Medina says goodbye to its ‘biggest cheerleader’
Mentor, coach, fan Sam Gorfido dies at 85
The children of Sam N. Gorfido, a huge local athletics booster and mentor to many, say goodbye to their father during his funeral service at Medina High School’s gymnasium July 24. “Sammy’s Section,” the bleachers behind the Medina basketball bench (pictured), has been dedicated in Gorfido’s honor for years. Photos by KEVIN MCMANUS
MEDINA – Court-side, close to his favorite team, alongside his loved ones. That’s where you could often find him and that’s fittingly where the community paid its final respects to him.
The casket of Sam N. Gorfido, who died July 19 at 85, was placed in the center “M” of Medina High School’s Richard H. Clevidence Gymnasium during his funeral service July 24. Two Medina “M” caps were placed on top, along with a photo of Sam holding his late wife of 56 years, Virginia, pictured smiling together on the sideline of the football field at Medina’s Ken Dukes Stadium.
Called upon from the upper bleachers by one of Gorfido’s sons, Michael, the Medina boys basketball team came down to the court and circled around the casket, along with family members, to symbolically rally around the man who seemingly rallied around all of Medina’s kids at all times.
“Three years ago when my sister (Becky Backus) passed, a very special group of young men and their head coach came across town,” Michael Gorfido recalled, adding the funeral was just before a big game for the Medina boys. “They came to the funeral home at Waite & Son, they came in one by one and circled around my father in support of him.”
“They said, ‘Coach, it’s time. Let’s go back to the gym ... we have a game to get ready for.’ They came back here and they went out Friday night and won that game. That’s the kind of impact that young men can have when they have leadership like Coach (Chris) Hassinger and the influence of people like my father.”
Added Gorfido’s son-in-law Chet Backus, “Sam was well known to Medina as a supporter of various aspects of Medina High School events. He attended concerts, plays, Showtime, S.P.I.C.E., as well as the football, basketball and baseball games.”
For years, the lower deck of the gym’s bleachers behind Medina’s bench has been dedicated as “Sammy’s Section” with giant white script, the section where he and his buddies sat for nearly every Medina boys and girls basketball games.
At one point when the home bench was moved to a different side of the gym, Gorfido naturally moseyed to the other side to be near his boys. The school eventually took notice and repainted the new side in homage to its No. 1 fan, “everyone’s biggest cheerleader,” as he’s been known around town.
Gorfido was also known to follow the teams on away games, sometimes showing up hours early and hanging out in the parking lot waiting for the players’ bus to arrive. For home games, he would show up for the freshmen games, staying through the junior varsity and varsity games.
Gorfido was lovingly described as having the “social schedule of a teenager,” even well into his later years.
“The last time I was in this beautiful gym, I was sitting in Sammy’s Section with my dad and all his loyal friends. We would cheer on the mighty Medina Bees game after game,” Gorfido’s son Angelo said. “He would be humbled and honored by this awesome gesture.”
Gorfido was a 1951 graduate of Medina where he was quarterback for Medina’s 1951 Southwestern Conference championship team.
He also played basketball and baseball.
He’s credited with helping to create Medina’s first youth football league, coaching the Mustangs for many years, in addition to coaching youth baseball. A group of former Mustang cheerleaders performed their “we are the Mustangs” cheer during the funeral.
Gorfido’s Mustangs were colored orange and black, a nod to his high school coach Jim Hollinger, a former coach of the famed Massillon Tigers of the same color scheme who worked under then-Tigers head coach Paul Brown. Brown would go on to create his own pro franchise, the Cincinnati Bengals, of which Gorfido was a huge fan.
“Last night, we got to see a number of Mustangs come through (calling hours) and it was awesome. It was absolutely awesome how many times they re-carried the stories from those principles dad would speak of,” Michael Gorfido said. “Dad saw tremendous value in young people ... he valued young people and believed in young people so much, he wanted them to know they were valued.”
Gorfido owned and operated SNG Masonry for decades. He was said to have never used business cards, instead thinking of his handshake as his business card and never making up contracts because “his word was his bond.”
Most importantly, Gorfido is remembered as a devoted family-first man of great character who stood by Virginia as her health declined and bestowed values of class and compassion to his and the community’s kids alike.
“A man of integrity, of humility, of compassion, loyalty, unconditional love, unselfish, gentle yet strong and a respecter of all people of all races and nationalities,” Gorfido’s daughter Cheri Harney said. “Dad used his words to build people up, not tear them down. I urge you continue his legacy, especially calling on the men in this gym, to live a life of character.”
Inducted into the Medina County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, Gorfido then told The Medina Gazette, “I wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had for anything.”
The same quote was printed on the funeral’s program and the sentiment echoed repeatedly by family members who shared memories.
Gorfido was laid to rest in Spring Grove Cemetery at South Spring Grove Avenue and East Washington Street following the well-attended funeral service at MHS.
His obituary can be found in this week’s Medina Post.
The casket of Sam N. Gorfido, who died July 19 at 85, was placed in the center “M” of Medina High School’s Richard H. Clevidence Gymnasium during his funeral service July 24. Two Medina “M” caps were placed on top, along with a photo of Sam holding his late wife of 56 years, Virginia, pictured smiling together on the sideline of the football field at Medina’s Ken Dukes Stadium.
Called upon from the upper bleachers by one of Gorfido’s sons, Michael, the Medina boys basketball team came down to the court and circled around the casket, along with family members, to symbolically rally around the man who seemingly rallied around all of Medina’s kids at all times.
“Three years ago when my sister (Becky Backus) passed, a very special group of young men and their head coach came across town,” Michael Gorfido recalled, adding the funeral was just before a big game for the Medina boys. “They came to the funeral home at Waite & Son, they came in one by one and circled around my father in support of him.”
“They said, ‘Coach, it’s time. Let’s go back to the gym ... we have a game to get ready for.’ They came back here and they went out Friday night and won that game. That’s the kind of impact that young men can have when they have leadership like Coach (Chris) Hassinger and the influence of people like my father.”
Added Gorfido’s son-in-law Chet Backus, “Sam was well known to Medina as a supporter of various aspects of Medina High School events. He attended concerts, plays, Showtime, S.P.I.C.E., as well as the football, basketball and baseball games.”
For years, the lower deck of the gym’s bleachers behind Medina’s bench has been dedicated as “Sammy’s Section” with giant white script, the section where he and his buddies sat for nearly every Medina boys and girls basketball games.
At one point when the home bench was moved to a different side of the gym, Gorfido naturally moseyed to the other side to be near his boys. The school eventually took notice and repainted the new side in homage to its No. 1 fan, “everyone’s biggest cheerleader,” as he’s been known around town.
Gorfido was also known to follow the teams on away games, sometimes showing up hours early and hanging out in the parking lot waiting for the players’ bus to arrive. For home games, he would show up for the freshmen games, staying through the junior varsity and varsity games.
Gorfido was lovingly described as having the “social schedule of a teenager,” even well into his later years.
“The last time I was in this beautiful gym, I was sitting in Sammy’s Section with my dad and all his loyal friends. We would cheer on the mighty Medina Bees game after game,” Gorfido’s son Angelo said. “He would be humbled and honored by this awesome gesture.”
Gorfido was a 1951 graduate of Medina where he was quarterback for Medina’s 1951 Southwestern Conference championship team.
He also played basketball and baseball.
He’s credited with helping to create Medina’s first youth football league, coaching the Mustangs for many years, in addition to coaching youth baseball. A group of former Mustang cheerleaders performed their “we are the Mustangs” cheer during the funeral.
Gorfido’s Mustangs were colored orange and black, a nod to his high school coach Jim Hollinger, a former coach of the famed Massillon Tigers of the same color scheme who worked under then-Tigers head coach Paul Brown. Brown would go on to create his own pro franchise, the Cincinnati Bengals, of which Gorfido was a huge fan.
“Last night, we got to see a number of Mustangs come through (calling hours) and it was awesome. It was absolutely awesome how many times they re-carried the stories from those principles dad would speak of,” Michael Gorfido said. “Dad saw tremendous value in young people ... he valued young people and believed in young people so much, he wanted them to know they were valued.”
Gorfido owned and operated SNG Masonry for decades. He was said to have never used business cards, instead thinking of his handshake as his business card and never making up contracts because “his word was his bond.”
Most importantly, Gorfido is remembered as a devoted family-first man of great character who stood by Virginia as her health declined and bestowed values of class and compassion to his and the community’s kids alike.
“A man of integrity, of humility, of compassion, loyalty, unconditional love, unselfish, gentle yet strong and a respecter of all people of all races and nationalities,” Gorfido’s daughter Cheri Harney said. “Dad used his words to build people up, not tear them down. I urge you continue his legacy, especially calling on the men in this gym, to live a life of character.”
Inducted into the Medina County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, Gorfido then told The Medina Gazette, “I wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had for anything.”
The same quote was printed on the funeral’s program and the sentiment echoed repeatedly by family members who shared memories.
Gorfido was laid to rest in Spring Grove Cemetery at South Spring Grove Avenue and East Washington Street following the well-attended funeral service at MHS.
His obituary can be found in this week’s Medina Post.