Students had a field day going to battle against teachers and faculty members of Sacred Heart School last Wednesday afternoon at their gymnasium on Purchase Street. The celebratory game has heralded the end of the season for Sacred Heart since the youth basketball program first started at the school three years ago.

That was through the efforts of Ward 3 City Councilman and longtime community volunteer Frank Fogarty, whose grandson, Aiden, attends Sacred Heart School. Fogarty has volunteered for too many youth sports programs and refereed too many local sports leagues to even try to name them all in over 30 years of donating his time and energy to his community.

“My time is precious to those that need it,” Fogarty said. “I’m 66 and climbing and I’m loving life and in good shape. My doctors use me as an example to those who don’t get off the couch when I go in for my monthly...I won’t stop until the Good Lord takes me away. That’s how I live.”

Fogarty, along with the help of fellow Sacred Heart volunteer coach, Gina Fournier, brought the basketball program to Sacred Heart when they saw the desire for one, and in the three years since they grew the program to include full teams for elementary and middle school-aged boys and girls.

The youth boys team that was celebrated last week just finished their season with a .500 record in the Catholic Athletic League.

Reporting by Ethan Hartley