#21 - Gennaro "Jerry" Gambardella, Jr.
- Outfielder - Kelsey Avenue Crew, West Haven, CT
- Legendary West Haven High School star athlete
~ Always in our hearts.... forever in our dugout ~
This page is dedicated to the real Jerry Jr. In real life he wore #21 in honor of his uncle, John Gambardella. In "Heart of the Hide", Gennaro is really Nicky's best friend and he wore #22. The author, Lou Petrucci, took liberties in changing the time line to make Jerry Jr. a hero to each of the Kelsey Avenue Crew. In actuality, Jerry Jr. played baseball, basketball and football as a little boy with most of the Kelsey Avenue Crew in the 1980's and 1990's. Lou used #22 for Jerry's number as a tribute to Jerry and his father, who also was indisputably one of the best ballplayers in West Haven High School history. Jerry's father, Gennaro, clubbed 11 homers and drove in 42 runs while leading the Westies to the Connecticut Class LL 1984 state championship.
Still to this day, the greatest crime of all is how the shortsighted voters of
the All-State teams didn't name Jerry Gambardella Sr. to the club. However,
justice comes to those who wait as Jerry Jr. made the 2000 All-State club while
his younger brother, Nico, made the team as a sophomore in 2005. The
pressure is now on Tyler (11) to garner All-State honors as well.
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Gennaro and Marianne with son, Jerry Jr. |
Jerry Jr's baby picture
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Rose Gambardella with Jerry Jr. |
Gennaro at Painter Park West Haven, CT
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Gennaro at West Haven High School
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Gennaro Gambardella with Jerry Jr.
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Jerry Jr. with Lea
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The Jerry Gambardella Jr. Scholarship Fund
gives a scholarship to a West Haven High School Senior who plans to attend College.
Four scholarships have been given out in the past three years.
In the future, a scholarship will be given to baseball, football and basketball -
the three sports that Jerry's #21 was retired at West Haven High School.
For more information or to pledge a donation to
The Jerry Gambardella Jr. Scholarship Fund
please write to: JGamby22@aol.com
