They watch the game for evermore.
To our brethren who have left us
A gossamer breeze glides across the emerald carpet,
with blades of grass as sentinels stand upon the rugby pitch;
An azure sky spreads like an angel’s wings,
to bind the heavens with the mortal fabric of this earth;
The ruggers stalwart fusion melds
alliegance to friendships forged upon the field of play;
Ever to believe with whimsical fancy,
that time will not brandish its intemperance;
But these our halcyon days of mirth and scrums;
awaken to the somber reality which never ceases to be;
Like the tremors of autumnal leaves which
crack as a clarion to the somber moods of winter;
The present falls into memories;
as our hearts are rendered frail and shattered with our tears;
For we have lost a Rugger;
and the pitch a sadder place upon which to trod.
God speed and God rest , oh fallen Rugger;
Upon a safer, warmer field of dreams.
This poem was first written by Robert “Gimp” Sullivan ’65 to honor the memory of his friend & teammate John P. Sullivan ’65 (Red Rugger ’63-’65). It will now honor the memory of all Fairfield Ruggers who have left us. Please send us the names & class year of those who need to be added to the list below.
As of April 26, 2024
Mike Astone ’81
John E. “Jack” Barrett, Jr. ’74
Paul J. Basirico ’69
John R. Bender ’65 One of “The Originals” in 1963
Owen C. Buckley ‘78
John L. “Bunky” Burke ‘67
John Carne ’77
Steve Carre ’69
Douglas Ciacci ’65, FURFC Founding Member and Men’s Rugby
Team MVP Trophy Namesake
Robert E. “Bob” Corbett ’66 One of “The Originals” in 1963 Our first campus rugby pitch (now the site of the University Media Center across from Belarmine Pond) was named Corbett Field in honor of his love of the game and how he captured the spirit of our early years
William H. “Billy” Connolly ’69 – Watch Bill Connolly Hall of Fame Induction & Bill Connolly Interview
James N. “Cos” Costello ’85
Bart Catalone ’78
Paul I. “PID” Davis, Fairfield University faculty member and long time club moderator – Watch Paul I. Davis 6-part Interview
Elizabeth Devlin ’05
Charles M. “Chuck” Dombeck ’71 – Watch Chuck Dombeck interview (with Paul Flanagan and Bob Murphy)
George Donoghue ’66
Christopher J. Eaton ’84
James F. Flanagan ’69
Cortlandt L. “Cort” Freeman ’64 One of “The Originals in 1963
Richard N. “Rick” Fuller, Sr. ’66
Leila B. Grauert, Donor of Grauert Field in honor of her late son – Watch Chris Grauert (Son) Interview
Hans, and mother of Chris Grauert ’68 President FURFC
Joseph Graziano ‘84
Michael C. “Mike” Griffin ’67
John T. Gugle ’65
Thomas E. Hennekens ‘67
Gary Heussler ’09
Robert S. “Bobby” Kaps ’85 – Watch Bobby Kaps Interview (with Tom White)
John Karwan ‘68
Michael Kenefick ‘70
Gary Kirwin, ‘69
Joseph P. “Jay” Kirwin ‘67
Sean Lugano FURFC Coach in 1996 & 1997 who died in the 9/11 attack in New York
Michael Lunden ’86 died in the 9/11 attack in New York
Stephen MacGillvray ’82
Kevin M. Manley ‘73
Thomas Martocci ’70
Colin McQuillan ‘76
Gerald “Bear” Murphy ’73
Dennis Neenan ’68
James Nicksa ‘68
Christopher Orgielewicz ’87 died in the 9/11 attack in New York
Edward J. Palma ’73
David G. Palmgren ’81
Joel J. Pascale ‘65
John G. “Jack” Ploehn ’65 One of “The Originals” in 1963
Willis Reinke Jr. ’70
Kevin “Golden Boy” Regan ’72 – Watch Kevin Regan group chat @rugby
James V. “Jim” Reme ’69
Adam J. Rosowicz ’91
David G. Rowan ’82
John W. “Rut” Rutledge ’75
Steven D. Ryan ‘70
Peter Schuessler ‘71
Joseph “Joe” Sindt ’70 – Watch Joe Sindt Interview (with Bruce Klastow)
Raymond Sisler ’77
John P. “Sully” Sullivan ‘65 One of “The Originals” in 1963
Robert M. “Rob” Sullivan ’84
John G. “Swanie” Swanhaus ‘67 One of “The Originals” in 1963 – Watch John Swanhouse, Interview with Betsy Swanhouse (Widow)
Nicole Vengalli-Ferrari ’16
Peter S. Yaros ’71
Joe Zale (enrolled class of ’68 who died in Vietnam in 1968)
Jack J. Zorski, Jr. ’69