Colbert Britt, beloved Malverne coach and teacher, dies

Colbert Britt, center, is flanked by Charles Nanton of the Lakeview Youth Federation, left, and Kito Lockwood, football coach at Malverne High School. The photo was taken at an event honoring Britt for his years of service in the community.

Sue Grieco

Colbert Britt, beloved teacher and coach in the Malverne school district for over 40 years, passed away December 26.

Coach Britt, as he is often referred to by the thousands he guided and taught, was a well known football and track coach in the school district and beyond, and was a physical education teacher in Malverne for decades. Britt started coaching in Malverne in 1972, and shortly thereafter became one of the founding members of the Lakeview Youth Federation, which organizes community sports organizations for local youth. Charles Nanton, also a co-founder of the Federation and a coach for Malverne, said, “I’ve known him since 1975. He was my son’s first coach in high school, and that’s how we became friends,” said Nanton. The following year, Britt, Nanton and others formed the Lakeview Youth Federation.

Fourteen years later in 1990, Britt and his wife, Norma, founded the Friendship Games, which are attended by thousands of people each year and consist of track and field events for high school athletes from Long Island’s private and public schools. The events are held each year at Nassau Community College. The Britt’s started the Friendship Games to honor the spirit and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“He was a monumental man,” said Malverne football coach Kito Lockwood. “From day one, he was a great motivator and a very influential mentor. I owe a great deal of my success to him, and was fortunate enough to absorb all the knowledge, wisdom and everything he had to offer.” Lockwood said he had been coaching alongside Britt since 2005, and that Britt had stopped coaching in 2014.

Among Britt’s other, numerous accomplishments include being coach to Derrick Adkins, Olympic Gold Medalist and Malverne High School graduate who was the winner of the 400-meter hurdles at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

“He always had a smile, and was really someone that you’d want to call your friend,” said Dr. James Hunderfund, superintendent of the Malverne school district. “He did an awful lot for the children, and was well-liked. The kids all looked up to him as a role model.”

A wake for Britt will be held Friday, Jan. 1 from 5-9 pm at the Good Shepherd Church at 732 Donlon Place in West Hempstead. His funeral will be the following day, Saturday, Jan. 2 at 9:30 a.m., also at the church.

He is survived by his wife Norma and his daughter Alma, who is an assistant teacher and varsity track coach in the Malverne school district.