Robert Fiato Captures Pettit Scholarship
T. Christopher Pettit will always be remembered as one of Huntington High School's legendary scholars and athletes. A member of the Class of 1963, he captained three varsity teams and went on to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he was an All-American lacrosse player and the Black Knights' leading scorer.
Born in Huntington Hospital on February 18, 1945, Mr. Pettit was a battery commander on a missile base in what was then West Germany. He also served in combat as an Army Ranger in the Vietnam War, earning two Bronze Stars and moving up the ranks to captain.
Following his military career, the Huntington alum joined Lehman Brothers in 1977, climbing through the commercial paper and bond divisions. Mr. Pettit was named a partner in 1982 and eventually became the storied Wall Street firm's president and chief operating officer. He left the company on November 26, 1996.
Mr. Pettit was killed while snowmobiling at night on a frozen lake near Windham, Maine on February 15, 1997. He reportedly hit a stump and his helmet dislodged as he was thrown from the fast moving vehicle. He sustained a massive head injury and passed away while being rushed to a nearby hospital. He was 51 years old.
In the weeks and months that followed the tragedy, Mr. Pettit's family created an annual scholarship that currently provides a four-year award worth a total of $8,000 ($2,000 per year) to a graduating Huntington High School senior.
This year's top Pettit scholarship was presented to Rob Fiato, who is headed to New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury. He intends to study business and play on the school's NCAA Division I baseball team.
"I was honored to even be selected to be interviewed," said Mr. Fiato about the Pettit scholarship. "The other candidates are amazing people and I was shocked when my name was called. I was so honored to be given such a scholarship. It's a great thing that the Pettit family recognizes the importance of a well-rounded education that includes sports. I want to express how thankful I am to have been selected to win the scholarship to allow me to pursue my education as well as continue on and play Division I baseball."
Huntington's catcher and field general for the past five years, Fiato led the Blue Devil baseball team this past spring with eight extra base hits, including six doubles, a triple and a homerun and he drove in 19 runs. He earned Suffolk All-League in recognition of his impressive play.
Huntington Class of 2013 members Brent Filippini, Nicholas Lupi and Raynisha Witherspoon were each presented with one-time $500 Pettit scholarships for their exceptional high school scholastic and co-curricular academic records.
Filippini will attend Cornell University in the fall where he will study mechanical engineering. Mr. Lupi is headed to Sacred Heart University to study business and compete on the Pioneers' NCAA Division I wrestling team. Ms. Witherspoon will attend the University of Rhode Island where she plans to major in physical therapy.
In addition to being a leading figure in the international financial world, Mr. Pettit found time to coach youth lacrosse, soccer and basketball. He was one of the founders of the Cold Spring Harbor-Huntington Youth Lacrosse Club. The former Blue Devil star and Army great was inducted into the Long Island Metro Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1994.
In addition to his work at Lehman Brothers, Mr. Pettit was a key contributor to cancer research. He was among those who helped organize the Dorothy Rodbell Cohen Foundation for Sarcoma Research, which has provided millions of dollars in grants over the years.
In addition to starring on the Blue Devil baseball team, Mr. Fiato played football as a freshman, but his career was cut short after he required surgery on his left foot. He participated in Huntington's Habitat for Humanity chapter as a ninth grader and has also helped raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation along with his baseball teammates. He was a peer mediator and a member of Young Leaders, a local youth community service organization