A new Fitzpatrick Trophy winner will be announced Sunday, as another worthy high school senior accepts the impressive bronze figure of a football player in a three-point stance.
The Fitzpatrick Trophy presentation is in its 45th year. Every banquet not only introduces another recipient but brings back memories for those who have won before.
THE FITZY
WHAT: 45th annual Fitzpatrick Trophy presentation, awarded to the most outstanding high school football senior.
WHEN: Sunday
NOMINEES: Will Bessey, Brunswick; Joe Esposito, Portland; Austin McCrum, Thornton Academy.
Gerry Gelinas, 47, will hear who won and think back to 30 years ago. In a room crowded with his own large family, Gelinas’ name was announced. A three-year starting quarterback for Biddeford High, from 1983-85, Gelinas walked up to receive the trophy on Jan. 19, 1986, as his clan cheered loudly.
“We had 14 at our table,” Gelinas said. “It was pretty neat. When Jack Dawson (the Fitzpatrick Trophy committee chairman) heard we had 14 coming, he called to make sure I wasn’t inviting friends.”
No, the Gelinas family table was all family. Gerry is the eighth of nine children and the youngest of the five boys. Add parents and in-laws, and Gelinas had his own cheering section.
Families not only share in the victory, they can claim some credit. Gerry Gelinas got his introduction to football in the family competitions – against four older brothers.
“We used to beat him pretty good in the backyard,” older brother Andy Gelinas said. “He turned out pretty well.”
When pushed, Andy admits the youngest brother “was a very gifted athlete.”
Andy helped pave the way for Gerry at Biddeford High. A fullback from 1979-81, Andy helped lead a resurgence in Tigers football, including a state championship in 1980.
Along came Gerry Gelinas and the Tigers won two more state titles, beating South Portland 27-7 in 1983 and Bangor 14-7 in 1984. Gelinas’ senior year, the Tigers lost to Lewiston in the semifinals.
“We wanted a three-peat, but they kicked our butt,” Gelinas said.
Two months later, Gelinas could celebrate again, accepting the Fitzpatrick.
Gelinas then had a decision to make. Recruited by Bowdoin, Gelinas also had a partial scholarship offer from the University of Maine.
He picked Maine initially but eventually opted for “none of the above,” and enrolled at the University of Southern Maine.
“I just had no interest,” Gelinas said. “I was going to go to UMaine. By June, after graduation, I wasn’t in the gym working out like I was supposed to. I had a program set up for me but I realized I had no desire. I was done.”
Gelinas had other interests. He was still dating his high school sweetheart, Denise, who had graduated a year ahead of him.
He also was working at Denise’s family business, Huot’s Restaurant at Camp Ellis Island in Saco.
Spending time with Denise and working other part-time jobs, Gelinas eventually left USM.
Life has worked out well. Gelinas married Denise in 1988. They worked at Huot’s – established by Denise’s grandfather in 1935 – and bought the business in 1999.
The popular restaurant is open from April to September. Denise works the front of the restaurant while Gerry stays in the kitchen.
“I pretty much do all the cooking,” he said. “Do the chowders in the morning, then make our clam cakes. My father-in-law showed me the ropes and it’s something I liked.
“It works for us. You go 90-100 hours a week in the summer and you’re done at the end of September. We gave up summers but we got the winters with our girls. We didn’t miss anything they did.”
Gelinas lives only a couple of miles from Biddeford High. He helped out as an assistant football coach for six years and also helped coach girls’ basketball when his youngest of two daughters, Carissa, played for the Tigers. Carissa is now at York County Community College while older sister Alycia is completing her pharmacy studies at Northeastern.
With the girls in college, Gerry and Denise plan to spend more time in Florida in their offseason. They leave this week.
But first, Gelinas will find out who becomes the latest player Fitzpatrick winner.
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