The DCS community turned out in numbers to celebrate the four newest members of the district’s Hall of Fame ahead of last night’s Board of Education meeting!
Congratulations to the DCS Hall of Fame, Class of 2026:
- Toni Amorosi (Former DCS Teacher; Current BOE Member)
- Lewis DeFilippo (Former DCS Superintendent)
- Christopher O’Connor (Class of 1982)
- William “Woody” Frank, posthumously (Class of 1968; Community Advocate)
The evening began with a meet-and-greet outside Joe Bena Hall, giving friends, family members, colleagues and community members an opportunity to gather, reconnect and congratulate the newest inductees.
The celebration continued at the start of the Board of Education meeting, where BOE President Melissa Them Petersen introduced each member of the Class of 2026 and recognized their contributions to the DCS community.
View the Hall of Fame online here.
Hall of Fame Nomination Process
Each year, the Hall of Fame nomination process begins online in January and remains open throughout the spring, concluding on the last day of school in June. Nominations are open to the entire Duanesburg community, including staff, students, families, and community members.
Once the nomination period closes, the Hall of Fame Committee spends the summer carefully reviewing each submission. The committee considers the nominations against the established criteria and, after thoughtful discussion and deliberation, selects three to four individuals whose accomplishments, contributions, and lasting impact make them deserving of this special honor.
DCS Staff Nominations can include current or former staff and retired staff.
DCS Alumni Nominations should meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Connects experience at DCS with what the person has chosen to do with their lives/career
- Serves as an inspiration to current students – makes students want to aspire to be more
- Maintains a connection with DCS after they graduate
- Brings a sense of pride to DCS; stands out as a DCS graduate
Nominations can also be made posthumously. Inductees are notified over the summer and invited to attend a reception and recognition at the first Board of Education meeting of the new school year.
Learn more about our inductees for 2026:
Toni Amorosi
If you ask any Duanesburg Central School staff member, teacher, administrator, or student from the past 49 years, chances are they will know Ms. Toni Amorosi. That is because, for nearly half a century, she has been an integral part of the Duanesburg Central School District community.
In 2027, she will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the beginning of her service to Duanesburg.
Ms. Amorosi came to Duanesburg by way of Schalmont High School, where she graduated in 1973. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from SUNY Potsdam and completed her master’s work at the University at Albany.
In September 1977, Ms. Amorosi became a Duanesburg Eagle and began what would become a remarkable 39-year career as a teacher at Duanesburg Central School.
During those nearly four decades in the classroom, she touched the lives of thousands of students, inspiring them through her dedication to mathematics, her commitment to their success, and the genuine care she showed for the entire school community.
Her contributions extended far beyond the classroom. She served as an advisor for numerous classes and activities, including yearbook. She dedicated countless hours as an athletic coach for both girls’ and boys’ track, cross country, and basketball, helping generations of student-athletes develop not only as competitors, but also as teammates and young people.
Over the years, she also became an avid supporter and enthusiastic fan of Duanesburg’s wrestling program – a program with a proud tradition that includes multiple individual state champions. Even today, Ms. Amorosi remains a familiar and welcome presence at Duanesburg sporting events and school activities.
Her nomination reads, “Year after year, she continues to demonstrate support for students, staff, and families in Duanesburg simply because she cares deeply about our town and the people who make it special” – and “Her loyalty has never been limited to a job title or position; it has been a lifelong dedication to the Duanesburg community.”
Although she officially retired from teaching in 2016, her impact and commitment still remained strong. For the next four years, Ms. Amorosi continued serving the district as a substitute teacher. Then, in 2020, she began a new chapter of service to Duanesburg Central School when she was elected to the Board of Education. She is currently serving her third consecutive term on the Board.
Ms. Amorosi has lived in Duanesburg for almost 30 years with her partner Laila and raised two daughters – Jenna and Kelsey – both graduates of DCS. She is the very proud grandmother of Lucille, Benjamin, Aubrie, Oliver and Gabriel.
For nearly 50 years, Toni Amorosi has given her time, talent, energy, and heart to Duanesburg Central School. Her service represents the very best of what it means to be a Duanesburg Eagle. Her impact can be seen in the thousands of students she taught and coached, the activities and programs she supported, and the generations of families who have come to know and appreciate her dedication to the district.
Lew DeFilippo
Mr. Lew DeFilippo is a highly respected educator, former DCS administrator, and valued member of the community whose career has been defined by a deep commitment to students, schools, and the people he served.
A 1963 graduate of Linton High School in Schenectady, New York, Mr. DeFilippo went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Russell Sage College and his master’s degree from the University at Albany.
He began his career as an elementary teacher in Schenectady, teaching grades three through six. He fondly recalls fourth grade as his favorite, noting the students were especially well-behaved and respectful. Those early classroom experiences laid the foundation for a distinguished career in education.
Mr. DeFilippo joined DCS in 1982, beginning nearly a decade as business administrator before serving nine years as a superintendent and business manager. In these roles, he oversaw the district’s financial operations, facilities, and day-to-day business affairs, helping ensure that the resources necessary to support students, teachers, and staff were in place. His tenure included the district’s first major building project, including a boiler project and asbestos removal at the elementary school.
Working in an era before computers, email, and the internet, he often managed the district’s finances with little more than a calculator. It was a time that demanded resourcefulness, accuracy, and a tremendous amount of personal dedication.
Before retiring, Mr. DeFilippo completed a short-term assignment as principal of Duanesburg Elementary School, a role that coincided with the events of September 11, 2001. He recalls that period as a very challenging and difficult time, as he and the school community navigated an uncertain and deeply emotional time together.
While he enjoyed “crunching numbers” and the administrative aspects of his work, Mr. DeFilippo says one of the most rewarding parts of his career was watching Duanesburg students grow from kindergarten through graduation. Seeing that journey unfold, he says, was one of the most fulfilling aspects of his career.
He also valued the strong relationships he developed with fellow superintendents and business administrators. Those professional relationships became lasting friendships, and to this day, Mr. DeFilippo continues to get together with retired superintendents from the area.
His commitment to Duanesburg extended well beyond the school district. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and Lady Fatima and a charter member of the Duanesburg Area Community Center, now 4EverBods. There, he helped establish a successful pickleball program that continues to bring community members together.
Through more than two decades of service to DCS and a lifetime of community involvement, Mr. DeFilippo has made a lasting impact on generations of students and families. His dedication, hard work, and genuine care for others make his induction into the DCS Hall of Fame a fitting recognition of his contributions to education and the community.
Christopher O’Connor
Mr. Christopher J. O’Connor is a 1982 graduate from Duanesburg High School. During the course of his career, he has become an accomplished leader, engineer, and entrepreneur. He is a retired U.S. Army Colonel whose distinguished career has been defined by innovation, service, and a commitment to improving human safety.
As President and CEO of Humanetics, Mr. O’Connor has helped transform the pioneer of the crash test dummy into a global organization whose technologies contribute to advances in automotive safety, space exploration, healthcare, energy, and other leading-edge industries. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions with General Electric, Martin Marietta, and TRW, and has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards.
Mr. O’Connor’s entrepreneurial leadership has earned him significant recognition, including the 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award for Michigan and Northwest Ohio and recognition as a national finalist in 2018.
He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Syracuse University and is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the University of Michigan Ross Executive Program. His military service as a U.S. Army Colonel reflects the same commitment to leadership, responsibility, and service that has characterized his professional career.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. O’Connor takes great pride in his family. He and his wife, Jeanne, are the parents of four children and grandparents of three.
Admirably, his Hall of Fame nomination describes Mr. O’Connor as “humble, successful, honorable, and real.”
Mr. O’Connor’s journey from his high school years to a career spanning engineering, business, entrepreneurship, military service, and technological innovation is a testament to the power of curiosity, perseverance, leadership, and service. His accomplishments have made a lasting impact on industries and, most importantly, on the safety and well-being of people around the world.
Mr. O’Connor’s success is a source of tremendous pride for Duanesburg High School, and his achievements serve as an inspiring example of what is possible when talent, determination, and a commitment to serving others are put into action.
William “Woody” Frank
Mr. William “Woody” Frank was raised in Delanson and graduated from Duanesburg High School in 1968. A curious and adventurous spirit, he embraced the opportunity to spend time as a foreign exchange student in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1967 – an experience that broadened his perspective and appreciation for the world beyond his hometown. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Utica College in 1972.
In a fitting reflection of the life he would go on to lead, his senior yearbook quote has taken on an especially poignant meaning: “It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives.” Those words, chosen in his youth, seem to capture the full circle of his life and the lasting legacy he leaves behind.
A lifelong Duanesburg resident, Mr. Frank contributed to his community in countless ways. A devoted lover of baseball, he coached and served on the board of Duanesburg Little League and remained a loyal supporter of Duanesburg school athletics. He took genuine interest in the people and happenings of his community, always making time to chat, share a joke, or lend a helping hand.
He valued simplicity, integrity, and meaningful connections. He understood that time was both a virtue and a gift, and he chose to spend it where it mattered most: building meaningful connections with others, always guided by a strong sense of integrity.
Mr. Frank loved the outdoors, took pride in his rural roots, and was always willing to put others first. His commitment to helping others was perhaps most evident in his work with Whispering Pines Preschool, which was founded by his wife, Dr. Martha Frank, in 1987. The institution has served children with disabilities and supported families throughout the Capital Region and beyond since 1987.
Mr. Frank supported the school for nearly four decades as its facilities manager. Many children who later entered DCS already knew him as the friendly face who visited classrooms and made the preschool feel warm and welcoming. His work helped strengthen early ties between families and the district.
Mr. Frank lived with quiet authenticity, generosity, and a deep commitment to others. His senior yearbook quote—“It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives”—proved to be a fitting reflection of the life he led. He didn’t simply choose those words; he lived them.