Bianchi-Barbarotta Award winners, from left: Paul and Dick Rivers, Peter White, Ben Knute, West Dews, Jack Reed, Ashlyn Lesure, Ella Bassi, Randy Koldys. Not present, Brian Gill.
Paula and Dick Rivers, recipients of the Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Living Legends Award, are presented with the honor by Pepi Barbarotta, left, and John Barbarotta.
Peter White, center, receives the Connie Bianchi Memorial Award of Merit from Chris Barbarotta and John Barbarotta.
Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Volunteer of the Year Ben Knute receives his award from Chris Bianchi, left, and John Barbarotta.
Gary Bianchi, left, and Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation President John Barbarotta present the Male Sport Coach of the Year award to Monument Mountain boys basketball coach Randy Koldys, center.
Pittsfield High’s Jack Reed, center, receives the Vera Barbarotta Sportsmanship Scholarship from Jay Barbarotta and John Barbarotta.
Reese Barbarotta, left, and John Barbarotta present the Vera Barbarotta Sportsman Scholarship to Pittsfield High’s Ella Bassi.
Al Bianchi Senior Female Athlete of the Year Ashlyn Lesure receives her award from Sam Barbarotta, left, and John Barbarotta.
Al Bianchi Senior Male Athlete of Year West Dews with presenter Gary Bianchi, Wahconah football coach Gary Campbell and Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation President John Barbarotta.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Friday recognized nine winners of the organization’s annual awards for contributions to sports in Berkshire County.
The honorees were recognized at a dinner at the Polish Falcon Club.
Paula and Dick Rivers received the foundation’s Living Legends Award. Peter White took home the Connie Bianchi Memorial Award of Merit. Ben Knute was honored as the Volunteer of the year. And recent Pittsfield High School grads Jack Reed and Ella Bassi are recipients of the 2025 Vera Barbarotta Sportsman Scholarships.
For the first time this year, the foundation added male and female Athletes of the Year and Coach of the Year recognition in girls and boys sports.
Wahconah’s West Dews is the male Athlete of the Year, and Hoosac Valley’s Ashlyn Lesure is the Female Athlete of the Year. The coaches are Mount Greylock girls track and field coach Brian Gill and Monument Mountain boys basketball coach Randy Koldys.
“It was a wonderful evening with some awesome speeches,” Bianch-Barbarotta Foundation President John Barbarotta said. “The kids were outstanding.”
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
North Adams Man Pleade Not Guilty to Father's Murder
Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — David Louis Boucher, who is accused of killing his father, pleaded not guilty Monday in Berkshire Superior Court.
Boucher, 48, was indicted on one count of murder and two counts of larceny.
In May 2026, Boucher allegedly stabbed his father, 67-year-old David Allen Boucher, and left him for dead in his home at 256 Walnut St. The younger Boucher lived downstairs and his father upstairs in the multi-family home.
Boucher admitted to killing his father a week later, shortly before police located the body.
At the time of the arrest, a clear motive was not established, though the Berkshire District Attorney's office suggested it may have involved a gambling debt. Authorities noted there may have also been a mental health component.
Boucher is set to appear in court again in April.
Boucher is currently being held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction.
A special town meeting on Monday night authorized 11 of 12 warrant articles, only nixing a contentious proposal to buy land for a police station. click for more
JMJ has had a purchase and sale agreement with real estate developer Cypress Equities since May. Cypress Equities was established in 1995 in Dallas and has been building shopping centers around the country.
click for more
Members of Girls Inc. of the Berkshires visited City Hall, where they learned about local government, civic engagement, and discovered how their voices matter at any age. click for more
On Tuesday, the City Council accepted the mayor's response to Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham's request to explore turning the 100 Burbank St. campus into the Pittsfield Police Department’s headquarters. click for more
Over the past 72 years, Berkshire County Arc has built a community of support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries. click for more
