Krause: Doliber, DiVincenzo will be missed tremendously

We lead off today, unfortunately, with some sadness as there were two notable deaths this week on the North Shore sports scene.The first is Howie Doliber, former head hockey coach at Marblehead and a longtime assistant for Bo Tierney at Bishop Fenwick.Doliber took over the program after the brief tenure of Kevin Mills, after being Bob Rowland?s right-hand man for years. As a head coach, Doliber handled his chores with the local media with unfailing good humor and grace, regardless of the final score.As an assistant at Fenwick, he was universally regarded in much the same way Mike Deering, the former Beverly head coach, is with the Lynn Jets. Howie was simply a good guy.Also this week, we got word that Paul “Buster” DiVincenzo, former coach and athletic director at St. John?s Prep, passed away.Buster was one of the most beloved figures at The Prep, from the time he graduated from the school in 1950 to the time he came back – after graduating from UMass, to teach and coach.Buster (you really couldn?t call him anything else) won titles in both baseball and football before retiring from coaching after the 1966 season. He was the school?s first lay athletic director, a position he held until he stepped down in 1975. He was the school?s business agent until 2001.Like Howie Doliber, you rarely ever saw Buster without a smile on his face and a good word, even if he didn?t know you very well.Both he and Howie will be missed tremendously around the North Shore.uThe three Lynn Public School students who receive the Michael J. and Michelle Conlon scholarships will be carrying on one of the finest legacies in the city, because there were few finer people than the ones for whom this award is named.Both were swimmers for Lynn English and Babson College. Michael died in an auto accident in 1996, and Michelle died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in February of 2011. More than what they did or how they died, the most is how they lived ? to the fullest, to be sure, but with decency and honor as well.The Conlon Family, which has handled these tragedies with dignity and grace that truly goes above and beyond anything we think we?re capable of, decided last year to award the scholarship in both Michael and Michelle?s names, as both their schools and their careers mirrored each other.An award of $1,500 will be given to one senior from all three of Lynn?s public high schools, and will be presented during senior awards nights.Those applying for the scholarship must be varsity athletes, excellent school citizens, and provide evidence of academic success.Candidates must also have been accepted to two or four-year colleges, and be in need of financial assistance.All applications are due by Friday, May 18, and are currently available in each school?s guidance offices.And while we?re on the subject of the Conlons, a tip of the cap to Nicole Collins, who won the Conlon Award at the Lynn City Swim Banquet last month.uGood Friday turned out to be very good for the Markakis cousins.On the major league front, Nick Markakis led Baltimore as the Orioles won their home opener.Markakis had a homer and a triple in the O?s 4-2 win vs Minnesota Twins.Meanwhile, Alex Markakis, a Lynnfield resident and St. John?s Prep graduate led St Joseph?s of Maine, going 2-for-3 as the Monks continue to lead the GNAC league and are now ranked No. 1n Division 3 in New England.Markakis, a sophomore, leads the team in hitting with a .393 batting average, and the Monks are now 19-2.Markakis will be playing for the North Shore Navigators this summer.Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].