caption, page 9:
Letter of Intent
Cairo McCrory (lower middle) signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball for UMass. Also in the photo, bottom row, left to right: grandmother Mary McCrory, Cairo McCrory, Foye Smith. Back: State Senator Douglas McCrory, aunt Gina McCrory and grandfather Bill Smith. Photo courtesy of Joel Tretheway/The Woodstock Academy.
caption, page 11:
Letters of Intent
Four members of the Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball team, left to right: Joe Moon (Bryant University); Cairo McCrory (UMass); David Jones (Sacramento State) and Lawrence Foreman (Rider University) signed their National Letters of Intent. Photo by Joel Tretheway/The Woodstock Academy).
It’s one thing for the student-athlete to sign his name to a National Letter of Intent.
“Best moment on my life so far,” Woodstock Academy Gold prep player Cairo McCrory said after he put his name on the dotted line to attend and play for UMass early last week. “All these years of working hard finally paid off. It’s a big relief. It’s finally official. No more waiting to sign, the moment is finally here.”
It’s another thing entirely for the parents of that student-athlete.
Connecticut State Senator Douglas McCrory was beaming with pride for Cairo McCrory and three of his Centaur teammates was held.
David Jones signed his Letter of Intent to play for Sacramento State; Joe Moon made it official that he is headed to Bryant University and Lawrence Foreman signed on the dotted line for Rider University.
It was the end of a long journey for all four.
And, of course, the parents.
“This has been a long time coming,” Connecticut State Senator Doug McCrory said. “Ever since he was born, I, of course, wanted him to be like me and play basketball when he grew up.”
The elder McCrory had played basketball for the University of Hartford in his younger years and to see his hopes and dreams come for his son come to fruition was satisfying for him and his son.
To see him choose a college not all that far from his Hartford home also made his parents a little happier.
“I love my community. I don’t want to leave it that much. It’s only a 45-minute drive so my parents and family can come up and watch games,” Cairo McCrory said.
That wasn’t always the plan.
Cairo McCrory had hopes of going to a college in a little warmer climate in New England.
“When he was young, he was always saying that he wanted to go somewhere that was hot,” Douglas McCrory said. “I’ve been through all that. I wanted him to go to a place where he could enjoy himself, get a good education and play. I couldn’t ask for a better situation than him being just an hour away.”
There was a lure at UMass for the 6-foot, 5-inch guard.
Four former members of the Woodstock Academy Gold prep team, Tre Mitchell, Preston Santos, T.J. Weeks and Dibaji Walker, who transferred in from Cleveland State, all play for the Minutemen. Former Woodstock Academy prep coach Tony Bergeron is now an assistant coach at the school.
“I’m cool with the whole team. It’s like a brotherhood as you can see this year compared to last year so it’s a fun place to go,” McCrory said. “I love the style they play and that I will have the opportunity to come in and play right away.”
And receive a free education at the same time.
“This is a lottery ticket,” Doug McCrory said. “At the end of the day, he has a $200,000 opportunity here. It’s up to him to follow through and do what he’s supposed to do, do what we taught him all his life. Go up there, do the work academically and work his behind off on the court. I’m happy.”
So is Cairo’s mom, Foye Smith, who said Cairo is responsible for much of his own success.
“I’m over the moon,” Smith said. “There isn’t a kid I know that worked harder than him. He has been all over the country. Never missed a practice, never missed a game. If he was sick, he would go, he has been dedicated. This is just the beginning, another step, it’s not the end. I’m proud and excited for him. He did this. I was just the ride and the food.”
Woodstock Academy Gold prep coach Jacque Rivera said he has known Cairo McCrory since the ninth grade, coaching against him while Cairo McCrory played for the Masters School.
“I’ve got to know him as a person this year and I couldn’t be more blown away by his character. He is a quiet individual, who if you allow him, will stay to himself, but if you get to know him and he opens up to you, he’s probably one of the funniest people you will get to know. He is hilarious,” Rivera said.
Jones will be headed back home.
He is a native of Sacramento. “Very cool. Very exciting,” said the 6-7 Jones. “We’ve done a lot to get here; me, my Mom and the people around me.” Sacramento State went the extra mile in recruiting Jones. “They have a game plan for me, the entire four years laid out and I appreciate that."
Moon and Foreman verbally committed to their schools in October.
Moon, who hails from Detroit, was a runner up for Mr. Basketball in Michigan. He averaged 25-plus points and six assists per game in high school.
Moon said he went on an official visit to Bryant and the Bulldogs coaching staff and players made him feel at home.
Moon said Bryant had always been high on his list, but what he truly wanted was an opportunity to play at the next level so when it was offered, he accepted.
Foreman is an up-and-comer with room to grow.
The Kingston, Jamaica, native has played organized basketball for a little less than three years.
He was more into soccer and chess on the island until he was 15-years-old and began to grow. He spurted to 6-5 at that time and is now 6-9.
Foreman came to the U.S. and played for Windsor High School. It was at Windsor that Rider assistant coach Marlon Guild saw him.
Guild went to Windsor to recruit guard Corey McKeithan who has also committed to play for Rider. Guild followed Foreman to Woodstock Academy.
Foreman went on an official visit and told Baggett he was going to play for Rider during that visit.
“I just felt at home and coach Baggett and coach Guild treated me like family. I liked the environment. I will be reunited with my former point guard at Windsor and that was a plus, too,” Foreman said. “The coaches talked about how the professors work closely with the students and the players, even when the coaches weren’t around, talked highly of the program. It’s a dream come true. I come from Kingston, Jamaica, we don’t have much over there. Coming here, making it happen and going to college for free is a big deal.”
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
..
The season came to a close for the Woodstock Academy Centaurs football team Nov. 23.
But it will not soon be forgotten.
The Centaurs completed their best season ever since becoming a varsity football program with a 45-42 win over the CREC Cooperative.
Woodstock Academy finished with a 7-3 record.
“It’s just a nice capstone on a great season,” said Centaurs coach Sean Saucier. “I’m really happy for the kids, especially the seniors; it was a great way to end it.”
The Centaurs also finished third in Division II of the ECC and had a chance of winning or tying for the divisional title right up to the last three weeks of the season. They were also in the hunt for a Class L state playoff berth, but the win over the Colts did not help in that regard as other teams surged past the Centaurs due to point totals.
“I think the bar just kept getting raised,” Saucier said. “Initially, the first win against Ledyard was special but then it was like, ‘OK, let’s not put a cap on this; let’s see what we can do.’ That continued to the very end which I’m proud of.”
The Centaurs overcame one debilitating trait that had defined them in previous years.
When things started to go south, they did not pack it in.
That was true right up to the last game.
CREC held a 42-31 lead with 4:57 left in the third quarter after freshman Raiden McDade stepped in front of Nick Bedard at the Centaurs’ 45-yard line and got the pick-6 for the Colts.
Game over? Not by a longshot.
“That’s what makes them different,” Saucier said. “We’re down 11, late third quarter, made a few mistakes and things were looking grim. We just kept playing.”
It didn’t come immediately, but the Centaurs did respond.
Woodstock Academy drove to the Colts’ 24-yard line but went in reverse and turned the ball over after quarterback Ethan Davis was sacked at midfield.
But two plays later, Trey Ayotte picked up a loose ball at the Centaurs’ 36-yard line and Woodstock Academy was back in business.
Five plays later, Davis found senior Bedard (3 catches, 67 yards) for a 26-yard touchdown on the final play of the third quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed and the Centaurs trailed, 42-37.
Woodstock Academy surged ahead with 6:46 left in the game.
The Centaurs forced the Colts (6-4) to punt and a touchback gave them the ball at their own 20.
Davis hit Travis White with a 19-yard pass and then took off down the left side for 53 more to the CREC 8-yard line.
After running back Ian Welz moved Woodstock Academy 1 yard closer, Davis found Luis Miranda (4 catches, 75 yards) in the back of the end zone for the game-winning score and also found Miranda for the two-point conversion.
“Luis went out on a great note (Saturday). He was amazing,” Saucier said.
So was Davis. He wasn’t perfect.
He threw three interceptions and was sacked four times.
“The third quarter was pretty rough, he made some mistakes,” Saucier said.
He more than made up for those foibles by accounting for over 400 yards of offense.
Davis completed 21-of-31 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 161 in 13 carries and added two more scores.
The best thing. He’s only a sophomore.
“In the fourth quarter, he was unbelievable. His ability to keep playing when things are not going his way is a really special quality for a 15-year-old,” Saucier said.
Davis completed 56 percent of his passes this season (129-for-229) for 1,570 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He was also the Centaurs’ leading rusher with 569 yards in 77 carries (7.4 yards per carry) and six touchdowns.
The game opened in a pretty nice way for the Centaurs when the Colts fumbled on their own 15-yard line on the first play from scrimmage.
Davis ran for 13 of those in his first carry and Woodstock Academy was knocking on the door. It was still knocking on the door two plays later before Davis snuck the ball over the goal line just 1:14 into the contest.
But no team can get comfortable against CREC.
Senior quarterback Dorrian Chaney (14-for-25, 298 yards passing) is formidable.
He tied the game moments later on a 27-yard pass to Tomico Williams.
The Centaurs answered with an 11-play drive that culminated with a 9-yard pass from Davis to Aidan Morin (9 catches, 76 yards) to take a 13-6 lead.
CREC scored twice before the end of the first quarter and led, 22-13, going into the second.
The Centaurs threatened early in the second quarter, getting down inside the Colts’ 20-yard line before a fumble seemingly ended the threat.
The Colts returned the favor when Centaurs’ senior JJ Bain picked up a ball on the ground at the Colts’ 25. On the next play, Davis scored to cut the deficit to two.
CREC went up by six when Chaney scored from 8 yards out but the Centaurs tied it on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Miranda and a two-point conversion pass to the senior.
Woodstock Academy went up by three at the half when Morin, a first-year football player, hit a 36-yard field goal, his fourth field of the season — he also converted on 21-of-23 extra points this year- on the final play of the half.
For some of the Centaurs, the win over CREC meant the final time in a Woodstock Academy uniform.
“It was sad,” senior lineman Gavin Lanning said of the final game. “It’s the last time we get to hang out as a group of guys. We’ve become family over time. Of course, we’re going to see each other at school, but not together.”
But they have accomplished something memorable.
“We set a milestone for how many wins this program has had. We’ve never had a winning season to begin with and the seventh win put the icing on the cake,” Lanning added.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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Joseph Mercik,
WWII vet
PUTNAM — Joseph Mercik, 100, of Grove St., died Nov. 24, 2019, at Matulaitis Rehabilitation and Nursing Home. He was the husband of Dolores (Marroquin) Mercik, the love of his life. They were married on Aug. 21, 1948, in St. Mary Church of the Visitation.
Born in 1919 in Newmarket, N.H., he was the son of the late John and Appolina (Grochmal) Mercik.
Joseph graduated from Putnam High School and from Ellis Tech as a machinist. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during WWII. Upon his return from the war he married Dolores. He was co-owner of LaBonte & Mercik Refrigeration in Putnam. Joe was an ambitious and talented man who had many interests. His interests as a young caddy turned into a membership at Putnam Golf Course and became one of the original members of the Quinnatisset Country Club. He was a member of the Putnam Elks and was an avid fisherman, golfer, coin collector, reader. He made furniture and lamps and carved decoy ducks.
In addition to his wife Dolores, he leaves his daughter, Deborah M. Dunn and her companion Kevin Paulhus of Dudley; grandchildren: Hollis (Kempain) Abram (Adam) and Jordan Joseph Kempain and his fiancé Sarah Rickaby, Steve Kempain was Joy’s husband and he and his current wife Pam Kempain continue to be part of the family. He is predeceased by his daughter, Joy Kempain in 1993 and sisters, Mary, Beatrice and Celia.
Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Romeo Beausoleil Jr.,
Korean war vet
N. GROSVENORDALE — Romeo “Junior” Beausoleil, 84, died Nov. 21, 2019, at Hartford Hospital. He was the husband of the late Lorraine M. Beausoleil for 65 years. Born in 1935 in Griswold, Romeo was the son of the late Romeo J. and Laura (Jodoin) Beausoleil.
Romeo was a U. S. Navy veteran serving during the Korean war. He retired as an expediter from Kaman Aerospace and previously worked for Bentley Shoe and Pratt and Whitney. Romeo was a member of the Knights of Columbus St. Bernard’s Council, the American Legion, and a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church. He was an avid golfer. He enjoyed coaching his sons in Little League. Romeo was a creative woodworker and handyman. He served on the Thompson Water Pollution Control Authority and served two terms as a member of the Thompson Board of Selectmen.
He leaves five children, Kenneth Beausoleil (Gail) of Quinebaug, Gary Beausoleil (Amanda) of E. Putnam, Gail Beausoleil of Putnam, Karen Munroe (Edward) of Woodstock, and John Beausoleil (Melissa) of Kennesaw, Ga.; his brother, Robert Beausoleil (Anita) of Leesburg, Fla.; nine grandchildren, Kenneth Beausoleil, Kristopher Beausoleil, Nicholas Lawrence, Emma Beausoleil, Renee Hill, Heather Vallis, Galen Munroe, Michael Beausoleil, and Shauna Christensen; seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two grandchildren, Eric Beausoleil and Michele Beausoleil; and siblings Doris Casey, Richard Beausoleil, and Carol Inch.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 25 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial with military honors in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph Church, P.O. Box 897, N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Marie A. Albee
DANIELSON — Marie A. Albee, 75, of North Main Street, died Nov. 16, 2019, in Day Kimball Hospital. She was the wife of Ronald A. Albee Sr. for 58 years. Born in 1944 in Athol, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Milton and Gabrielle (Perron) Card.
Marie was a homemaker. She enjoyed fishing at the Thompson Dam.
In addition to her husband, she leaves her sons, Ronald A. Albee Jr. (Lori) of Putnam, and Chris Albee (Cheryl) of Danielson; grandchildren, Sean Albee (Chelsea), Bryan Albee and Stephanie Albee.
Burial was in Westfield Cemetery in Danielson. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Lucien Beaulieu Sr.
N. GROSVENORDALE — Lucien Beaulieu Sr., 75, of N. Grosvenordale, died Nov. 16, 2019. He was the son of Oliver and Amelia (Madison) Beaulieu.
He worked for more than 40 years at Cranston Print Works in Webster. He belonged to the Putnam Fish and Game Club. His favorite hobbies were hunting and fishing.
In addition to his wife Linda, of 58 years of marriage, he leaves his brother Michael (Karen); children Robert Beaulieu (Lori), Lucien Beaulieu Jr. (Barbara) and Scott Beaulieu; seven grandchildren, Holly, Nicole (Timothy), Josh, Christopher, Anthony, Dylan, and Kaitlyn; three great-grandchildren, Christian, Caiden and Zoey-Grace. He was predeceased by a brother Larry.
A Celebration of Life will be at a later date. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Theresa M. Emond
PUTNAM — Theresa M. Emond, 92, died Nov. 17, 2019, at Westview Healthcare in Dayville. She was the wife of the late Albert J. Emond. Theresa was born in 1927 and was raised together with her cousins Stuart and Duarte Cabral.
Mrs. Emond began her working career as a cashier at A & P in Putnam. Then she worked for the Connecticut Department of Transportation as a toll collector. Once she retired from there, she went to work at Godley’s Liquor Store.
She leaves nieces and nephews; and her devoted son that she was never able to have, Glenn Godley; her best friend, Arlene Altmeier. Theresa was the last of her immediate family.
The Graveside Service was Nov. 25 in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Kathleen Lavigne
BALLOUVILLE — Kathleen (Kay) Teresa Marcella Burke Leist Lavigne of Ballouville died Nov. 19, 2019, at home. She was born June 28, 1932, in North Bay, Ontario Canada, daughter of William and Muriel (Marner) Marcella.
On Dec. 23, 1950, she married Henry A. Burke at St. Joseph’s Church in Dayville. He died Nov. 26, 1982.
On Nov. 2, 1985, she married Edward P. Leist at St. Anne Church in Ballouville. He died May 25, 2002. Kay married Paul Lavigne on Aug. 11, 2011, at St. James Church in Danielson. He died Dec. 14, 2018.
Kay was a homemaker who raised three daughters. She worked for Pall Flex Corporation and rose to senior sales administrator in her 23 years of employment before retirement in 1987. She enjoyed gardening, reading, volunteering in the hospital, Daily Bread and church, the beach, and Florida. She leaves three daughters, Mrs. Richard Morin, Elizabeth (Betty), is the oldest, Ms. Patricia (Pat) Malek and Robin Paquette. She was known as Nana-Banana to Tim, Eric, Jill, Laura, Kelley, and Gavin and Grandma Kay to Kimberley, Matthew, Kevin, Dana, and Kelley. She also has great-grandchildren Chelsea, Kayla, Saige, Caleb, Rhys, Jacob, Lucey, Molley, Sydney, and Noah. Kay was the last of the Marcella family being predeceased by Vernon, Morley and William Marcella; and one sister, Joan Dumas. The Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 26 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Arlene J. Tedesco
POMFRET CENTER — Arlene J. (Thielbar) Tedesco, 79, formerly of Putnam Rd, died Nov. 19, 2019, at New Britain Hospital. She was the wife of William Tedesco. Born in 1940 in Pekin, Ill., she was the daughter of the late George and Stazia (Mularoni) Thielbar.
Arlene grew up in Pekin and graduated from the Pekin Community High School in 1958. She was employed as a dental receptionist and assistant, billing clerk for a large department store, and in the data processing department of Keystone Steel & Wire Company.
In 1972, she married William “Willy” Tedesco of Southington and they moved to Thompson. During her years in Connecticut she worked in the Data Processing Department of Rogers Corporation and at the apple stand of Putnam Heights Orchard. Arlene was also the secretary and bookkeeper for her husband’s business Tedesco Construction.
She leaves her husband; a daughter, Gina Stone (Ray) of Pomfret Center; a brother, George Thielbar (Shirley) of Paw Paw, Mich.; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Janice Rickgauer; her grandparents; aunts and uncles.
Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
John O. Newell Jr.,
Army veteran
John O. Newell Jr. died on Nov. 10, 2019. He was born Dec. 26, 1931, in glen ridge, N.J., son of John O. Newell and Mary Emerson Keith Newell. He grew up in Upper Montclair, N.J., and New York City and spent summers at the family’s house in Colebrook. He was educated at the Buckley School, Phillips Academy, Columbia College and Cornell University.
While at Columbia College, he met his future wife, Barbara Hoblitzelle, who was a student at Barnard College. They were married in July of 1955. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954, where he served in the field artillery and was stationed in Geissen, Germany following training at Fort Dix and Fort Sill.
After his discharge from the Army in 1957, he completed his undergraduate studies and graduated from Columbia College in 1958. He then earned an MBA in finance, accounting and administration from Cornell University in 1960. In 1970 he completed the post graduate program conducted by the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking.
He joined Hartford National Bank and Trust Company in 1960, which was the fourth oldest bank in the country, where he served in a variety of executive positions. During his career, he was involved in the building of Hartford National’s new head office in 1963; the designing of Hartford National’s first computerized commercial loan system, and the creation of Hartford National’s debit card.
He and his late wife shared a love of collecting and building 1 inch to 1 foot miniatures to furnish the rooms John built for their collection. They also had an intense interest in family genealogy, and were members of many genealogical societies and enjoyed doing research in places ranging from Charleston, S.C., to Boston.
He lived with his family in W. Hartford from 1960 until 2016, when he moved to Brooklyn.
His wife Barbara died in 2013. He leaves two children, John O. Newell IV (Cornelia) of Weston, Mass., and Pamela N. Gaumond (Robert) of Pomfret Center; four grandchildren, William C. Newell, Alex B. Newell, Benjamin S. Zern and Jennifer B. Zern and four great-grandchildren.
Donations: Charity of donor’s choice. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Deborah Beckwith
WEBSTER — Deborah (Freeman) Beckwith, 65, died Nov. 17, 2019.
Deborah was born June 14, 1954, in Holden, Mass., daughter of the late Donald J. and Vivian (Charbonneau) Freeman.
Debbie worked for Gentex for many years; she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and taking trips to enjoy the beauty and splendor of New England’s fall foliage as well as taking trips to the ocean.
She leaves her husband of 30 years Richard A. Beckwith; her son Stefan Brytowski of Worcester; two daughters: Regina Brytowski of Putnam and Sonja Brytowski of Worcester; her brother David Freeman of New Jersey; her sister Barbara Charbonneau of Webster; seven grandchildren.
She was predeceased by two brothers: Wayne Freeman, and Donald Freeman; and her sister Dianna.
Donations: Hillcrest Church, 155 Leicester St., N. Oxford, MA 01537.
Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Vernon R. Freelove,
Korean war vet
WOODSTOCK — Vernon R. Freelove, 92, died Nov. 9, 2019.
He was the husband of the late Mary (Gwizdala) Freelove who died in 2017.
He was born in Cranston, R.I., son of the late Vernon H. Freelove and Martha L. (Dodge) Freelove living in Woodstock all his life.
He was U.S. Army Korean war veteran. Vernon worked for many years work at the ax handle factory in Thompson.
He was a member of the VFW.
He leaves three nieces and a nephew, Mildred Button of Griswold, Joanne Santo of Dudley, Gail White of Woodstock, and Louis Urich of E. Brookfield, Mass.
He was predeceased by a niece Gloria; two brothers and a sister, Ernest Freelove, Sydney Freelove and Sadie Freelove.
A Graveside Service with military honors was Nov. 16 in the Holy Trinity Cemetery, Dudley.
Donations: Webster-Dudley Veterans Council, Veterans Way, Webster, MA. 01570.
Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
D. Andrew Leach
BROOKLYN — D. Andrew Leach, 32, died suddenly Nov. 10, 2019.
David was born Aug. 6, 1987, in Putnam, and lived in Brooklyn for most of his life.
He worked for the RCW Contracting Company and was a car enthusiast.
He leaves two daughters: Elizabeth and Jessica Leach, both of Woodstock; his father Brian White of Killingly; his mother Wendy C. Leach of Brooklyn; his maternal grandparents Robert Leach of Brooklyn and grandmother Cassandra L. (Rundell) Leach of Brooklyn; paternal grandparents, Fred and Barbara White of Brooklyn; his stepfather Robert Langlois of Baltimore; three brothers: Robert, Benjamin, and Branden Langlois, all of Brooklyn.
Donations: Connecticut Humane Society and Mortlake Fire Dept., Brooklyn, CT.
Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
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Newest Members
The Putnam Rotary Club Nov. 19 inducted new members under its recently approved corporate memberships, the Arc of Eastern Connecticut and The Woodstock Academy. Left to right: Barry Shead from Arc; Brad Favreau from the academy; Judy Daviau from Arc; Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann; Crystal Simonson from Arc; John Rigney from the academy; and Kathleen Stauffer from Arc.
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