Join Joe Bertagna on Tuesday, Dec. 16, to support the Sports Museum

The great Joe Bertagna, a man of many talents, is still busy and producing wonderful contributions to Boston’s and New England’s sporting culture.

In addition to having been a great goaltender, goalie coach, Hockey East and ECAC commissioner and book author, it turns out Mr. Bertagna is a needlepoint artist. The work he has done to commemorate some of our region’s indelible sports memories is incredibly faithful in capturing the spirit and signature detail in this challenging medium. The work will be available in an auction to be held on Tuesday night, Dec. 16, at the Prince pizza restaurant on the southbound side of Route 1 in Saugus, the old place with the leaning tower to which I’ve heard longtime coach John Tortorella has family ties. The more important note is that the money raised from this auction will support the Sports Museum and its important activities serving disadvantaged children in Boston. The museum does amazing work with kids beginning with its anti-bullying campaign and education programs. Some kids are at risk and need every good influence that can come their way, and the Sports Museum does this while entertaining visitors on the fifth and sixth-floor concourses of TD Garden with spectacular displays honoring New England sports history at all level from high school to the pros.

Here is Museum Curator Richard Johnson’s invitation:

Dear Friends,

On the evening of Tuesday December 16th my dear friend Joe Bertagna, former Hockey East & ECAC Hockey Commissioner, Bruins goalie coach, Harvard Sports Information Director/Women’s Hockey Coach, NOT The Boston Globe and Daily Constitutional publisher, on-ice extra in the film “Love Story” Goalie Camp Director and general man about town will be hosting a charity auction of his 32 Boston sports themed needlepoints to benefit The Sports Museum.

In the almost five decades I’ve known him he’s worn more hats than Jason Bourne.

And……Yes, goalies are different.

Think Ken Dryden and his many books, films, political career and presidency of the…gulp…Toronto Maple Leafs.

Think Jacques Plante who stayed in shape playing competitive badminton in the summer and knit wool toques for his friends.

Think former Whalers goalie Al Smith who wrote plays and drove a Toronto taxi cab following his playing days. 

Suffice to say, he’s more than covered the aesthetic waterfront of Boston sports with his keenly wrought artistry.

The auction site is The Prince Restaurant on Route One in Saugus (long a stop for countless collegiate sports teams on the return from triumphs over their Greater Boston counterparts).  I recall one particularly joyous dinner there after my Bates cross country team beat rival Brandeis by one point at Franklin Park 51 years ago.  And apart from the late Bozo Miller (Google him), you never saw more voracious eating than a dozen young men that averaged 132 pounds chomping their way through a leaning stack of Prince pizzas.

Tickets are available on a first come/first serve basis at $60/apiece, and the program will include:

*Buffet dinner of pizza, pasta, and dessert

*Brief Q & A Session with Joe and Hall of Fame broadcaster Lesley Visser

*Remarks by Joe and Sports Museum Executive Director Rusty Sullivan

*Silent auction

*Live auction of select needlepoints

All net proceeds will benefit The Sports Museum, a 501-C-3 not for profit educational organization.

I have no doubt this will be a splendid evening filled with laughter, good cheer, and goodwill provided by one of The Sports Museum’s longest and most loyal friends.

See you on December 16th.  Needless to say, these would make for great holiday gift giving.

Richard Johnson

Curator

The Sports Museum

617-835-2764