University of Connecticut Athletics
Paul Samele: UConn Is Family
9/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | UConn Club
For Paul Samele Sr. sports has always been an important aspect of life. Growing up in western Connecticut, he was a three sport standout at Torrington High School, earning varsity letters as a member of the football, baseball and basketball teams. During his senior year, he was voted co-captain of the basketball team. Little did he know, during that senior season on the hardwood, he had a very special person on the sideline cheering him on.
That year, his future wife of 51 years and counting, Barbara was a member of the school's cheerleading team. However it wasn't until after high school, when Paul returned home from serving two years in the marines, that the two would be set up on a date by a mutual friend.
"Barbara likes to joke with me that she thought I was a typical jock back in high school," Paul said with a grin on his face. "However, once I returned home, it was a different story. She and I hit it off on our first date, then a little while later we got married. We have been blessed with three wonderful children (Paul Jr., Lori, and Kim), and today we have six grandchildren we love spending time with. For me and Barbara, family is everything."
After the two were married, Paul remained an avid fan of sports as he loved to cheer on his beloved New York teams, the Yankees, Knicks and Giants. But instead of finding him on the hardwood or the diamond, you were more likely to find Paul on the links teeing it up on the golf course.
Today at the age of 78, Paul remains an avid golfer with one goal in mind; he wants to shoot a score that is lower than his age.
"Earlier this year, I came so close to doing that," Paul said. "I shot a round of 80, but sooner or later I'm going reach this goal."
This love for the game of golf would change Paul's life. During a tournament at the TPC River Highlands in 1992, he was paired with an up-and-coming women's basketball coach from the University of Connecticut named Geno Auriemma.
"Keep in mind, this is before he became the most successful women's basketball coach of all time, but when I first saw I was paired with Geno, I remember thinking to myself; "who is this guy?"" Paul said jokingly.
Throughout the round, Paul and Geno hit it off. Over the course of 18 holes, a friendship was formed, and the University of Connecticut's women's basketball program gained one of its most faithful supporters. Since that day, Paul has been a loyal donor and season ticket holder to women's basketball and numerous other UConn athletics programs.
Now, 22 years after their first round, Paul and Geno remain close, and each summer the two still find time to play golf together.
"I've known Paul for almost the entire time that I've been here in Connecticut and he quickly became one of my best friends and one of the biggest supporters of our women's basketball program," said Geno. "Golf is just one aspect of our relationship, but Paul loves to play and he enjoys the camaraderie that comes with it. He's very gracious when we play, and I always have to give him strokes; so not only is he a great friend and passionate supporter of our program, but he's also a terrific negotiator!"
While Geno was the first person to get Paul interested in the Huskies, it was UConn alum and longtime supporter of UConn Athletics Rob Crovo '74 who took Paul's involvement to a whole new level.
For nearly 25 years, Rob has been actively involved with UConn Athletics as a member of The UConn Club's Board of Directors. Like Paul, Rob is also from Torrington, Connecticut. The two first met when Paul would visit the Crovo family's gas station. Through the years, Paul and Rob grew to be very close friends. Rob coached Paul's son, Paul Jr., in little league baseball and they are members of the same country club.
"I've known Paul since I was 12 years old," Rob said. "He has always been a huge sports fan. I could see he was developing a real interest in UConn Athletics, so he was the first person I actively recruited to be a member of The UConn Club's Board of Directors. I knew he would be a great fit because he loves sports, he loves the state of Connecticut, and I knew he would love UConn."
Over the course of 20 years, Paul has been an essential member of the Board, serving numerous roles; including the planning of many UConn Club dinners and their annual auctions. In 2003-2004, Paul proudly served as The UConn Club's President, which coincided with UConn Basketball's first dual national championship season.
"When I first got involved with The UConn Club Board nearly 20 years ago, it was a much different time." Paul said. "Our football team wasn't Division I, and our basketball teams had not yet won a national championship. But I believed our coaches and administrators had the vision and ability to make UConn a special place, and boy have they." In 1994, former UConn Director of Athletics Lew Perkins was looking to build interest in the football program throughout the state to support its transition to Division I. In the western region, Lew reached out directly to Paul and Rob to create the first UConn Club Golf Tournament at Torrington Country Club.
The event was small by today's standards, but it was a huge success. The inaugural tournament featured Perkins, members of the football coaching staff, including former head coach Skip Holtz, and 21 members of the club. The following year, the tournament grew tremendously as more coaches and administrators joined an expanded field of nearly 80 golfers. Now 20 years after the first event, The UConn Club Golf Tournament has established itself as a staple on the Club's annual calendar.
"Paul has been a huge part of the tournament's growth and success," said Rob. "He has so many great relationships and everybody loves him. He has done a fantastic job of bringing people together to take part in the tournament, year-in and year-out. We wouldn't be where we are today without the work of Paul Samele."
"Being a part of The UConn Club Board and being involved with the golf tournament for all these years has meant a lot to me. We have helped provide a lot student-athletes with the resources they need to succeed, and I am incredibly proud of the work we have done," Paul said.
He then added, "Through my involvement with the Board, I have met a lot of great people who share a love for the University of Connecticut. It has really felt like being a part of a large family. I feel very lucky that I've had the chance to form so many close relationships and work with so many wonderful people."
Paul's involvement with UConn Athletics goes well beyond his role on The UConn Club Board of Directors. Located in New Hartford, the Samele family's restaurant, Chatterley's has become a go to location for the Division of Athletics and fans of the Huskies.
"I remember the first time I went to Chatterley's and met the Samele family," recalls former UConn Women's Basketball Player and current Director of Major Gifts Meg Culmo '92. "It was shortly after the women's basketball team won its first national championship in 1995. Lew Perkins recommended it to me, and I'm glad he did, because it's a night I'll never forget. That night, Rebecca Lobo was scheduled to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman. The entire Samele family couldn't have been nicer. We were all so excited about the national championship that we stayed late at the restaurant just to watch Rebecca on TV."
As a donor and season ticket holder for over two decades, Paul has had the opportunity to be a part of many exciting moments in the history of UConn Athletics. From the first women's basketball national championship in 1995, to being in Tampa in 1999 when the men's program shocked the world to capture its first title and cheering on the Huskies from the stands as the football team defeated Notre Dame in 2009, Paul has a lot of great memories from his time supporting the Huskies.
However there is one memory that stands out in his mind above the rest. The 2000 Women's Final Four in Philadelphia.
Heading into the weekend, all the experts were selecting the Tennessee Volunteers to capture the national championship. But that did not deter Paul from showcasing his UConn pride, even when he was surrounded by a sea of orange.
"The day of the championship game, I was walking by the Rocky Balboa Statue surrounded by a large group of Tennessee fans, so I decided to run up the famous steps," Paul said. "Once I got to the top, I danced around, just like Rocky did in the movie, I was telling everybody UConn was going to shock the world that night. Sure enough they did. That's one of those moments that I'll never forget."
"I can't think of anybody who is more passionate, loyal and does more for UConn on a daily basis than Paul," said Geno. "People like Paul are the life blood of our program and that's what makes UConn able to compete against the best programs in the country."
"Family is everything to me, I've been very lucky to be with my wife Barb for over 50 years and to have our wonderful children and grandchildren," Paul said. "But I also consider UConn to be part of my family, too. I've met so many great people and had so many great experiences through the university. I still look back and feel blessed that I was set up to golf with Geno all those years ago. Being a part of the UConn family has been an absolute joy."
