For 30 years, giving the Bulldogs a voice

By Deirdre Brill

Since the 1960s, Chatfield has been the public address announcer for a host of Yale sporting events. The long list includes ice hockey, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics, swimming, track and field, basketball, and baseball.

Sadly, the list has been getting shorter of late: Chatfield is battling cancer. Although it has been a struggle and the recent chemotherapy treatments have been largely unsuccessful, Chatfield remains the voice of Yale athletics. He has cut down on his hours, but he countinues to announce games, including men's ice hockey contests. Chatfield says that he has enjoyed every moment: "I have had a wonderful life. I can't let something like this spoil it. I have enjoyed my life, and I will enjoy every moment left in it."

Julia Tiernan/YH BULLDOG BARKS: Bob Chatfield, despite his struggles with cancer, continues to announce Bulldog home games.

"Bob cares about Yale athletics and has given Yale a lot of time, patience, and caring," Steve Conn, head of sports publicity, said. Chatfield has spent over six hours a week announcing Yale games, as well as traveling with the hockey and soccer teams, spending time with players in the locker room, and driving to watch away events.

Chatfield's first experience as a sports announcer came at DePauw University in Indiana, where he announced sporting events for the student radio station. He quickly fell in love with the medium and continued to work on it while attending graduate school at Indiana University. When he returned to the East Coast after college, the long hours of radio forced him to find another, more practical job. He soon found that he missed the work of radio and began working in the press box at Yale football games. After two years there, he became a Yale announcer and has been a part of Bulldog athletics ever since.

He is perhaps best known for his consistent work at soccer and hockey games, but players, coaches, and administrators recognize that his dedication to Yale sports extends beyond the microphone.

Men's ice hockey player Geoff Kufta, CC '98, described Chatfield's role as both the voice of Yale sports and a behind-the-scenes supporter. "He's a great guy, and everyone would probably say that about him," Kufta said. "The biggest way we know him is through road trips. He's always very talkative, and he's a real big fan. He's really supportive on the bus after games. I also relate to him as the voice of Yale hockey. He's a constant."

Chatfield adds an intelligent, informed, and professional voice to Yale athletics. Conn described Chatfield's work as an announcer. "Bob is one of the most knowledgeable sports people that I've ever come across," Conn said. "He does what you expect from a Yale announcer. He is loud and clear, and he adds pizzazz when it's needed. He's not a new wave PA announcer, who makes the games his show--he combines his skill as a radio person with his skill as a salesman. He works with the officials as well as announcing and has a real calming influence."

During his 30 years, Chatfield has seen the landscape of Yale athletics change dramatically. He witnessed the advent of women's sports, a decline in Yale's commitment to its sports programs, and the current attempts by Yale to rebuild its athletics department. Despite these changes, Chatfield still enjoys every game he announces. "The Ivy League is the highest level of purely amateur sport left anywhere. That's one of the reasons the players are so special and one of the reasons I love it so much," Chatfield said.

Despite his illness, Chatfield's commitment to the Bulldogs remains as strong as ever. The explanation for this is very simple: he's been an Eli all his life, and he just can't see a life without Yale sports."It's really impressive to me that even though he's sick, he's still announcing," Kufta added. "We're all inspired by him, and everyone realizes the sacrifices he makes for Yale athletics."

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