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.
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.
Accepting induction on behalf of Arnie is his brother Ken a Riverside High School track and field star.
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.
Howard Rein was born and raised in Buffalo. He attended school 66 and Bennett HS. During Rein’s years at Bennett, he maintained good grades, was photography editor of the Bennett Beacon yearbook, President of the Key Club, and spent four years on the swimming and tennis teams.
Tennis was his passion. Rein was first team All-High at second doubles as a sophomore, first doubles as a junior, and second singles as a senior. He compiled an outstanding career record of 33 wins and only 1 loss during his high school career. Rein was also team captain and team MVP. After high school Rein attended UB as a pre- pharmacy major, however he and Chemistry 101 did not connect. Rein transferred to SUNY Binghamton , where he graduated from the school of Management with a BS degree in accounting.
Rein has practiced public accounting for 35 years, and is a senior partner in the firm: Freed Maxick and Battaglia. He is a certified Public accountant, certified fraud examiner, and President of Freed Maxick ABL Services, providing specialized audit service delivery to banks and financial institutions. Freed Maxick is the largest independent accounting firm in WNY with over 240 employees.
Rein is the proud father of 3 adult children: Jason, Andy and Katie, and has been happily married over 32 years to his wife Marge, also a tennis player whom he met in college. His wife and children have endured every imaginable Bennett HS story, listening politely to his high school pranks, schemes and past exploits.
Joanne Bonvissuto came to Bennett as a sophomore and played on three sport squads in each of her three years. In the fall seasons she played volleyball, winters would find her toiling at her favorite sport, basketball, while each spring was spent playing softball. Her volleyball squads were city champions in both 1982 and 1983, going undefeated each season. In basketball, she led the team in scoring with a sparkling 16.1 ppg in her senior year. Joanne helped lead the 1983 softball squad to a 10 win, 2 loss record. She recorded a spectacular .673 batting average and was named 1st team All-High at Catcher for her efforts. Joanne played for the North squad in the post season girls All-Star softball game.
Joanne Bonvissuto Scaduto attended Buffalo State College after high school, and graduated from Bryant & Stratton. She is married with two daughters, works for Verizon and resides in the area.
