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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out is sent to former and current part time Putnam resident Rev. Larry LaPointe. Although he never proclaimed to be a great athlete, Father LaPointe, a Roman Catholic priest, has ministered to college students and athletes at Eastern Connecticut State University and Connecticut College for decades. Wherever he goes he’s greeted by ex-jocks with a friendly and familiar “Hi Father Larry.”
A huge throng of family, friends, and fellow military and professional acquaintances packed cavernous St. Mary Church in Putnam June 28 for a farewell salute to a Putnam pillar of the community Stanley A. Scraba.
Scraba died from failing health on Feb. 11, 2013, at his winter home in Florida with his wife, Joan Trudeau-Scraba of more than 60 years and some family members by his side. On Friday his ashes were brought to the church he attended as a young man. He was sent to his final resting place with full military pomp and circumstance. Later, following a Mass of Christian Burial conducted by family friend, Father Larry LaPointe, Scraba’s ashes were interred in the family plot at St. Mary Cemetery with a similar military goodbye.
In a move contrary to funeral tradition, following opening prayers, Scraba’s son, U.S. Army Brigadier General Mark Scraba delivered a eulogy filled with reminiscences of his dad’s accomplishment-filled life. Referring to his father as “Stan The Man,” “Stosh” and “General,” he regaled those in attendance with stories that brought both tears and laughter to everyone present.
The touching service was one filled with participation by the entire Scraba family, including grandchildren. Readings were done by Scraba’s youngest son Sean Scraba, an Army vet and former Putnam High School football standout, and his son U.S. Coast Guard Captain Christopher Scraba, also a former standout athlete.
Susan Johnston, the oldest of the Scraba children and a woman much like her dad, a teacher and public servant, read the general intercessions. Paula Scraba, a former certified basketball official and currently a professor at St. Bonaventure University, distributed communion along with Father LaPointe and Maurice “Moe” Coderre, who assisted at Mass.
Music for the service was provided by Louise and Helene Labelle. Jared Trudeau, a member of the family, held the audience spellbound with his a cappella renditions of “Ave Maria,” “God Bless America” and “On Eagle’s Wings.”
Until his dying breath, Scraba was a visionary who loved Putnam and northeastern Connecticut. He held numerous professional positions in his lifetime, including teacher, coach, businessman, National Guard General, school administrator, alderman, government official, and community servant to name a few.
As Putnam said its goodbye to Stanley A. Scraba he will always be remembered as a faithful husband, father and grandfather; a loyal friend; and a mentor to the many who called on him for advice, a listening ear or solace in times of need.
God speed, good and faithful servant Stanley A. Scraba. Rest in peace.
National Honors for Trainer
with Eastford Connections…
Jennifer Brodeur, associate head athletic trainer at the University of Massachusetts, was honored on June 26 by being named the Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) at its annual meeting and clinical symposium in Las Vegas. The award, for exceptional service and voted on nationally, is only given to one individual in collegiate sports per year.
Brodeur has an extensive background in athletic training, which helped merit her recognition. She’s a 1991 graduate of Ohio University and gained a master’s degree from Austin Peay State University in Tennessee in 1993. As a high school student-athlete at Bishop Watterson in Columbus, Ohio, she was a standout field hockey player and was named All-Central Ohio at goalkeeper.
Her professional career has included chief athletic trainer at the basketball site for the 100th Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996; athletic trainer at Fordham University from 1998 through 2001; and athletic trainer at Providence College from 2001 through 2006. Prior to moving to UMass she worked for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun women’s professional basketball team.
Currently at UMass, Brodeur is only one of a few women in the country serving as the head athletic trainer for a major collegiate football team. Previously she was recognized in 2009 with the Athletic Trainer Service Award in San Antonio, Texas. The award is given for service on a national, local, state and district level.
Ms. Brodeur is the president-elect of the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association, which covers schools from Maine to Maryland. She is a past president of ATOM, Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts and the Rhode Island Trainers Association. She’s the daughter of Art and Lennox Brodeur of Eastford.
Keeping Up
With The Big Leaguers…
Baseball’s Major League rosters current have three Eastern Connecticut products who continue to make the news and gain recognition for our area. Matt Harvey of the New York Mets, Rajai Davis of the Toronto Blue Jays and John MacDonald of the Philadelphia Phillies has been making the headlines of late.
MacDonald, a local favorite and Big Leaguer for more than 10 years, has been hop scotching the country of late. He started the season in spring training with the Arizona Diamondbacks but was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training. Shortly after the start of the season, the Buccaneers traded Johnny Mac to the team he started with originally, the Cleveland Indians. Recently, the Tribe placed him on assignment and traded him to his fourth home this season with the Phillies.
Due to his vagabond life style this season, MacDonald hasn’t been able to settle in offensively. He continues to be a valuable defensive asset for whatever team he plays with.
Harvey has been the pitching sensation of the season, touted by many as the best pitcher in the Majors at this point. He sports a 7-1 record for the struggling Mets who haven’t given him much run support. With any luck he could easily be 12-1. His earn run average is a minuscule 2.00 and he leads the National League with 132 strikeouts. Many are suggesting he’ll be the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2013 All Star game scheduled for his home park, Citi Field.
Davis, who is Toronto’s backup outfielder, has been making the most of every opportunity for the injury plagued Blue Jays outfield. The speedy fly chaser has been filling in admirably at every outfield position. In addition his bat has been red hot, as he’s sporting a .314 average. Always a threat on the base paths, Davis has 18 stolen bases to his credit. In a recent game at Fenway Park against the Red Sox he turned in a spectacular leaping catch off the bat of Dustin Pedroia in front of the Green Monster.
From The Annals
of Putnam Sports History…
July 1906: C.A.C. of Putnam defeated the Slaters from Webster in semi-pro baseball 3-0 in front of 600 fans. The game was played in one-hour, 35 minutes. (Information contributed by Willie Zamagni)
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: Borrow money from a pessimist – they won’t expect to get it back.