Remembering a Haverstraw Legend

By Jamie Kempton

The Life and Times of  Rockland Sports Immortal Hank Kapusinsky

It was hard to miss Hank Kapusinsky on the football field. A swift and powerful running back who was a threat to score every time he touched the ball, Hank set Rockland County scoring records as a catalyst for championship gridiron squads at Haverstraw High School in the late 1950s. Upon his recent passing at age 84 in Florida, friends and family recalled Dr. Francis “Hank” Kapusinsky’s contributions to the fabric of the Rockland athletic community, his outstanding collegiate exploits, his successful career as an educator, and his post-career endeavors as entrepreneur and caregiver.

“Hank’s life is a tremendous success story. You couldn’t write a scenario like that,” says Frank Sagala, Hank’s football teammate and fellow Class of 1959 Haverstraw graduate. “He was a good athlete and he had unbelievable drive, him and Nick Ryder. Our team became a dynamo with the relentless play of Hank and Nick.” Both Hank Kapusinsky and Nick Ryder were inducted into the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame, Nick in 1980 and Hank in 1997. Incidentally, Hank’s younger brother Gerry, a 1963 Haverstraw alumnus, also gained induction into the Rockland Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Record-Setting Running Back

As a junior, Hank played a starring role on Haverstraw’s Rockland County Public School Athletic League (RCPSAL) championship football team in the fall of 1957, under legendary Coach Ralph Cordisco. The following year, Hank shifted into overdrive with a record-setting campaign. After a growth spurt remolded his frame into a 6-foot-1, 220-pound bruiser, Hank ran wild, scoring 12 touchdowns to equal the County record and 76 points to establish the mark for points in a season, aided by his placekicking proficiency. He completed his three-year varsity career with 26 touchdowns, another County record, and earned first team All-County honors twice. A strong-legged punter as well, Hank’s rifle arm served him well as a catcher for the baseball team, and his speed was an asset on the track team.

Hank’s leadership qualities on the gridiron shone through when he was tapped to play quarterback before his eventual switch to halfback. “He ran the team,” says Sagala, a blocking fullback who carried the ball only six times in the ‘57 season. “Sometimes Coach Cordisco would send in a play and Hank would change plays,” incurring the ire of the veteran coach. Hank’s transition to halfback was facilitated by the emergence of Leo Hogan as the first-string quarterback. Hogan, incidentally, went on to serve as police chief for the town of Haverstraw.

Humble Upbringing

Growing up on Benson Street in West Haverstraw and the second of five brothers, Hank attended vocational school as a freshman, later working in construction jobs after school to help out the family. “We all came from humble beginnings,” says Sagala, who is a cousin of the Kapusinsky family and who played with Hank on the 1953 Haverstraw Little League team that advanced to the New York State finals. “In the 1940s and ‘50s, nobody had any money. We had to make ends meet.”

After Hank’s growth spurt, he developed a physique that attracted attention not just from the athletic coaches. “He became an Adonis,” Sagala recalls with a laugh. “It seemed like every girl in Rockland County was after him.” Hank’s prowess on the gridiron drew strong interest from college coaches, so much so that Coach Cordisco encouraged him to take college entrance courses while at Haverstraw. 

Collegiate Stardom

Hank was recruited by, among other schools, the University of Georgia, which at that time was ranked No. 1 in the country. He chose Georgia but soon regretted his decision. “He didn’t fit in there,” says Sagala. “They wanted him to play defense and that wasn’t for him.” 

Before the football season had even started, Hank departed Georgia and enrolled at the University of Rhode Island, largely through the intercession of Coach Cordisco, who had strong contacts with collegiate coaches. It turned out to be a wise and fruitful decision. Hank enjoyed a solid career at URI, capturing All-East and All-Yankee Conference accolades, setting a school record with an 80-yard punt, and establishing other kicking records.

Making A Difference as An Educator

A Dean’s List student, Hank graduated from URI with degrees in business administration and education. Still not ready to forsake his athletic passion entirely, Hank had a tryout with the Baltimore Colts of the NFL but did not make the cut. He later earned a master’s degree from the University of Bridgeport and a doctorate in education from the University of Sarasota in Florida. Hank went on to have a rewarding career in education, first as a teacher in the Haverstraw/North Rockland school district and most prominently as a superintendent of schools in the Beacon, N.Y., school district in Dutchess County.

Compassionate Leadership For Seniors in Florida

After Hank and his wife, Yee Chun “Lisa” Kapusinsky, moved to Clearwater, Florida, Hank founded and operated two assisted living facilities in Clearwater and Safety Harbor. He was said to have a passion for caregiving, entrepreneurship and education, and had a genuine interest in helping those who needed a hand. “He shared his success with others,” Sagala says simply.

Hank is survived by his brothers Joseph, Gerry and Gary; his daughters Jennifer and Tesha and their spouses; and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother Kenny and wife, Lisa.