It's been 32 years since the loss of Bemard A. "Bemie" lassogna, but his name and legacy are still well known to sportsmen all over Fairfield County. A graduate of Harding High School of Bridgeport, Class of 1939, lassogna did a stint in the Marines during World War II, playing football, basketball and baseball before his deployment. He came back to Fairfield County, first working with General Electric, then the US Post Office where he remained until his death. An amazing softball umpire, lassogna was name "Best in the World" in 1957, following a national tournament. He was later inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame in 1976, and is a member of the Connecticut Softball Hall of Fame. An award is named in his honor. He was considered an elite member of the baseball umpiring community and worked many state tournament contests, including state finals. In 1963 he received a citation from the Bridgeport Recreation Commission, hailing his "Outstanding contributions to the recreation movement in the United States." In football, he began officiating in the early 1950s, and soon became one of the most respected officials to don the stripes. He worked the first Bunnell-Stratford game on Thanksgiving 1962 and continued on that game through the rest of his career. He was a founding member of the Fairfield County Football Officials Association.