Sportswriter, John Cardullo, recognized for 46 years of service to Cranston youth basketball

by Nancy Thomas

The Cranston City Council recently recognized the work of our sportswriter, John Cardullo, a West Warwick resident, with the presentation of a citation in September at a special council meeting.

The certificate reads:

“In proud recognition of his 46 years of service and dedication in running the Saturday Morning Basketball Instructional Program at Park View Middle School, the longest run of anyone and his induction last year into the RI Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame and being the Sportswriter for RINewsToday.com.

Mr. Cardullo worked under the Taft, Traficante, Napolitano, Laffey, O’Leary and Fung administrations and also worked under Recreation Directors John Soscia, Dennis DeJesus, Barry Fontaine, Robert Clarken, and Anthony Liberatore.

The entire Council extends its sincerest congratulations and very best wishes on this memorable occasion and express their hope for continued good fortune.”

The certificate was signed by all members of the Cranston City Council.

Each season of the Saturday instructional basketball was about 14 weeks long with approximately 50 participants, from 3rd grade through adults. Cardullo notes that many players went on to play at Cranston East. All told, Cardullo worked with over 2,300 individuals in the Saturday program.

Cardullo is with Coastal Printing and Graphics. He has been involved in Men’s Softball since 1964 when he started as a Bat Boy for his father’s team and moved on to being the team’s scorekeeper and finally playing on the team.

He was the managing sponsor for the Players Corner Pub Softball Team for 35 years, and has been an umpire in Warwick for the last 12 years. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Currently, he is the Stadium Announcer for Central High School and the Juanita Sanchez, PCD, Wheeler School Football program and for the Central and Scituate Girls and Boys Basketball Teams. He has been the “PA” announcer for both Cranston East and West Football as well as the Boys and Girls Home-Game Day Basketball Announcer at Cranston East for 15 years.

RINewsToday and all its writers join the Cranston City Council in congratulating John for his service to the youth of Cranston. Cardullo’s sports column can be found weekly in RINewsToday.com.