BENNETT BEACON

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Ray Skaine

Ray Skaine

by | Feb 17, 2023

Ray Skaine was a standout athlete in football and track for Bennett during the 1 950’s. As a junior in 1 955, he was honorable mention All-High in football. Following his superb 1 956 senior season, Skaine was named first team All-High as an interior lineman by both the Buffalo Evening News and the Buffalo Courier Express. On the gridiron, his proficiency as a tackle and special teams place kicker, were major contributions for a Bennett Tiger’s team that defeated McKinley 9-6, in the annual Thanksgiving Day game at All-High Stadium.

In the most successful season of his four year career, Bennett finished 6-2, including a memorable defeat of East High, the eventual co-champion of the Harvard Cup campaign in 1 956. In addition to his All-High honors, Skaine received recognition as All-American Honorable Mention in Scholastic Magazine.

In track & field, Skaine was a heavy point contributor to Bennett’s cause as a shot put specialist. He was one of only a few boys to represent Bennett in the 1 957 All-High track meet.

Following his athletic career at Bennett, Ray matriculated at UB and played on the 1 958 Lambert Cup Championship team for Buffalo, the team finishing with an 8-1 record.

Skaine now plays an active role in numerous community organizations, including the Bennett High School volunteer mentoring program. He is married to a former Bennettonian, Sandy Markham. They have raised 3 children in Clarence, NY. where they have lived for the past several decades.

Reg Eyre

Reg Eyre

by | Feb 17, 2023

If ever there was a “man for all seasons” in the annals of Bennett High School sports history, it would be none other than 1959 graduate, Reggie Eyre. As a football, basketball and baseball major letterman, Eyre is one of the select few Bennett athletes to have played on a championship team in all three sports. When the Tigers won the Cornell Cup baseball championship in 1957, the Harvard Cup championship for football in 1958, and were crowned Yale Cup basketball champions in 1959, he became a member of the exclusive “trifecta” club.

As a hard hitting, multi position baseball player, Eyre was named first team All-High in his senior year, hitting a robust .520 and patrolling the outfield positions with skill and grace. A starting End on the gridiron, reliable #17, Reg Eyre played with determination and was a major cog in the 1958 Bennett team that rolled through the Harvard Cup season undefeated, finishing an unblemished 7 wins, 0 losses.

On the hardcourt, Eyre was part of a Bennett hoops squad that was the first Bennett team to capture the Yale Cup, as well as the Board of Education playoff trophy. At the culmination of his final season at Bennett, he was the only member of his senior class of 1959 to win a varsity letter in three sports.

After completing his education at Bennett, Eyre attended the University of Buffalo. He currently resides in Tonawanda, NY.

Gerald B. Obstein

Gerald B. Obstein

by | Feb 17, 2023

Jerry Obstein played varsity football and was manager for coach Fred Braun’s basketball teams in the early 1960’s at Bennett. Obstein later went on to coach at Bennett for one year (1985 – ’86) and many successful years at South Park H.S. At Bennett, Obstein got his start in coaching as the Assistant football coach on the 1985 Harvard Cup co- champion football squad. He also coach swimming and the 1986 Scalp and Blade champion track squad. Obstein then moved on to a head coaching position at South Park H.S., where he coached football, swimming and tennis. He quickly established himself as one of the top football coaches in the area. His South Park squads won the Harvard Cup in 1988, 1992, 1993 and 1996. The Sparks 1993 team finished as the top ranked large school team in the W.N.Y. Coaches poll. Obstein’s many career accolades include Channel 7 W.N.Y. Coach Of The year in 1986, W.N.Y. large school “Coach of the decade” in the 90’s, Harvard Cup Hall Of Fame inductee in 2005. He also was on the coaching staff for the Lions Club All-Star game in 1993 and 1994.

Jerry Obstein and his wife Faye have three sons, Aaron, Jason and Jared and reside in the Town of Tonawanda. Coach O usually can be seen any given Saturday in the fall at a local high school football game.

Arnold Weintraub

Arnold Weintraub

by | Feb 17, 2023

Arnie was born in Buffalo and attended school # 64 thru the sixth grade. His family moved to Houston, Texas where he attended Cullen Junior High School. The Weintraub family relocated to Buffalo at the beginning of Arnies freshman year at Bennett.

At Bennett Arnie competed in football for three years as a guard playing both offense and defense. While competing in football Arnie played an important role in helping Bennett win two Harvard Cups his sophomore and junior years. A three year letterman in football he attained first team All-High status his junior and senior years.

Upon graduation from Bennett with honors, Arnie attended the University of Pennsylvania and played on the junior varsity football team. Following his freshman year at Penn he matriculated to the University of Buffalo. In 1975 Arnie married Helen Roessler. They had two daughters Jennifer and Shana. While working for Benderson Development in Pittsburgh in 1998 Arnie passed away.

Arnold Weintraub

Accepting induction on behalf of Arnie is his brother Ken a Riverside High School track and field star.

Richard M. Fink

Richard M. Fink

by | Feb 17, 2023

Richard Fink was an All-High 1st and 2nd team selection in baseball in 1972 and 1973. Hitting .565 in his senior season, Fink won the “Fred Braun Award” in 1973 recognizing him as Bennett’s male athlete of the year. Fink played Little League baseball at Shoshone Park and was inducted into the Hertel North Park Hall Of Fame in 1973. Playing the highest level of amateur baseball in WNY for 33 years, he played MUNY AAA for Mickey Rats, Travelers and Amherst in the Suburban League before retiring in 1997. Fink was captain of all three teams. Playing the last eight years for Amherst, Fink’s teams won the WNY championship 6 times. during this time he was the Kiwanis Tournament MVP in 1989 and the Amherst MVP in 1992 and 1995. His career culminated in 2007 when Fink was inducted into the WNY Baseball Hall Of Fame.

Fink also played hockey for Bennett in the inaugural season of the Explorer Hockey League. He was an All-Star selection and scored the overtime goal against Canisius H.S. that propelled Bennett into the playoff semifinals.

Scholastically, Fink maintained a grade average of 94 during his four years at Bennett, never missing an honor roll. He was also a member of the National Honor Society. Fink graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Management, on the Dean’s List with Distinction. Richard Fink resides in Getzville with his wife Karen and is still active playing basketball three times a week in some of Buffalo;s best amateur leagues.