LYNN — The death of Harry Agganis at age 26 in 1955 had an enormous impact in Lynn, the region, the state and, to a degree, the nation. Known as the “Golden Greek” for his movie-star looks and his incomparable athletic ability, Agganis was a beloved and almost mythological figure, and his loss hit hard.
At the urging of the community – led by Lynn attorney Charles Demakis – Harold Zimman, an Agganis mentor; the Daily Evening Item; and the Boston Red Sox, for whom Agganis was starting at first base and hitting .300 when he fell ill, combined to start a foundation that would award college scholarships in his name. Their goal was to raise $250,000, a significant amount, especially in 1956 dollars.
It is reasonable to think that they could not have dreamed that 67 years later not only has the foundation endured, but it has awarded more than $2.4 million in scholarships to 1,051 student-athletes. There are several monuments to Agganis – the community center at St. George Church; a square in Lynn; a stadium at Camp LeJeune; the Manning/Fraser Field athletic complex; a statue and arena at his alma mater, Boston University – but it is reasonable to assert that the single biggest reason that Agganis’ legacy has prevailed is the ongoing efforts of the foundation to provide scholarships and stage athletic competitions in his name.
The 2023 version of Agganis Week – it’s actually a four-day festival, but 10 events make a week – starts Sunday with an opening ceremony at Manning Field. It is a multi-purpose event: presenting scholarships to the 11 recipients in the Class of ’23, introducing the student-athletes who will participate in this year’s Agganis All-Star Games, and the foundation bestowing major awards to five individuals whose contribution to academics and athletics warrant such recognition.
Then it’s time to play ball: lacrosse doubleheader at Manning Sunday, with softball and baseball at Fraser next door; basketball at Lynn Classical Monday, soccer at Manning Tuesday, and the 61st Agganis All-Star Football Game at Manning Wednesday at 6 p.m. to cap the festivities.
From 1956-94, the football game was the only competition – other than the academic pursuit of applying for a scholarship. Then, the foundation started adding games: first baseball, a natural due to Agganis’ professional career; then soccer, prompted by local attorney Anne Gugino Carrigan and a few others; then basketball and, in 2012, lacrosse, making it a nine-game series.
The games provide high-school seniors, the majority of whom will not play collegiately, a final chance to compete on the local stage in front of family and friends, and for the best of reasons. The primary focus of the foundation, however, remains on scholarships, and there was breaking news along those lines at the beginning of the year when Agganis Foundation President Andrew Demakes and Scholarship Committee Chair Tom Iarrobino announced that starting this year an Agganis scholarship would double in value – to $8,000, or $2,000 per year for all four years of college.
At that rate, more than $250,000, the goal of those who laid the foundation – Demakis, Zimman, Item owner Peter Gamage, Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey – almost seven decades ago, will be awarded over the next three years. That is something of which everyone who has had any association with it can be proud.
Let the Games begin.
