Giorno & Harmon Tourney Held In Memory Of Atkinson And Stenz Too

By Andy Hutchison

When Kathy Giorno heard about the passing of Glenn Atkinson, a former swim coach in Newtown, she called John Quinn. Giorno asked Quinn, chairman of the Giorno & Harmon Memorial 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, for the portion of money raised for her family in honor of her late husband, John Giorno as part of the tourney fundraising efforts, to be donated to the Atkinson family this fall.

It is this sort of support and kindness that Quinn hopes will spill out into the entire Newtown community during the 8th Annual Giorno & Harmon Memorial tourney, to be held on Saturday, November 20, at the Newtown Youth Academy.

The tournament has been held in honor of John Giorno, a longtime supporter of Newtown basketball, who succumbed to cancer in 2002 and — for the past few years — Kim Harmon, former sports editor at The Newtown Bee, whom we lost to heart disease in December of 2007. Now, the tourney will recognize two more individuals who had strong ties to Newtown athletics: Atkinson, who passed away in late October, and Chris Stenz, who played a major role in youth football and lacrosse in town before his passing earlier in October.

In the past, all proceeds from the tourney’s fundraising efforts were distributed to the Giorno Scholarship Fund and the Harmon Family Fund. The tourney’s causes doubled when Atkinson died suddenly and Stenz lost his battle with leukemia last month.

Atkinson started coaching in the Torpedoes swim program in 2001 and coached for several years, and Stenz was a longtime coach in Newtown’s youth football and lacrosse programs program. All four men are remembered fondly by those in the Newtown sports world.

Newtown Youth Lacrosse President Bobby Marusi, who spearheaded the Positive Coach Training program with Stenz, posted a message on the league’s website saying: “Stenz was a fantastic man and an inspiration to all of us. He truly was a ‘Man For Others.’ He embodied everything about being a role model and teaching life lessons on the field. He was a real friend to many.”

Newtown Youth Sports lost a wing man, said Marusi, adding: “He was one of the most positive men or human beings that I have ever been around. If our sons and daughters can grow up to be half the man he was, they will be leaders, and have fulfillment in their lives.”

Woody Thompson, who supports and promotes the Newtown Youth Lacrosse program, gave a eulogy at Stenz’s funeral. “He was my neighbor and a friend to my entire family. He was supportive of both of our kids and always showed an interest in what they were up to. Marnie and Lewis’s involvement in lacrosse was always a topic of discussion between Chris and my kids,” said Thompson, referring to Stenz’s interest in his children. “His interest in lacrosse and the involvement of his kids in the game provided the basis for the Thompson and Stenz families to connect — despite a pretty significant difference in our kid’s ages.”

Quinn said that money raised will support Stenz family, and go to the Leukemia Research Foundation in honor of Coach Stenz.

Maureen Maher, girls’ tennis coach at NHS, is a family friend of the Atkinsons and recalls that Glenn Atkinson, known by friends as Benny, was the only male coach at the time the Torpedoes were formed and was a great role model for the up and coming swimmers. “The kids adored him,” said Maher, adding that he was a great coach and a tremendous amount of fun, who found a way to motivate the swimmers without them knowing. “He was a great, fun guy who loved life and loved his family,” she said.

Maher, added that his four daughters, Abby, Emma, Maggie, and Ellen, and he coached with his wife Mary at the time all spent time at the pool together.

“He was always at the end of their lane when they would finish their race cheering them on,” Maher said.

Quinn said Giorno was also a great family man who could often be seen in the bleachers, alongside his children at local games. He was president of the travel basketball program for several years when his children worked their way though the program.

“He was very pro kids. He had the absolute right perspective on youth sports,” Quinn said.

Several members of the Giorno family volunteer their time at, and provide food for, the annual 3 on 3 tourney.

Sherri Smith Baggett, business manager for The Bee, remembers how much Harmon meant to the community. “Kim Harmon not only meant a lot to The Bee, but to the townspeople of Newtown. He was recognized in the town as a friend first and then the sports reporter for The Newtown Bee. His life and job went hand in hand and he is sorely missed. It is nice to have him recognized in the local town tournament,” she said.

Tournament competition is by age groups for both males and females. Age groups range from third grade through high school to adults. The format will be double elimination, so every team plays at least two games. Trophies are awarded for first- and second-place in each division.

Each team should register four players. New this year is an Open Division for travel players. Register day of the tournament or on the NYBA website: www.newtownyouthbasketball.org, www.newtownhoops.com, through the Newtown Parks and Recreation Department at www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_Park/index, or through Gregg Simon, athletic director at Newtown High School. Youth coaches have applications, which are also available at Newtown Youth Academy. All players receive a commemorative T-shirt. Fees are on a per team basis. Great prizes to be raffled throughout the day, including: autographs, pictures, posters, autographs and memorabilia, NBA, WNBA, and NCAA merchandise, and Yankees, Mets, Knicks, Nets, and NCAA tickets.