Baldacci's Art is Big on Blue Football

Forget a sticker for the football helmet or a pat on the back for a great play or two, football players want to receive an original football painting by for a job well done.

For over forty years, Swampscott’s Dick Baldacci has created an original painting for the Swampscott High School football team, each game, with a reference to that week’s gridiron opponent.

After every game, the Big Blue players vote on who will take home the coveted Baldacci original.

Baldacci played guard on offense and defense at Somerville High School before heading to Brandeis University. Dick taught art in the Swampscott school system for 26 years and joined coach Stan Bondelevitch on the sidelines when he came to town in 1965.

Baldacci, who received his Master’s Degree from Harvard, lives on Stetson Avenue with his wife Bunny. His daughter Laurie played field hockey at SHS, his two sons, Richard and Roger, both played football for Swampscott High.

“I check in with Steve (head football coach Steve Dembowski) each week and see if he’s got anything specific in mind, but he usually tells me to just do what I do and it’ll be fine,” Baldacci said.

For games against Lynn English, Bulldogs are featured in the painting, games with Classical have a Ram or two, and the Big Blue player is usually taking care of some Fisherman if a game with Gloucester is coming up.

One thing is missing from the pictures of the Big Blue players in Baldacci’s paintings; there are no numbers on the jerseys.

“I don’t put numbers on because football is a team game, and the whole team has to play together to be successful,” Baldacci said. “The kids decide who gets the painting each week, but it’s really something I do for the whole team.”

“Swampscott is a wonderful community with a rich football tradition,” Baldacci said. “It’s really being part of a family when you’re part of the Big Blue football program.”

Co-captain Richard Sullivan took home the painting after the Blue beat Somerville on opening day.

“It was very exciting to get the painting the first week, the football tradition is great in this town,” Sullivan said. “It’s really a big honor, and the team chose me which I’m very proud of.”

Sullivan lines up at wide receiver and strong safety and had a great game against the Highlanders, a 33-18 win.

The team awarded Nick Meninno the painting after Swampscott knocked off Winthrop 34-14. Meninno plays wide receiver and defensive back for the Big Blue.

“It’s a great tradition, and the team picks it, so it was nice to be chosen after the Winthrop game,” Meninno said. “It’s a great award to get and it’s one of the great things about this community.”

“I get to as many games as I can,” Baldacci said. “There’s a lot of goodness in football, but it hurts too, if you can work through that hurt you can become successful on the field and you become a better person by working through adversity.”

“I know I’m doing eleven paintings for the regular season, but I’m hoping I have to paint a few more for some playoff games.”