Friday, October 23, 2026
Two former East Rockaway High School football standouts were honored during the school's Oct. 9 homecoming celebration, as the Rocks retired their jersey numbers in recognition of their lasting contributions to the program.
Robert Deutsch, a member of the Class of 1974, returned to his alma mater to see his No. 78 jersey retired, while the family of Julio Tayo, a member of the Class of 1987 who died in 2017, accepted the honor on his behalf for his No. 22 jersey.
For East Rockaway football coach Russell Pajer, the ceremony was an opportunity to recognize two athletes whose accomplishments helped shape the program's history.
“We honored two historic football players,” Pajer said.
Deutsch was a member of two Metro League championship teams during his four years at East Rockaway. Playing as both a defensive end and offensive lineman, he earned second-team All-Long Island honors and was named among the area's top student-athletes through the National Football Foundation's Golden 11 recognition.
In 1973, Deutsch was also a finalist for the Thorpe Award, which recognizes outstanding high school football players in Nassau County.
“Being a lineman, that's quite an impressive feat since most times it goes for running backs and quarterbacks,” Pajer said.
Deutsch went on to receive a Division I football scholarship to the University of Rhode Island, where he played for four years. Although he had an opportunity to pursue professional football, he instead focused on his education, eventually earning a doctorate in science.
Tayo, meanwhile, left his own mark on East Rockaway's record books as one of the most accomplished running backs in school history.
A member of the Class of 1987, Tayo set the school's single-season rushing record with approximately 1,473 yards, a mark Pajer said has stood since 1987. He also held the school's single-season touchdown record for years before it was eventually broken.
Tayo continued his football career at Hofstra University and LIU Post, and remains East Rockaway's all-time leading rusher, according to Pajer.
For the coach, Tayo's recognition carried a particularly personal meaning.
“I had the pleasure of playing with Julio since I was 8 years old,” Pajer said.
Pajer and fellow coach Dan Vito played alongside Tayo for two years, while Joe Vito was his coach.
With Deutsch in attendance and Tayo's family accepting his honor, the ceremony brought together different generations of East Rockaway football, recognizing two players whose achievements remain part of the program's history.
