Ben Kocis Captures Pettit Scholarship
T. Christopher Pettit will always be remembered as one of Huntington High School’s finest 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 a two-time All-American lacrosse player and the team’s captain and leading scorer.
Born in Huntington Hospital on February 18, 1945, Mr. Pettit enjoyed a fabled career at Huntington High School, serving as captain of the football, basketball and lacrosse teams and being elected G.O. president by the student body. He addressed classmates as the “honor speaker” at the 102nd annual commencement on June 25, 1963 at 8:15 p.m. in the school auditorium.
“Things do not happen in this world; they are brought about by people who are concerned and who become involved,” Mr. Pettit said during his commencement address. “I know that we can have the courage to affirm life by our involvement in living.”
Following graduation at West Point, Mr. Pettit became 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 taught Math for two years and coached football and then was in business for four years before he 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. The Huntington grad was 51 years old. He is interred in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.
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 $10,000 ($2,500 per year) to a graduating Huntington High School senior.
Pettit family members presented this year’s scholarship to Ben Kocis, who is headed to Binghamton University. He intends to study business/finance and play on the school’s NCAA Division I lacrosse team.
“Winning this award is a tremendous honor for so many reasons,” Mr. Kocis said. “Chris Pettit was not only a standout in the classroom, but a leader on the sports field and in his community as well. His ability to lead others was second to none and to be recognized with an award presented in his honor is amazing. I am so grateful to the Pettit Family as they have influenced my life as a young adult. I am hoping that someday I can be like Chris.”
Mr. Kocis notched 37 goals and 14 assists on the lacrosse field this spring. His career totals of 92 goals and 47 assists are impressive. He enjoyed a wonderful senior football season last fall, completing 116 of 228 passes for 1,687 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions as the Blue Devils’ quarterback. He rushed 82 times for 535 yards and eight touchdowns. He is the recipient of the 2013 Boomer Award, presented to Suffolk’s best quarterback in honor of former East Islip, college and NFL great Boomer Esiason.
As a junior, the teenager led Suffolk Division III football in passing, completing 96 of 166 attempts for 1,716 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. He rushed 35 times for 269 yards and five touchdowns.
Huntington Class of 2014 member Caitlin Yabroudy was presented with a one-time $1,500 Pettit scholarship for her exceptional high school scholastic and co-curricular record. She earned varsity letters with the Blue Devil cross country and winter track teams.
One of the top members academically in the senior class, Ms. Yabroudy is headed to Clemson University in New Orleans to study engineering. “I am honored have been chosen for the Pettit Award,” she said. “I’m so excited about it and greateful.”
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.