On Saturday, Valley Stream officials paid tribute to a deceased basketball coach who they say impacted so many young lives.
Basketball is more than just a sport for some kids and at Valley Stream, many kids’ lives have been shaped on the courts of Hendrickson Park by their favorite coach, Edward Farrell.
Village officials unveiled a monument to Coach Farrell, otherwise known as “The Legend” in Hendrickson Park. In fact, some of the kids playing on the courts on Saturday had his name on their shirts.
After 35 years of teaching at Valley Stream and area, Farrell passed away several years ago.
“He thought his teaching job was the best job in the world. He was always a dedicated coach and teacher,” said his wife, Susan Farrell.
She came to the signing with her children and other family members as well as some of the coach’s players.
Resident Ray Russo said ‘The Legend’ is always proud of how he can impact lives.
“We played softball, basketball, football…everything together. We played tournaments all over the country, so yeah, he loved teaching the students,” Russo recounted. “And he also taught my son – and he came home one day and said, ‘Wow, Coach Farrell is pretty tough,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, but he’s going to make you better. .
Farrell ended his coaching career with 318 wins and 63 losses. So the dedication, his wife thinks, is a fitting tribute.
“I think he would like it even more than me,” she said.
Community donations and Coach Farrell’s players paid for the monument.
