Board of Directors Biographies
Executive Officers
of the Bridgemen Organization Inc. JOHN RICCARDI, President and CEO, Bridgemen Organization Inc. John Riccardi was born in Hicksville, Long Island NY, the youngest son of several siblings. He grew up with a fascination of aircraft and built model airplanes in his youth. In high school, he played trombone with the school band and developed a natural range and ability to play musically. John's first drum corps marching experience came with the Long Island Kingsmen, an up-and-coming corps that inched close to making DCI Finals at their peak in 1980. His hockey buddy Dennis Gallagher recruited him into the Bridgemen junior corps for the 1982 season, where he became a charismatic presence in the line and earned the nickname “Tigger” for his bouncy dedication to fun and camaraderie. John met Melissa Fernandez of the color guard and began a long-lasting friendship that led to their engagement. The Fernandez Family were major supporters of the Bridgemen: Germaine and Ron were chaperones and fundraisers who toured with us; two of their children were color guard members of both the Kidets and Bridgemen. John had a great time with “The Bananas” for four years and toured the U.S. and Canada with this unique troupe of performers, forging lasting friendships. The Bridgemen's fortunes were fading by 1985, but John stuck with the Bridgemen out of loyalty to these tenacious showmen and commitment to his friends. At the end of each DCI season, John performed with the Bushwackers senior corps of Harrison, NJ for the last weeks of the DCA season. 1985 was John's last year with the Bridgemen junior corps. John joined the U.S. Air Force and embarked on a career in the military. John served in the Air Force and began a family with Melissa while stationed in Nebraska. John studied cartography and satellite imagery exploitation with the USAF. After 4 years, John left the Air Force for the Federal Aviation Admin. and the Riccardi family moved back East. He moved his family to Bayonne, NJ first where Melissa could be close to her parents and siblings. He became a civilian air traffic controller in Long Island, memorizing flight protocols and monitoring flights for the entire Northeastern seaboard. Later John and Melissa moved to the suburbs where he settled down and became involved in their children's education and activities. John helped out the West Paterson Boys & Girls Club, and was elected to the role of President, overseeing a budget in excess of $100,000. He has also coached his children's baseball, softball, basketball, and hockey teams and helped with their teams' fundraising. Two of John and Melissa's daughters are enthusiastic cheerleaders who tour with private gyms in high stakes competition. John rediscovered his Bridgemen family in 2002 and had many Bridgemen veterans over to his house for barbecues and social gatherings. As this nucleus of alumni began to forge the new Bridgemen Organization, John was actively involved with bringing the pieces back together, and became the Secretary of the new Board of Directors (BOD) in 2002. When the BOD gave their blessing to form a new drum corps, John was actively involved in fundraising and recruitment of members for the new corps. In late 2004, John was elected to President of the Bridgemen Organization, Inc. John brought together people to revamp the website to keep it current, entertaining, and successful at bringing in new recruits. John returned to playing lead baritone and became responsible for the hornline beginning after Open House of autumn 2004. His friendship with Executive Director George Lavelle smoothed the way to achieving all the ambitious goals the BOD had set for themselves for the corps' rebirth for the 2005 season: chief among them was to create a strong financial base and make this a fun experience for everyone. John continues to look out for the well-being of the Organization, the Alumni Association, and the Drum Corps. He was wildly enthusiastic about the level of showmanship displayed on Memorial Day weekend of 2006 and KNEW we were back on course to becoming the Bridgemen of old. The 2006 Season was a special homecoming for John, who savored every great rehearsal and show. John is good friends with the “major players” here and foresees a lot of good times ahead for us all! GARY KARPINSKI, Vice President and COO, Executive Board Gary was originally born in Bayonne, NJ, son of Walter & Arlene Karpinski, brother of former Bayonne Bridgemen color guard member Joanne Karpinski. Gary grew up in a drum corps family. His dad played with the St. Vincent's Cadets and The PAL (both from Bayonne), the St. Joseph's Cadets of Newark, and the Archer-Epler Musketeers of Upper Darby, PA. Gary began his drum corps career with the Saints of Woodbridge, NJ and performed there in 1976 and 1977. He joined the renowned Bayonne Bridgemen in 1982 and had a ball being part of the aggressive, determined drum line that scored their third consecutive DCI drum title in 1982. He stayed four seasons through 1985. Next, Gary signed up with the NY Skyliners through his friendship with former Bridgemen Frank Petric in 1986. He marched in the Skyliners snare line for 8 seasons, then was chosen to become Assistant Drum Major under the legendary Butch Anderson and Ray (Conga) Richardson. Gary ended his Career in competitive drum corps in 2001 as the Skyliners Head Drum Major. Gary is especially proud to have had private instruction under the likes of Bob Dubinski and Sonny Igoe. Gary has written for and instructed numerous High School Percussion Sections in NJ such as Linden, North Plainfield, Verona, and Roselle Park, and has led all of them to championship seasons. He is currently a USSBA music judge and an Associate Member of The World Drum Corps Hall of Fame. He believes his success in this arena is because of his time with the Bridgemen and being a member of Dennis Delucia's drum line. Gary said, “Every time I wrote a chart, I would say 'How would Dennis write this? And every time I would say to myself, WITH A GROOVE that's how he would have done it. WITH A GROOVE.” Gary has also made a name for himself in business. Having held Vice President positions with two of the largest Commodity firms in NYC (Imperial Commodities and Andrew Weir Commodities) has led Gary to open his own Commodity Trading House which has flourished into a well-respected and established firm in the Physical Commodity field. Gary returned to the Bridgemen in the new century, eager to see our dream of rebirth a reality, originally holding the position of Secretary of the Alumni Association. Later, after re-kindling his friendships with John Riccardi and George Lavelle, he was elected unanimously to the BOD where he presently holds the title Vice President. Gary also held the title of Director of Fund Raising for the Alumni Corps and was instrumental in securing our relationship with Donald Mindiak and the Bayonne Community Bank. He is very proud of the fact that the Bridgemen owe money to no one. His latest accomplishment was to secure a large equipment truck for the corps. Gary also oversees the Scholarship Fund for the Alumni Association. However, Gary is having his most fun being a member of the Bridgemen drum line again and is proud that Dennis has asked him to serve as the current drum sergeant. Gary is currently living in Verona, NJ with his wife Robin (a veteran of the Garfield Cadets) and their four beautiful children: Alex, Jessica, Rebecca, and David. Gary says that his family is by far his biggest success. JOHN NADROWSKI, Secretary, Executive Board John was born in Bayonne, right up the block from Veterans Stadium. He played drums in 7th & 8th grades, as well as marched in the Bayonne High School drum line. He joined the Saint Andrew's Bridgemen in 1966 as a tenor drummer after being recruited by Tommy Kowalak during a parade in New York City. BHS was marching behind Saint Andrew's Bridgemen & during one of the parade stops, Tom came over smoking a cigarette asking, “Wouldn't you want to be playing something cool like Downtown?” Who wouldn't? And to be taught drums by the legendary Bobby Thompson to boot! John is proud to say that he marched in three different Bridgemen uniforms, all but the tuxedos of 1965: The maroon blouse & silver sash, the off-white, black & gold cadet shako style and - yes - even the yellow banana coat on the final St. Patrick's Day parade in Bayonne, filling in when the Bridgemen just needed bodies, he went down Broadway holding a Mellophone without a mouthpiece. John marched until the Bridgemen's first Garden State win in 1968. The following year he began a career as a photojournalist taking photos for two now-defunct local newspapers simultaneously, “The Bayonne Review” and “The Bayonne Facts.” Another career change in 1977, the year John & Kathy were married, working the assembly line in General Motors, Linden, NJ. John was elected union rep five times until GM laid off the second shift. John went on to yet another career change, one that enabled him to combine his two favorite hobbies. He worked with computers, being a computer enthusiast since 1980. And returned to photography with a twist: two years of radiology school taught him how to take pictures of people from a different prospective, their insides. John is a CT Scan tech at Christ Hospital, Jersey City, NJ from 1992 to the present. John was there at the first Alumni meeting in 2002 and has been active ever since. John filled a vacated position on the Executive Board in 2004, became Secretary of the Executive Board in 2006 and has recently been added to Director George Lavelle's Administrative Team. Unable to play or march due to physical restrictions, he has found his own way of contributing - what else? - Photography, of course. John documents many Bridgemen activities and maintains his Bridgemen Tribute Site on the internet for all members, friends & fans worldwide. John and Kathy, a retired nurse, still reside in Bayonne, right around the corner from Saint Andrew, where they raised 3 wonderful children: two girls & a boy, as well as enjoy their granddaughter & grandson. MAUREEN YANIGA, Treasurer and CFO, Executive Board Bio is forthcoming
Board of Directors MARY CERRETA, Board member Bio is forthcoming MARK GIANNULLO, Board member Bio is forthcoming
BOB HALEY, Board member Bio is forthcoming
GEORGE LAVELLE, Board member George has been around The Bridgemen his entire life. He grew up in Bayonne and went to school at St. Andrew & Bayonne High School. His two uncles, Tom “Fluff” Matthews & Albert Matthews, marched in the corps from 1967 through 1977. George began his drum corps experience in the Kidets (the Bridgemen feeder corps) and marched as a soprano player from 1972-1978. He was eager to move on to the greater challenge and fun that the Bridgemen offered so he joined at the first opportunity in 1979. He marched from 1979-1983, earning his five year ring along the way in 1983. In 1981, George started to instruct the Kidets while he was in the Bridgemen, a skill that would prove beneficial in the years to come. In 1987, he came back as a visual instructor for the corps until the junior corps folded in early 1988. George has been teaching drum corps & marching bands since 1981 and is currently the drill designer for three marching bands, including Bayonne High School, where he has been drill designer/show coordinator from 1983-1988 & 2000-2007. In 1991, George and his father founded the Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps in their hometown of Bayonne. He was the corps first director from 1991-1997. During his time as director of the Raiders, George served as President of the Garden State Circuit (1994-1995), was the Chairman of the Judging Committee (1996) and in 1996 was voted DCI Division III Director of the Year. Also in 1996 he served as Vice President of Drum Corps East. Through those years, George kept in touch with the many friends he made in drum corps. In May 2002, George was invited to the New Jersey Drum Corps Hall of Fame banquet (to honor Bridgemen alumnus Father Donovan & Bob Holton), which brought together Bridgemen alumni of different eras. They vowed to continue meeting regularly and forge a new Alumni Association so that many friendships could be rekindled and the name Bridgemen could be legally protected. In time, the impossible dream of resurrecting the drum corps was put forth and George took on a feasibility study to determine if that feat was indeed possible. The Alumni Corps that exists today is the direct result of that endeavor. Besides his seat on the Board of Directors, George is also the Executive Director of the Bridgemen Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps and served as Treasurer for a time. He is also the drill designer for field shows and the lead drill/marching instructor. George was a computer operator for BMW in Woodcliff Lakes, NJ until recently. He is married to the former Teresa Holmes. George is actively involved in rearing their two children, their daughter Riley Ann & their son Ryan Patrick, to give them all they love they deserve. DIANE LEAHEY SADOWSKI, Board member Bio is forthcoming
Board of Trustees Biographies
TOM KOWALAK, Board of Trustees Bio is forthcoming DOUG KUENZEL, Board of Trustees Bio is forthcoming PAT FORKER, Board of Trustees Bio is forthcoming Visit our Contacts page to speak with some of our people. Back to Home page |