Antoon will be remembered forever in WLB

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.

West Long Branch – He must have been smiling down on the large crowd on November 26 that had gathered at Frank Antonides School. Ferris Antoon retired from the school district in 1993 after serving 25 years as a physical education teacher. Tragically, he passed away last year, but his name and dedication to the children of West Long Branch will live on forever in the school.

His surviving family members, friends, former students and former co-workers assembled in the gym for the special naming ceremony conducted by the West Long Branch Board of Education in the memory of Antoon. “Ferris Antoon was a teacher here for 25 years and he established several middle school level leagues during his career, from soccer, to basketball to track and field,” said Brian Kramer, Board of Education member. “We wanted to do something that would memorialize his tremendous efforts and dedication to the children of West Long Branch and physical education. So, the board decided that we would name the gym after him.”

The BOE had a special logo painted at center court that reads Ferris Antoon Gymnasium in white letters in a blue circle going around a white Spartan logo, the symbol of the Frank Antonides athletic teams. “We thought this was an appropriate way to remember him. He was our gym teacher for many years,” said Paul J. Christopher, vice president of the Board of Education.

Personally, I was fortunate to have known Ferris Antoon. His oldest son, Jeff and I were classmates at Shore Regional High School. His father always had a smile on his face and was always in a good mood, even when we did things that high school students would have made their parents upset.

“What makes tonight so special for our family is that today is my dad’s birthday, so he must be smiling down on all of us right now,” said Jeff Antoon. “He was always full of positive energy and had an infectious smile. He was a great mentor and a coach.”

Philip Antoon, the youngest of the three children, said his father had three passions. West Virginia University, working with the children of West Long Branch and his Brookdale Community College Sports Camp. “My mom, Deanna, recently purchased the naming rights of a classroom in the physical education wing of West Virginia University in memory of my dad,” said Philip. “With the gym here at Frank Antonides and the classroom at WVU I know my dad is happy now.”

Antoon who graduated from WVU served as the Chairman of the University’s Visiting Committee at the School of Physical Education and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. “Ferris was my neighbor, and I can tell you that he was a proud supporter of West Virginia,” said a smiling Christopher.

Before the start of the board of education meeting that night Teresa Vaccaro, president, called Deanna, Jeff, Susan Cousins (daughter), Philip, their spouses and children to the center of the gym floor and asked them to uncover the center logo.

As each of the Antoon family members looked at the Ferris Antoon Gymnasium logo a tear was visible in their eyes. It was a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his entire adult life to physical education and teaching children.

West Long Branch Superintendent of Schools Thomas G. Farrell along with Board of Education naming committee members Paul Christopher, Susan Trocchia and Brian Kramer join the Antoon family at the dedication of the Ferris Antoon Gymnasium at Frank Antonides School