It’s always a bittersweet feeling when a big role model retires from their role. Mr. Anthony Vitelli’s retirement marks the end of an incredible journey which was filled with many triumphs, challenges, and unforgettable moments. This is a time to look back at the remarkable legacy he leaves behind. 

Vitelli has been at Joseph A. Foran High School for 37 years, serving as the AD (Athletic Director) for 18 years. For the other 19 years he taught science,  special education and coaching basketball. 

He is constantly moving and preparing for the upcoming seasons for each sport. Vitelli has to make sure all 26 sport teams have practice time, and he plans out each game. 

Vitelli states, “I coached for a long time and always thought I did a pretty good job at coaching and thought maybe I could do a little bit more for the school itself and liked the challenge to monitor the 26 teams.”

Vitelli has impacted many people at Foran for not only support but just making them feel comfortable. 

Many of Foran’s captains have fond memories of Vitelli, including him giving them invaluable advice on how to be a better captain. 

Isabella Valentin, a volleyball captain, got the advice that even though she’s a captain, it’s okay to have hard days. 

Valentin says her favorite memory with Vitelli was “he showed up to all of my volleyball state games. It meant a lot to see Mr. V. going out of his way to support us.”

Senior Mason Hallstrom was a captain of the wrestling team for two years, so he was able to get more time with Vitelli than other people got. He always would have talks with Vitelli before the wrestling meets on what the team’s chances were to win or not, ending with Vitelli wishing him good luck. 

Hallstrom states, “The best advice he ever gave me was to be a captain that other wrestlers and future captains can look up to.” 

Mr. Jeffery Raucci has known Vitelli for quite a while, from when he was a student at Foran to now working with him. He has considered Vitelli a mentor throughout the 10 years he’s been coaching at Foran. 

Raucci remembers one interaction in particular. “When I was in eighth grade he kind of walked me through drills to work on in basketball to improve my game,” Raucci says. “That’s kind of always stuck out to me as during the summer he went above and beyond to show me how to improve.”

Through Vitelli, Raucci had the opportunity to see someone thoroughly handle all the obstacles that come with the job while making sure that the teams are doing things correctly and not just worrying about focusing on winning at all costs. 

Vitelli will truly be missed and has impacted many coaches, teachers and athletes throughout his time at Foran and has shown that he is a person that people can count on.