The Eastside Old-Timers inducted seven new people into the Hall of Fame. Athletes who grew up on the Eastside are selected for their achievement in sports throughout their lifetime. The following were recipients of the award:
• Jay Doetkott a Marshall-University HS grad, who played varsity football, hockey and baseball as well as being a member of Minneapolis Park Board championship teams in softball and broomball. He was Minnesota State Handball doubles champion. He coached the U of MN Women’s Club hockey team and youth baseball.
• Rick Eskola, Edison ‘73 grad captain in football, basketball and baseball , achieving All-City in baseball and football. At St. Thomas, Rick was All-MIAC in baseball and, an All-Star member of the 1973 MIAC championship football team, He was a player/manager of Halek’s 1985Minnesota State Championship baseball team.
• Dawn Ginnaty, ‘76 Edison grad holding 2nd place in the city golf championship and qualifying for Minnesota State HS tennis doubles. She was given the Edison Athena Award in 1976. (She was the first girl to qualify for a state tournament from Edison). She played golf and basketball at Winona State. She was the Minnesota Women’s Public Golf Champion 1983-1986, Minnesota Women’s Amateur Sate Golf Champion 1986, and was on the PGA Futures Tour 1987-1991. She was named to the PGA/Minnesota Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2020.
• Rick Jaede, Marshall-University grad, all conference and captain in football, hockey and baseball. He was the leading hockey scorer and had the best batting average in the Tri-Metro conference in his senior year. He played college hockey at U Of Wisconsin and St. Thomas. Rick was the ClassB State Handball Champion in 2001 and was a youth hockey coach.
• Jeff Moritko, Edison Grad ‘80, football and basketball captain and Minneapolis All City in both sports. He was named H.S football All-American. Jeff was the Section 5A shot put and discus champion. Jeff started for three years at tackle for the U of Minnesota, playing under Lou Holtz. He was head football coach at Edison 1996-1997. He was assistant line coach and defensive coordinator for 21 years at Totino Grace. During this time TG won 8 state championships, He was awarded many football coaching awards. He is in the Edison Community Sports Foundation Hall of Fame and the USSA Slow pitch Hall of Fame.
• Claudia Anderson Stephens, Edison grad ‘72, was the ‘71 Minnesota State diving champion. (She was self taught with the help of the Edison boy’s gymnastics coach since there were no girls in high school sports before Title IX in 1972). She was a Tennis/USTA National participant, and an amateur competitive tennis player for many years.
• Tony Hofstede, owner Event Sales and Discount 70 was recognized for his active support for youth sports. He also organized the Earth Day Run/Walk and the river clean up at Boom Island. Over the years, Tony has donated many outstanding prizes for our fund raising raffle.
Also honored was the Magnificent Edison Alumni band for all the do for the community and for the Alumni of Edison high school.
The Old Timers thank the many retail businesses and individuals that donated prizes for our Hall of Fame raffle. The money raised by the raffle supports youth sport teams in the Northeast and Southeast neighborhoods. The East Side Old Timers are seeking future Hall of Fame inductees (men and women) 55 years or older. The person must have been a resident of the East Side and achieved excellence in a sport or sports. You can recommend a worthy candidate's name to one of the East Side Old Timers or @neseminneapolis on Facebook.