The East Side Old Timers inducted five 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:
John Wold (Fritz)
I was born in Southeast Minneapolis where I played youth football, baseball and hockey for the Southeast All Sports (S.E.A.S.). We won numerous city championships.
In 7th and 8th grade, I played on an all-star bantam hockey team, coached by Mike Doyle and managed by Tom Allen, a NE business man. During my time on this team, we only lost two games in two years and both were for the state bantam championship. We lost both games to Roseau, MN in overtime. I also played midget football for Waite Park in NE. and was coached by Gary Mastro. We went undefeated and won the city championship in 1961.
I attended Marshall High School from 1960-1965. I earned multiple letters during my time. I earned 3 in football, 4 in hockey, where I was the team captain and selected all district, and 4 in baseball where I was also the team captain and selected all city. I also participated in summer baseball through the American Legion Program out of NE Athletic field during 9th and 10th grade. I was coached by Joe Hanzlik. During 11th and 12th grade, I played Park National Ball.
I attended the University of North Dakota (UND) from 1965-1970 in Grand Forks on an athletic scholarship. In 1967, our baseball team won the North Central Conference championship and finished runner-up in the NCAA regional tournament in Arkansas. In 2003, I was inducted into the UND Baseball Hall of Fame. I was also recruited from the intermural football program my senior year to be the team’s punter. I received letters in all three sports.
From 1970-1978, I was a Health and Physical education teacher at Marshall University High School. I was also the assistant football coach for 6 years, head hockey and baseball coach for 8 years. I also coached girls’ varsity volleyball.
In 1978, I moved my family to Arizona for a medical sales job for Johnson and Johnson. I coached Little League baseball for 4 years, and youth hockey for Desert Youth Hockey Association (DYHA) for 18 years at all levels. During my time with DYHA, I took 4 different teams to the National Tournament (92, 95, 96, 97). In 1997, I was inducted into the DYHA Hockey Hall of Fame.
In 1999, I was the coach and program director of the Arizona State Club Hockey program until 2012. In 2015, I assisted in getting the ASU Hockey program into the NCAA Division 1 ranks. In 2009, I was inducted into the Arizona State University Hockey Hall of Fame.
GARY TILLESON
Marshall-University High School 12 Letters
Football (3), Baseball (4), Hockey (5)
All Conference 5 times
Captain Football, Hockey, Baseball Senior Year
Hockey
Played for Wayzata Junior B (State Champions), Lost in National Finals (1980)
Coached Bantam Level in Minneapolis (7 years)
Coached Mite through Junior Gold (High School) in Roseville Youth Programs (17 years)
Roseville Youth Hockey Board of Directors (5 years)
Elected to Roseville Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019
Football
Coached in Roseville Youth Program (9 years)
Baseball
Played on State tournament Legion Team (Northside Post) in 1978
Coached State Tournament VFW Team in 1979
Played Park National Baseball (5 years)
Played Fast Pitch Softball in Minneapolis and St. Paul (20 years)
Played Slow Pitch Softball in Minneapolis (5 years)
Coached in Roseville Youth Baseball Program (9 years)
Golf
Played in Sportsman golf league 1985-Present
Handball
State Class “B” Doubles Handball Champions with Mike Zagarac in 1993
St. Anthony Athletic Club
Member (20 years)
Board of Directors (10 years)
President (1 year)
Jill Westerberg-Hadash
Jill grew up in SE Minneapolis part of an athletic family, including her parents and three brothers. The family lived less than a block from Van Cleve Park and it became Jill’s second home. Her early years at Van Cleve were spent developing skills and having some of the best times of her life. Moving on to Marshall University HS Jill began to take her love of sports to another level. With commitment and determination Jill became a standout athlete at Marshall HS and an Athena award winner. Jill continued to be active in sports through her college years at the University of Minnesota Duluth. After graduation from UMD Jill carried forward her love of sports into coaching and as a community sports organizer. Jill still competes and has as much fun today as she did as a kid at Van Cleve.
Minneapolis Park Board - VanCleve Park
Softball and Speed skating (Silver Skates)
Marshall University HS - 18 Letters total
Athena award winner 1978 - Best Female Athlete
Badminton - 5 Letters, Team Captain Senior year. Tri-Metro conference Singles Champion 1978
Volleyball – 5 Letters, Team Captain Senior year
Swimming & Diving – 3 Letters
Track – 1 Letter
Cheerleading – 4 Letters, Hockey and Football
University of Minnesota Duluth
Intramural sports: Volleyball, Women’s Softball, Coed Softball, Floor Hockey, Flag Football. Championships in all sports 1978 – 82.
Other activities:
Lifetime Fitness Triathlon – 4 years
Bowling league 10+ years
Eden Prairie Youth Basketball and Soccer coach – 3 years
Eden Prairie Hockey Board of Directors - 6 years (First woman ever selected to this Board)
Eden Prairie Youth Hockey Tournament director (Boys and Girls) – 6 years
Currently spends time Hiking, Biking, Golfing and crushing it on the Pickleball court
Jill and husband Ed have lived in Eden Prairie and Burnsville for a combined thirty years. Two children, son Brandon and daughter Ali. Five grandchildren. Jill worked in Title Sales in the Twin City area for 35 years. Recently retired Jill and Ed now split time between Arizona and Minnesota. Jill and Ed are huge Gopher Football fans and have the best “Game Day” tailgate party in town.
Jills Parents, Eleanor and Joel (Joe). *(Joel is an Eastside Old-Timers HOF inductee 2007.) Brothers: Craig, Michael and Joel
Patrick Leary
Youth Sports
Played Football, Hockey and Baseball for the N.E. Boosters. Teams won many district championships. Played basketball 2 years for Sheridan Jr. High.
Edison High School
Track and Field 4 years, earned 3 letters. 10th grade participant in state long jump competition. Earned 8 medals in city and region meet competitions. Shot put over 50 ft.
Hockey 3 years, earned 3 letters.
Football 3 years, earned 2 letters. Team kicker junior and senior years. Starting fullback senior year. As a junior, kicked the winning field goal on the last play against Southwest to keep Edisons undefeated season alive.
College Sports
Played Football, Hockey, Golf and Track for 2 years at Anoka Ramsey Community College. The hockey team finished 3rd in the state tournament. In Track, participated in the decathlon.
Was a member of the St. Cloud State track team for one year as a decathlete.
Adult Sports
Rugby: Starting fly half and kicker for the Eastside RFC. Team won the Midwest Junior Cup in 1984. Selected to two statewide select teams that finished as runners-up in the Midwest Tournament.
Played softball for over 30 years.
Played broomball for 10 years.
Lifelong golfer.
Sports official – Football, Broomball and Hockey for many years.
Edison youth hockey director – 3 years.
Joseph Perzel
Youth Experience: I played football, basketball and baseball from 4th grade through 9th grade at Waite Park. My dad Joe Perzel was my coach for several years of basketball and baseball.
High School Experience: At Edison High School I played football as a wide receiver my sophomore year (JV). I played varsity basketball as a guard my sophomore and junior years. I also played baseball as a pitcher for three years, sophomore (JV) and varsity my junior and senior years.
College and Adult Experience: I played four years of college baseball as a pitcher for the College of St. Thomas. I played my freshman and sophomore years on (JV) and my junior and senior years on the varsity.
I also have played baseball in the Park National League every year from 1977 – including last season. My primary position was a pitcher, but in the first 30 years I also played 2nd base and outfield.
Starting in 1989 I joined a 33+ team called the Minnetonka Saints out of Hopkins Big Willow. I played every position except catcher. The last 25 years I have also coached the team. In addition, I now also play 50+ baseball for the Minneapolis Millers club. I started in that league in 2010 and I’m still playing, as well as serving as assistant manager since 2016. I have also played down in Florida in the Roy Hobbs fall tournament 15+ times.
I also played touch football for 35+ years at Parade, NEAF and for a house-league at Waite Park. I played league broomball for 10+ years and started officiating varsity high school basketball in 1999.
1979 State Champions Polish Palace Broomball will also be honored
The Old Timers thank the many retail businesses and individuals that donated prizes for our Hall of Fame raffle and silent auction. 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 go to www.eastside-old-timers.com.