Cedric Gaddy
(Class of 1988)
As with many Brooklyn Tech Football Players, Cedric’s time at Brooklyn Tech still holds such a special place in his heart that his references to Brooklyn Tech outshines any other academic institutions he attended. After graduation from a specialized middle school, it was only natural that he continued this journey to the best specialized high school in New York City. While attending Tech, like others, he traveled from The Bronx daily for academics but to become teammates and friends with the Tech Football Family. This time in life was challenged as he persevered through losing his mother at age ten and his father’s illness, which prevented him from ever watching a single game of Cedric’s football career.
As a talented player coming into his own, he progressed to become one of the leaders on his senior team, starting both ways and often not leaving the field. Leading the team in tackles, he was able to garner accolades such as the Co-MVP of the Brooklyn Division, a top stand-out as an All-Brooklyn Linebacker, and
winning Tech’s Joseph DeVita Memorial Trophy in his senior year.
His football talents allowed him to be awarded a scholarship at American International College as a top recruit with his fellow friend and teammate Damon Larrier, Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Football is always important, but the ingrained academic importance led him to be on Dean’s list and a three-year starter at Inside Linebacker, still wearing his coveted number 58 since tech in honor of his favorite New York Giant, Carl Banks. At AIC, as a standout on their defense, his fondest memory is player of the week recognition with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.
One of his best attributes as a linebacker was being a smart player, which he attributes to his coaching by first-time Head Coach James “Coach D” DiBenedetto and the academic rigors of Tech. Graduating in four years with a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems in 1992 eventually led him back to New York for continued success. After a successful New York City Government career, he became the first Chief Finance Officer at the newly created Brooklyn Bridge Park. After successfully creating the CFO office, Cedric joined another elite institution. He became the Associate Vice President of Capital Finance and Administrative Support at Columbia University in the City of New York.
While football was important, he believed in giving back to his community through the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, where he served as Treasurer and received several awards, such as the Omega Man of the Year award, the highest honor within the local Chapter of Nu Omicron, in Queens, New York. He has served on Groundswell, 3L Foundation, and Parliamentarians of Nassau and Suffolk County (PNSC) boards.
Life was completed when he married Johanne Lockhart and became the proud father of Caiden (13) and Kennedy (12) as they have made their home on Long Island in Dix Hills.
He lived his Fraternity’s motto, “Friendship Is Essential To The Soul,” when he first stepped on the gridiron as a Tech Engineer.