Coach Larry Notkin ‘59 Memorial Scholarship Continues the Legacy of Legendary Chelsea Coach and Mentor
Chelsea Public Schools
Over $30,000 in donations have been collected in memory of the late CHS graduate and legendary youth sports coach in the Chelsea community.
CHELSEA, Mass. – The Coach Larry Notkin Memorial Scholarship continues to impact the lives of Chelsea High School students, just as its namesake - a legendary youth sports coach in the City of Chelsea and Class of 1959 CHS graduate - did for decades of Chelsea youth.
In April of this school year, Jerry Bowen, a good friend of Coach Lawrence “Larry” Notkin, visited CHS from Florida to drop off an $11,000 check as a donation towards the scholarship, which followed the finalization of the Coach Notkin estate. Bowen met with CHS Principal Alan Beausoleil and Assistant Principal Mike Talbot when he delivered the donation.
Bowen previously dropped off a donation of $20,000 over the summer to CHS, bringing the total donations for the scholarship to over $30,000. Coach Larry’s legacy will continue on for years to come with this scholarship in his memory. The scholarship will be presented to a graduating senior who was a member of the CHS baseball team and has been accepted to a two-or-four-year college.
“Coach Larry Notkin has a lasting legacy in Chelsea and his impact will be felt for years to come with this scholarship,” commented CPS Superintendent Dr. Almi G. Abeyta. “We are so thankful for people like Jerry Bowen and Mr. Notkin’s Estate for their generosity and care for supporting our future graduates. Thank you!”
"We are incredibly grateful to Jerry Bowen for traveling all the way from Florida to personally deliver this generous check. We also extend our sincere thanks to the Coach Notkin Estate for this significant scholarship contribution. This gift will have a lasting impact, opening doors and creating opportunities for many Chelsea High School students for years to come," said Chelsea High School Principal Alan Beausoleil.
Mr. Notkin, who passed away in June of 2024, was a legendary Chelsea Youth Baseball League (also known as the Pony League) coach of the Red Sox, Cubs and Royals teams. For 42 years, Larry’s teams were known for their winning ways in the competitive Chelsea youth leagues. He was also the coach of the Nets in the Chelsea Youth Basketball League for 26 years, facing off against other notable coaches in the city including current CHS Girls Basketball coach Bruce Harrison.
In his role as coach, Notkin taught decades of youth and teens in Chelsea not only the games of baseball and basketball, but also served as a lifelong mentor to many of them, including Bowen. The Chelsea Record’s Cary Shuman captured the life and legacy of Coach Notkin in the July 11, 2024 edition of the Chelsea Record.
If you are interested in making a donation to the Coach Larry Notkin Memorial Scholarship, please send a check, made payable to the Chelsea High School Scholarship Fund, to 299 Everett Avenue, MA 02150 (Attn: Paula Zandbergs). Please indicate on the check or in a note that the donation is for the Coach Larry Notkin Memorial Scholarship. Any donation, no matter the amount, is greatly appreciated.