Southington sports legend John Fontana passes away
Our condolences to the family and friends of the late John Fontana of Southington who has passed away. He did so much for so many high school athletes and coaches over the years. He received a Gold Key in 1989 from the Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance.
Fontana, a member of one of the most highly-regarded families in Connecticut sports history and one of the country's all-time winningest baseball coaches, died Monday night (October 21) after being felled by a stroke Sunday at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. He was 84.
Fontana took over as baseball coach at Southington High School in 1962, replacing his uncle, Joe Fontana, who had skippered the Blue Knights since 1932. In 41 years at the helm, his teams compiled an .810 winning percentage, captured Class LL state championships in 1994 and 1999, and won 669 games, good for second in state history at the time of his retirement in 2002.
Photo courtesy Southington High Hall of Fame
