Rich Savage, who teaches fifth grade at the same Rye school he attended as a kid, was honored Friday, Oct. 16, at Wainwright House's sold-out 75th Anniversary Diamond Benefit for his years of service to the community.

Savage is a fifth-grade teacher at Osborn School and head coach of the Rye High School girls varsity soccer team.

The Rye City School District said the benefit recognized individuals whose leadership and service have made a meaningful impact on the Rye community.

The sold-out event ran from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Wainwright House, 260 Stuyvesant Ave. in Rye.

A Rye City School District graduate, Savage attended Osborn School, Rye Middle School and Rye High School before continuing his education at Iona University.

He started his career outside education, then returned to Rye to teach at the same elementary school where he once sat in the classroom.

His reach goes far beyond one building.

Beyond coaching varsity girls soccer, Savage serves as one of the directors of Rye Youth Soccer and coaches golf. During the summer, he runs Shenorock Day Camp. That range of roles gives him contact with young athletes at multiple stages of their development, according to the district.

The track record has drawn attention well beyond Rye. In 2025, Savage was inducted into the New York State Sportswriters Association Girls Soccer Hall of Fame, the district said.

The Wainwright House benefit page listed Savage among the evening's honorees. Board of Trustees president Tricia Madden said on the benefit page that the honorees' "dedication, compassion, and commitment to strengthening our community reflect the very best of who we are."

Wainwright House, a nonprofit on Rye's shoreline, was established in 1951 when Fonrose Wainwright Condict converted her family's estate into a gathering place open to people of all backgrounds, according to the organization's history page. The Oct. 16 event marked the organization's 75th anniversary.

The Rye City School District congratulated Savage on the recognition and thanked him for his continued dedication to Rye's students and families.