Father figure, George Pinho

ack Pinho sat at the front of athird-floor classroom at WoodlandRegional High School, his and histeammates eyes fixed on a projec-tion screen. It was the firstThursday afternoon in October,only 28 hours before kickoff of the

Hawks rivalry game against Naugatuck.Senior captains, such as Pinho, sit at

the head of the class during film sessionsand game plan presentations. Pinho is list-ed at 5-foot-8, 120 pounds Woodlandsroster would not fare well against a liedetector so none of the underclassmenbehind him fret about the wide receiverobstructing their views.

Thats a good thing, because all 41 var-sity players in the room needed to see howsixth-year head coach Tim Shea was goingto conclude the weeks film study.

Week 4 was packed with pressure evenbefore the previous one had ended. BothWoodland and Naugatuck entered Octoberwith 3-0 records and the winner of theirgame would likely emerge as the eventualchampion of the Naugatuck Valley LeagueCopper Division. Most local pundits pickedthe Greyhounds to win a close one.

Plus, in an era when historical rivalriesof the prideful Valley have softened, the

emotions between the Hawks and Houndsare more volatile than ever. Officials expect-ed a crowd of at least 2,000 to descend onBeacon Falls for the first time in nearly adecade.

Woodlands players had plenty to focuson leading up to the game, but Shea madesure to keep one complacency-breaker untilthe end of the week.

The Hawks already knew they weregoing to play for the first George PinhoTrophy, the decade-old rivalrys new center-piece named for Jacks late father and for-mer Woodland assistant coach who unex-pectedly died in January. But they didnt getto see it until Shea surprised them with thelast click in his pre-walkthroughPowerPoint.

Coach Shea showed a picture of thetrophy in the film room, and everyone start-ed getting hyped for it, Jack remembers.The intensity level just perked up. Therewas a lot of fire and emotion in thatThursday practice.

So much, in fact, that the Hawksassured themselves of what was going tohappen the next night.

That game meant so much to us, sen-ior quarterback Tanner Kingsley recalls. Weknew we were going to win.

George Pinho was born Dec. 12, 1964,in Waterbury and grew up in Naugatuck. Hegraduated from Naugatuck High School andeventually moved to Prospect, where he andhis wife, Jane, raised their two boys, Jakeand Jack.

Being involved in his sons lives was ofparamount importance for George. Jackthinks his fathers motivation had deeproots.

When he was younger, his dad wasn'treally there for him, Jack explains. Fromyouth soccer until now, he wanted to beinvolved with everything. He was alwaysthere for Jake and me. He was one of thosedads you always wanted.

Almost every youth sports organizationin the area boasted George on its volunteerroster at some point. He coached soccer,basketball, baseball and football inProspect, Naugatuck and Beacon Falls overthe years. It didnt matter how much orhow little George knew about the tech-niques and strategies of each sport ratherthan how badly he wanted to be there.

He never made it about himself, Jakesays. If he had a job to do, he was going togive it his all. It didn't matter who it was for,he just wanted it to be the best experiencepossible for everyone. He was never even abig football guy when it came to X's and O's,

but he was a motivator and everyone lovedto have him around.

George joined Sheas staff at Woodlandaround the time Jake made the varsitysquad in 2008. Pinho served all sorts ofroles, from head freshman coach to assis-tant varsity special teams coordinator. Itwas important to Shea to have a positiverole model who had connected with manyof the players for years.

He didn't let a lot of things bother him,and if he did he didn't show it, Shea says.He was always like, OK, move on. Next up.Don't worry about it. Kids gravitated tothat. In small towns like these, he essential-ly had every kid on his team or in his houseat some point.

Georges love for his sons ran the gamutfrom tough to tender. Jake, now studying atCentral Connecticut State University, alsoknew his dad as his best friend.

He was truly a hero and an idol in mylife, Jake boasts. He was the only person Iwas able to talk about anything with. If youwant to talk about someone being yourbiggest fan, it was him. Jack and I alwaysknew that no matter what we did, success orfailure, that we always had him.

But George didnt limit himself to twosons. The hundreds of young men hecoached throughout the years especiallythe ones who played alongside Jake andJack at Woodland felt the same affectionfrom the man they called GP.

No other coach showed the same love

Coach Pinho showed for all of us, Kingsleysays. He cared so much for our team. Hewould always say in his pregame speecheshow he loved us so much and that we'dalways have him forever. And we alwayswill.

They were his sons, too, Jack smiles.He loved them all.

Shea, who also coaches the boys trackteam, stood inside Hillhouse Highs indoorfacility Jan. 19 after supervising a footballweightlifting session that morning atWoodland. On what should have been afairly quiet Saturday, he felt his phone buzz.It was a call from assistant coach JackDeBiase.

Wheres Jack? DeBiase asked,demanding to know where Pinho was.

What do you mean, Wheres Jack?Shea responded. Im at a track meet. Hewas at lifting this morning and then he hadbasketball practice. Why?

George had a heart attack, DeBiasesaid.

Shea thought it was a joke.No, no, DeBiase shot back. He had a

heart attack. Jake found him and theyre ontheir way to the hospital.

Shea told DeBiase to call the basketballcoaches so they could alert Jack and rushhim to the hospital. Once Shea finishedwith DeBiase, he updated his assistantcoaches on the situation. While heexplained what was unfolding to a group of

B2 Friday, November 29, 2013CITIZENS NEWS

Father figure Kyle Brennan, Citizens News

George Pinho leaves lasting legacy at Woodland

J

If you want to talk about someone being your biggest fan, it was him. Jack and I always knewthat no matter what we did, success or failure, that we always had him.

JJaakkee PPiinnhhoo

RACHAEL MORIN George Pinho was a staple on the sidelines at Woodland from 2008 until thetime of his death in January. Pinho volunteered for a variety of youth sportsorganizations in the area during his life as a labor of love.

ELIO GUGLIOTTIWoodland quarterback TannerKingsley (7) and assistant coach JakePinho celebrate after a touchdownOct. 4 against Naugatuck.

senior parents at the track meet, Shea feltanother buzz. This time it was a text fromDeBiase.

Hes gone.

In the week that followed Georgesdeath, Shea coordinated the football teamseffort to help memorialize the 48-year-olddad and mentor. He organized the Hawksjoint entrance to the funeral at St. AnthonysChurch in Prospect.

It was a very tough time for a lot ofthese kids because they all knew George,not only as a coach but as friends, Sheasays. We thought a fitting tribute to himwould be for us to go in together. I had apretty good cry that day.

Jack and Jake saw the teams tribute asthe epitome of the Hawks motto: Fear theFamily.

Some people call their team a second fam-ily, but I call this my family, Jack says. They'vebeen more than a second family to me.

The way that they embraced us issomething that you can't ever be thankfulenough for, Jake agrees. To have them bethere with us, and to see how it affectedthem so much and show their feelingstoward my dad, it just brought everyonecloser. When you talk about family, I thinkeverything that's happened really definesthat word.

Of all the moments the outpouringlove at the funeral, the memories shared byfriends, the inspirational victories to come nothing resonated with the Pinhos asmuch as Georges wake, which attractedwhat seemed like an endless stream ofthousands.

The night of the ceremony was crazy,the amount of people and hours of waitingthey did, Jack says.

That night was probably the mostproud I've ever been to be able to call himmy dad, Jake gushes. Nobody else can saythat besides me and Jack. To see all thosepeople there was just incredible. It felt likewe hugged and shook hands for five hours,and if I could relive it again I would. It wasamazing to see all that love.

To Shea, it was exactly what Georgedeserved.

The amount of respect shown at hiswake spoke volumes, Shea says. That's atrue testament of a man.

When the ceremonies ended and thewere-there-for-you assurances trickled to astop, the Pinhos were left to begin life with-out their patriarch. The realization struckJack in the most mundane of ways.

Everyone was like, We're here foryou, Jack recalls. But when you get homeand Jake's at college, my mom's working,and you walk in the door, it hits you becauseyou're all alone.

Shea knows the emotions Jack and Jakefelt. The Naugatuck native channeled hisexperience from 1996, when he had to dealwith the untimely passing of his father,Michael, after a battle with esophageal cancer.

He recognized the parallel between hissituation, which left him stepping up in hisearly 20s to care for his mother and two

younger sisters, and that of the Pinho brothers.As the oldest, I forced myself to the

head of the table, Shea says. I've talked tothe two of them about it Jake especially,being the oldest. I've told Jake that there arecertain things he'll need to do. I still talk toJake about stuff, and I'll sit Jack down andtalk about dad stuff. There are certain thingsthey can tell me that I understand but otherpeople wouldn't.

For Jake, Shea has helped fill the role ofa father figure.

He's been someone who I can talk toabout anything. After my own football prac-tices, I always had my dad to call, says Jake,who is a walk-on player at CCSU. When Ilost him, I almost lost myself. But CoachShea has been able to provide that for me. IfI'm feeling bad about a practice or a game, Ican always go talk to him.

Jack and Jake have their mom, Jane,too.

My mom is one of the toughest indi-viduals, Jack says. How she's handled it,with people coming up to her all the timeabout it, is amazing. She's never missed agame for me and Jake, and I don't know howshe's done it with her schedule. She loves usso much.

Georges sons have never been thestar players of their teams. Theyre not theall-state type. They have always beenamong the most undersized guys on thefield. But Jake and Jack worked for theirspots in the Woodland football program,and thats what made George proud.

Jakes senior season was in 2010. As oneof the teams three captains, he led the Hawksto their first state postseason appearance inthree years. At just 5-foot-6, 157 pounds, heearned All-Naugatuck Valley League CopperDivision honors as a defensive back.

Nobody recruited him to play collegefootball, but he earned a spot with the BlueDevils as a walk-on. Jake played in his firstgame Oct. 26 against Salve Regina and reg-istered his first career tackle on specialteams. Playing on kickoffs gives Jake a spe-cial chance to acknowledge his dad.

Before every kickoff, when I go out onthe field, I always point to the sky because Iknow he's watching, says Jake, a sopho-more. He was so proud of what Jack and Ihave been able to do, and I use it as motiva-tion to make him more proud because Iknow he's still watching. I always write hisname down on my ticket list so I can guar-antee that he'll be there.

When time permits, Jake comes back tocoach the Hawks. Its a way to stay close tothe program he loves and to duplicate thelove it received from his father.

He lived his life for me and Jack, andnow we're the ones who get to carry on hislegacy, Jake says. Hopefully one day wewill be able to pass it on like he passed it tous and to so many other people.

Jacks senior season is this fall. Like hisolder brother, hes also one of Woodlandsthree captains, and hes helped the Hawksreach the playoffs for the third time in fouryears. The 120-pounder might be the smalleststarter in the conference, but it hasnt stoppedhim from snagging five touchdown passes.

I know he wanted nothing more forme than to follow in Jake's footstepsbecause Jake was a leader, Jack says. Iknow he's happy for me.

Jack lines up as Woodlands third widereceiver wearing the same No. 3 as hisbrother and usually functions asKingsleys security blanket in crucial situa-tions. Jacks catch at the end of the 2012Class S quarterfinal against Capital Prepsealed a semifinal berth for the Hawks.George was there for that game, and Jacksays he still gets the same vibe.

I feel like he's still there on the side-lines, Jack says. I can still picture his voiceyelling and trying to find something wrongabout what I'm doing. There are certainsigns during the game that make it feel likehe's watching.

The signals have never been strongerthan they were Oct. 4, 2013.

Jake came back to coach Woodlandsgame against Naugatuck the one with hisdads trophy on the line for the first time and Shea allowed him to make a pregamespeech.

I tried to relay the message of what healways said before the game, about howmuch he loved them, Jake says.Throughout my whole football career,whether it's playing or coaching, that wasthe most emotional game.

With more than 2,000 fans on hand, theHawks took their home field with GPstickers on their helmets and his initialsSharpied on their wrist tape. Georgesbrother, Tony, paraded the trophy atop thehill throughout the game for all to see.

Woodland took a 6-0 lead in the firstquarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass fromKingsley to Mike Kenney. Naugatucksnatched the lead in the second, but just aminute before halftime the Hawks re-seizedit when Jack hauled in an 11-yard scorefrom Kingsley.

Naugy briefly took another lead in thethird but soon Kingsley took back the edgefor good with a 6-yard touchdown pass toTaylor Tucciarone. Kingsley added an insur-ance score on a 2-yard run in the fourth,and Chris McDonald recovered an onsidekick to end the game.

Woodland 25, Naugatuck 22.Jack stood on the field as Kingsley exe-

cuted the victory formation. As the quarter-

back raised his knee for the final time, Jacktook one of his own in the center of the grid-iron. He pointed with both arms toward thesky and then took a few steps toward Jake,trotting onto the field to meet his youngerbrother while the final siren blared beneaththe crowds roar.

I was able to run out onto the field andgreet Jack first and give him a hug, Jakeremembers. It was one of those moments,in the midst of the tragedy when youdedicate your life to this game, it makes yourealize it was all worth it.

I looked at Jake at the end of the game,and it was just one of those moments, Jackrecalls.

Jake relinquished the 10-secondembrace to let Jack thank the black-cladstudent section and shake hands with theGreyhounds. Soon after, Jane took the gameball and Uncle Tony presented to Jack thesilver football attached to a black base withthe inscription: The George Pinho Trophy.

Jack clung to the trophy much as he didto the ball on his touchdown catch. Heposed for a few photos before he leapt atophis teams bench to show off the prize tothose remaining in the bleachers.

It was probably one of my favoritemoments watching Jack hold up that trophywith his dad's name on it, Kingsleyrecounts. That was unbelievable.

We made a promise that it wasn'tgoing anywhere, Shea says. I believe thatGeorge was looking down on us.

It was the fourth time in Jacks highschool career that the Hawks had beatenthe Hounds. He had a routine after each ofthe first three victories. The final one spokefor itself.

Usually when we'd beat Naugy, I'd rubit in my dad's face because he went toNaugy, Jack says. People might think that Iwas sad, but I know he was happy about thisone.

MYCITIZENSNEWS.COMFriday, November 29, 2013 B3

Above Jack Pinho holds the GeorgePinho Trophy, named after his latefather, and points to the sky followingWoodlands win over Naugatuck Oct. 4.At right, Jane Pinho holds the gameball up to the crowd after the victory.

PHOTOS BY ELIO GUGLIOTTI

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