Amsterdam High School is pleased to announce its 2021 Hall of Fame inductees. The induction ceremony will be held October 1 at the Perthshire Banquet Facility on Route 30. The cost for attending is $45 per person or $35 for members of the Legacy Team and current Hall of Famers. Cocktail hour is at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and inductions at 7 p.m. For more info email ahshalloffame367@gmail.com
Amsterdam High School 2021 Hall of Fame inductees
Academics/Humanities
Dr. Harrison Wilson – Class of 1943
Dr. Harrison Wilson graduated from Amsterdam High School in 1943. He went on to earn a master’s degree and doctorate degree in Health Science and Administration from Indiana University.
From 1948 to 1964 he worked at Jackson State College as professor, administrator, and basketball coach for 13 seasons. He compiled a record of 371-93 never had a losing season. In 1975 he was named president of Norfolk State University. In 22 years at that position the university grew from four graduate programs to 14 masters and one doctoral program.
Academics/Humanities
Bob Cudmore – Class of 1963 (Valedictorian)
Bob Cudmore graduated from Amsterdam High School in 1963 and was the class Valedictorian. He went on to earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English from Boston University ( Summa Cum Laude), and a masters’ degree in English from Boston University.
Cudemore began his radio career in Amsterdam in 1962 at WCSS.
He later hosted WGY radio’s night time talk show Contact for 12 years. He also co-produced the WMHT public television documentary “Historic Views of the Carpet City, Amsterdam, NY” in 2000. In 2001 he started a newspaper column in the Daily Gazette, “Focus on History” and has written in excess of 700 columns. He has also authored four books highlighting the history of the Mohawk Valley.
Academics/Service
Louis Rosmarino
After graduating from State University of New York at Cortland with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1961, Louis Rosmarino started his teaching career in Amsterdam. For the next 34 years he taught high school math. He was an inspiration to his fellow teachers as well as his students. He would always go the extra mile to help his students succeed. His greatest achievement may have been that he never had a student fail a NYS Regents exam.
Academics/Service
Stephanie Podolec – Class of 1975
Stephanie Podolec graduated from Amsterdam High School in 1975 and spent 33 teaching Music in the Greater Amsterdam School District from the elementary school to high school level. The last 17 of those years were spent as director of the Amsterdam High School Marching Rams and musical director for the high school spring musical. Podolec is also the founder and director of Mohawk Valley Chamber Ensembles. The MVCE provides small ensembles with coaching and opportunities for performance for advanced middle and high school students, as well as adults. In 2020 she became conductor of the College of Saint Rose Symphonic Band.
Academics/Humanities
William Marks – Class of 1992
William Marks graduated from Amsterdam High School in 1992. He went on to attend the prestigious U. S. Naval Academy, graduated in 1996, and served at sea on cruisers, destroyers and aircraft carriers. He has also served in leadership positions at the Pentagon, onboard the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), the office of the Chief of Naval Personnel, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. 7th Fleet. From 2015-2016, Marks was Chief of Media for the U.S. Navy, directing the Navy’s engagement with national and international journalists. His final military assignment was as senior spokesperson for the Department of Defense on intelligence issues, leading media engagement for global intelligence issues, and special projects for the Vice President and Ambassador Nikki Haley. After 22 years serving in the Navy and Department of Defense Intelligence, Marks joined Facebook as regional manager for community development in the western United States.
Athletics/Athlete
Mike Angellotti- Class of 1992
While a student-athlete at Amsterdam High School, Mike Angellotti was a three-year selection to the All-Area Football Team on both offense and defense. He also excelled at Track and Field being and wasnamed to the All- Area Track and Field team. As a member of 1991 (undefeated 11-0, NYS Regional champion football team), Angellotti was named 1991 NYS Army Player of the Year. He received an appointment to the West Point Military Academy following graduation 1992 and played on the West Point varsity football team for one year. He later transferred to Penn State University and played on Coach Joe Paterno’s football team until concussion issues ended his playing career. Angellotti is now a Lieutenant in the Penn State Police Department.
Athletics/Service-Coaching
John “Jack” Tracy
John “Jack” Tracy worked for the Greater Amsterdam School District for 40 years, serving as varsity baseball coach for 38 years. Under his tutelage, two Amsterdam High School players, Roger Bowman and Mac Kuczek made it to the Major League Baseball major leagues. At one point his baseball team won 40 straight games.
In 1927 he started the football program at Amsterdam High School and was the first varsity football coach. In his four years as varsity coach, he compiled a record of 22-6 and led Amsterdam to its first league championship.
Athletics/Service-Coaching
Robert “Bob” Noto – Class of 1973
Robert “Bob” Noto graduated from Amsterdam High School in 1973 and later spend 35 years working for GASD as a Physical Education teacher Kindergarten to 12th grade. During that time he coached a variety of sports, including girls volleyball and basketball as well as football and baseball. Noto was an assistant coach on two state championship football teams and a regional champion team as well as many sectional champions in football.
Noto also served as GASD Athletic Director for 10 years. While serving as AD, Noto paved the way for the district’s first artificial turf field. In 2014 he approached the superintendent of schools with the idea of starting a Amsterdam High School Hall of Fame. In 2015 that became a reality as the hall inducted its first class.
Athletics/Service-Coaching
John Los
John Los came to Amsterdam in 1966 from Ipswich, Massachusetts via Syracuse University. While in Amsterdam he taught Physical Education at the junior and senior high school levels. He quickly got involved in the Amsterdam athletic scene working with Butch Miller developing a summer conditioning program for the Little Giants. The program he put together taught the skills necessary to be a successful football player.
In 1969 he was appointed head coach of the Rugged Rams. A year later Amsterdam won its first league championship in 22 years. They also beat Mt. Pleasant High School of Schenectady for the first time during that span. While leading the Amsterdam football team, Los recorded a record of 23-7, capturig two league titles. Although Los was in the district for a relatively short period, he laid down the foundation for Amsterdam to become a football powerhouse.
Athletics/Athlete
Giuseppi Lanzi – Class of 2010
Giuseppi Lanzi graduated from Amsterdam High School in 2010. He was a NYSPHSAA and Federation champion in wrestling in 2010 and voted Most Outstanding Wrestler in that tournament. He was a two-time National High School All American
Lanzi won the Eastern States Classic, a tournament which includes 90 of the best wrestling teams on the eastern seaboard. He was a three-time Class B champion and a two-time Section 2 champion. He won the Joe DeMaeo Award as Section 2’s most outstanding wrestler and went undefeated in his senior year with a record of 42-0. During Lanzi’s Amsterdam career he recorded 246 wins, 152 by pin and never lost a home match in six years as a varsity wrestler.
Lanzi was honored as a Scholar Athlete all six years, maintaining a 95 GPA
Athletics
Legacy Team – 1970 Football Team
This Legacy Team – the 1970 Amsterdam High School football team – began a run of champion caliber football teams that would last for 50 years. Coached by John Los and Brian Mee, the 1970 football season is remembered by Amsterdam grid fans as one that made them proud to be in the Rugged Rams cheering section. No Amsterdam football team had won the Class A league title since 1948. The 1970 team went on to finish the season 6-1-1 and capture Amsterdam’s first league title in 22 years. This team was made up of a large number of underclassmen making the future bright for Amsterdam football.