Beloved Coach Honored at Softball Field Dedication

Loving husband and father. Passionate volunteer. A man of deep convictions and integrity. A devoted friend and a great coach. Those were just some of the many heartfelt words used to describe Michael Germinario, a beloved volunteer baseball and softball coach, at a ceremony held on Sunday, July 31, 2011 in Holmdel, NJ. That evening, under sunny skies, a crowd of over 200 friends, neighbors, family members, and young ballplayers came together for the dedication of the Michael C. Germinario Memorial Field at Satz School. Formerly known simply as the Lower Softball Field, the renaming of the site was deemed an appropriate tribute to a man taken too soon when he passed away on August 1, 2010, who spent countless hours there with the teams and fellow coaches that he so inspired.

The dedication of the field was made possible, said Gerald DiMaso, president of the Holmdel Youth Activities Association (HYYA), “with tremendous support from everyone, and we’re very proud of that. With the permission and support of the Holmdel Board of Education, the blessing of the Holmdel Township Committee, and the overwhelming pride of members of HYAA, we hereby dedicate this field to be called, now and forever, the Michael Germinario Field.” With those words, a large sign that had been erected behind the fence at home plate was unveiled by Michael Germinario’s children, Cassandra and Christopher, who beamed with pride alongside their mother, Louise. Cassandra, who her father saw become a star pitcher, is entering her sophomore year at St. John Vianney High School and Christopher is entering his senior year at Holmdel High School. 

Following the unveiling of the new field sign, the Germinario family was also presented with an official proclamation, on behalf of the township committee, by Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso, declaring July 31, 2011 to be known as Michael C. Germinario Day in Holmdel Township.

Various friends stepped forward to speak, as well, offering many touching tributes, and often humorous anecdotes, about the kind of man Mike Germinario was and the difference he had made in so many lives. Balancing the fundamentals of the game with the importance of sportsmanship, he was known for giving equal time and recognition to every player on his team, highlighting their individual achievements and making every win a true team effort. His remarkable selflessness and generosity shone through even until his final days, when, unable to speak, he would write notes to his friends, advising them how to take care of the teams and even managing to get up from his sickbed to help neighbors look for a child they thought was missing…but who had only fallen asleep in another room, unseen by his family.

Louise Germinario, Michael’s wife, took her turn to address the crowd, saying, “I can’t think of a better way to commemorate Michael. Coaching was his passion. The kids and I cannot be more thankful that he touched the hearts of all of you, especially the kids he coached, in such a positive way. To say we miss him is an understatement, but to know how he lived and loved is an inspiration that will be with us forever. To have all of you here today and this field in his name is a privilege and an honor. There are so many of you that worked to make this happen, so thank all of you (too many to mention by name), HYAA, the board of education, and the township committee. A special thanks to Bob Brady, who mounted the sign and prepared the field, to Tom Hyland and Gerry DiMaso who coordinated today’s events, and thank all of you for coming today. Let’s play ball!”

With that, everyone stood to face the Satz School flagpole as the National Anthem was played, then gathered to watch Cassandra throw the ceremonial first pitch to her brother Christopher for a short, informal parent/child softball game while others enjoyed refreshments provided by the Germinario family as a token of appreciation.

Somewhere, everyone there knew, a very special coach was watching, and smiling from those sunny skies.