hockey Team.

GEORGE TALARICO
George was a three-sport letterman. A three-year starter at end on the football team, his reckless style of play made him a fan favorite. He was All-South Jersey for the 1940 championship team. George was also a starting guard on the first Collingswood basketball team to win a South Jersey title. In addition, he was an outfielder on the baseball team.

TED NARLESKI
Ted took over as quarterback from his brother Ray in 1947 and the next year was the All-South Jersey quarterback and captain of the fabled ’48 undefeated team that was Skeets Irvine’s last. He was also a four-year starter in baseball. Ted was last a single-wing tailback at UCLA and was a professional baseball player in the Cleveland Indian’s system.
In his senior year he was chosen Back-of-the-Year by the Brooks Irvine Memorial Football Club and was honored as All-State quarterback.

CLAIRE LOEBLE WENTZ
Claire was a fine all-around athlete at Collingswood High, graduating in 1951 with letters in four sports. She played three years of varsity field hockey and was co-captain of the undefeated 1950 team.
Claire also lettered for three years each in both basketball and softball and achieved four-sport varsity status by lettering in swimming.

MARYANN SWETKOFF SHIVERS
Maryann never played on a JV team during her four-year athletic career at Oaklyn Junior High and Collingswood High. She played hockey and basketball for four years each, while excelling in both softball and tennis in the spring.
Maryann’s athletic accomplishments included being captain of a championship hockey team and pitching a no-hitter in softball. She was voted the top female athlete in the class of 1960 and was a Varsity Club officer.
Maryann went on to Temple University, where she had an outstanding career as an athlete. She went on to enjoy great coaching success at Washington Township High School.

TIM WRIGHT
Tim was the “Mr. Outside” to Steve Kaplan’s “Mr. Inside” on the 1967-68 basketball team, Collingswood’s best ever that came within a whisker of being state champions. Wright was the floor general with a deadly outside shot.
In basketball, he was All-Colonial Conference for three years, All-Suburban Team for two years and All-South Jersey as a senior. Tim was also a fine tennis player who lettered for three years and he also played football as a sophomore. In his senior year, he shared the Howard T. Irvine Award with Kaplan.
Tim went on to graduate from Princeton University and also holds an M.Ed. from Temple. Like so many other Collingswood High Hall of Famers, Wright chose a career in teaching and coaching.

GARY WILLIAMS
Gary Williams exhibited the same leadership and intensity in his own scholastic career that he demonstrates as one of college basketball’s most successful coaches.
On the hardwood, he was a three-year starter as a ballhawking guard and fierce defender. He teamed with fellow Hall of Famer Stan Pawlak (who was a class ahead) on outstanding teams of the early 1960’s. In Gary’s senior year, Collingswood joined the Colonial Conference and won the league basketball title. Williams was a first team All-South Jersey performer.
Williams was also a two-year starter in baseball, where he was a standout outfielder with a great arm. He was also a member of the cross-country team.
Gary went on to play at the University of Maryland. He has been a highly-successful Division 1 basketball coach who has built winning programs at four universities – American U., Boston College, Ohio State and now at his alma mater, Maryland.

JOE BIEKSIS
Big Joe was a standout in football, basketball and track during the years 1953-55. He earned a total of nine letters, three in each sport. He is considered one of the strongest athletes to ever compete for the Blue and Gold.
Bieksis was a three-year football starter, playing offensive end and defensive tackle and was selected to the first team All-State and All-South Jersey honors his senior year.
Joe was the starting center on the basketball team for three years, including one team that reached the South Jersey Group 4 finals for Coach Jack McClosky. In track, he was outstanding in both the shotput and discus, earning after-season honors.

BEVERLY DURGIN GROVE
Bev Durgin was another nine-letter Collingswood athlete. She earned three each in field hockey, basketball and softball during the years 1951-54.
While she was a standout in all three sports, playing field hockey was her first love. She captained the team in her senior year and credited her high school coach, Marie Oliver Gimmi, with giving her the guidance and incentive to go on to college. Bev would go on to play competitive hockey for 30 years before retiring in her 40’s.
Bev had an outstanding collegiate career at Temple University and was inducted into the Temple Women’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983.

JON LEISE
The son of former Collingswood sports standout “Corky” Leise, Jon carved an outstanding career of his own as a football and baseball standout. He showed baseball promise as a star pitcher and hitter on a Collingswood Little League team that won the South Jersey championship. In high school, he was a three-year baseball letterman. Leise was both captain and MVP of the baseball team in his senior year and was an All-Group 3 selection.
In football, Leise was a two-year starter. A scrambling left quarterback, he was adept at passing and running the option. He was captain and MVP of a Colonial championship team in his senior year. Leise was an All-Group 3 and honorable mention All-South Jersey selection.
Leise’s classmates selected him “Most School Spirited” and he won the Buddy Robertson Award

BONNIE GLASER CAPPELLUTI
Bonnie earned a total of eight varsity letters in a Collingswood High career that spanned the years 1972-75 – three each in hockey and lacrosse and two in basketball.
In hockey, she was an All-Colonial second team selection as a junior. In her senior year, Bonnie blossomed to become the leading scorer in South Jersey and a first team All-Conference, All-Group 3 and All-South Jersey selection.
In basketball, Bonnie was All-Group 3 honorable mention. She was co-captain of the lacrosse team in her senior year and was a Delaware Valley League first team all-star.
She went on to have a fine collegiate career at Glassboro State College (Rowan). In 1978, she was selected as the “Collegiate Field Hockey Player of the Year” by the Courier-Post.

BILL HUNT
Hunt was a true triple threat during the years 1979-82. He was a three-year starter in football, basketball and baseball, earning nine letters, and was elected team captain in all three sports. His teams won Colonial Conference championships in football and baseball and Hunt never played on a losing team at Collingswood.
Hunt started on both offense and defense in football and earned first team All-Conference honors as both quarterback and defensive back. As a senior, he was team MVP, All-Group 3 and second team All-South Jersey. He was also MVP of the North-South All-State Football Game in 1982.
An All-Conference second team selection as a basketball guard, Hunt was MVP as a senior. He was also MVP of the baseball team in his senior year and was a first team All-Conference and first team All-South Jersey honoree. Bill was the recipient of the Brooks-Irvine Award and the John Dennis Leary Memorial Award. Today, he is a coach at Williamstown High School.

SUE COURSEN
Sue Coursen earned a total of nine letters at Collingswood High – three each in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse – prior to graduation in 1981. In hockey, she was captain and MVP of a South Jersey Group 3 championship team in her senior year. She was an A 11-Conference and All-Group 3 first team selection and was second team All-South Jersey.
Sue was a member of the state championship lacrosse team as a sophomore, a thrill she shared with her sister Diane. She was team MVP and a second team All-South Jersey selection as a senior.
Sue was the female recipient of the Howard T. Irvine Award as a senior. An officer of the Varsity Club for two years, she was a member of the National Honor Society and ranked 11th in her class. She went on to become a four-year starter in both hockey and lacrosse at Lehigh University and earned All-American honors in both sports.

CHARLIE SINK
After playing a significant role on the unbeaten and untied football teams of 1931-32, Sink was selected All-South Jersey quarterback in his senior year of 1933.
A triple-threat performer, he always was one of the first mentioned by Skeets Irvine when he listed his greatest players.
In the final game of 1933, Sink kicked a field goal in the closing moments to defeat Woodbury, 9-6. It was the only field goal he ever attempted.
For three years he was one of South Jersey’s finest pitchers and also earned two letters in basketball and track.