Boots Gaffney Awards
Boots Gaffney
Clarence “Boots” Gaffney served 33 years as a Watertown City Firefighter retiring as captain in 1970. He was also Director of Athletics for 40 years at IHA (Immaculate Heart Academy) and IHC (Immaculate Heart Central) for 40 years before retiring from that position in 1980. During his time at IHA, he coached football, basketball and baseball. His basketball teams captured Northern New York Catholic League titles in 1953, 1954 and 1956.
Mr. Gaffney was a 3-sport athlete at the Manlius Military Academy and graduated in 1936 from Clarkson University where he played football, basketball and baseball. Mr. Gaffney was an inaugural inductee of the Athletic Hall of Fame at Clarkson University
He also played football for the Watertown Red and Black, the local semi-pro team, for 2 years and coached them for 4 years. He was a 1995 inductee to the Red and Black Hall of Fame and a member of the North Country Sports Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 2016.
Following his retirement in 1980, the Italian American Civic Association established the Clarence “Boots” Gaffney Award to honor his commitment to the IHA and IHC students. This award since its start is presented to an outstanding male and female graduating student athlete who demonstrates exceptional performance and personal growth. School faculty, designated varsity coaches and the Athletic Director determine the recipients each year. Prior to 1980, Male student athletes from IHC and WHS (Watertown High School) were awarded the William I. Graf award.
Currently, both the Clarence “Boots” Gaffney award and the William I. Graf awards are connected with the North Country Community Foundation, where present day winners now receive a $1000 scholarship with the award.


Boots Gaffney Winners
2023

2023
Robert O'Connor

2023
Emily Bombard


-
1999: Matthew St. Croix, Lindsey Steblan
-
1998: James Ambrose, Elizabeth Fernan
-
1997: Mark Sovie, Lindsey Doell
-
1996: David Cain, Katie Clough Perin
-
1995: Patrick Fernan, Sara Gerken
-
1994: Michael Compeau, Shelby Lebaron
-
1993: Matthew Frechlette, Kara Kleiboer
-
1992: Jason Johnson, Jennifer Fox Black
-
1991: Graham Wise, Darcy Rowe Norfolk
-
1990: Tyler Savage, Shannon Dernady
-
1989: Victor Leon, Tricia Rich Ledoux
-
1988: Christopher Swartz, Jennifer Renzi
-
1987: Paul Brashaw, Lennie Spaziani
-
1986: Daniel Frechette, Kelly Swartz
-
1985: Joseph Buttler Jr., Mary LaDuke
-
1984: John Combs, Jaime LaDuke
-
1983: Mark Frechette, Andrea Smith
-
1982: Jean St. Croix, Kathleen McGraw
-
1981: Michael Perkins, Sandra Stewart
-
1980: Joseph Dermady, Nora Doyle
-
1979: Craig McGraw, Elizabeth Gross, Nancy Plante
-
1978: Steve Carbone, Kathy Vespa
-
1977: Jerry Vecchio, Patrick Bouchard, Eleanor Doyle
-
1976: David Puccia
-
1975: Michael Gayne
-
1974: Gerald Bouchard
-
1973: Mark Puccia
-
1972: Lonni Mancini, Sterling Gallagher
-
1971: Michael Gondek, Shawn Baker
-
1970: Francis Baker
-
1969: Peter Miller
-
1968: Michael Delaney
-
1967: Mike Derrigo
-
1966: Joseph Baytos
-
1965: Richard Canori
-
1964: Jay Weideman
-
1963: Anthony Capone
-
1962: John Stocker
-
1961: Michael Burns
-
1960: John Augliano
-
1959: Richard Spinelli
-
1958: Peter Burns
-
1957: Francis Garlfo
-
1956: Louis Grieco
-
1955: Pete Wagner
-
1954: Pete Gaffney
Past Recipients



Konrad Krysztoforski
2022

2022
Victoria Ledoux



Tieler Friedline
2021

2021
Julia Netto



Jacob Grant
2020

2020
Kate O'Neill



Matthew Murrock
2019

2019
Amanda McElheran



Daniel Snow
2018

2018
Julia O'Brien



Vincenzo Alteri
2017

2017
Elizabeth Gefell



Jake Fusilli
2016

2016
Macee Fay



Cole Carpenter
2015

2015
Anna Garrabrant



Jude Whalen
2014

2014
Rachel O'Brien



Matthew Moran
2013

2013
Kayla Miles



Santino Alteri
2012

2012
Christine Wright



Connor Caldwell
2011

2011
Adriana Spicer



Brian Magovney
2010

2010
Angela Vespa



Brian Piarulli
2009

2009
Michael Richards



Daniel Magovney
2008

2008
Elysa Doldo



Nunzio Doldo
2007

2007
Kaitlin Robbins



Stephen Magovney
2006

2006
Ashley Zaremba



Michael St. Croix
2005

2005
Deena Lazore



Christian Spicer
2004

2004
Marisa Vespa



Richard Bradsteet
2003

2003
Santina Doldo



Michael Yonkovig
2002

2002
Jennifer Prevost



David Gebo
2001

2001
Monica St. Croix



Shawn Lyndaker
2000

2000
Jillian St. Croix