Tovie Asarese

Long-Time West Side Sportsman

Humble, unassuming, significant contributions to amateur sports. In the dictionary of life, these words describe Tovie Asarese. For nearly 50 years, Tovie has played an important role in Western New York amateur and youth sports – so important that without his efforts, many would not have had the opportunity to play and compete.

In 1970, he converted an empty lot into a West Side play area that included paving, lighting, and fencing of 9500 square feet, four basketball courts and a tot lot. He founded the West Side Little League Football Club, and the West Side Street Hockey Program. He founded and directed the West Side Ponytail Softball League and reorganized West Side Boys Baseball and served as its president. Tovie sponsored and coached the AAABA Royal Printing club for more than 50 years – his team went undefeated in 1976 and finished 3rd in the nation in 2000.

Tovie has been named ‘Man of the Year’ by numerous organizations, elected to the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame and Softball Hall of Fame, and earned countless awards from organizations dedicated to youth sports. He counts among his former athletes the likes of Sal Buscaglia, Pat Raimondo, Phil McConkey, Rocco Diina, Joe Mihalich, and Sal Calandra. But it is kids – past and present – playing sports that lights the heart of Tovie Asarese.