The director of athletics and chairman of boy’s physical education for Great Neck (N.Y.) Public Schools from 1966 to 1984, Milton “Dutch” Hess cites his Cortland education as a motivating factor in his 33 years as a physical education teacher.
“I was fortunate to have attended Cortland in those years following World War II,” he recalled. “Administrators who were true professionals led a faculty that was committed to excellence, both on and off the playing fields. One was allowed to learn and to reach one’s potential, always aware that there was support when needed. My philosophy towards teaching and coaching and towards working with others was nurtured and developed in those grand years.”
Raised in Ilion, N.Y., Hess arrived at Cortland in January 1948. He earned varsity letters as a center and linebacker in football, and as a lacrosse midfielder. The Beta Phi Epsilon fraternity secretary, Hess was also vice-president of the Men’s Athletic Association before graduating cum laude in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He later earned a master’s degree in 1956 and director’s certification in 1958 – both from New York University.
Hess taught and helped coach football, basketball and baseball at Baldwinsville (N.Y.) High for a year before beginning his long association with the Great Neck school system. Hess coached basketball for 28 years, soccer for 11 years, lacrosse for nine seasons, wrestling for three years and was assistant track coach for a dozen years. In addition, from 1955 to 1981, Hess was an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division I football official and served as president of the New York chapter.
Through the years, Hess has been active with many Section VIII and North Shore Athletic League committees. He has served on the New York State Association for Blind Athletes Board of Directors, has coordinated officials for the New York State Games for the Physically Challenged and has been both an official and consultant for the Tri-State Wheelchair Games. He was Long Island coordinator for the New York State Senior Games and assisted with the 1984 International Games for the Disabled.
A past recipient of the Cerebral Palsy Educator Award, the Long Island Recreation Service Award and numerous distinguished service awards, Hess has had a sportsmanship award named in his honor by the LIBOA. Since retiring from Great Neck in 1984, Hess has worked as an instructor in the Graduate Program and as director of intramurals and recreation at Adelphi University from 1984 to 1992.
He and his wife, Ginny Dobbins Hess ’51, have five children: John, Barbara, James, Daniel and Amy.
UPDATE- March, 2015: Hess became the Games Director of the New York State Games for the Physically Challenged for 5 years from 1987 to 1992. He was a part of the Men's Chorale- Lake Fairways Country Club for 20 years from 1992 to 2012. He was the director of Golf Outings from 2006 to 2012 and was a Member Task Force Comm. Lake Fairway Community from 1996 to 2012. He volunteered his time as a coordinator for outreach programs from 2000 to 2012 and was a driver for Wake Up America from 1992 to 2012.
UPDATE: Hess passed away on Dec. 11, 2017 at age 89.
