Steve Tardiff, 1969, Football, Basketball, Baseball

Stephen Tardiff is the epitome of a Hall of Fame student athlete. During his four years at Brewer High, he was outstanding academically and as a class leader: Dirigo Boys’ State, Key Club, B-Club, Class Treasurer, Class Vice President, Master of Ceremonies at Junior Exhibition and member of the National Honor Society.

Through his individual efforts and his consummate commitment to teamwork, he excelled in three sports, football, basketball and baseball. Anyone who knew Tardiff would put him at the top of a list of individuals who had the most impact on them as a player. Coaches have also testified to his leadership qualities on the field and on the court. The legendary Coach Perrone said, “he was one of the smallest and toughest players I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. He was like having another coach on the field.” He wore his nickname, “Peanut,” with pride, and it was bestowed on him by friends and the athletes he played with as a sign of respect and affection. In 1969 he was chosen the Brewer High Male Athlete of the Year.

Football coach, Ken Perrone stated, “As a teacher-coach for over fifty years, I have met and coached a great number of athletes. Steve Tardiff ranks in the top ten of all the athletes I have coached.” He would go on to affirm that Quarterback Tardiff led Brewer to its first ever undefeated State Class A championship in school history. A two-way player, Tardiff also played as a defensive back. In the games leading up to the state championship against South Portland, he scored the winning touchdown in defeating unbeaten and favorite Edward Little High School. The next week he intercepted a pass in the last 15 seconds of the Biddeford game to preserve the win and snap Biddeford’s twenty-eight game unbeaten streak. Tardiff was a leader on and off the field.

Fresh off the Brewer Witches championship football season, Tardiff changed his cleats for sneakers. As always, Tardiff had high hopes and a desire to win. Although Brewer High fielded one of their youngest teams in school history and struggled for victories, Tardiff, one of two seniors on the team and a co-captain, led by example and served as a role model for his young teammates. As a point guard he used his speed and quickness to lead the Witches in assists and scoring. From time to time since his high school days, Tardiff will meet one of his teammates who will thank him for how he treated them with respect, and helped them to improve both on and off the court.

Tardif excelled as a baseball player. He honed his skills as a stand-out Little Leaguer and was a member of the team that won the Maine State Little League Championship on a winning run that he drove in. At Brewer High, he helped lead the Witches to a record of 9-4 in 1967, 16-4 in 1968 and 23-2 in 1969. During his junior and senior years, he batted over .300 helping to lead the Witches to a PVC championship for the first time since 1960. A former pitching teammate observed “as an outfielder, he possessed a strong arm, could hit the cut-off when needed and throw a runner out trying to take an extra base.” In college, Tardiff finished his baseball career playing at the University of Maine during his senior year where he earned a varsity letter.

A list of descriptors that flowed freely from teammates include: clutch player, competitive, leader, motivator, extraordinary sportsmanship, all round athlete, heady ball player, mentor, positive attitude, “wicked” competitive and extraordinary will to win. Truly, Steve Tardiff is the embodiment of a student-athlete, a leader in the classroom and in athletics.

Steve Tardiff is a retired businessman who worked as a Division Manager for Phillip Morris for 30 years and is a member of the New Hampshire Retail Grocers Association Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Noreen have been married for 47 years. They have three grown children, twins Jeremy and Joshua and daughter Carrie.

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Presenter Ric Franks and Steve Tardiff