Obituaries pg 8 10-24-13
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Charlotte Trahan
PUTNAM — Charlotte K. Trahan, 93, of Putnam, died Oct. 13, 2013, at the Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of Donat Trahan for 20 years. He died Nov. 25, 2005. She was born Sept. 27, 1920, in Putnam, daughter of the late Robert A. and Hazel (Marlow) King.
She had made her home in Putnam and Pomfret all her life. Charlotte served as a Girl Scout leader for several years, worked as a bookkeeper at the former Benoit’s Radio and Putnam Furniture. She enjoyed her cats, watching cooking shows, was an avid reader and a big NASCAR fan. Her favorite driver was Dale Earnhardt Sr. She also enjoyed motorcycle rides with her husband.
She leaves her children: Margaret Ann Purdon, Judith Anne White, Heidi Ann Gregory Henry), Jo-Anne Joslin (Alan); grandchildren: Robin Purdon, Jamie Purdon (Lori), Angela Stringer (Jon), Beth Joslin and Michael Boledovic; great- grandchildren: Colin Purdon, Paige Purdon, Michela Purdon, Keely Purdon, Brooke Stringe, Kyle Stringer, Carter Stringer, Reagan Boledovic, Benjamin Boledovic; a great-great-grandson Liam Purdon; sister Marion Langlois.
Donations: Matulaitis Nursing Home, 10 Thurber Road, Putnam, CT 06260. Smith &Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
James Audet
DANIELSON — James “Jim” R. Audet, 40, of Danielson, died unexpectedly Oct. 14, 2013, at Hartford Hospital. He was born Nov. 26, 1972, in Putnam, son of Eugene Alfred and Carole Ann (Daigle) Audet.
Jim was a supervisor at Staples Distribution Center in Killingly. He had been employed at Staples for 23 years. He was a 1990 graduate of Killingly High School, a lifelong resident of Danielson, and a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson, a member of the Moose Lodge in Bozrah, the French Club in Jewett City and was a past member of the Knights of Columbus in Danielson. Over the years Jim participated in many charity motorcycle runs, an avid golfer, and played on many local golf leagues and was a member of the Foster Country Club. He enjoyed playing horseshoes, LCR, and Scat. Jim loved professional sports, and was a great fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Boston Red Sox and the Boston Bruins.
He leaves his mother and father, Carole and Eugene of Danielson; his siblings: Coleena (Audet) Moreau (Richard) of Canterbury, Carrie Audet and her fiancé Chad Langlois of Danielson; nieces Mindy and Shelby of Canterbury, nephews Devin and Dustin and niece Hanna of Danielson; and his cousin-brother-best friend Keith Audet (Nicole) of Sterling.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 19 in St. James Church, Danielson. Donations: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Sister T. LaPlante
PUTNAM — Sr. Thérèse LaPlante, 88, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit died on Oct. 18, 2013, at the Holy Spirit Health Care Center in Putnam.
Born Marie Thérèse Rita LaPlante on June 6, 1925, in Manchester, N.H., she was the daughter of Frédérick and Florida (Turgeon) LaPlante. She entered religious life in Putnam and made her novitiate at the Motherhouse in St. Brieuc, France in 1949 and her religious profession there in 1950. She was then known as Sr. Marguerite de l’Eucharistie.
Early in her career, Sr. Thérèse was a teacher at St. Anne School in Waterbury. In September 1953 she began studies at Holy Ghost Hospital in Cambridge, Mass., and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. From 1955-2005, Sr. Thérèse ministered in Home Nursing in Fall River, Mass., in Newport, and Providence, and in Bridgeport. During most of her 50
years of Home Nursing – from 1967-71 and again from 1978-2005, she served and ministered to ill and fragile people in their homes throughout the greater Bridgeport area. She did so under the auspices of The Queen’s Daughters in Bridgeport and the United Way of Southwestern CT.
In 2005, Sr. Thérèse began her retirement at the Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam. Following some health issues, she was admitted to Holy Spirit Health Care Center in early October, 2013.
In addition to her religious family of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, Sr. Thérèse leaves one brother, John P. LaPlante of Canterbury, N.H.; three sisters: Mrs. Pauline D’Orazio of Manchester, N.H., Mrs. Irene Yurksaitis
Of Goffstown, N.H., and Mrs. Marcelle Beneat of Naples, Fla.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 22 at Holy Spirit Provincial House in
Putnam. Donations: DHS Retirement Fund, Holy Spirit Provincial House, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT, 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Phyllis Galinis
CHAPIN, S.C. — Phyllis R (Konarski) Galinis, 85, of Cross Creek Trail, Chapin, formerly of Pomfret Center, and Waukegan, Ill., died Oct. 10, 2013, in South Carolina. She was preceded in death March 2006 by her husband of 13 years, Charles C. Galinis. She was born May 30, 1928, in Chicago, eldest of three children born to Michael and Hedwig (Szeluga) Ruszczak. She graduated from St Philomena Commercial School in Chicago, IL.
She worked for Harris Trust and Savings Bank in downtown Chicago for many years, then worked at Browning Farris Industries (BFI) in Barrington, Ill., prior to relocating to Florida and worked for Bartow County until her retirement in 1990.
She leaves her children Raymond M Konarski (Saifon) of Chapin, Lawrence Konarski of Chapin, Kenneth W Konarski (Tina) of Pomfret Center,; step children-Barbara Petrovic of Gurnee, Ill., Charles Galinis Jr. of Cherokee Village, AR, and Kathleen Laurino of Des Plaines, Ill.,; 15 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren; her sister Jeanette (Jim) Lambert of Aurora, Ill.; and sister-in-law Virginia Ruszczak of Lombard, Ill. A daughter Louise Ann Hodnett, a brother Clarence, two grandchildren, one great grandchild and her previous husband Raymond W. Konarski, predeceased her.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 19 at St Stephen’s Church, Quinebaug, with burial in West Ridge Cemetery, Charlton, Mass. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Rhea M. LaChance
PUTNAM — Rhea M. LaChance, 95, of Ware Road died Oct. 16, 2013, in Westview Healthcare. She was the wife of the late Armand J. LaChance. Born in 1918 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Aldea (Vaillant) Laflamme.
Mrs. LaChance worked as a buyer in the children’s department at Bugbee Department Store for 30 years.
She leaves her sons, Robert LaChance (Pauline) of N. Grosvenordale, and James LaChance (Nancy) of Guilford; grandchildren; Catherine, Michael, David, Matthew and Keith; and great-grandchildren; Cynthia, Timothy, Lauren, Brittney, Keith Armand, and Rhea Marie. She was predeceased by her brothers, Lionel Laflamme and J. Roland Laflamme; her sisters, Angeline Nelson and Irene Ryan; and her great grandchild Joseph.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 18 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Edith Shekleton
E KILLINGLY — Edith June Shekleton, 98, of East Killingly died Oct. 14, 2013, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. She was the wife of Leonard Shekleton. He died in 1980.
Born July 21, 1915, in Thompson, daughter of George and Carrie Chase Sr.
She made her home in East Killingly most of her life and enjoyed crocheting and feeding birds.
She leaves her children: Robert Shekleton of E. Killingly; Kathleen Hurm of E. Killingly, Linda Schmeelk of Thompson, Fay Pasay of Longs, S.C., Edward Shekleton of Willington, James Shekleton of E. Killingly; siblings: George Chase Jr.; Frances Shippee of Thompson; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.
Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Edmund Hryzan Sr.
N. GROSVENORDALE — Edmund D. Hryzan Sr., 70, died Oct. 9, 2013, in UMass/Memorial Healthcare, Worcester. He was born and raised in Webster, the only son of Edmund and Mary T. (Trocki) Hryzan, and moved to North Grosvenordale in 1985. He graduated from Bartlett High School in Webster and attended Nichols College in Dudley. Mr. Hryzan was an internal auditor for Cranston Print Works Company in Cranston, R.I., for over 25 years. He then was a cashier at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville for 10 years, retiring in 2009. He leaves his wife of 48 years, Sandra S. (Golembiewski) Hryzan; a son, Edmund D. Hryzan Jr. (Suzanne) of Lakeville, Mass.; two daughters, Michele M. Potter (William Troy) of N. Grosvenordale and Christine A. Ayotte (Marc) of Hampton; and seven grandchildren.
The Funeral was Oct. 14.Donations: St. James School, 120 Water St., Danielson; or St. Joseph Elementary School, PO Box 897, N Grosvenordale, CT. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.
Philip H. Wyatt
PUTNAM — Philip H. Wyatt, 64, of Putnam, died Sept. 21, 2013. He was born in Alta Loma, Calif., son of the late Walter Wyatt. He lived in Las Vegas for many years and moved to Putnam 13 years ago. He was a welding engineer and worked at Iron Craft of N. Grosvenordale. He leaves his wife of 19 years, Dawn C.(Cutler) Wyatt of Putnam; his mother, Elizabeth Wyatt of Las Vegas; four brothers, Leonard Wyatt, Walter Wyatt, Douglas Wyatt and Darrell Wyatt, all of Las Vegas. The funeral was private. Donations: Charity of the donor’s choice. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home.
Barry pg 9 10-24-13
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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out is sent along to George Carabina a long time teacher and student favorite at Pomfret Community School. Carabina is also known locally as a respected basketball official. On Wednesday, October 30 Carabina will blow out another candle on the cake. Happy birthday, George!
The greater Northeastern Connecticut community was not only saddened but shocked by the news of the death of Killingly resident Barry Nash. He died on Wednesday, October 9 at the age of 80.
Nash, who was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a graduate of Killingly High School, was standout basket ball player for the Redmen. While playing high school hoops he also took on the additional duty of being the correspondent for the Norwich Bulletin for all Killingly athletic events. He was always very proud of his writing skills, which eventually led him to becoming an author.
In 2012 Nash completed his book titled "JUNGFRAU, " a novel regarding the final days of Adolf Hitler in the Berlin Bunker, his escape to Switzerland and the “final solution.” The Nash novel posed the question, “Was Hitler’s escape to Switzerland truth or fiction?”
Nash also prided himself on his athletic accomplishments, especially during and following his days in the military, when he played on semi-professional basketball teams, many that captured championships in Wyoming and northeastern Connecticut.
In his later years, Nash teamed up with his longtime friend and former great Killingly High School athlete and coach Norman “Joe” Allard. The pair frequented many of the Putnam area restaurants and was well known at The Courthouse Bar & Grille. In restaurants they were often affectionately referred to by their numerous friends and acquaintances as the “Odd Couple” or “Grumpy Old Men.”
When he had your ear, Nash who loved life and was a “bon vivant” would regal his audiences with stories or corny jokes. In all honesty he was a true “raconteur’ and could hold people spellbound as he delved into the minutest details of his stories.
Barry Nash will be remembered for his engaging smile, which would grab the attention of everyone he met. A charitable individual, he was always on the ready to help others in need. He leaves three adult children. Anyone desiring to keep his memory alive may do so by sending donations to St. James School Scholarship Fund, 12 Franklin St., Danielson, CT 06239 or The Danielson Lodge of Elks Building Fund, 13 Center St., Danielson, CT 06239.
A Memorial Mass is scheduled for Saturday, November 2 at 11:30 a.m. at St. James Church in Danielson. Nash would be proud to know that many attended his swan song.
Marathon Man…
Putnam resident and all-around good guy Martin Fey is some kind of special athlete. Fey, 59 won the 50-59 age division Oct. 13 at the United Health Care Marathon in Newport, R.I. One of Fey’s other annual challenges is the run up Mount Washington, which he also competed in earlier this year.
Fey, who has run more than 15 marathons since his late 30s, decided only a few weeks ago to attempt the Newport race. It was held in conjunction with a half marathon on a course that traced the shore into Middletown and up into the hills overlooking the ocean.
“ I wanted to see if I could run a marathon in a decent time on an average of 8-10 miles a week training, along with a fair amount of hard cycling,” said Fey. “My knees can’t take 60-mile training weeks anymore.”
Fey finished in 3:17, a minute ahead of his closest division competitor. His personal best for the 26.2-milke marathon distance is 2:46, reached at the age of 42.
“I guess the bug has bitten me again, because I’m looking at maybe doing another one in November,” Fey said. “But this time I’m going to try getting in some long runs before the race.”
Chance Meeting…
While enjoying lunch on Friday, October 18 at the famous Zip’s Diner in Dayville, former Boston Red Sox catcher and current St. Louis Cardinals minor league hitting instructor Roger LaFrancois was introduced to Bob Brex, executive director of NECASA.
You may ask, “What’s so special about that meeting?” Well, as many know LaFrancois was involved in baseball history when he caught the final 26 innings of a 33-inning baseball game that started on April 18, 1981 and ended 8 hours and 25 minutes later. The contest was between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings. Pawtucket eventually won the game a month after it was suspended. Pawtucket journeyman first baseman Dave Koza drove home Marty Barrett with the winning run for a 3-2 victory.
That cold April evening, which was the eve of Easter Sunday, 1,740 fans were in attendance for the game. By the time the contest was suspended, sometime around 4 a.m, on Sunday, April 19 only 27 hardy souls were left in the frigid stands. Among those who remained was one, Bob Brex a diehard baseball and PawSox fan. Brex, 30 years later became a celebrity on national television when the networks noted the anniversary of the game.
At Zip’s LaFrancois and Brex were introduced for the first time. The pair enjoyed reminiscing about the historic event from two obviously different stand points. In 2011 author Dan Barry wrote a book entitled Bottom of the 33rd, reliving the accounts of the game. Both LaFrancois and Brex are prominently mentioned in Barry’s book. If you’re a baseball fan or enjoy history, pick up the book. It’s a great read.
One Final Note
Worth Mentioning…
It’s great to see Putnam good guy, Bob Brown up and about and back walking Sports Street. Recently Brown encountered a health scare but thanks to quality medical care, he’s not only up and around but can be found on the links at Quinnatisset Country Club. Take care of yourself, Bob.
From The Annals
of Putnam Sports History…
November 1899: Putnam High School and Killingly High School play to a 6-6 tie. (Information contributed by Willie Zamagni)
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “All fat guys watch me and say to their wives, ‘See, there’s a fat guy doing okay. Bring me another beer.’” Mickey Lolich, Former Detroit Tigers Pitcher
Gallant pg 9 10-24-13
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Special to the Putnam Town Crier
The Eastern Connecticut Conference recently released its Athletes of the Month for September 2013. The female recipient was Kristy Gallant of Killingly High School.
Her male counterpart was Jeremiah Crowley of Montville High School
Gallant, a senior at Killingly, is the goalie for the school’s field hockey team.
In September, the team got off to an impressive 3-1 start thanks in large part to her stellar play in the net. In the first four games, Gallant limited her opponents to a mere two goals, which included three shutouts.
The Redgals most impressive victory came against Norwich Free Academy, where Gallant posted nine saves in the 1-0 shutout victory. Since the September start of the season, Gallant has continued her terrific goalie play, recording seven shutouts and allowing only a mere three goals. Overall Killingly currently sports a 6-2-1 record and is in 2nd place in the ECC standings.
Gallant is planning to attend either North Carolina Greensboro or Eastern Connecticut State University upon completion of her studies at Killingly.
Crowley was chosen for his record-setting performance on the football field when he established a new State of Connecticut rushing record, piling up 526 yards and scoring seven touchdowns in a game against Stonington.
He was featured on WFSB and WVIT as well as being recognized in Sports Illustrated’s Faces In The Crowd Oct. 14 issue for his exploits.
Elks pg 10 10-24-13
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PUTNAM — The Putnam Lodge 574 Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks recently obtained a Freedom Grant to help a local military family that is struggling with medical bills.
The Benevolent and Protective Order have been serving the nation’s veterans for nearly 100 years. In Putnam, the story is no different – local Elks embrace the Elks National Veterans Service Commission’s pledge, amended at the National Convention in Philadelphia in 2001, “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.”
In 1918, the Elks built a 700-bed “reconstruction hospital” – the precursor to today’s VA Medical Centers. Elks sent care packages, organized blood drives during the Korean War, joined together with Bugles Across America to ensure that all veterans “make their final journey home in dignity,” welcomed veterans home from Desert Storm.
In 2011, the commission began to offer ‘Freedom Grants’ – $2,000 grants to “only 125 lodges which submit well-crafted proposals which support veterans or our active military.” Initially, only 75 lodges could apply for and receive the grant. Last year, 100. Demand and interest in the grant has prompted the commission to increase the number of grants available.
Putnam Lodge #574 applied for a ‘Freedom Grant’ for the first time this year, in order to support local veterans in the community, according to Esteemed Leading Knight and Officer of the Year Lysa Molnar.
“We diligently investigated many options of ways this money could make the most impact and give veterans the most return on the investment,” Molnar said. “Throughout this process, we unearthed many options and programs that we were unaware of and it is inspiring us and identifying needs in our own community that are not being met through other channels. It was a very eye-opening endeavor.”
Molnar said that the Putnam lodge will be using the grant funds to assist a local military family that is struggling with medical bills.
There are children in the home and Molnar expressed concern, “We want them to have the same quality of childhood that many of us take for granted, but the discretionary income is just not there.”
Grant funds are distributed in October. The Elks plan to provide Halloween costumes for the children in the family and are already discussing Thanksgiving and Christmas meal baskets, as well as a supplemental food budget. Holiday gifts, Easter baskets, heating expenses and transportation costs to and from medical treatment facilities are all on the list of things Elks would like to use the monies to help with. Additionally, Molnar said, funds could be used to ease the burden of extra-curricular activities.
“Only 125 lodges were awarded this grant, Molnar said. “I am grateful that we were one of those chosen so that we can make a difference for this family…As an officer, and as an individual, I believe it is everyone’s duty to make the world a better place; one person, one act at a time. You never know what impact a small and random act