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‘A Beautiful Facility’: Officials Cut Ribbon on ‘Coppo Field,’ New Home of NCHS Varsity Baseball
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Hundreds of New Canaan Baseball players of all ages, family, friends and supporters gathered at the new Coppo Field on Wednesday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting and inaugural game at the widely anticipated facility in Waveny. Named for the late Joe Coppo, the turf field will serve as the new home of the New Canaan High School varsity Rams, whose first-ever game (also against Darien) had been played nearly 100 years ago when NCHS first played at Mead Park.
Coppo himself “was a longtime resident of New Canaan and ardent supporter of New Canaan Baseball who graciously volunteered his time coaching and was an active board member,” the emcee of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Terry Dinan, told those gathered at the field on a comfortable, sunny day.
He continued: “Joe Coppo tragically lost his life on Sept. 11, 2001. His spirit and legacy lives on in all who take the field to play. We know Joe would be excited, and proud, to see the unveiling of the renovated Coppo Field today.”
Those in attendance included municipal officials such as First Selectman Dionna Carlson, Selectman Steve Karl, Public Works Director Tiger Mann, Parks & Recreation Director John Howe and Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo, district representatives such as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi, NCHS Principal Bill Egan and Athletic Director Jay Egan, and New Canaan Athletic Foundation founding Chair Mike Benevento and Board President Ian MacAllister.
Also in attendance were members of the Coppo family, including Joe Coppo’s son John who threw out the ceremonial first pitch.