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Gaynor sex abuse case now implicates Holy Rosary

Another accuser has come forward against Edwin “Ted” Gaynor, claiming that the former coach and teacher sexually abused him from 1968 to 1971, while at Holy Rosary, an elementary school in Hawthorne.

The lawsuit, which the Review learned was filed in court on Tuesday, June 9, also names IHM in Scarsdale and the Archdiocese of New York as co-defendants. It is the fourth suit to be filed since May 28, bringing the total number of Gaynor’s accusers to 18.

This latest filing also marks the first case to spring from Gaynor’s position as a youth basketball coach at Holy Rosary. Previous allegations stem from the former educator’s time at St. Bernard’s in White Plains and IHM, spanning his four decades of work with area youths.

Edwin Gaynor, accused of sexual abuse by 18 former students and players, coached basketball at Holy Rosary in Hawthorne.

The plaintiff—who filed the suit under the condition of anonymity—alleged that he was sexually abused by Gaynor between the ages of 11 and 14. Gaynor served as the plaintiff’s basketball coach at the time and was also renting a room in the plaintiff’s family’s house. The accuser contends that Gaynor parlayed his position as an authority figure into unsupervised time with him.

The plaintiff alleges that Gaynor would frequently fondle him, both at school and at home, and used his position as the Holy Rosary basketball coach to take advantage of his players in the school’s locker room.

“Gaynor would watch Plaintiff and the other boys in the shower room at Holy Rosary after the games,” read the lawsuit. “Sometimes Gaynor would lather Plaintiff up in the shower himself.”

The plaintiff alleges that he reported the sexual abuse, confiding in his seventh grade teacher. According to the filings, the teacher relayed the complaints to the school’s principal, who eventually told a Holy Rosary pastor. But the plaintiff also recalls an uncomfortable meeting with the pastor and alleges that the punishment he received for making the accusations dissuaded him from speaking out against Gaynor’s abuses in the future.

“Plaintiff was then lectured about having impure thoughts, forced to do hours of prayer, including 500 Hail Marys,” the lawsuit contends. “After 1.5 hours, Plaintiff believed he was done with 500, but the priest forced him to do more. He continued praying for 2 more hours…. This kept him quiet from complaining about Gaynor again.”

The stream of recent filings against Gaynor coincides with a re-opening of the courts within the last month. New York State courts closed in March due to the coronavirus outbreak but resumed activities on May 18. Due to the hiatus, several issues in the case against Gaynor were left unresolved, including whether or not the defendant would be forced to give a deposition.

Prior to the court system shutdown, Gaynor—who has admitted to two counts of sexual abuse in writing—announced that he would refuse to testify in the case, leading to a decision by state Supreme Court Associate Justice Steven M. Jaeger that gave the defendant until March 17 to show cause as to why he should not be compelled to give testimony. That date was ultimately tabled due to the impact of the pandemic.

The issue of Gaynor’s testimony and other matters will be discussed by all parties during a Skype conference scheduled for June 10.

 

Contact: sports@hometwn.com