West Avoca native, George Aldrich, a Jolly Boy alum, who had a stand out basketball career with Pittston Area, King’s College, and two-year player as a Washington Generals of the Harlem Globetrotter franchise reminisced about is association with Cooper Blaskiewicz.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Bill O’Boyle, jouralist/columnist for the Times Leader and friend of the Blaskiewicz family, was one of the guest speakers during the dedication.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Jim Blaskiewicz, son of Anthony “Cooper” Blaskiewicz, served as the host and MC of the dedication of the Avoca Community Center in his father’s name on Sunday, May 29.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Former Pittston Area basketball coach and Jolly Boy player addresses the audience in front of a portrait of Anthony “Coopler” Blaskiewicz.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
The floor of the Avoca Community Center was dedicated in the name of Jolly Boy founder, Anthony “Cooper” Blaskiewicz. Helping in the unveiling are, from the left, Standey Waleski, Ann Blaskiewicz (Cooper’s daughter), Michael “Buc” Joyce, Joe Renzi.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Left to right: Tom Burton, Stanley Waleski, Joe Renzi, unveil the sign dedicating the Avoca Community Center court in honor of Anthony “Cooper” Blaskiewicz.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
AVOCA — Anthony “Cooper” Blaskiewicz was a founding member of the Avoca Jolly Boys, an athletic program that saw thousands of kids pass through on their way to contributing back to their community.
Blaskiewicz knew that by providing a quality athletic program for kids, they would become better adults just by being around community volunteers who sincerely cared about them and where they were headed in life.
On Sunday, a dedication ceremony was held, naming the Anthony “Cooper” Blaskiewicz Court at the Avoca Community Center, 800 Main St., Avoca, in Cooper’s honor.
His children wrote this about their father:
“Cooper believed in us, he taught us to prepare, do our best and always give 100 percent. For the hundreds of young men who played basketball in Avoca, we believe he was able to give that gift to them as well.”
Cooper died Dec. 24, 2020, just hours shy of his 88th birthday.
Blaskiewicz, and a group of fellow Avoca volunteers formed the youth basketball league in the mid 1960s — games would be played in the American Legion building on Main Street.
Cooper and the other Jolly Boys would make teams, schedule games, coach, referee, clean, varnish the court — whatever they had to do to make the league a success.
Here’s a typical Cooper story, as told by his kids:
From that little gym on Main Street, those humble beginnings at the Avoca Basketball League produced players who learned the game the proper way.
Many players still remember one of the only signs that hung in the gym: “Be good or be gone.” This was a constant reminder that goofing around would not be tolerated — the league was for learning the game, competing, having fun and doing your very best.
Many of the Jolly Bots went on to do well in life — politicians, judges, doctors, lawyers, teachers, coaches — people who lived the life lessons taught by the Jolly Boys.
He will be forever missed by his wife of 64 years, Mary Brunton Blaskiewicz; and his children, Robert (Melinda), James (Bonnie), Thomas (Liz), Joseph (Mary Ann), and Ann (Bob); and his grandchildren and more.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
