Waltham High Hall of Fame class celebrated at sold-out induction dinner

Decades of Waltham High athletic history came together under one roof on Sept. 18. 

Former teammates reconnected at the Sons of Italy as families and friends gathered to recognize the newest members of the Waltham High School Athletic Hall of Fame and share stories from their playing days. 

Seven former Waltham High athletes and the 1972 baseball team were inducted during the sold-out ceremony, hosted by former Waltham High Principal Greg DeMeo.

The 2026 class includes twin brothers Steven and Don Hopkins, Jackie (Driscoll) Goodmurphy, Taylor Pinzone, Joseph Recine, D.J. Saulnier, John Bourque and the 1972 baseball team.

Memories from teammates and coaches 

Former Waltham High varsity hockey coach John Maguire introduced the  Hopkins brothers, recalling what they were like to coach.

“It was tough to tell the identical twins apart on the ice, but they had other things in common, too, like toughness, determination and a true love for the game,” Maguire said.

The brothers’ impact has continued well beyond their playing days. Maguire noted that the two have raised more than $200,000 for cancer research over the past five years.

That theme of lasting relationships continued when Francois Joseph, president of Waltham Youth Football, introduced Bourque. The two spent years coaching together, and Joseph said Bourque’s contribution to Waltham football went beyond wins and losses.

“He’s a winner, and I was glad to have the chance to coach right beside him,” Joseph said. “But numbers don’t tell the whole story. The time and energy he spent to help build the youth football program is an example of that. I consider John family.”

Family also took center stage when Goodmurphy, who was unable to attend, submitted a video acceptance. Her mother, Janet, introduced her daughter in an emotional speech, remembering a three-sport athlete who constantly pushed herself to be better.

Longtime friend and coach Stacey Meehan introduced Pinzone and recalled a competitive streak that started at an early age. She recalled a paper Pinzone wrote in the sixth grade that declared she would someday “dunk a basketball.” “I’m not sure that’s happened yet,” Meehan said. “So now I expect she’ll go out and do it tomorrow.” 

For members of the 1972 baseball team, the ceremony provided an opportunity to reconnect more than five decades after a season in which Waltham went 18-3, shared the Suburban League championship and reached the Division 1 state semifinals.

Chuck Nester introduced former teammate and pitching star Saulnier, and spoke of the confidence the team had whenever Saulnier took the mound. Saulnier later dedicated his individual Hall of Fame honor to his late wife, Christine.

Former Waltham High football standout Jeff Fuller offered another example of how statistics told only part of the story when he introduced Recine.

Recine was part of a talented 1991 team that included four players who went on to play Division I college football. Yet when it came time to choose a captain, Recine was the one his teammates selected.

“That’s who Joe was,” Fuller said. “He was the glue that kept that team together, and the result was an 11-0 record and a Super Bowl championship.”

The ceremony closed with the newest class taking its place in the Hall of Fame, adding seven athletes and one team to the history of Waltham High athletics. 

Read more about the inductees and their accomplishments here.