Vaccaro New Executive Director Of Suffolk Sports Hall Of Fame

SACHEM, NY - From Suffolk Sports Hall Of Fame: After 17 years of leading and transforming the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, Ed Morris will pass the torch as Executive Director to Chris R. Vaccaro starting September 1.

Vaccaro, who is editor-in- chief of The Topps Company and an associate adjunct professor of journalism at Hofstra University, has an extensive career in digital media and local sports history. He is also president of the Press Club of Long Island, and associate director of the northeast for the Society of Professional Journalists. Vaccaro, who works closely with Section XI, the governing body of Suffolk County high school athletics, has also written six books, five of which relate to Long Island sports history.

Bringing a massive love of history and promoting legendary figures, Vaccaro is a founder and induction committee member of the Long Island Journalism Hall of Fame, founder and president of the Sachem Hall of Honor, an induction committee member of the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame and a selection committee member of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. For the last year, Vaccaro has also been a member of the selection committee of the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame.

“This is an incredible opportunity and I am up to the challenge of preserving the honor and history of the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, while also taking a progressive and modern approach to advance the Hall,” said Vaccaro. “Eddie Morris has done a phenomenal job in growing the Hall and I’m looking forward to working with him to make the transition work for myself, Eddie and the Hall of Fame.”

“I want to thank my good friend George Waldbauer, a founding father of the SSHOF together with Butch Dellecave for encouraging me to join the board of directors in 1992,” said Morris. “Since then, and for the past 18 years as Executive Director, l have given my all to the Hall and enjoyed every minute of it. Now it’s time for some young blood to takeover and Chris Vaccaro is the perfect person for the job. I look forward over the next few months working with Chris for a smooth and orderly transition. I wish him luck in his new position.”

About the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame: The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame (SSHOF) is a Not-For- Profit501C-3 corporation established in 1990 by its founding fathers, led by Gaetano “Butch” Dellecave to honor outstanding persons, living or deceased, who have gained prominence and have made substantial contributions on behalf of themselves and Suffolk County, in the fields of professional and amateur sports. Since that time individuals have been selected as inductees of the SSHOF each year. Our goal is to honor outstanding persons in professional and amateur sports covering Suffolk County, NY. The SSHOF will educate today’s students and adults about cultural, historical and human contributions & achievements of the honorees in the world of athletics. Learn more at suffolksportshof.com.

Photo courtesy of Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame