sunshine pg 5 1-12-23
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captions:
Sunshine Boys
Top: Michael Celularo as Al Lewis and David Hopcroft as Willie Clark. Above: David Hopcroft (Willie Clark), Wendy Harris (Eddie), Michael Celularo (Al Lewis). Photos by Jeff Buchbinder.
‘Sunshine Boys’
will light up the
Bradley stage
PUTNAM — Once again vaudeville takes the stage at the historic Bradley Playhouse when the Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut presents the memories, miseries, and laughs of Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys.” This engaging homage to the tradition of vaudeville opens January 20th and runs for two weekends.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20, 21, 27 and 28 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 22 and 29. Tickets are $23 for adults, $20 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. Please note, this show runs for two weekends, not three. All seats are reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available.
This is the opening show of the 2023 theater season, featuring the theme “Stage and Screen”; a celebration of plays that were also made into motion pictures. Come and check out your favorites and let us know which version you prefer.
The TNECT production is directed by Tonya Leigh Brock who is assisted by Sarah Oschmann. The Sunshine Boys are played by David S. Hopcroft as Willie Clark and Michael Celularo as Al Lewis. Preston Arnold appears as Clark’s long suffering nephew Ben. Brittany-Paige Kimlingen is the Nurse, Sarri Patterson plays the Registered Nurse, Wendy Harris is Eddie, and the part of the Patient is played by James Asal. Eric J. Molloy is the Director/Announcer and Amy Hall is understudy for the Nurse and is the sound board operator.
The Bradley Playhouse was completed by Ransom Bradley in 1901 and was a showplace for vaudeville, national touring companies fresh from Broadway, and silent films complete with piano accompaniment. “Talkies” were first presented in 1928. Movies continued to be shown at the theater until 1984 when the Northeast Repertory Theatre brought live theater back to the Bradley. The current theater group incorporated in 1991 as the Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut and continues to bring live entertainment to the “Quiet Corner”.
Neil Simon is a well-loved, prolific writer whose plays often take place in his native New York City. He began his career as a writer for Sid Caesar in the 1950s and continued on to become one of the best-known authors of comedy, both on stage and on screen. Mr. Simon was nominated for 17 Tony Awards and won three, the 1991 Pulitzer for Lost in Yonkers, and four Academy Awards for Best Screenplay. Some of his other plays include Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple and Plaza Suite.
The Sunshine Boys introduces us to “Lewis and Clark”, a comedy team from the golden age of vaudeville. Lewis retired years before, but Clark is still trying to pick up bit parts and commercials with the help of his agent nephew. The men grew to hate each other and haven’t spoken since their act broke up. Clark’s nephew convinces them to reunite for a television special on the history of comedy and chaos results as they attempt to recreate their most famous comedy routine.
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obits pg 6 1-12-23
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Darlene (Woods) Stubbe
PUTNAM — Darlene E. (Woods) Downie Stubbe died Jan. 5, 2023.
She was born on March 2, 1944, in Waterville, Maine, and was raised there by her parents Ralph and Laura (Bernier) Woods. In 1962, she attended secretarial school in Boston and worked as a legal secretary for Paul A. Carbone, Esq. on Tremont Street for the next eight years.
Upon her marriage to John P. Downie, they lived in several locations east of the Mississippi River, including Asheville, N.C., where her two daughters were born. The children were raised in Titusville, Penn., and thereafter Darlene returned to New England. Besides the law office, her favorite career was hospitality, serving as a tour guide at the Breakers in Newport, R.I., and a concierge for Marriott Hotels. She married Robert P. Stubbe in 2004 and was predeceased by both of her husbands and sister, Sharon W. Parent.
Darlene was involved in volunteer work throughout her life, including local women’s clubs, hospitals, churches and community organizations. Likewise, music was always a part of her life from piano and French horn to singing in choirs.
She leaves two daughters, Adrienne D. Fournier and her husband Robert of Putnam, and Michelle D. Kranes and her husband Michael of Austin; four grandchildren, Simone and Gilbert Fournier of Putnam and Sidney and Cecelia Kranes of Austin; and two sisters, Debbie Woods of Putnam and Nancy Roy of Kittery, Maine.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 9 at St. Joseph’s Church, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale with burial will follow at the parish cemetery. Donations: Matulaitis Nursing Home, 10 Thurber Rd., Putnam, CT 06260. Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
William ‘Bill’ Kelleher
COVENTRY — William (Bill) Paul Kelleher of Coventry died Jan. 2, 2023, at the age of 91. Bill died peacefully with his family by his side.
Bill was born in Goodyear (now Killingly) Connecticut, to father William Leo Kelleher and mother Pauline (Trudeau) Kelleher. The oldest of two sons, Bill was an avid athlete and lifelong learner who valued exercising the mind and the body. After attending Putnam High School where he was an outstanding football hero and held multiple long-standing track and field records, he attended Brown University and then the University of Connecticut, graduating with a master’s in education. He played football at Brown and ran track at UConn, solidifying his lifelong love for the sport. After graduation, he taught biology and coached at East Hartford High School before starting a long and storied career as Track and Field Coach and Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut.
Despite multiple championships and undefeated seasons over a 22 year career at UConn and then a seven-year career at Trinity College after “retiring”, Coach Kelleher’s contribution to UConn and the sport of track and field can’t be measured in wins and losses alone. A true educator, his unyielding adherence to a principled coaching philosophy produced four All Americans, one Olympian, and the Big East’s first ever Team Champion. His philosophy produced not just great teams and individuals, but grounded, educated young men and women who are better people for having been coached by him.
Bill also had a large and loving family. He married his high school sweetheart Joy (Wilde) Kelleher in 1950, and they enjoyed 72 years together raising a family, running a successful business, and traveling. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim Kelleher, and by his daughter Ellen (Kelleher) Marrotte. He leaves his wife Joy; sons Bruce and his wife Jean, Brian and his wife Cherie, and Barry; grandchildren Jennifer, Alyssa, Candice, Brenna, Jocelyn, Chelsea, Vanessa, and Charlotte; great-grandchildren. He was also a lifelong member of the Coventry Lions Club.
Bill’s family will be remembering and celebrating his life privately at his favorite places. People wishing to honor Bill’s lifelong commitment to family and community can make donations in his memory to the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic, which Bill supported and delivered food to for more than 20 years. Please make all donations in his name on their website at www.covenantsoupkitchen.org
“This is a world of action, and not moping or droning in…..” – Charles Dickens
Shaye B. Rosenfield
STAMFORD — Shaye B. Rosenfield, 102, died peacefully on Dec. 31, 2022, at Stamford Hospital.
Born in Hartford in 1920, Shaye was the ninth of 10 children of Saul and Ettie Bernstein, and the last to survive. Shaye graduated from Weaver High School in 1938, and attended secretarial school prior to working for the state of Connecticut.
She married Norman Rosenfield in 1944, and together they moved to Woodstock before settling in Putnam where they raised their family. Shaye spent nearly 80 summers at Stannard Beach in Westbrook, where she and Norman built a home, and where, in recent years, she welcomed lifelong friends and family for daily visits in her garden. In 2015, Shaye moved to Stamford, residing independently at Edgehill until her death.
Throughout her long and happy life, Shaye formed extraordinary friendships wherever she went, and enjoyed an array of interests including music (jazz), crossword puzzles (NYT), baseball (Red Sox), and politics (Democrats). But her greatest joy was her family, and she was devoted to her parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, children, and grandchildren.
Shaye was predeceased by her husband Norman, son Paul, son-in-law Lewis Schwartz, and siblings: Leo, Eve, Fred, Rose, Simon, Ruth, Beatrice, Ann, and Irving. She leaves a son Daniel (Mary), daughter Marjorie Schwartz, and daughter-in-law Lisa Rosenfield; six beloved grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and a great-grandson. For those wishing to honor her memory, please consider a donation to Stamford Hospital, a sliced radish with a pat of butter, or an Ella Fitzgerald melody.
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psa pg 7 1-12-23
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A lot of local kids who got new basketball gear for the holidays had a chance to put it to quick use last week, as Putnam Science Academy held its 2022 Christmas Break Drills and Skills Camp.
The three-day camp was attended by 50 kids from the surrounding areas playing in two divisions separated by age groups. The Celtics won the older NBA division; Providence took home the Big East crown among the younger teams. PSA coaches Josh Scraba, TaNajia Smith, and Dana Valentine, plus former player Michael Phav, led the campers through drills and coached the teams.
“This was a shorter camp week than usual because of the holiday,” said Tom Espinosa, “but it really was a great week. The kids were into it for sure. They came to have fun and work. They were great.”
Award winners from the NBA include: TJ Espinosa (Player of the Week), Liam Bertram (Defensive Player of the Week), Sydney Anderson (Coaches Award), and Jack Keller (Mr. Hustle).
Award winners in the Big East division were: Axle Kapitulik (Player of the Week), Jacob Martel (Defensive Player of the Week), Noah LeGary (Coaches Award), and Sawyer Scott (Mr. Hustle).
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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lap pg 8 1-12-23
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Lap Blanket
Victor Kratz, standing, past American Legion Post #13 and District #4 Sgt.-at-Arms presented to WWII veteran Carl Eisen a lap blanket made by Dorothy Carlage, in recognition of Eisen’s service to our country. Courtesy photo.
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