Former Roslyn High School athletic director Rita Martincich was inducted Wednesday into the Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame, joining an inaugural class that included Manhasset’s Jim Brown and Bethpage’s Howard Vogts, the state’s winningest football coach.
Martincich was a teacher, coach and administrator in Roslyn for more than 30 years, having retired in 2009 and returned briefly in 2014 as interim high school athletic director.
First announced in July, the 28-member class was inducted during a ceremony at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
“Sports provide our young people with important lessons, personal value, leadership skills, physical activity and social interaction skills that will benefit all involved for the rest of their lives,” Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said in a statement.
“The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame provides an avenue to honor the most gifted athletes, coaches, contest officials, administrators and related contributors while helping promote healthy competition here and strengthening interscholastic sports,” Mangano said.
Martincich is also a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
Inductees were chosen by a 10-member screening committee and then approved by a five-member selection committee. Nominees not selected for induction may be designated for consideration in the next two consecutive years.
To be selected, nominees must be at least 35 years old, made considerable athletic contributions within Nassau County and meet a range of ethical and moral criteria.
