Page 46 - BusinessWest February 17, 2025

“John is
a dynamic, hardworking, caring, and humble man. He excels in many things, including his work at the Hall of Fame, but more importantly, he excels at being a truly wonderful and generous human” being.
John Doleva says building relationships, especially with the hall of famers themselves, has helped put the shrine on solid financial footing.
Photo by Bob Zemba, Simple Truth Imaging
also with efforts to create the annual Hoophall Classic, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious high-school basketball tournaments, and Hooplandia, the annual 3-on-3 basketball tourney staged at the Big E, with select division championship games at the Hall.
Meanwhile, he has also been involved with the nonprofit Link to Libraries (LTL) — as a reader, program sponsor, and youth mentor — as well as the Greater Springfield YMCA, Springfield College, the Red Cross of Pioneer Valley, the Springfield Rescue Mission homeless shelter, and other area agencies.
“John is a dynamic, hardworking, caring, and humble man. He excels in many things, including
his work at the Hall of Fame, but more importantly, he excels at being a truly wonderful and generous human being,” wrote Susan Jaye Kaplan, co-founder of LTL, as she nominated Doleva for the Difference Makers award. “He goes the extra mile each day, and not just in his work-related duties. He cares greatly for his Western Mass. community, and it is evident on a daily basis.”
Getting back to his role as the one who calls inductees with the good news, Doleva said that’s a bittersweet day — because he’s also the one who calls those who came up short in the annual voting.
And there are sometimes tears from those in both camps, he said, adding that this makes the day somewhat difficult.
As for the phone call he received from BusinessWest ... there were repeated attempts to minimize his contributions to the Hall, the game, the city of Springfield, and this region by simply saying, “I’m just doing my job.”
But Doleva has been doing much more than that. He’s been a real leader and a true Difference Maker. BW
From One Difference Maker to Another
From One Difference Maker to Another Difference Maker
Photo by Bob Zemba, Simple Truth Imaging
For the past 26 years, John Doleva has created what has become the most modern electronic sports history museum in the world. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame encompasses EVERY aspect of the game of basketball and honors people of ALL ages, colors, and creeds. Basketball is now played in virtually every country in the world, and John has brought honor to our community where basketball was invented.
Thank You, and Congratulations!
Jim Vinick,
Difference Maker, Class of 2013
Jim Vinick,
Treasurer, Board of Governors, Finance Board Chairman, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
James E. Vinick, Managing Director, Investments Moors & Cabot, Inc.
1350 Main Street, Suite 1510 Springfield, MA 01103
DM28 FEBRUARY 17, 2025
DifferenceMA ERS
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