HomeNewsRhawnhurst AA dedicates field to coach

Rhawnhurst AA dedicates field to coach

The field was dedicated to Coach Frank Bond, who passed away in May at age 62.

Field of dreams: The Rhawnhurst Athletic Association dedicated its football field to beloved late coach Frank Bond. Bond, a 1972 graduate of Northeast High School, coached football at Northeast and George Washington. TOM WARING / TIMES PHOTO

The Rhawnhurst Athletic Association on Friday night dedicated its football field to the beloved late coach Frank Bond.

Bond, who died suddenly in May of cardiac arrest at age 62, coached football, basketball and baseball for Rhawnhurst A.A. for 33 years.

- Advertisement -

The dedication took place in between Homecoming football games. Hundreds of family and friends and current and former coaches, board members and players and their parents joined in the tribute and tailgate.

The sign reads, “The Frank Bond Memorial Field. Home of the Rhawnhurst Raiders.”

This year, Rhawnhurst A.A. football players are wearing an “FB” emblem on their jerseys in memory of Bond.

Bond, who lived on the 1400 block of Wellington St., is survived by a daughter, Kristin; two sons, Brian and Michael; grandsons Brayden and Peyton; brothers Thomas and James; and sister Maureen.

“This is a tribute to my father and what he gave back to the neighborhood,” Brian said. “The organization is so close knit. It’s one big family. It’s an extension of my family. It’s unbelievable. They’ve been so supportive throughout everything.”

Frank Bond often said, “Besides being a father, being a coach is the best thing I’ve ever done.”

“It was who he was,” Brian said. “He did it his entire life. He absolutely lived for it.”

Matt Smith, president of Rhawnhurst A.A., recalled Bond doing somersaults while waving baserunners around third base; chirping at referees for blowing calls in basketball games; and coaching football while wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt, “even when it was 10 degrees.”

Bond was a 1972 graduate of Northeast High School and a longtime member of Laborers Union Local 332. He coached football at Northeast and George Washington, and was a longtime Eagles season ticket holder. ••

RELATED ARTICLES
Philadelphia
broken clouds
46.2 ° F
48.4 °
44.2 °
79 %
3.2mph
75 %
Fri
54 °
Sat
56 °
Sun
62 °
Mon
58 °
Tue
47 °
- Advertisment -

STAY CONNECTED

11,235FansLike
2,089FollowersFollow

Recent Articles

Honoring Vietnam veterans Friday at Mission BBQ

Mission BBQ, 11000 Roosevelt Blvd., will honor Vietnam War veterans on Friday, March 29, with an offer of a free sandwich. The giveaway is a...