Hall of Fame
Donald J. Guido ’71 – Class of 2004.
Solid Citizen…
The Le Moyne baseball team went from mediocre to magical in the space of a decade. The kernel of future greatness could be found in a corps of players in the early 70’s. Among them was a talented athlete who came to Le Moyne in the Fall of 1967 from Notre Dame High School in Utica.
Donald Guido would play basketball under the tutelage of the legendary Tom Niland. He would star on the diamond during the transition from Frank Calo to Dick Rockwell and captain the baseball team in his senior year.
He would learn to teach.
Like smashing a baseball or sinking a jumper, teaching is part art and part science. Doing it well requires hard work and dedication. He never lacked these attributes during his career at Le Moyne – in the classroom or in athletic competition. He has consistency demonstrated them since graduation.
He is a brilliant teacher.
For more than three decades in the classroom of the Utica School District – and on basketball courts and baseball fields – legions of young people have grown under his guidance. From the fundamentals of grammar to the finesse of a jump shot to the finer points of hitting a baseball, he has an ability to reach that place where learning becomes understanding. He is a recipient of the prestigious “My Favorite Teacher” award that is presented to a Mohawk Valley educator nominated by a former student.
As a baseball and basketball coach at Proctor High School, as head baseball coach at Utica College, and as the proprietor of The Hitting Machine, a baseball training facility, he has distinguished himself as an instructor. He is capable of helping individuals get the most out of their talent. He is a leader that can effectively mesh individual talents into cohesive teams.
He is a solid citizen…
As a regular instructor at the Le Moyne College Baseball Camp, a member of the Gold Wave and whenever called upon, he and his wife Kathleen are always quick to respond to Le Moyne’s call. As a charter member of the East Utica Optimist Club he’s spearheaded projects that have made a difference in the lives of hundreds of children.
On the diamond at Le Moyne, in his career as a teacher and coach, and in his service to the community he has exemplified the ideals of his alma mater. It is fitting that
Donald J Guido ’71, is a member of the Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame
February 7, 2004
