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Honored
Members of the Scholar-Athlete Honor Society from the Class of 2018 were given honor cords during the Senior Sports Awards ceremony.
Kennedy Davignon, the Outstanding Female Athlete of the senior class at The Woodstock Academy receives her trophy from athletic director Aaron Patterson during the Senior Sports Awards.
 Hannah Green Memorial Award winner, Olivia Perry, and The Woodstock Academy Coach of the Year, Dennis Snelling, both from the girls soccer program.
Jack Gelhaus, the Outstanding Male Athlete of the senior class at The Woodstock Academy receives his trophy from athletic director Aaron Patterson during the Senior Sports Awards.

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The seniors who represented their sport on the Hall of Honor located by the athletic offices on the North Campus of The Woodstock Academy proudly display their photo award during the Senior Sports Awards ceremony. Photos contributed by The Woodstock Academy.


The Class of 2018 at The Woodstock Academy celebrated its athletic accomplishments recently with the annual Senior Sports Awards ceremony.
Jack Gelhaus and Kennedy Davignon left the Center for the Arts on South Campus with the biggest trophies as they were named the Outstanding Male and Female Senior Athletes respectively.
Gelhaus was a member of both the varsity soccer and golf programs at The Academy.
A four-year varsity starter in soccer, Gelhaus helped the team make the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship match in his sophomore season.
He finished with 32 assists as a junior and had seven goals and 10 assists in his senior season for the Centaurs who qualified for both the Eastern Connecticut Conference and Class L state tournaments.
Gelhaus played a large role in getting the Centaurs to an ECC quarterfinal this past fall where they were nipped by Lyman Memorial.
He had a hand in all three Woodstock Academy goals in a win over Fitch in a play-in match.
“What a performance,” Woodstock Academy coach Paul Rearden said of Gelhaus after the 3-2 win over the Falcons. “I’ve been coaching him since he was seven or eight (years-old) and that’s the best I’ve seen him play. He’s quality. On the dead balls, he’s pinpoint. He was the difference between us getting a win or not (in the play-in game).”
Gelhaus was also a leader on the golf course where he placed third in the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship match with a 78 at the Quinnatisset Country Club.
He was an All-ECC honorable mention choice in both his junior and senior seasons and finished in the top 10 at the Division II state championship tournament in the last two seasons. Gelhaus finished tied for eighth last week, shooting a 78 at the Fairview Farms Golf Club in Harwinton.
Jacopo Ambrosetti, Mark Dumas, Connor Huda and Kameron Janice were also nominated for the award.
Davignon participated in girls’ soccer and both indoor and outdoor track.
A four-year varsity performer in soccer, Davignon led the Centaurs to the team’s first-ever ECC tournament championship this past season.
“It’s so exciting,” Davignon said following the 6-0 win over Plainfield in the championship match this past fall. “It being such a great win, by six goals, it’s incredible.”
Davignon was also a key ingredient in the team’s Division II regular season title last year.
She also played in the Connecticut Girls Soccer Coaches Association Senior Bowl.
Madison Brennan, Caroline Eaton, Casidhe Hoyt, Olivia Perry and Clara Siegmund were also nominated for the award.
Davignon was also given the award for the Most Memorable Play of the year. It was her assist with a corner kick that found Ashleigh Angle who re-directed the ball into the net that lifted the Centaurs girls’ soccer team to a 3-2 overtime win over Norwich Free Academy in the first-ever home night game.
Brennan received the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Brennan, who has recovered from a couple of bouts with concussions, helped the girls’ basketball team to the Division II ECC regular season crown and a 17-7 overall record. She followed up in the spring with 55 goals to lead the Centaurs girls lacrosse team to a 14-5 record; a share of the ECC Division II regular season crown; an ECC tournament berth and their first-ever Class M state tournament win.
The Most Outstanding performance by a senior was had by Janice.
The running back for the football team rushed for 529 yards and eight touchdowns in a 49-26 win over Quinebaug Valley. The 529-yard total was third best in state history and set the school’s single-game record for yards and touchdowns scored.
Ciri Miller and Ian Sohan were given the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference scholar-athlete awards while Eden Law and Will Schad received the Connecticut High School Coaches Association scholar-athlete awards.
The National Federation of State High Schools Association Award of Excellence went to Dumas and Eaton. 
The Centaur Awards, significant of academic achievement, athletic participation, leadership, citizenship and sportsmanship, were given to Lindsey O’Dea and Sohan.
The Evelyn and Arthur Weimann Award significant of the athlete who has done most for the athletic department over their four years at the school went to Makara Sorel.
The Hannah Green Memorial Award was given to Olivia Perry for her sportsmanship, character, desire and determination.
The Clifford Spelman boys tennis sportsmanship award went to Fabian Meiser for his dedication to the sport.
The Alfred C. Warren Soccer Sportsmanship Award, given to a player who shows a true love for the game, understands the foundation of teamwork, respects the rules and brings honor to the school, went to Davignon and Ethan Werstler.
Sorel and Clara Siegmund were awarded $1,000 scholarships by the Woodstock Academy Booster Club for their commitment to participating in sports at The Academy and their volunteerism at Booster Club functions.
The Booster Club also named Dennis Snelling, The Academy’s girls soccer coach, as Coach of the Year. Joe Banas, who worked with cross-country and both the indoor and outdoor track programs, was named the Assistant Coach of the Year.
The Unified Sports Awards were presented to Mya DeShaw and Samantha Gelinas.
Centaur Nation Persons of the Year Awards were given to Charlene Perry, Bobbie-Jo Saucier and Chris Alves.
Media instructor Eric Collelo was given the Centaur Nation Media Award for his contributions to promoting The Woodstock Academy athletic program.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director

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Honored
WILLIMANTIC — The Communication Department at Eastern Connecticut State University held its annual Celebration of Excellence and the following local students were inducted into the communication honor society, Lambda Pi Eta: Timothy Chisholm ’19 of N. Grosvenordale. Chisholm was inducted into the honor society; Jeffrey Fontaine ’18 of Dayville. Fontaine received an award for Excellence in Television at Eastern TV.

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W. ‘Turner’ Cobden Jr.
WOODSTOCK — William John “Turner” Cobden Jr., 61, of Stonebridge Rd., died  June 5, 2018, at home.  He was the husband of Margaret (May) Cobden.  Born in 1957 in Greenwich, he was the son of the late William T. and Joan (Plunkett) Cobden Sr.
Turner was a self-employed computer technician.
As a young man he enjoyed collecting keys which coined him the nickname “Keys Cobden”.
Turner was affectionately known as a “Gentle Giant” and a “True Boy Scout” helping anyone in need. While in the Boy Scout he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Turner had a passion for Western movies especially any movie that John Wayne was in. He enjoyed building computers, computer gaming, hiking, and dabbling in the stock market.
Turner loved comparing notes with his father about golf, football, and making 25 cent bets on winners. One of his favorite lines was… “Did I ever tell you about my sisters?” Best sense of humor, …”Bus is leaving in 5 minutes!”
He leaves his wife; a son William “Turner” Cobden III (Emily Gleason) of Wakefield, Mass.; a daughter, Christine Cobden of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; brother, Douglas J. Cobden of Kingston, R.I.; two sisters Marianne Cobden of Charlestown, R.I., and Diane Holmes of Marion, Mass.; and a grandson Gabriel William Cobden of Wakefield.
A private Celebration of Turner’s Life is being planned. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Sr. Imelda Lagacé, DHS
WINDHAM — Sr. Imelda Lagacé, 101, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died June 5, 2018, at the St. Joseph Living Center in Windham.
She was born Marie Rosanna Imelda Lagacé on Dec. 14, 1916, in Danielson, the daughter of the late Vertume and Octavie (du Plessis) Lagacé.  She entered religious life in 1942 and made her Religious profession on Aug. 18, 1947, at the Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam. She was then known as Sr. Imelda du Sacré Coeur.  She earned a bachelor’s in education from Annhurst College.
Her first teaching assignment was at St. Joseph School in Burlington, Vt., in 1947 and at Immaculate Conception School in Chicopee, Mass., in 1953.  She was then named Superior of our First Mission to African Americans in Gadsden, Ala., in 1955.   She was missioned to St. Anne School, Waterbury in 1961, to St. Anne School in Swanton, Vt., in 1966 and to St. Anthony’s School in Bridgeport in 1970. In 1971, she was appointed dean of Women at Annhurst College until 1975 when she went to St. Mary School in Jewett City.  She was appointed Superior at St. Anne’ s Convent, Waterbury, in 1976 and in 1977 she returned to Gadsden, as pastoral assistant.  She was assigned to Bethany Community in Hartford while doing secretarial work at Holy Family Retreat House in W. Hartford.  In 1984 she retired to Anawim Community in Waterbury. She leaves her sisters in community, the Consecrated Seculars and the Associates as well as by a sister, Sr. Marie Alice Lagacé of the African and World Apostolate Kumasi, Ghana Africa.  She lives in Port St. Lucie, Fla.; nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was June 12 at the Holy Spirit Provincial House Chapel, Putnam, with burial at St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam. Donations: Daughters of the Holy Spirit Retirement Fund, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260.  Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Gerald Daigle
POMFRET CENTER —  Gerald Daigle, 86, of Orchard Hill , formerly of Port Saint Lucie, Fla., died June 6, 2018, in Davis Place Nursing Home.  He was the husband of Janine (Desjardins) Daigle.  Born in 1932 in Baker Brook, New Brunswick, Canada, he was the son of the late Irenee and Elizabeth (Daigle) Daigle.
Gerald was employed by Pervel Industries as a textile printer.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his sons, Gilain Daigle of Pomfret, Janot Daigle of Ashford, and Jacques Daigle of Florida; his daughter, Lise Goulet of Putnam; sister, Corrine Bard; six grandchildren, Melanie Kondratowicz, Heather Daigle-Dawson, Robert Goulet, Elizabeth DiGeronimo, Ashley Goulet, and Jerrilynn Bachand; a special friend since childhood Pierre Dastous; great-grandchildren. Gerald was predeceased by his brother Reno Daigle.
Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. June 16 at the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam, followed immediately by a funeral home service at 11.

Roland Deslauriers
STERLING — Roland Deslauriers, 54, formerly of Sterling, died May 23, 2018.
He was born June 27, 1963, in Putnam to the late Richard and Dolores (Houle) DesLauriers.  Roland was a caring soul who would not hesitate to lift a hand to those who were in need. Roland was a former communicant of St. Joseph Catholic Church in N. Grosvenordale. He loved family outings, fishing, kayaking, camping, hiking and reminiscing about the good ole days of his childhood as well as the numerous family trips to the Quaddick Lake and Point Judith.
 Roland was employed by numerous local industries, most recently in the tire recycling industry, a job which allowed him to travel throughout the northeast and East Coast.
He leaves his nine siblings, Richard (Elizabeth) of Delray, Fla., John (Sharilyn) of Sterling, Roger (Debbie) of Stafford Springs, Michael of Nahunta of Georgia, Daniel (Elaine) of St. Mary’s, Ga., Babette (Jack) of Willows, Calif., Arthur (Laurie) of Thompson, Jacqueline of Danielson and Jo-Anna of Catatwissa, Pa.; nieces and nephews. 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 8:30 a.m. June 23 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale  followed by a private burial service in Maine.  Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260.

Debra French
DANIELSON — Debra (Keeler) French, 58, of Mechanics St., died June 9, 2018, at Boston Medical Center. 
Debra was born Oct. 8, 1959, in Putnam, the daughter of the late Barbara Keeler who died in January of 1997.  She graduated from Putnam High School in 1978.  She was married to Michael French in 1982.  Debra worked for the John Dempsey Regional Center for several years and then worked at Loos & Co and Jewel Wire as an office manager in Pomfret for approximately 18 years before leaving in 2014 for health reasons. 
Debra was a dance instructor specializing in tap dancing.  She enjoyed cooking shows, crocheting and going to the beach. 
She leaves her son, Michael R. French (Chelsea) and his son, Cameron; her father, Richard Keeler (Marilyn); her sister Karen Camire (James) of Marshfield, Mass.; her former husband and companion, Michael J. French of Danielson; her cousin Jennifer Fraley of Brooklyn; nephews, Stephen and family, Ryan, Sean, Samuel; and niece Lauren, of Marshfield.
Visitation is at noon June 15 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St, Putnam, followed by a Funeral Service at 1 p.m. in the funeral home.  Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery.

Joyce Ann Paine
PUTNAM — Joyce Ann Paine, 86, died June 5, 2018, at Matulaitis Nursing Home She was born July 29, 1931,  in Putnam, the daughter of the late Ernest and Edith (Swanson) Johnson. She grew up in a very close knit family in the Swede Village in N. Grosvenordale.  She loved to share fond memories of living next door to her grandparents where she spent much of her time.
She graduated from Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Class of 1949. She was very proud of the fact that she never missed a day of school in 12 years. She was a communicant of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school.
Joyce was married to Maurice Paine on Feb. 10, 1951, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in N. Grosvenordale. They lived on Drown Road in Abington where they built their own home and raised their two daughters. They were together for 52 years until her husband‘s passing Dec. 10, 2002.
Her deepest love was for her family for whom her generosity had no bounds. She treasured the times they spent together at holidays, birthday celebrations and backyard cookouts. She was always present at her grandchildren’s activities and milestones.
She worked for 28 years at the Mansfield State Training School as an aide and then as a supervisor. She truly enjoyed her work there and had a strong work ethic, never letting a winter storm interfere with her getting into work.
She leaves her daughters: Gail and her husband Ted of Thompson and Greta and her husband Bruce of Killingly; grandchildren: Jason Beausoleil (Jamie Stearns) of Storrs; Ryan Szarkowicz (Jessica) of Thompson; Megan Teal (Michael) of Woodstock and Erin Turner (Ryan) of Thompson; great-grandchildren Gage, Madison and Tanner Beausoleil; Collin and Kaitlyn Teal and Ryan and Avery Szarkowicz. In addition to her parents and husband she was predeceased by her brother Merrill Johnson and an infant brother Kenneth.
The Funeral Service was June 8 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial at Abington Cemetery. Donations: Alzheimer’s Assoc., 200 Executive Blvd, Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489; or the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3045.

Madeleine Socquet
KILLINGLY — Madeleine Lucienne (Boulais) Socquet of Wauregan Road in Killingly died suddenly June 5, 2018, at UMassMemorial Hospital.
She was one of seven children born to Emma (Audette) and Aldei Boulais of Danielson and the wife of Germain J. Socquet whom she married on May 1, 1948. He died in 2016.
She graduated from St. James School and attended Killingly High School before leaving to work and help support her family. As a young woman she worked locally and at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft then later at Union Engravers in Putnam. The job she enjoyed the most however was sales associate at the Alice Eleanor Shop in Danielson where she met new people and made new friends while using her fine eye for fashion.
Throughout her life Madeleine enjoyed sewing, dancing, skiing, golfing, tennis and playing cards, most recently bridge. She also loved all kinds of games and puzzles and completed a crossword daily. She and her husband enjoyed many happy and active years together with a special group of friends. Together they traveled and socialized often. She enjoyed hosting dinners and celebrations for her family and friends and was a wonderful cook. Her comfortable home, warm smile and infectious laughter always put her guests at ease.
Family was very important to Madeleine. She lived a full and active life until the very end, which is just what she wanted. She leaves a rich legacy of love and laughter and enough happy memories to last a lifetime.
She leaves her daughter, Lauren Law (Roger) of Killingly, three grandchildren, Mackenzie Law, Heather Law Pezzarossi and Meghan Salmon and four great-grandchildren; her brother Roland Boulais of Greenville, R.I.; sister Rita LaBelle of Killingly; nieces and nephews.
The Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. June 28 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations: St. James School, 120 Water St., Danielson. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

Barbara F. Slate
WORCESTER — Barbara Flora Slate, 83 of Worcester died June 9, 2018.
She worked for Parker Manufacturing and Anderson Brush for many years until retiring.
She leaves her children: Raymond Slate of Worcester, Henry Slate of Auburn, Mass., Janice Zukowski of Worcester, Jon Slate (Anne) of Woodstock, Tina Walsh and fiancee Russell Simmarano of Worcester; 10 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Harold H. Slate and 13 brothers and sisters.
She will be buried at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton, Mass. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home. Webster.

Magdalen Bibeau
WEBSTER — Magdalen (Madge) J. (Jakubowski) Gromelski Bibeau, 82, died June 6, 2018, at home.   She was the wife of George Bibeau and the late Richard S. Gromelski who died in 1998. 
She was born in Dudley daughter of the late Michael and Helen (Lazarowski) Jakubowski and lived in Webster most of her life.  She was a graduate of Bartlett High School.  Madge was the attendance officer for the Webster School Dept. for 29 years retiring in 1998.
She was a member of the Dudley Senior Center, Red Hats Soc., Hospital Guild, Emmaus Center, and the St. Joseph Basilica where she was a Eucharistic Minister and active on the Bereavement Committee, St. Anne’s and Sacred Heart Society, Holy Rosary Sodality and St. Joseph’s Choir. 
Besides her husband she leaves a daughter Mary Ellen Gromelski of Worcester, a son Thomas R. Gromelski of N. Grosvenordale;  three stepchildren, Michael, Mark and Neil Bibeau; a brother Anthony (James) Jakubowski of Dudley; sister Mary Brouillette of Dudley
The Funeral Mass was June 9 at St. Joseph’s Basilica, Webster, with burial in St. Joseph’s Garden of Peace, Webster.  Donations: Webster-Dudley Veterans Memorial Fund, 4 Veterans Way, Webster, MA. 01570. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

Steven M. Lawrence
DANIELSON — Steven M.  “Steve” Lawrence, 58, died June 1, 2018, at home after an illness. His wife, Gloria (Phillips) Lawrence, died in 2010.
He was born in Rutland, Vt., the middle child of Howard and Sylvia (Hughes) Lawrence and had lived in Danielson since 1967. He graduated from Killingly High School in 1978 and attended Quinebaug Valley Community College.
Mr. Lawrence was a warehouse attendant at Anchor Glass in Dayville for 18 years and was currently a shipper at Rogers Corporation in Woodstock where he worked for 20 years. He enjoyed golfing, fishing and NASCAR races. He also liked taking trips in the U.S. and to the islands.
He leaves his fiancée, Rebecca L. Auger of Danielson; three brothers, Larry Lawrence (Judy) of Dayville, Robert Lawrence (Brenda) of Putnam and William Lawrence of Poultney, Vt.; three sisters, Sheila Dockum and her fiancée John Saltis of Hampton, N.Y., Sharon Razanouski of Crystal River, Fla., and Sandra Jarvis (Ronald) of Danielson.
A Celebration of his Life was June 10 and a graveside service will be held later in Poultney Cemetery, Poultney, Vt.. Donations: Day Kimball Hospital Oncology Department, 320 Pomfret St., Putnam, CT 06260. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.

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DAYVILLE — Westview Health Care Center’s Kayla Belanger is the Employee of the Month for May, 2018. 
She is a PhD of physical therapy working in the Sports Medicine branch of the Dayville facility.  She has been a natural fit ever since she was added to the roster in 2016. 
Having grown up in Pomfret, Belanger maintains strong connections to this Quiet Corner community.  She studied at UConn, earning a degree in allied health sciences. She then  earned her doctor of physical therapy degree.
She enjoys watching sports, cheering for teams like the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.  She also enjoys the outdoors, whether she is embarking on a camping trip or taking a hike with her wife Emily and their dog, Piper.