by Steven Zaitz – as it was told in September, 2021

On a blazing hot summer day a few months ago, Lady Tiger Head Basketball Coach Rich Castellano was conducting his annual youth basketball clinic. Castellano, and many of his current players, were cheerfully training about 100 future Lady Tiger stars on dribbling, passing, teamwork, and sportsmanship on the outdoor courts next to Bellerose Elementary.

His friend of 45 years, Northport Baseball Coach and Phys. Ed. Teacher John DeMartini was also there.

“I came here for the bagels,” deadpanned Coach DeMartini.

As that might have been partially true, Coach ‘DeMar’, as he is known around the community, wasn’t only there for a free breakfast. He was there to support his longtime friend. And he was there for the betterment of the children of Northport, just as he has been throughout his 54 years serving in the Northport School District.

Recognition of that service will come on Saturday, September 25^th as the Northport High School Baseball diamond will officially be named the John DeMartini Baseball Field and a new sign will be unveiled above the scoreboard.

“There is no better way to honor Coach DeMartini,” said Associate Head Baseball coach Jim DeRosa. “He has, and still does, touch so many lives and given so much to the Northport Community and he is so deserved of this. It’s his ballfield anyway, and it has been for a long time. The rest of us are just coaching and playing on it.”

DeRosa will be co-master of ceremonies at the field naming celebration that will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, before the Homecoming Football game against Huntington.  Castellano, his oldest friend and colleague at Northport, will also M.C., as will Associate Head Baseball coach Sean Lynch.

Former Tiger baseball stars such as Brian Herrman and Nick Palmerini, among others, will also be on hand; and there will most likely not be many dry eyes in the house, especially not DeMartini’s.

“Oh yeah, John is gonna cry, no doubt about it,” said Castellano. “We tried to keep the new scoreboard a secret from him but the guy is always around, so that was impossible.”

Castellano is not exaggerating.

Seven on seven football drills in the hot August sun – DeMartini is there. Field Hockey practice, DeMartini’s ubiquitous golf cart is there, puttering along the sideline.  Opening Day win for the football team against Bellport, DeMartini is in the middle of the celebratory mob of players.  The man is everywhere and quietly exudes positive Northport energy to the entire athletic program with his mere presence. Forrest Gump has nothing on Coach DeMar.

“It’s been a joy to see the bonds that he forms with the kids, thousands of kids that he’s taught and coached throughout the years,” said Lynch. “He loves the kids and they love him. It’s been amazing to be a part of.”

One of those kids is Jason Schwartz, NHS Class of 2021 and current Molloy College Freshmen.

“Coach DeMar is just a one-of-a-kind person, teacher and coach,” said Schwartz. “He has an infectiously positive personality that makes everybody around him happy. Whether it’s on the field or in the classroom, DeMar always found a way to impact all of our lives for the good. His many years of knowledge and experience in the game of baseball helped us all to grow as players, and his presence was a true guiding force in our success this past season. He treats his players like we are one of his own children.”

One might think by reading this, that this ceremony on Saturday will be a touching farewell to Coach DeMartini, who three years ago had a heart issue that required an extended hospital stay.  However, he is not retiring and will continue coaching pitchers and catchers, as well as his duties as a teacher. The field dedication is simply a well-deserved symbol of Northport High School’s appreciation of DeMartini’s unwavering devotion.

“When I first got to the hospital, I told the doctors that they had to get me back to a place where I can go back to the school and do my job, but they said it was too early to talk about that stuff,” said DeMartini. “Well, here I am!”

At about that same time, a young Tiger third baseman named Trent Mayer, NHS Class of 2019, had just learned that he made the varsity team – a unique joy of any student-athlete when they see their name on that precious list. But for Mayer, his joy was suddenly quashed.

“Like thousands of others, DeMar has had such a huge impact on my life,” said Mayer, who plays baseball for Keene State College in southwestern New Hampshire. “He had been my teacher, coach, mentor, and most importantly my friend.”

“When I made the varsity team, I was thrilled to be able to play for an icon like DeMar. Unfortunately, his season got cut short that year due to medical issues. At the time, I was also dealing with some pretty serious medical issues myself, and he was one of the few I confided in. I visited him in the hospital that night and said lots of prayers over the next few months – very thankful that he got to be with the team at the end of the season and for my senior year. Prior to him being my coach, he was my teacher and on my most difficult days, he was my motivation to come to school and push myself and make myself better. He has inspired me to want to give back to young athletes and students. As such, I’m a physical education major and look forward to following in his footsteps. If I can impact half as many people as he has, I’d be fortunate. He’s a remarkable human being and I’m honored to call him my friend.”

Born in the Bronx, DeMartini and his family moved to Westbury in Nassau County when he was a boy.  He attended W.T. Clarke High School and went on to Adelphi University, where he was a pitcher and an outfielder.

Never one to light up the radar gun – a technology not yet invented in those days anyway – DeMartini  got batters out with guile.

“Wherever the catcher put his glove, I would hit it,” DeMartini said proudly.

He started teaching at Northport High School in 1967 and coached boys basketball at the middle school, where he met Castellano, who started coaching the girls team there in 1976. It was our country’s bicentennial year, the Vietnam War had just ended and Rocky was in the movie theaters.

“He was old back then,” cracked Castellano. 

When these two men are together, zingers like that dominate the conversation.

A decade later, DeMartini took over for Jimmy O’Sullivan as Head Baseball Coach of Northport High School.  That was 34 years ago and brings us to Saturday. With the success and championships of so many of the Tiger and Lady Tiger teams recently, this is a fitting, celebratory time for this commemoration.

“I can’t put into words how humbled and honored I am by this,” said DeMartini.  “I want to thank Rich for organizing it and Sean and Jim and everyone at Northport. Everyone has been so supportive.”

The universal love and support for Coach DeMartini was fostered by his teaching mantra.

“Kids don’t care how much you know, until they know you care,” said DeMartini. “That’s the way I’ve always gone about it.”

On Saturday, an indelible symbol of his caring and dedication will be unveiled above the left field fence on the ballfield on which he has coached for half a century, and it will be there forever.

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