By TOM WILLIAMS

The people in the Cape-Atlantic sports community are worn out. One after another, we have lost some of the most significant people in CAL history.

Chris Ford, Nuncie Sacco, Jim Schafer, Lou Paludi, Frank Campo, John Pierantozzi, Greg Goodwin, Bob Hutchings, Father Ed Lyons, Joe Cacia, Connor Laverty, John-John Bucci, Ray Rogers, Joe Kennedy, Tim Shannon, Ed Harvard, Frank Tummarello, Steve Shincarick, Charlie Baker, Steve Young, Bob Hoffman, Frank Wickes, John Cervino, Dave Andrews, Kyle Andrews, Andy Jernee and Charlie Bowman – among others.

In just three years!

And now – Buddy Tarbotton.

A two-sport athlete at Wildwood Catholic, Buddy (who died last week after a year-long battle) turned into a legendary analyst during three decades of radio broadcasts and live video streams with Brian Cunniff. His personality, live stats and knowledge of the sports and the teams brought sports fans in Cape May County and elsewhere informative and entertaining coverage.

But, his impact on the community (Mike McGarry refers to it as “South of Exit 10”) went far beyond covering sports. Some people you might know have more to say about him.

DAVE TROIANO, Hall of Fame Wildwood coach: “I was extremely saddened to hear of Buddy’s passing. I remember Buddy way back when he played for Wildwood Catholic High School. He was extremely involved in helping young athletes become not only better players, but better people. Buddy and Brian Cunniff were a tandem on the radio doing local basketball games who probably did it better than anyone else. His involvement with the Boardwalk Basketball Classic goes back many years and he was a big part of making the Classic very successful. I will miss him very much, especially that sly little smile of his every time we met. Buddy will be sorely missed.”

STEVE DiPATRI, Wildwood Catholic girls coach/CAL all-time win leader: “It is with a heavy heart that we remember and honor the life of Wildwood Catholic alum and former assistant coach, Buddy Tarbotton. My first introduction to Buddy was through his famous ‘board-walking’ call when there was traveling at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic. That was one of the places where he showcased his passion for basketball and for his love of Cape May County’s athletes. His humor and dedication to the sport were evident in everything he did, and he will be remembered for his infectious personality and unwavering support for high school athletics. Rest in peace, Buddy, your legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew you.”

PAUL RODIO, Hall of Fame coach at St. Augustine with South Jersey record 1,028 wins: “I had the pleasure of coaching against Buddy when he was a student. A very good player for Wildwood Catholic. He was always respectful and great – win or lose. Then we had him as an announcer. He was always fair, giving his views but fair to both sides. It has been an honor to call him a friend.”

PHIL SCHAFFER, all star player & coach, now a school administrator: “I first met Buddy when I was in high school. I was invited to play some AAU ball with a group of Middle Township guys. Buddy was coaching. He treated me like I had been there with those guys for years. While I was athletics director and principal of Wildwood High School, Buddy was always visible at all athletic events. He would come to scrimmages just to learn about kids before he would broadcast them during the season. Everything he did was for the kids, and he never asked for anything in return. He loved Cape May County sports and often talked about his coaching days and the kids he got to meet because of sports. County sports received the coverage they did because of Brian and Buddy. My prayers go out to Buddy and his family. I will remember fondly the times I had with him for the last 20 years.”

DAVE DeWEESE, champion coach at Wildwood Catholic: “I was very fortunate to have been good friends with Buddy since we were young boys. His passion was always to help young boys and girls in their journeys through life. He would go out of his way to provide words of encouragement, advice and congratulations, and his words always put smiles on their faces. He was the voice of Cape May County sports and he will always be remembered for his unwavering support of the teams and youth of Cape May County. Buddy was also a very religious man and he was long standing volunteer in many capacities for the Notre Dame de la Mer Catholic Parish.”

BILLY MARTIN, award-winning official and rules interpreter: “We all knew Buddy from his live presence on-air but it was a special moment when you would walk into the football press box or walk past his table at a basketball game and Buddy was sitting there prepping with his plethora of papers, note cards and cell phone – you knew it was going to be a great broadcast of the game. He always had a ‘stupid joke’ he would share on air that would get everyone cracking up.  And when he turned his fun toward you or someone within ear-shot, and connected you into the broadcast, it would just make us laugh so hard.  You could be out on the court officiating the game and hear his funny commentary, catch a quick glance from him and Brian, and it would make you glow inside.  Some times he got the rules wrong and Brian would set him straight. But that was all part of the magic. Buddy made everyone around him light up with a smile.”

TERESA CUNNIFF, Hall of Fame coach and player at Wildwood: “Buddy Tarbotton, what can I say? He loved what he did with high school sports. He was the number one fan of so many of our local athletes. He would show up to our gym really early and work the room … countless conversations, pranks and jokes that I will cherish forever. His famous phrase, ‘three point play, the old fashioned way’, will be etched in my memory forever. High school sports lost a good one, way too early.”

PAUL BARUFFI, Hall of Fame Ocean City coach: “Over the years I had some great conversations with Buddy both on local basketball courts and football fields. Although Wildwood was his hometown, Buddy genuinely enjoyed covering all the local teams and cheering for their success. I really enjoyed listening to the coverage of local football and basketball games by Brian and Buddy. My condolences to his family and all the people he was close to in the Wildwood community.”

JOHN LEAHY, Hall of Fame Middle Township player and coach: “Buddy was a basketball ‘lifer’ and someone I’ve know almost my whole life. He went to Wildwood Catholic with my sisters and was one of our assistant coaches my freshman and sophomore years at WCA. He helped me run my summer camp for a few years at the North Wildwood Rec, where we had many great workouts and laughs. Over the past twenty years, during my tenure as the girls coach at Middle Township, Buddy and I shared many pre and post game chats about players, opponents and family. He and Brian were regulars at Middle’s gym, covering our games and supporting our athletes. Buddy would often comment on how he loved our teams and how hard and unselfishly we played. Buddy was a guy who simply loved basketball and loved being around the game. There was no place he’d rather be than in the gym. I thank him for everything he did to help me as a player and coach. And I send thoughts and prayers to his family. Buddy will be missed.”

SCOTT McCRACKEN, Wildwood basketball coach: “Buddy was a great guy, always a gentleman and extremely helpful with family. We did a few Eagles pre-game radio shows together that I never forget. He was always out for the town and the local athletes. Buddy will be severely missed, especially in Wildwood.”

SCOTT HOLDEN, championship Lower Cape May coach: “Buddy was a major contributor to local sports. Fun loving guy, humorous and easy to talk to. He was an assistant at Wildwood Catholic when I went there in 1992-93, along with Rocco Sansone and Dave DeWeese, I believe. He will be sorely missed.”

GENE ALLEN, Hall of Fame Atlantic City coach: “I first met Buddy a week after getting the head coaching job at ACHS. He was running a summer league at the Rec Center in North Wildwood where he was the director. We immediately hit it off, Buddy was always very supportive and encouraging except when I played against any team from Cape May County. I truly respected Buddy because he wore his allegiance on his sleeve. I once told Buddy on air whenever I saw we had a game in Cape May County two things were certain – ACHS wasn’t getting any calls and Buddy T would be on the broadcast. Rest well my friend. Job well done.”

JOHN BRUNO, all star Ocean City coach: “Buddy Tarbotton made basketball fun! His humor was mixed with some incredible basketball analysis. You could tell that Buddy loved basketball and wanted to share everything he could with those around the basketball community. I listened to broadcasts by Brian and Buddy every chance I got. They were informative, exciting, colorful and, most importantly, entertaining. What I will miss most is what a good friend Buddy was to me, as well as many other coaches around the league. He was well respected by coaches, officials and fans for his professionalism while displaying a charming personality. Along with everyone else, I will certainly miss hearing Buddy make the call, ‘That’s booooooaaaarrrrrrdddd-walking’ at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic. Another great legend has left us far too soon.”

ROY WRIGHT, former championship coach at Lower Cape May: “This is yet another devastating loss for the CAL and the local sports scene. I’m so sorry for the loss of Buddy Tarbotton. To say that he will be missed is an understatement. What he and Brian have done for high school sports over the past 30 years is unmatched. No one loved Wildwood Catholic more than he did and no one loved local student athletes, in general, more than he did. Rest in peace – you are a legend.”

KEITH PALEK, all star player, coach and referee: “Working a big Wildwood Catholic boys game as an official. Packed house at the tight confines in North Wildwood. It’s halftime and I’m locked in and serious, waiting at half court with the ball on my hip for the teams to return. Buddy walks behind me, punches the ball out and it shoots across the court. I turn around to see Buddy bent over in laughter and began laughing myself. He would remind me of that story at least a dozen times every season, always with a smile on his face as he did so. That was Buddy, regardless of the environment he was able to promote the lightheartedness and fun surrounding our amazing game of basketball that we are all so passionate about.”

TOM FERACO, Hall of Fame Middle Township coach: “I was lucky to have known him all my life. He was advanced physically in Little League. I think he had hair on his legs when he was five. He loved sports, especially basketball. My brother and I still called him Albert, that was his real name. He was two years behind me at Wildwood Catholic and he loved playing. I don’t think he improved his jump shot by more than a quarter inch in high school but he just loved playing. He was funny. I think he could have been a stand-up comic. All his life he could make you laugh. And he was kind. When he would do the games on radio or video he wasn’t negative. No matter how much a team was struggling, he would find something good to say about them. It’s so sad. He died young and he had so much more to do. Albert was one of a kind.”

Brian Cunniff, Buddy’s longtime broadcast partner, wrote a great column on his website – CapeAtlanticLive.com – that includes many other thoughts and memories. You can read it HERE.

Memorial services will be at St. Ann’s in Wildwood on Saturday, August 3rd at 11 a.m. Visitation will begin at 9:30. Contributions are suggested to The Step Back Foundation.

We have lost another Cape-Atlantic League icon – a man who dedicated his life to making the high school sports experience better for the student-athletes, coaches and fans. And to make sure the experience was fun. He leaves behind many memories, as you can read above, so he will not be forgotten. But he surely will be missed.

Buddy Tarbotton was 63.