Richard "Dick" Galiette

GALIETTE, Richard "Dick" Richard "Dick" Galiette, 72, of Mix Ave., Hamden, died Friday, (October 21, 2005) at St. Raphael's Hospital in New Haven. He was born August 27, 1933 in Southington son of the late Sisto and Marguerite (Celello) Galiette. He is survived by a son Richard J. Galiette and his wife Kim of Woodbury; two daughters, Lauren E. Galiette of Norwalk and Pamela Galiette of West Palm Beach, FL; two grandchildren, Trevor and Matthew Galiette; and his special soul mate Lisa, who he shared the last 20 years with. He was predeceased by a brother Joseph "Rip" Galiette. Dick was a member of the 1951 first graduating class of Southington High School. Dick joined the U.S. Marines serving in the Korean War. His broadcasting career launched soon after his discharge from the Marines in 1955. He was hired by WLCR in Torrington as an all purpose announcer. From WLCR he moved on to WAVZ New Haven as a newscaster where he remained until moving on to WICC in Bridgeport. From WICC he moved to WNHC in New Haven doing news and sports. His play by play career and specialized style of sports broadcasting including hard hitting commentaries became the talk of the area. It was here he began regular live coverage of CIAC basketball tournament championship games and home and away coverage of Yale basketball. Galiette moved from WNHC Radio into TV sports casting at WNHC-TV New Haven. At. WNHC-TV which was to become WTNH-TV Galiette honed his hard hitting style. He also began his long time career as the play voice of Yale football, in addition, he was the first to introduce a "High School Athlete of the Week" going unannounced to the schools and into class rooms for the interviews. He received numerous state and regional honors during his career. Seven times his peers voted him Connecticut Sportscaster of the Year. The CT High School Coaches Association honored him with the Joseph J. Fontana Award for Distinguished Service, one of the CHSCA's highest honors. He formed Galsports Marketing and assisted the CHSCA in major fund raising efforts and special events for several years. He also published National Coach Magazine devoted entirely to high school sports and distributed nationwide. The National High School Athletic Coaches Assoc. named Galiette it's Executive Director in 1999 to oversee its six thousand members and guide them into the 21st century. The NHSACA is nearing its 50th year of existence. Some of Dick's career accomplishments included Sports Director WTHH-TV (ABC) 1964-1981, CT Sportscaster of the Year 1966, 1969 through 1974, Walter Camp Football Foundation, All American Award 1968; CHSCA Joseph J. Fontana distinguished Service Award 1977, Play by Play Voice of Yale Football 1963-1989 and 1997 to present, Executive Director National High School Athletic Coaches Association 1998, 1st Media person to be inducted into the CT H.S. Coaches Hall of Fame in 2005. The Funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Church, 99 Bristol St., Southington. Burial with military honors will be at St. Thomas Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. Southington on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers donation may be made in his memory to V.A. Medical Center, 950 Campbell Ave., West Haven, CT 06516.