Introduction
William S. “Bill” Gimello
William Savera Gimello is the son of the late Rocco “Rox” Gimello and his wife, the former Caterina Scogna. His father was somewhat active politically and in VFW affairs, but was best known, in fact locally famous, as the coach of the Camden Collegians, a semi-pro baseball team in the 1930s and 1940s.
Bill Gimello was born on January 1, 1928 at 270 Mount Vernon Street, Camden, New Jersey. He was the second child, coming after sister Margaret Loretta who was born in 1925. Both attended Mulford Elementary School, Fetters School, Cooper B. Hatch Jr. High School, and Camden High School.
Bill graduated from Camden High School in June of 1946 and was president of his class. He was a member of the Camden High School football team of 1945 which was co-champions with Collingswood High School in Group 4. Teammates included Antonio Doganiero, John Odorisio, Joseph Giordano, Frank Perrone, Angelo Errichetti, Joseph Pepe, Eric Williams, Albert Mitroz, Carmine Caprice, Edward Kitlas, Joseph Caparola, and Steve Szwak. That team was coached by Walt Nowak and John Zizak. Bill was also a member of the track team and ran in the 440 relays at the University of Pennsylvania International Relays.
Bill graduated from Rutgers in June of 1950 along with his two friends Antonio Doganiero and Albert Mitroz. His first teaching and coaching assignment was at Haddon Heights in 1950 where he worked with “Cap” Baker in football. While at Haddon Heights he coached a junior varsity championship basketball team which included two of the Belz brothers.
In 1956 Bill Gimello accepted a teaching and football assignment at the Valley Stream Central High School district in Long Island, New York. He became interested in labor relations and became Executive Secretary of the Valley Stream school district from 1956 through 1972. In 1972 he accepted a Labor Relations Specialist position with the New York United Teachers Union where he negotiated collective bargaining contracts and handled arbitrations. He retired in 1993.
In 1993 Bill Gimello began researching his father’s paternal family’s history in Italy. He traced the line back to 1700 and found that his correct surname was CIAMELLA. Another interesting fact discovered was that Tony Canadeo, “The Gray Ghost of Gonzaga,” who played halfback and quarterback for the Green Bay Packers and is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is a cousin from Brindisi di Montagna in Italy.
Bill Gimello married Dolores Ann Ade on May 4, 1957. The Gimellos have three children, William Jr., Kathleen, and Stephen. Bill currently lives on Long Island in Lynbrook, New York and still visits his relatives and friends in South Jersey.
Photos
Catherine Gimello, William Gimello, & Rox Gimello — 1943
Camden High School football team — 1945
William S. Gimello
Camden’s Backs Run At Will To Submerge Wilson, 37 To 6
Camden Courier-Post — 1945
Winners Display Plenty of Punch; Williams, Odorisio Stand Out
By JAMES FOODY
Camden High proved a good miniature edition of the Philadelphia Eagles.
With Walt Nowak making his debut as coach, the co-defending South Jersey Group 4 champions unleashed a never-ending stream of shifty and hard running backs. Even the third-string backs looked like hard runners.
On the receiving end of Camden’s power and polish was Woodrow Wilson High, which bowed by the one-sided score of 37-6 before a shirt-sleeved crowd of close to 4000 last Saturday at Farnham Park. They’ll meet again Thanksgiving Day.
It was opening day for both schools, but the “Prexys” were completely outclassed.
Prove Good ‘T’ Pupils
Also aided by Leroy Zimmerman, the master-mind behind the over-tackle on short bucks for the other tallies, Mitrotz place-kicked an extra point after Perrone’s touchdown after Steve Szwak and Bob Ristine missed a couple chances.
Two passes, Emil La Buda to Jim Baud, in the opening plays of the last period put the Wilson followers in a happy state for the only time all day. The first aerial was good for 17 yards and the second negotiated 30.
It would be an injustice to name an individual hero, but Odorisio always looks good to me.
Bill Gimello makes a first down early in the first quarter of a game against Woodrow Wilson High at Farnham Park, Camden.
Gimello Retires From Education Career
MA Leader —
By Paula Rodenas
William X. Gimello of Valley Stream retired April 1 after a long career in education.
Gimello was a labor relations specialist for the New York State United Teachers’ Union (affiliated with New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers) since September 1972, working out of the Jericho office. His duties included negotiating contracts, arbitration, legal investigations and advising teachers.
He served as President and Executive Secretary of the Valley Stream Teachers’ Association from 1961 to 1972. Prior to that, Gimello taught social studies at Valley Stream Central High School.
A resident of Valley Stream since 1956, Gimello finds the community “is getting very crowded with traffic, but the schools are getting better.”
Test scores have improved, he noted, and although he finds the elementary schools weak in the area of social studies, he commented that reading scores are high at both the elementary and high school levels. He praised the remedial help that the youngsters receive.
Gimello will continue to do some consultation work. He likes to travel and is making plans to visit Canada, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Last year Gimello documented the history of semi-professional baseball in Camden, New Jersey and went on to reunite a team his father managed in the 1930s.
The Gimellos have no plans to move at present, as they want to remain close to their three children and four grandchildren.