Steven "Iggy" Aguado Scholarship Fund
Steven Aguado, better known as "Iggy" was a once in a lifetime presence in the Croton Community and surrounding areas. He was Croton's biggest Ambassador for decades. His impact on the school and community is one that may never be equaled.
We thank him for all the time, effort, support, inspiration and fun he provided over the years to so many generations of students, athletes, coaches and residents in and around Croton!
A scholarship will be provided annually in memory of Iggy and the Village of Croton-on-Hudson has declared January 12th Steve "Iggy" Aguado day.
Click here to donate to this annual scholarship. Be sure to type "Iggy Scholarship" when asked "what motivated you to donate today."
For more on the life of Steve "Iggy" Aguado read on:
THE STEVE AGUADO STORY
Steve “Iggy” Aguado was a tremendous gift to all and an icon in Croton’s lore. Steve was Croton’s biggest Ambassador to the world and well known throughout Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Everywhere he went he spread joy, made people smile and represented our Village well.
Steve was born in 1957 to Charlie and Susan Aguado who were lifelong Croton residents residing on Cleveland Drive. Steve had a brother and a sister who are both very successful and accomplished professionals in their own right.
At birth Steve suffered a “minor brain injury” that caused lifelong learning disabilities. He was also as a result, a savant with names and numbers and had a great aptitude for statistics!
Despite his seeming handicaps Steve was always friendly to everyone he met, was always kind and always in a good mood. His family would tell you that to know Steve was to know that he was a “big innocent” and “immature in the best way."
Steve attended special needs schools and loved all sports but was never able to participate on the field.
Despite these challenges that many of us never had to face, he overcame all obstacles in his way and lived a long life of service and commitment to the Croton and surrounding Communities, especially in the Sports arena.
Steve’s family had the love and courage to not only give Steve roots but also “wings” which allowed thousands of local residents to share the gift of Steve’s life amongst us!
In the late 1960’s Steve first burst onto the Croton Sports scene when he was still in Middle School. All by himself, and with confidence that his parents instilled in him he showed up at the High School and announced he wanted to help.
Thus began his decades long love affair with Croton High School sports and his dedicated Service to the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, which later would expand out to surrounding towns, counties and organizations.
At the High School, he started out as the everyday Team Manager for almost all sports in every season, water boy, towel boy, you name it. He “worked with both boys’ sports and girls.
Later he graduated to running the Clocks for Basketball (boys and girls), Volleyball, Wrestling, Football, taking care of the bats for the Baseball team, Girls Softball and manned the Football First Down Markers.
He became the “Voice” of the Gym when he excelled in his unique and entertaining handling of the P.A. system during sporting events
He was ever-present in the gym for any extracurricular activities and was at every practice.
Rain or snow, hot or cold you would see Iggy lugging all the equipment that the teams and players needed out on the fields.
Steve was always there volunteering his time and the coaches and players relied on him.
The student athletes at Croton moved on every 4 years but Iggy was there for multiple High School cycles over 5 decades, doing the same tireless work eventually for younger brothers and sisters and then for children of the graduates who were now parents.
During his early years with the High School, he quickly expanded his presence to Programs run by the Town of Croton and Rec Department including volunteering his time to umpire Little League baseball, and Girls Softball, he was a member of the Croton Fire Dept, and was present at all Croton affairs throughout the years.
Over the 65 years Steve lived he was an ever-present figure in all things Croton. It seemed you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing Iggy!
And the residents of Croton, all together looked out for Steve, as he was known, liked, and loved by all. If you lived in Croton during that 40–50-year span, you knew Iggy and he knew you!
As the years went on, he became an “Ambassador” for Croton. He took his personality, his commitment to service and volunteering to many other communities and organizations in neighboring towns and counties.
- Steve was known throughout Westchester County and surrounding counties for his dedication to service and as that “big red head from Croton”!
- In Dutchess and Westchester County, he made impacts on people in Croton, Montrose, Peekskill, Ossining, Briarcliff, Pleasantville, Elmsford, Valhalla, Tarrytown, Fishkill, Beacon….. on and on
- He spent many years volunteering for Ossining High School sports,
- Worked with Section One Basketball throughout Westchester County
- And was the Scoreboard Operator at the Westchester County Basketball Championships
- He volunteered for the Minor League Hudson Valley Renegades Baseball Team and Stadium and was presented with a “Best Fan” award on field prior to a game
- He operated the Scoreboard for the Pace University Women’s Basketball Team.
- Was the official Bat Boy for the Mt Vernon Generals Baseball Team in the ACBL, a Major League Baseball sponsored and funded league for Pro Prospects.
- and on and on.
All the while acting as the non-designated Ambassador for Croton-on-Hudson.
His impact on local communities is one that may never be equaled. The silent lessons he taught on life, happiness and acceptance were felt by many.
Money could not buy what Steve Aguado gave in service and dedication to others and the goodwill he spread far and wide beyond just the Village of Croton.
The Croton community was fortunate to have him, and we miss him dearly!
We believe that he way he lived his life can provide hope to others that they too can be involved in High School Sports and Community Service, and be instrumental to helping teams compete, have fun and win….. and make a positive influence in their lives.
Steve was a rare treasure. Croton’s Rare Treasure and the Hudson Valley’s Rare Treasure! One that should not be forgotten, as we may never see another “Iggy”.
