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Honored

Roger LaFrancois, left, and other St. Louis Cardinals minor league coaches and managers were honored in St. Louis prior to the game on Sept. 30 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC sports shoutout is sent along to 1958 Tourtellotte Memorial High School grad Phil Leveille.  Although he never played basketball in high school, Leveille was one of the best to grace the courts in local industrial leagues for many years.  Today Leveille enjoys down time and fine dining with his family.  He blew out 78 candles on the cake on Friday, Sept. 30.

Woodstock Academy will induct its newest class into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 9 in Bates Auditorium.  The program, which will be held on Homecoming Weekend, is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will highlight six athletes and two Centaur teams.  The class of 2016 includes Elizabeth Foote Class of ’68; Vivian Moulin Morse ’66; Royal Hale ’64; Jennifer Lefevre Fuller ’90; Shirley Mitchell ’78; and Bruce Johnson ’55.  The two teams are the 1996 boys cross country team and the 1963 boys’ soccer team.

“Woodstock Academy has a rich tradition of athletics over the 215-year history of the school and there have been thousands of coaches, teams and athletes who have been part of this history,” said Aaron Patterson, director of Athletics.

Foote had a long and distinguished career at the Academy.  In addition to her athletic prowess as a student/athlete she returned to her alma mater as a coach and eventually assumed the position of  athletic director.  Hale, who went on to play baseball at Eastern Connecticut State University, returned to Woodstock as a teacher and coach.

Mitchell distinguished herself as a track star at Woodstock.  She was good enough to receive a track scholarship to the University of Nebraska.  Johnson played basketball at a time when there was no three-point arc.  As a Centaur he was a tremendous scorer, averaging more than 20 points a game at a time when games were often low scoring affairs.  Morse and Fuller starred for the Lady Centaurs during two distinct decades.     

Prior to the induction ceremony there will be a reception in Founders Court and Bates Auditorium.  Tickets are $30 per person and may be secured by contacting John A. Lahtinen, director of Communications at 860.928.6575 ext. 1161or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“As an alumna of Woodstock Academy and the new director of Alumni Relations, I am elated to welcome back so many talented and distinguished alumni for the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” said Jacky Putnam.

To register or for a complete list of Homecoming Weekend events, visit www.woodstockacademy.org/homecoming2016. 

Local Lass to Highlight 

Cross Fest…

A young 13 year old female cyclist from Dudley, Mass., was one of the featured competitors over the weekend of September 30 through October 2 at the 8th KMC Cross Fest, which was held at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.  This is the first year the event was held at Thompson, having previously been staged in Providence.

Lizzy Gunsalus is a 13-year-old national champion cyclist and Dudley Middle School student.  At age 11 in 2015 she captured the 11-12 age division USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship in Austin, Texas.  This year as a 12-year old she “raced up” in the 13-14 age division and won a silver medal at the national championships in Asheville, N.C.

Racing bicycles is a family affair for the Gunsalus’ as Lizzy’s dad Mark and her 16-year old brother Greg also competed at Cross Fest.

“Lizzy is so good in the mud,” said her father Mark.  “The kids got hooked after they started BMX racing.  They love it,” concluded Mark Gunsalus.

“The inspiration for our transfer to this new venue came from Circuit Zolder, the famous Belgian raceway that has hosted World Cups and World Championships in cyclo-cross.  In our efforts to truly become and international event, we needed just such a venue as Thompson Speedway,” said Richard Fries, KMC Cross Fest co-founder and event director.

Ex-Centaurs Compete in College Volleyball…

Eastern Connecticut State University and Wesleyan University squared off in a volleyball match recently.  The contest featured a pair of former Woodstock Academy volleyball standouts going head-to-head.  Sarah Swenson is a junior at Wesleyan.  She was opposed by Jackie Ostrowski who’s a sophomore for the Lady Warriors of Eastern.

After ECSU won the first game 25-23, Wesleyan came storming back and emerged victorious in the next three games, 25-11, 25-12 and 25-19.

From The Where Are They Now Files…

It’s Nichols College in Dudley for former Killingly High School 2016 graduate Cara Mayhew.  The former Redgal basketball and softball star is a freshman at Nichols where she is a member of the Bison softball team.

Mayhew got a taste of college softball this fall as a member of the Bison fall softball program.  She and her dad, Chris Mayhew, Woodstock Schools director of Athletics, are looking forward to the upcoming spring season.  Nichols College is a member of the NCAA Division III.

Honors For LaFrancois…

Prior to the start of the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates game on Saturday, Oct. 1 in St. Louis, the Cardinals organization took time to honor some of its minor league managers and coaches.  Among those who were recognized was former Griswold High School and Boston Red Sox catcher Roger LaFrancois.

LaFrancois, who’s been a member of the St. Louis minor league coaching staff for a number of years, was among those who were honored on the field prior to the game.  This summer he worked as the hitting instructor for the State College Spikes of the New York – Penn League.  The Spikes captured the league title, which bodes well for the Major League franchise.

Don’t Step On The 

Steaming Divots…

Recently RPC along with my wife Donna, son Chris, his wife Jody and daughter Amelia attended a polo match as part of the Newport International Polo summer series.  The match, which was played in Portsmouth, R.I., was the final of the season.  The Newport Polo Club is America’s first polo club and was established in 1876.

The International Polo Grounds are located six miles from downtown Newport at Glen Farm.  The expansive layout is ideal for polo, allowing the 8,000 to 10,000 fans a perfect view of the fast paced action from any vantage point.

Our group had field side parking courtesy of our hosts Joe and Stephanie Mediate.  Joe Mediate is a University of Dayton graduate, where he roomed with my son Chris.  He’s the cousin of professional golfer Rocco Mediate.

We enjoyed the opportunity to go out on to the field at halftime to step down the divots created by the horses’ hooves during the action.  We were given one warning, “Don’t step on the steaming divots.”      

One Final Word Worth 

Mentioning…

Peter Vitale, president of the Putnam High School Alumni Athletic Association, has issued a call for volunteers to staff the concession stand at the last three Quinebaug Valley Pride football games.

Volunteers are needed on Friday, Oct. 21 for the game against Thames River; Friday, Nov. 11 against Wilcox Tech; and Thanksgiving morning against Killingly. 

Contact Peter Vitale, secretary Bethany Lee or Treasurer Lee Beausoleil if you can assist.  By email visit This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

RPC’s Closing thought For The Day: “It’s easy to make a buck.  It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.”  Tom Brokaw

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

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School 

founder wins

award

WOODSTOCK — Each year, Character.org honors one individual for his or her long and steadfast commitment to the field of character education. The person so honored receives the prestigious “Sanford N. McDonnell Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education.” This year, Hyde School founder Joseph W. Gauld is the recipient of this prestigious award.

Decades before there was a national character development movement, Gauld was formulating a vision that put character first in the life of a school.

On New Year’s Eve in 1962 while teaching at New Hampton, Gauld had what he terms a “crisis of conscience” in which he realized a fundamental flaw in our educational system. The system fails many children, he maintained, because it is improperly based on achievement instead of effort, and on aptitude rather than attitude. Instead of merely preparing kids for the academic rigor of college, he felt we should be preparing them for the bigger picture–life.

Later, when he was headmaster at Berwick Academy, he realized he would have to found a new school if he wanted to develop a new concept of education.

What clued Gauld into the key to a student’s success in life was following the progress of two students he had in his calculus course. One was a discouraged Vermont farm boy who was getting the lowest grade in the class and lamented to Gauld that he worked twice as hard as his peers and got half as much out of the course. Gauld counseled him that his character and determination would maybe someday make him the best engineer in the course. Another student Gauld described as a lazy, self-centered genius. Gauld remarked that this student knew less about himself and life than any student he had ever taught, but he was getting the highest grade in the class. Years later Gauld followed up with them both and learned the genius had graduated from MIT at age 18, yet had been unemployed for the past 11 years. The Vermont farm boy had become a nationally recognized engineer.

Gauld will receive his award at the 2016 National Forum on Character Education before an audience that will include educators and community leaders from 45 states and 20 countries. The 2016 National Forum will take place in Washington, DC, this October. 

 

 

Clifford Buttermark,

war veteran

POMFRET — Clifford F. Buttermark, 99, of Pomfret, formerly of Locust Valley, L.I., N.Y., and Staten Island, N.Y., died Sept. 26, 2016, at Pines of Sarasota Rehabilitation and Senior Care Community. He served proudly in both WWII and Korea, was a graduate of the Nassau County Police Academy, attended the FBI School of Burglary Investigation, a graduate of Adelphi Business School. Retired from the Police force 1966 after 20 years of service, and then worked for Grumman Aerospace, working on both the Lunar module and the Apollo 12 mission. 

Cliff moved to Pomfret with his wife, Hilda, in 1972, where he opened the ice rink at Pomfret School, served as secretary of the Republican Town Committee, Justice of the Peace, secretary of the Pomfret Lions Club, Board of Deacons, treasurer of First Congregational Church of Pomfret and a longtime member of Christ Church.

Cliff received numerous awards in the Pomfret and Putnam communities for which he was most grateful: Knight of the Blind by the Lions Club, A Friend of the Chaplaincy of Day Kimball Hospital, Citizen of the Year by the Lions Club and Civic Achievement Award from Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.

He leaves a daughter Jane Hunder (James), granddaughter, Lisa Ross (Douglas) with great-grandson, Lennon Ross: Son, William Buttermark (Susan), grandson, Tyler Buttermark, granddaughters Heather Bonin (Phil) with great grandson Christopher Bonin, granddaughter Courtney Hoffman (William) with great-grandson Adam Hoffman.

Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 7 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with services at 11 a.m. Oct. 8 at Christ Episcopal Church, 521 Pomfret St., Pomfret, followed by burial at Pomfret South Cemetery. Reception to follow at Christ Episcopal Church. A Celebration on Life will be held on Oct. 22 at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, Sarasota, Fla. Donations: Pines of Sarasota Foundation 1501 N. Orange Avenue Sarasota, FL, 34236. 

 

Lucrezia R. Bonvino

QUINEBAUG —  Lucrezia “Grace” R. (Zuccaro) Bonvino, 97, formerly of Breezy Lane, died Sept. 27, 2016, at Westview Health Care Center.  She was the wife of 70 years to the late Fred Bonvino.  Born in 1918 in Hazelton, Penn., she was the daughter of the late Francesco and Theresa (Zaccaro) Zuccaro.

On Sept. 23, 1940, in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., she was united in marriage to Fred F. Bonvino, who died on July 29, 2010. Residing for many years in Scarsdale, N.Y., where she and her husband owned and operated the Harney Cleaners, they then moved Southbridge, in 1963, then in 1972 they moved to North Woodstock. There final move was to Quinebaug in 2002.

Mrs. Bonvino worked as a stitcher at American Optical in Southbridge, retiring in 1982. She was a member of St. Stephen Church in Quinebaug.  

She leaves a sister Mary Deanzeris of Mt. Kisco, N.Y.; friends Fred and Rachael Wojick and Georgette Menzone, all of Thompson; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers John, Louis, Serefine, Joseph, Anthony, and Luke Zuccaro and a sister Rose Ambrosino.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 30 in St. Stephen Church, Quinebaug, with entombment in Notre Dame Mausoleum. Donations: St. Stephen Church, 130 Old Turnpike Rd., Quinebaug, CT 06262. Valade Funeral Home 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

Joseph Martin Sr.

PUTNAM — Joseph H.Martin Sr., 71, of Putnam, died Sept. 27, 2016, at UMass Memorial Health Care - Memorial Campus, Worcester.

He was born in Coaticook, Canada, son of the late Gordon and Gilberte (Begin) Martin and lived in Putnam for the past 10 years.  

He was a truck driver, having worked several years at M & M Trucking.  

He enjoyed his Harley, horses and oxen.

He leaves three sons, Michael Martin of Thompson, Joseph Martin Jr. of Canada and Daniel Martin of Canada; four grandchildren, Craig, Sharlene, Christopher and Maxime.

A Celebration of Life was Oct. 5 in Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster. 

Donations: Any horse rescue charity.  

 

Theresa L. Provost

DANIELSON — Theresa L. Provost, 68, died Sept. 24, 2016, at Davis Placein Danielson.

 She was born July 23, 1948, in Putnam, daughter of the late Theodore A. and Henrietta R. (Gosselin) Clarke.

Theresa worked for the office of the Secretary of the State and for UConn as an administrative assistant. 

She enjoyed researching family history, photography, flower gardening, and the beach.

She leaves her children Michael Provost (Roberta) of Butte, MT, Deborah Torcellini (Robert) of Eastford, Thomas Provost (Karen) of Ashford, Scott Provost (Gretchen) of Terryville, and Melanie Olson of Woodstock; seven grandchildren; nieces and nephews; her brother Robert Clarke (Sharon) of Arizona; sister-in-law Hannelore Clarke of Florida. She was predeceased by son-in-law Lewis V. Olson, brother John E. Clarke and sister Linda P. Clarke. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 1 at St. Mary’s Church, Putnam, with burial in Munyan Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: Alzheimer’s Association CT Chapter. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Leonie Dauphinais

PUTNAM — Leonie A. (Gilbert) Dauphinais, 81, died Oct. 2, 2016, at the Lanessa Extended Care in Webster.  

She was born in Putnam, daughter of the late Wilfred  Gilbert and Annie (Harrington) Gilbert and lived here all her life. 

 She was an optical worker for many years at the American Optical in Southbridge.  

She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. in Putnam.

She leaves three sons; Mark of Greenfield, Mass., Anthony of N. Hampton, Mass., and Neil of Putnam; a grandson Ryan and a great-grandson, Oliver; a brother Henry Gilbert of Putnam; a sister Catherine of Belchertown, Mass.

Donations: American Heart Association.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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PUTNAM — Kevan Hazelton, Information Technology (IT) customer service technician, has been named employee of the month for September by Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH).   

 Hazelton began working for DKH nearly two years ago. 

In his role as customer service technician, Hazelton provides assistance from the Help Desk to customers experiencing issues with the use of IT applications, products or services. 

He also handles network issues as well as problems with hospital computers, printers and phones. 

Hazelton lives in Woodstock and was born in Danielson. 

Hazelton holds a bachelor’s degree in networking technology from Central Connecticut State University and an associate’s degree in computer networking from Quinebaug Valley Community College.