The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of the Diocese of Brooklyn hosted its ninth Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 8 at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach.
This nine-member class was recognized for dedication, service, encouragement of spiritual growth, and commitment to bringing Catholic values and vision to life for the diocese’s youth.
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The ceremony was the first for CYO Executive Director Daniela Cracolici, who just completed her first year at the helm of CYO. It capped off an exciting year and celebrated the unwavering commitment and leadership exhibited by this unique group. Meet the 2026 CYO Hall of Fame class:
Father Dwayne Davis
Father Davis is a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, serving as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands, administrator of Our Lady Help of Christians, Midwood, and dean of Brooklyn B11.
He has spent the greater part of the last two decades involved in various youth ministries, including his time as a member of the CYO Board of Directors.
Kevin Dumbach (posthumously)
A Brooklyn native, Dumbach was raised in Glendale, Queens, and attended St. Pancras School. He developed a passion for track and field, the sport that he would go on to coach in CYO.
He served as parish athletic representative at St. Pancras and then as a track coach at St. Andrew Avellino, Flushing. He was also a CYO track official and committee member.
He died in February 2025.
Larry Giambalvo
For more than five decades, Giambalvo has been a CYO athlete, coach, official, mentor, and dedicated volunteer. He played baseball and basketball, then began coaching both sports.
Since the early 1990s, he has faithfully served as a basketball official and baseball/softball umpire. He also served as the public address announcer for the CYO diocesan championship games for 15 years.
Dawn Hughes
Hughes was a longtime swimming coach at St. Sebastian, Woodside — beginning as an assistant coach and assuming the role of head coach in 2012.
Many of her swimmers went on to have successful careers at the club, high school, and collegiate levels.
Her CYO boys’ swim teams captured 12 Division ‘A’ championships, while her girls’ squads brought home five Division ‘A’ titles. She retired from coaching in 2020.
Rob McKenna
McKenna is a lifelong resident of Woodside and began playing CYO sports at St. Sebastian. He just completed his 44th season as a basketball coach at the parish, making him the longest-tenured coach in program history.
Most notably, he led his Novice team to 15 consecutive sectional finals. He also served as the parish’s basketball athletic director for 20 years.
Joseph Murphy
Murphy’s journey in CYO began in the early 1970s when he volunteered with the St. Andrew Avellino’s Saturday intramural basketball program.
That journey continued for more than five decades of dedicated service.
He served as vice president of the St. Andrew Avellino Athletic Association for 25 years and established the first girls’ intramural basketball program. Throughout his career, which ended in 2023, he coached boys’ and girls’ softball, baseball, basketball, and swimming.
Lou Pagnotta
Pagnotta has been the longtime parish athletic representative at St. Adalbert, Elmhurst. He has used sports to spearhead numerous fundraising campaigns for community members and worthy causes over the years.
Even after his own child’s CYO participation ended, he remained involved with the organization and helped train the next generation of volunteers and coaches, including family members.
Jack Palmese (posthumously)
Palmese played CYO soccer, basketball, and baseball, but he truly fell in love with coaching. As a 17-year-old, he began coaching basketball at St. Virgilius, Rockaway Park, and continued coaching for 31 years.
In his final season on the sidelines, he guided his high school boys’ division team to a diocesan championship.
He died in November 2025.
Frank Rossi
For nearly three decades, Rossi was a constant presence at Holy Child Jesus, Richmond Hill. When his daughter joined the CYO volleyball program at a player, he stepped up when the team needed a coach.
He helped grow the program from a single team to upwards of 12 teams each season serving dozens of young athletes — making volleyball one of the parish’s most successful athletic programs.