RHS Athletic Hall of Fame
Members of the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame are those that have made a lasting impact on the school’s sports program as either student players, coaches, or supporters. Often the student players have continued to influence their chosen sports after high school by ongoing participation in athletics.
Jim Dee, 2020 Inductee
In an article written by Mark Blaudschun for “The Patriot Ledger” about Jim Dee’s then current golf position in July of 2015 he stated, “In a world of high-stress jobs and expectations and lifestyles that can move and change with the speed of the latest social media trend, Jim Dee is a throwback to a different era. ”Indeed a very vivid picture of Jim Dee’s life today was painted. ”Reasonable pace, little stress, doing something that has been a part of his entire life and working at a job that is as much a passion as it is a vocation.”
Jim Dee has found a way to make a living doing what he loves to do, play golf according to the “Patriot Ledgers article.“ It has been that way most of Dee’s life and make no mistake, he is more than happy the way it has worked out.” Jim has had a long and highly regarded tenure as a PGA teaching Pro.
Jim’s process to becoming an athlete worthy of induction into the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall Of Fame actually begins with his father Harry Dee the famous golf pro who ran the golf operations at the famous Ridgewood Country Club for many years. Golf was a part of Jim’s DNA. He was one of three Dee boys Jim, John and Tom all of whom became involved with golf as a profession. Their dad Harry was voted New Jersey PGA player of the year in 1966 and in 1978 the Dee family was selected as the national golf family of the year. As a youngster Jim was included in the inner circle of his father’s golf world. Jim got to meet many of the greats along the way through his father’s playing on the PGA tour. Men like Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, and Ben Hogan served as inspirations to his development in the game. Growing up in New Jersey as the son of a prestigious golf pro, Jim enjoyed the life and lifestyle that encompassed that world.
Luckily, Jim attended Ridgewood High School which at the time had a very strong golf program under the tutelage of Frank Mozeleski his sophomore and junior years and Dick Bennett his senior year. Under their guidance and that of others, Jim went on to have a stellar high school career for the Maroons. He was first team all NNJIL in 1970, 71 and 72. He was voted to the first team All Bergen County team in 1972 and led the team to the New Jersey state team championship in 1970 shooting an 83 in the tournament final. In 1971 his team was 20-1 winning league, county and state sectional titles and in 1972 Jim was captain of the team leading the Maroons to the league, county, and state sectional championship and winning the individual Bergen County title shooting a 74 in the championship round.
Amazingly Jim had a tremendous growth spurt going into his senior year at RHS which accelerated his developments as a basketball player. Having played hoops for the Maroons in 1970 and 71 (He was a Bergen Record athlete of the week for basketball in 1972) Jim exploded onto the county hoop scene averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds a game his senior year leading the team to a 22-7 record and winning the Bergen County Championship. He was named to the All County Team for the 1972 season.
At 6”9” then Holy Cross basketball coach, George Blaney, offered Jim a basketball scholarship to attend the famous school in Worcester Mass. Jim accepted and had a stellar four year basketball and golf career for the Crusaders. He was captain of the golf team his senior year in 1976 while scoring 763 career points for the basketball squad. He averaged 10 points a game with 5 rebounds his senior year on an NIT bound 22-10 team. Jim is retired now and resides with his wife Mary in Hobe Sound, Florida.
Download: 2020 Banquet Book!
2022
Patti Auger, Eric Benedict, Eunae Jo, Peter McGinley, Karla Mixon, Clair Nowakowski, 1983 Softball Team, Joe Pedone, Julia Rappa
2020
Carlos Peay, Louis Edward “Eddie” Peay, Kelly Conheeney, Samantha Cermack, Chris Rae, Chelsea Steinberg, Mark Strittmatter, Andrew Clarke, Jim Dee, Phil Ross Sr.
2018
2016
Maureen Greico, Larry Coyle, Jacob Brown, Richard Bennett, Toshiko D’Elia
2014
John Marshall, Jim Bruni, Mark Romeo, Jean Hughes, Chris Van Note, Nancy Hogan, RHS Football Team 1913, Don Taylor, Rachel Grygiel, John Cerf, Paul Tornatore, Michele Marangi, RHS Boys’ Lacrosse 1990-92
2012
Craig Halyard, Tom Flatt, Tricia Pappalardo, Mike Henderson, Kandie Latham, Leigh Jester, Tom Dusel, Roger Sweeney, Linda Zabielski, Patty Capasso, Dennis Sullivan, Nick & Dottie Capasso, Track and Field (Bain-Daley-Oliver Era)
2010
Primo “Duke” DeRochi, Debbie Paul, George Monro, Bill Dunne, Amy Lyons, James Sullivan, Michael Culver, Keith O’Connor, Josh Kauke, Patti Mileski, Mary Ellen Mileski
2008
Kitty Batterson, Henry Blauvelt, Frank L. Bradley, Jr., Lucia Cancelmo, Chris DuFlocq, Renee DuFlon, RHS Girls’ Basketball 1922-1923, Harry Grundy, Jim Jones, Joe LeMay, Jen McDermott, Shannon McGarrigle, Tony Napier, Margaret Niemann, Vince Robertiello (Jamie Roberts), Damian Ross, Mike Springer
2006
Mario Ferraro, Paul Ferraro, Don Haldane, Wendy Hartwig, Tom Hopper, Bob Keino, Frank Mozeleski, Tim Mullen, Jenna Rogers, Donna O’Connell, Carin Cone, Charles Yennie
2004
Paul Arrigoni, Pete Campbell, Doug Cook, Becky Deetz, Otis Grendler, Jodi Hartwig, Gene Links, Debbie O’Connell, Aimee McGuire, Walt Perdue, Tom Simos, Kazbek Tambi, Jack Van Yperen, Bob Whitaker, Margaret Scutro