Athlete Bio
Football
Baseball
Basketball
Track
David DeRuzzo
Class of 1954
Righthanded-hitting slugger who powered a blast that shook the foundation of Fenway Park and sent modern day Paul Reveres running all over Concord shouting the news.
DeRuzzo, a barrel-chested catcher, socked a titanic, three-run homer right into the screen (above the .379-footmark in deep left-center) that was the big offensive blow in Concord's thrilling 5-4 victory over Somerville in the semi-finals of the old Class A baseball tourney. The win pushed Coach Walter Carew's team into the state finals against Milford.
DeRuzzo was a talented shot putter in track and a burly forward in basketball, but his two best sports were football and baseball. Along with fellow inductee, the late Charlie Napoli, Dave played tackle on one of the finest football teams in Concord history, Coach Bernie Megin's powerhouse 10-0-0 1953 club.
One of DeRuzzo's biggest thrills in sports took place during the spring of 1953 when he sparked one CHS team to a state championship (track) and a second (baseball) to within one win of a second state title. Concord lost to Milford 3-1 in the baseball final (also at Fenway Park) robbing CHS of a state championship double.
Following high school, DeRuzzo, who was recruited by both the Big ten and Ivy League, wound up at the University of Florida in Gainsesville on a football scholarship. After playing one season of college football, a shoulder injury ended his playing career with the Gators.
The Warrior athlete from West Concord earned three degrees from the University of Florida culminating with a doctorate in Urban School Administration.
Dr. DeRuzzo has served as superintendent of schools in four states - Florida, Mississippi, Kentucky and Louisiana. Today, he is back doing what he loves best-teaching in a classroom.
Dave alternately bleeds orange and blue (UFlorida) and maroon and gold (Concord High). He is married to Sheila Dougherty, the sister of fellow Hall of Famer Al Dougherty.