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George Stanley Shaw, U.S. Army veteran
George Stanley Shaw, beloved husband of Marion Born Shaw, passed peacefully on Oct. 4, 2023 under the care of his children and Day Kimball Hospice. Stan, as he was known to friends, recently celebrated his 96th birthday.
He was born Sept. 10, 1927 and was a lifelong resident of Putnam. He was a student of Gertrude Chandler Warner, graduate of The Rectory School and Putnam Technical School. Stan excelled at all sports.
Enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1946 serving with the 11th Airborne Division in Sappora, Japan, Stan returned from service and attended the New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences to train as an optician.  His occupation as an optician later transitioned into the retail store in Putnam known as Shaw Stationers.
Stan served the community of Putnam as a member of The Citizen’s National Bank Board of Directors and an original and establishing member of Putnam Lions Club. As his business grew, Stan would always say his success was “a reflection of the support of friends, customers, and his employees.”
Stan was a lifelong member of the Putnam Methodist Church serving on many boards and committees. He was a member of the Quinebaug Masonic Lodge #106 and served as Worshipful Master several times. As a member of the Shriners, he transported families in need to the Shriner’s New England Children’s Hospital.
Stan was always looking for adventure. He enjoyed sailing, skiing, and camping with his children.  Over the years he and Marion owned travel trailers and enjoyed many cross-country trips with family and friends. They also traveled to Europe several times. Lifelong friendships evolved from his traveling experiences. Stanley loved life.  Despite some physical set-backs, Stan always had a willingness to help others and serve his family and community.  He will be best remembered for his kind and charitable nature, his spontaneous smile, his love of family and friends, and his unequaled zest for life and adventure.
He leaves his beloved wife, Marion Born Shaw; his children: Meredith Konesni and her husband Alfred (deceased), Kevin Shaw and his wife Linda,  Susan Shaw and her husband Robert Taibbi, and Stephanie Jarmolowicz and her husband Gregory; nine grandchildren: Courtney Sanders (Dallas), Kerensa Delcid (Ever), Sarah Bentley (Cary), Jared  Shaw, Adam Shaw (Jaime), Gabriel Klein, Freya Klein (Bosko Blagojevic’), Justin Jarmolowicz (Sarah), Brenton Jarmolowicz and Miranda Pingitore (Anthony); and 13 great-grandchildren: Mia Sanders, Georgia Delcid, Morgan and Peyton Bentley,  Harmony Shaw, Addison and Riley Shaw, Simone and Camille Klein, and Luka Blagojevic’, Evan Jarmolowicz, and Jase and Aria Pingitore. Stanley is the son of G. Stanley Shaw Sr. and Florence Gilbert Shaw and the beloved brother of Martha Shepard, and Patricia Hall (deceased).
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Living Faith United Methodist Church, 53 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: Living Faith United Methodist Church. Smith & Walker Funeral Homes, Putnam.

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Celebration
The Performing Arts of Northeast Connecticut recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. From left: Nancy Weiss, John Gray and Betty Hale. Courtesy photo.


BROOKLYN — The Performing Arts of NECT recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with almost 100 guests. The party was both a fund-raiser and a well-earned celebration for this volunteer-run, non-profit group, which has brought high quality, accessible and affordable professional performing arts to the children and adults of northeast Connecticut for half a century.  It was also a chance to honor important members’ contributions over the years.
Performing Arts Board Chair Melissa Zahansky led off a brief presentation that included Hospitality Committee Chair Susan Horn, followed by an entertaining history of the organization by local writer Nancy Weiss. Horn was pleasantly surprised that for the 50th anniversary they had come “full circle back to where our original founders frequently met to chart a course for our then fledgling organization, at a farm and restaurant known as the Golden Lamb.” She thanked the Hospitality Committee of Denise Archambault, Mary Collins, Karen DeLuca, Ann Hinchman, Eliza Kimball, Rachel Sarantopoulos, Lauren Wheaton, and emeritus member Shirley Mongillo.
Zahansky thanked guests for their “continued generosity and volunteerism,” noting this season will feature the largest and most diverse slate of genres Performing Arts has ever presented. “Opera was at the helm of the organization’s mission 50 years ago,” she said. “Since then we have added a plethora of community offerings and children’s programming.” In the last decade, Zahansky, a teacher at Rectory School, has witnessed the impact of Performing Arts on her students. She has been excited by expanded programming, including symphony and the Science of Sound program taught by local musician Sally Rogers, plus cosponsored programming with the Loos Center for the Arts in Woodstock. She welcomed some of the pioneers of Performing Arts, honored guests including Betty Hale, John Ostrout, and Nancy Weiss. “These are the people who worked tirelessly on a voluntary basis to make sure that the northeast corner wasn’t forgotten when it came to performing arts, and we’re so thankful.”
Nancy Weiss, past Board Chair and longtime supporter of Performing Arts, offered warm and humorous historical anecdotes. Weiss lauded late members Bob Miller and Bob Sloat and other impactful including Donald Froehlich and his sister, Linda, and Betty Hale.
“Everyone here has a memory of what being connected to this group means,” she added. “I hope you will share them and enjoy them. Performing Arts has been a remarkable success, first as an artistic endeavor, but even more as a community treasure.  It brought us all together for parties, friendships, reaching out to area children and supporting professional singers and musicians.  Best of all.  It goes on.  Here’s to another 50 years.”

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One Fine Fall Sunday

Clockwise from top left:

From left: Anthony Mancini, 10, Patrick Mancini, 4, and Thomas Mancini, 8, selling lemonade and more.

The Rev. Jane Emma Newall handles the Blessing of the Animals at Paws Cat Shelter in Woodstock. Kelly the dog is owned by Martha Anger.

From left: Zombie  Fashion Show judge and PBA President Tom Borner, Kathy Borner and Kyle Borner. In front: Griffin and  Adam Borner.

The Zombie Fashion Show drew 60 entries --- a record!

Leah Demello, 2, helps Dad Kyle pick out a pumpkin at Lapsley Orchard in Pomfret.
 

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Campaign Leaders
The Roseland Park and Golf Course Legacy Campaign leaders include, from left, seated: Honorary Chairman Paul Kelly; Trustee President and chairperson of the Family Division Martha Beckwith; and Campaign General Chairperson John Rauh. Standing: Trustee and Community Division co-chairperson Jonathan Gradie; Campaign Coordinator Nancy Adams; Donor Relations Chairperson Pam Brown; and Major Gifts Chairperson Jeff Bond. Absent when photo was taken, Community Division co-chairperson Lynn Converse; and Corporate and Finance Division Chairperson Patrick O’Brien. Courtesy photo.

WOODSTOCK — As Roseland Park & Golf Course approaches its 150th year of service to northeastern Connecticut and towns in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Board of Trustees President Martha Beckwith recently announced plans for a Capital Campaign.
The Legacy Campaign “150 Years and Beyond” is aimed at restoring the Park and Golf Course as it was originally designed and envisioned by Henry Chandler Bowen at its opening in 1876.  The goal of the campaign is $500,000.  The improvement plan includes relocating and redesigning the main entrance to the park, highlighting the scenic beauty of the park and the majestic vista of the lake, and improving the roads and pathways for the safety and convenience of the thousands of organizations, visitors and walkers who use the facilities year round.  The park will also see renovations to the barn and boathouse, which are currently used as event venues.
Improvements to the golf course, which have been ongoing thanks to the work of numerous volunteers, include bringing the greens and tee boxes to modern standards and restoring the irrigation system.  Volunteers have been working on improving and widening the fairways and removing trees and overgrowth that have encroached on the fairways over the years.  The golf course clubhouse, which serves as a registration stop for all golfers and the upstairs facility, used as a meeting venue and event facility that comfortably accommodates 75 people, is also scheduled for modernization.  
“Mr. Bowen was a positive individual who was often cited in the New York Times and other prominent publications, as a man who enjoyed developing public venues for the enjoyment of others.  Our mission is to bring Mr. Bowen’s dream back to life for those who enjoy the facility today and those who will benefit in the future,” said Beckwith.
John Rauh of Pomfret, also a Trustee, is  the campaign general chairperson. Woodstock resident and Woodstock Academy graduate Patrick O’Brien is chairman of the Corporate and Finance Division. Jeff Bond of Woodstock will lead the Major Gifts area. Community Gifts Chairpersons are Lynn Converse and Jonathan Gradie. Beckwith heads the Trustee Division.  Woodstock resident Pam Brown will coordinate campaign materials, news releases, social media, donor events and recognition.  Nancy Adams of Woodstock is handling correspondence, record keeping and clerical coordination.  Paul Kelly is Legacy Campaign honorary chairman.
Wilson Martin, a former Woodstock resident and principal of Boston-area based GroundView, a park and garden design firm, has been engaged to present a visualization of a future Roseland Park.  The Firm will propose components to improving vehicular and pedestrian circulation, location of a new Main Entrance, parking, and improvements to lawns, operation areas, play areas and restrooms.  
“We have assembled a committed Leadership Team for The Legacy Campaign ‘150 Years and Beyond.’  The team is confident that it will achieve its goal for the needed revitalization that will make the people of Woodstock and northeastern Connecticut proud.  Our communities have a way of responding in time of need.  The Board of Trustees is confident that this effort will make a difference and demonstrate the pride of our generation,” said Beckwith.

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