Rallying to preserve Britt’s legacy

“I would not be the father, husband and educator I am today without his influence.”

“He dedicated his life to his students, on and off the field.”

“His influence has made me a better man.”

These were a few of the sentiments expressed last week when dozens of District 12 residents asked the Malverne Board of Education to rename Malverne High School’s football field to honor Coach Colbert Britt, who died in December 2015.

Britt was a football and track coach, and a physical education teacher in the school district for nearly 40 years. With his wife, Norma, he co-founded the Friendship Games — a series of track and field meets for student athletes from across Long Island that have been held since 1990.

“I had the good fortune of knowing Mr. Britt, who gave me spiritual guidance, mentored me and helped make this a better community,” said Charles Nanton, a Malverne High School coach who, with Britt, co-founded the Lakeview Youth Federation, which organizes community sports events for local children. “There is only one person that should be up on that field’s name, and that’s Mr. Britt.”

Former athletes and students of Britt said they accomplished great things because of his influence. Among them was Michael De Joseph, a 1989 Malverne High School graduate, who is now an athletic director of physical education in the Babylon School District. De Joseph said he had played football with Britt from 1985 to 1990. “He was an integral part of driving me in this field of education, making me believe that I could make something of myself in this type of work,” said De Joseph, who added that Britt began as his teacher and coach, but their relationship morphed into that of colleague, mentor and friend.

Danielle Atkins, of Lakeview, recalled that when she graduated high school in the 1990s, there were only 99 people in her class, yet despite the small pool, Britt managed to create track champions. “When I put things in perspective, and think about how he coached five county champions who are nationally ranked, I feel it’s a no-brainer for the complex to be named after him,” she said.
Michael Reid, a 1989 Malverne High School graduate and Freeport resident, said Britt’s impact on him, and his brother and sisters, made an impression for life. “No matter what you were going through,” Reid said, “you have to carry yourself with character, discipline and integrity. Those are just some of the things he instilled in all of the people who are talking about him today.”

Dozens of district residents attended the board meeting to discuss renaming the field, many of whom felt strongly about bestowing this honor on Britt. Among them were past Malverne board member Jack Colombo, who said he hadn’t been to a board meeting in 20 years. “Coach Britt had a profound impact on my daughter and sons,” he said.

In September last year, members of the Malverne Mules Gridiron Club began a petition to have the field renamed in Britt’s honor. The petition currently has more than 1,000 signatures.

After the meeting, Jack Tulley, Malverne Board of Education president, said that a date would be set to discuss the issue further.