Los Angeles Valley College - Crown Yearbook (Valley Glen, CA)

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Eudfather of Student Al:FElFS Cicotti makes one ol his numerous phone calls in the interest of Valley College students. 7 -vp. A I Tai -1 .gf r ' -,Wi ig. , if-5-t sal. Y Y ,, i,p', ' I i ' . qs: - V .f, ,.- 32... , , i Ar I ' Y, alt: it if qi . 3 w ff .,.i 4 if . if X ,H ,Xt ii. 41 'Kit Written by Lewis S. Snow Illustrated by Greg Moreland There have been countless ace pitchers in the annals of baseball the past century - Christy Mathewson, Cy Young, Walter johnson, Satchel Paige, Sandy Koufax, Bruno Cicotti . . . Bruno Cicotti?? Well, almost. Cicotti, now coordinator of student affairs, was a 24 year-old returning veteran that Summer of 1957 He had just completed a 6-3 season at Valley the year before and was one of Los Angeles State's top athletes that year. The chance came - an offer to sign with the Brooklyp Dodgers. For personal reasons, he turned the Bums down, but baseball has always been his first love. The Godfather, as he is jokingly called by his associates, later became the first alumnus to return as an instructor in 1961 - you guessed it, as a baseball coach, assistant coach to Charlie Mann, his mentor when he starred at Valley. Cicotti continued in that capacity until 1965 when he became top baseball banana, replacing Dan Means. In 1971, Bruno reached the pinnacle of his coaching career, a conference championship. During that decade, Cicotti also helped coach the basketball squad. Five years ago, says Cicotti, I'd say that I would probably die on the diamond, But the gods would not have that in mind for the tough little right-hander from Providence, R.I. The Big B became P.E. Department chairman in 1967, and, as he puts it, I got a taste of administra- tive responsibility - and liked it. Quickly, Cicotti moved up the administrative ladder: coordinator of the Narcotics Information Center, coordinator of Evening Division, and his present post, coordinator of student affairs. This job's very likeable because of the people I work with . . . the staff, and, sometimes, the students. It was during Bruno's first days on the job that his Godfather image came into full bloom. We were used to a nice, quiet office, explains Ruby Zuver, assistant dean of Community Services. One day during his first week, he comes charging out of his office, blows a whistle, and yells 'All right, everyone up against the walll' From that day on . . . That incident, added to and embellished by his Italian heritage and imaginative friends, have given him the Godfather moniker.

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lt's something we all can have fun with, Cicotti says, although his Marlon Brando poster, Official Mafia plaque, and assorted knick-knacks do nothing to downplay the image. This is not to give the impression that Bruno sits at his desk all day, speaking with a gravely voice and guarded by two amici with machineguns, his chair is barely worn in as he scrambles from committee to committee, finance to budget, ad- visory to athletic meetings. Bruno's had his problems, though. I don't like to make people feel unhappy, I like to make them feel at home, he says. But sometimes I just get too involved, The baseball umbilical still hasn't been cut, though. Currently, Cicotti is commissioner of the California junior College Baseball Coaches Associa- tion, college representative to the Metropolitan Conference, and author of the new state baseball playoff system. He still coaches some baseball, El Camino Real High's entry in the prep winter leagues, but misses the steady duty of supervising horsehide, leather, and wood. A college presidency is Cicotti's next goal, but they just may have to invent a new name for it when he arrives, What an impression he'll make - wearing cleats and a baseball uniform, guarded by two machine- gun-carrying Mafiosos. Who knows - the godfather may set education ahead 50 years. A day s work done, Cicotti relaxes with his wife, Carol amidst the dusk rays of the sun. Cicotti, former head coach of VaIley's baseball team currently coaches his son Brad's team, the Yankees.'