Hall of Fame and Awards
Since 2009, the West Babylon Alumni Foundation has recognized the exceptional achievements of West Babylon Graduates who have made significant contributions to their profession or society and non-graduates who have made contributions to the betterment of the West Babylon School District and community.
Each year we host an event to honor these individuals who are inducted into the Hall of Fame or are recipients of the Board of Director Awards.
Hall of Fame Nominations Open
We are currently accepting applications for the Hall of Fame. Please download and submit the attached application.
Application Deadline: May 31, 2024
Award Ceremonies
2022 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The Hall of Fame Induction and Board of Directors Awards ceremony was held on January 14, 2022. Scroll down for a video of the event. Board of Directors’ Award Charles Volpe 2021 Hall…
Hall of Fame Inductees and Board of Director Award Recipients
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Frank Taplin
2012
B.O.D. AWARD
Frank “Tappy” Taplin was born January 15, 1933 in Lowell, Massachusetts, a tough mill town on the banks of the Merrimack River. He was the oldest of four boys born to Frank and Marion Taplin. Growing up in Centerville, a rough section of the city, and living across the street…
Thomas Teufel
Class of 1988
2010
HALL OF FAME
Thomas C. Teufel is a 1988 West Babylon graduate, a decorated police officer and U.S. Army war veteran (Panama and Iraq). Thomas served his community and country for more than 20 years, beginning with his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1988 after high school graduation. During Thomas’ 21 year…
Mozelle Thompson
Class of 1972
2009
HALL OF FAME
Mozelle W. Thompson is the founder of Thompson Strategic Consulting where he provides strategic policy and business advice to innovative corporations like Facebook, Inc. He served as a Commissioner on the US Federal Trade Commission from December 17, 1997 until August 31, 2004 where he was one of five Commissioners,…
Dr. Mark Thompson
Class of 1979
2015
HALL OF FAME
Mark K. Thompson graduated from West Babylon High School where he was an outstanding member of the Class of 1979. He continued his education by graduating from Harvard University, and thereafter, received his medical degree from Tufts University Medical School where he served on the student council and received the…
Dr. Charles Thompson
Class of 1972
2010
HALL OF FAME
Charles Thompson is Professor of Electrical and “Computer Engineering, Director of the Center for Advanced Computation and Telecommunications and formerly Associate to the Dean for Research and Graduate Study at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He received a B.S. in E.E. from New York University, a M.S. at the…
Barry Titone
2015
B.O.D. AWARD
Born and raised in New York, Barry Titone attended PS 93 and Grover Cleveland High School. During his service in the US Marine Corp, he played with the Marine Band. He then went on to receive his ABS and MA degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Titone taught…
Russell VanBrunt (posthumously)
2014
B.O.D. AWARD
Russell D. Van Brunt was born and raised in Babylon He attended the Babylon schools and graduated from Babylon High School in 1921. Russell attended the prestigious Colgate College (now Colgate University) in Hamilton, NY and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1925. He played minor league baseball while…
Dominick Varrone
Class of 1967
2013
HALL OF FAME
Dominick Varrone graduated from West Babylon High School in a 1967 and attended S.U.N.Y. at Cortland where he earned a B.A. in Psychology. Upon graduation in 1971, he enlisted in the New York Air National Guard where he served for 12 years, being honorably discharged at the rank of Master…
Pamela Vaughn Valdez
Class of 1975
2018
HALL OF FAME
While a student at West Babylon High School, Pam excelled both academically and as an athlete. Pam graduated in the top 5 percent of her class. She played field hockey, basketball and softball. Pam earned the Long Island Gold Key Award as well as a softball scholarship to Adelphi University.…
Dr. Debra Viti (posthumously)
Class of 1977
2012
HALL OF FAME
Dr. Debra Viti grew up in West Babylon residing on Justice Street with her parents and her brother, Paul. She graduated from West Babylon Senior High School in June, 1977. Dr. Viti received her BA from Indiana University. She was accepted to three Ivy League medical schools: Cornell, Georgetown University…
Charles J. Volpe
2021
B.O.D. AWARD
Mr. Charles J. Volpe, Commanding Officer of the Sgt. John Sardiello Post 1634 of the American Legion is humbled and honored to receive the West Babylon Alumni Foundation Directors’ Award. While not a graduate of West Babylon High School, Mr. Volpe has made a considerable impact on the West Babylon…
West Babylon Fire Department WBFD
2022
HALL OF FAME
In the early years of the hamlet of West Babylon, there was no formally organized fire department. Firefighting was conducted by impromptu groups when the need arose. In 1947, the West Babylon Fire Department was officially formed, and Ellison Driscoll was named the first Chief of the Department. In 1949,…
Robert Weaver
Class of 1983
2018
HALL OF FAME
Robert P. Weaver, Esq. is a 1983 West Babylon Alumni. Rob received his Bachelor of Art, cum laude, from St. John’s University in 1987 and his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University’s School of Law in 1990. In 1990, Rob joined the Dime Savings Bank of New York, FSB, where he…
Thomas Weidemeyer
Class of 1965
2019
HALL OF FAME
Born in Brooklyn, Tom and his family moved to West Babylon in 1955. Along with his sisters, Arlene and Carol, Tom is a graduate of West Babylon High School, having graduated as class Valedictorian in 1965. Following high school, Tom continued his education at Colgate University, receiving his BA in…
Dr. Scott Weiss
Class of 1996
2022
HALL OF FAME
Dr. Scott L. Weiss is a 1996 West Babylon Graduate. High School where he was the salutatorian of his class. In high school, Dr. Weiss was drum major of the marching band and played lacrosse and soccer, earning all-conference honors for and voted MVP of the varsity soccer team in…
Mathew Wilensky
2011
B.O.D. AWARD
Mathew Wilensky, a longtime resident of Amityville, was born in Staten Island to Leon and Rifka Wilensky, Jewish immigrants from Latvia. He attended public school in Staten Island and attended the University of Illinois, pursuing a degree in English. His education was interrupted by World War II when he enlisted…
John Zaruka
Class of 1969
2015
HALL OF FAME
John and Irene Zaruka (Carjonga) grew up in Babylon and attended West Babylon Schools starting at South Bay Elementary and graduating from WB High School in 1969. John’s was an idyllic childhood with his wonderful parents Bill and Alice. He lettered in four sports at West Babylon while maintaining an…