Two Oak Ridge coaches, educators honored for shaping lives, supporting community
CareActer Star Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented Oct. 13 to two men because of their positive impact on the youth and adults of Oak Ridge.
The awards were given to Dan DiGregorio and the family of the late Nick Orlando during a presentation on Blankenship Field. Both men were educators and coaches in Oak Ridge Schools.
DiGregorio, who still lives in Oak Ridge, was born in Gallup, New Mexico, where he was an All-State football player. He was hired as a science teacher, football and track coach at Jefferson Junior High School. According to information provided to The Oak Ridger, even after retirement he coached track at Oak Ridge High School for 10 years.
DiGregorio was inducted into the Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and now serves on its board of directors. He also served on the Oak Ridge Board of Education for 10 years.
"Coach D" was described in the presentation as a distinguished science teacher and coach whose career in the classroom and athletics impacted the lives of many students who have gone on to have successful careers.
DiGregorio and his wife Judy have two children, Chuck and Candie, and three grandchildren, Tailen, Damien and Danielle, and two great-grandchildren.
Nick Orlando
Nicholas Thomas Orlando, better known as "Coach," was born in 1915 and died in 1997. He was working as a physical education instructor in Connecticut when he was a recruited by School Superintendent Alden Blankenship to come to Oak Ridge and teach P.E. at Jefferson. He coached every sport at Jefferson, including boxing, according to information provided.
The announcer at last Friday's presentation said past players of Coach's football teams remember with love and pride being a Jefferson Eagle. He also shaped the lives of many young men in his gym classes, the announcer said.
Orlando retired from coaching after four undefeated football seasons and a 25-game wining streak. He was one of the inaugural members of the Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame and a member of the East Tennessee Hall of Fame. He was also a longtime businessman in Oak Ridge.
Receiving his award were his children, Maria Gee, Nicky Orlando, Gina Worley and Carmen Ashburn. Presenting the award were Dave Moore, head of CareActer Star; Winston Russell, Keys Fillauer, and Danny Sutton, who are former CareActer Star recipients; and Johnny Burgess, a CareActer Star sponsor.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Two Oak Ridge coaches, educators honored for shaping lives
