Swampscott’s Andy Holmes remembered for many years of dedication

Andy Holmes never had a child play Swampscott Little League, but that didn’t stop him from helping found the program in 1954 and remain active until as recently as last year, when he was still showing up at the field to help out.Holmes died Thursday at the age of 85.”Andy had three daughters. He never had a child play, but he started it out and stayed with it until he couldn’t do it anymore,” said Victor Leblanc, another long-time Swampscott Little League coach whose White Sox team tangled with Holmes’ Indians team for 26 years.”His heart was bigger than the town of Swampscott,” Leblanc said. “He may have come through as a tough individual, but he cared about every kid who came through Swampscott Little League ? He cared about everyone.”Leblanc said if Mr. Holmes had a game at night, he wouldn’t leave the park until every last kid was gone, as well as the ladies who worked the concession stand.Al Duratti has been with Swampscott Little League since its inception as well. He and Holmes were recognized back in 2003 for their 50 years of coaching in the program. Together they threw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.”He was a great competitor and a good friend,” Duratti said about Holmes. “He always had the kids at heart. He worked very hard.”Duratti, who started coaching with his uncle, Al Cerone (who also helped found the league), is in his 56th year with Swampscott Little League. He was 19 years old when he got involved.”Those were fun times,” Duratti said. “We had some very good players come through.”Bill Bufalino played for Cerone back in 1954 and like Duratti, is still going strong.”Andy was all for the kids. His bark was bigger than his bite. He was just a great, great guy who will be sorely missed. He was there every game a year ago. I don’t think he missed any since 1954,” Bufalino said, adding that Holmes also coached Pop Warner football in town for many years.Swampscott Little League has enjoyed considerable success in all-star play over the years with some combination of Holmes, Duratti, Bufalino and Leblanc in the managing and coaching mix just about every year. Swampscott Little League won four state titles (1978, 1979, 1981 and 1983). One of the players on the 1979 state championship team was Item Managing Editor Henry Collins.”I had the privilege of playing for coach Holmes on the 1979 Swampscott all-star team when he was the coach alongside manager Lester Ernst. It was one of the best summers of baseball any of us on that team had. We were very fortunate to win the state championship that year and the friendships forged were never forgotten,” Collins said. “What I remember most about coach Holmes was how much he cared about the players and Swampscott Little League. Sure, he could be loud and gruff, but if ever there was a person whose bark was worse than his bite, it was coach Holmes. He did so much for the kids of Swampscott during his years of service. I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to play for coach Holmes 30 years ago and consider him my friend.”Bufalino called Holmes a legend in town and someone who will be missed.”I’ll remember him as a great friend and a great coach. He was always at the field, whether he was repairing fences, cleaning out stands, taking a rake to the field ? He’s going to be sorely missed,” Bufalino said.