Dominick Joseph Tocci
Dominick Joseph Tocci passed away at 9:37 p.m. March 21, 2026, in East Haddam.
Dom was born on July 20, 2005, the son of Lisa Madden and Joseph Tocci.
He was born at Newton-Wellesley Hospital but spent most of his life living in Woodstock.
He graduated from the Woodstock Academy in 2023 and attended the College of the Holy Cross, where he studied political science and was set to graduate in 2027.
Dom was someone everyone wanted to be around.
His coaches described him as “the kind of player every younger athlete looked up to; the kind of teammate who made the dugout lighter, and the kind of person you never forget.”
He was as stubborn as a mule and was always quick to make a wise crack that would make people laugh.
He was a human sports encyclopedia: he could tell you stats of the most random players down to the decimal point.
He was an avid sports fan as well, with his favorite teams being the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots.
His favorite color is green.
He was in Ireland for his study abroad.
When he throws a football, he throws it without the laces. He would tell you he was the worst defensive outfielder when he played baseball, but his coaches still put him out there.
The picture of him diving headfirst for a baseball that was behind him will live in all our minds.
He thought he made the best Mac’n’Cheese, which was always al dente and cooked without milk.
He had the worst sense of fashion but insisted it was “fire” – he might have the worst school photo ever taken.
He hated yard work and thought it was “useless.”
The 2015-2016 Celtics were his favorite basketball team.
He took four years of Italian in high school, but he will tell you he didn’t learn a single word.
His favorite animal was frogs.
And he loved his family.
He leaves his mother, Lisa Madden, his father Joe Tocci; two siblings, an older brother, Vincent Tocci, a younger sister, Antoinette Madden; and his stepfather, Richard Madden, stepmother Meredith Scannell-Tocci; grandfather Joel Collamore, grandfather Fran Charette, step grandparents Carla O’Malley and Rick O’Malley, step grandfather Joseph Madden. uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Visitation was March 28 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. Putnam.
A Mass was conducted March 30 at St Mary of the Hills in Boylston, Mass.
Donations: to be used to pay for baseball at all four Woodstock area teams – Woodstock Little League, Woodstock Academy Baseball, American Legion Tri-Town, and CT Mustangs.
Checks payable to Woodstock Little League, PO Box 94 Woodstock, CT 06281; or via their venmo, https://venmo.com/ code?user_id=3648163231565489 184&created=1774455047.387615&printed=1
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Randall Frederick Haines
With broken hearts and deep love, we share the passing of Randall Frederick Haines, husband of Geraldine Haines, first born son of Robert Hall Haines and Nellie Buchok of Southington. He grew up and attended schools there with his sister Cathy Haines and brother Brian Haines.
He had a loving smile and great sense of humor, loved playing guitar, and most of all had a deep love for the Lord Jesus.
He played baseball in high school, and lacrosse in college as well as other sports.
Six years at Southern Connecticut State University awarded him a master’s degree in library science.
After his marriage in 1983 to Geraldine Berger, he worked at the Choate Rosemary Hall Library in Wallingford in addition to delivering mail on campus.
Together they raised two wonderful children, Julia R. Haines and Joel C. Haines while in Wallingford then in Putnam.
While in Wallingford, he then worked at the Cheshire Reformatory as a librarian, moved onto the Manross Memorial Library in Bristol.
After moving to Putnam in 1988, he was head librarian at Pearl L. Crawford Memorial Library in Dudley.
From there he worked as children’s librarian at the Putnam Public Library and his last job as children’s librarian for 15 years at East Lyme Public Library. He attributed his love for working with children at the library to his wife, Geri Berger Haines. He loved doing story hours and crafts and arranging summer programs for the children. It brought out his more creative side, he said.
Randy battled Parkinson’s disease since 2006 for 20 years and went through multiple physical hardships through the years because of the Parkinson’s.
He loved playing Scrabble with his wife while in retirement along with Yahtzee and Bingo with his two children and three grandchildren, Lennox, Liam and Nadia Haines, in spite of his pain.
On Nov. 29, 2025, he was sent to Hartford Hospital where he was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the liver.
He died peacefully in his home with family around him on March 20, 2026.
His love for the Lord Jesus would shine through his life as he dealt with his pain through the years. He will be forever in our hearts.
A Memorial Service will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 9, at Lighthouse Church in Plainfield with reception following.
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Wed. April 1
Photo Exhibit
WOODSTOCK --- The Center for Woodstock History is presenting a photo exhibit, "Woodstock Through the Camera's Eye in Post-Civil War America." Please call for more info: 860-928-1035.
Art Exhibit
PUTNAM --- The Putnam CT Arts Council is presenting the art of Anna Ionkin in the Corridor Gallery in the Putnam Municipal Complex on School Street. The opening reception is 1 to 3 p.m. April 4. The exhibit, “Many Paths,” is on display through June. PutnamCtArtsCouncil.com
‘Raise the Coop’
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library and Tri Gable Lea Farm will present “Raise the Coop!” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the library. Everything you need to know about starting and maintaining a happy healthy flock of chickens using sustainable and organic practices.
Tues. April 7
Al-Anon Meeting
POMFRET --- Al-Anon will meet at noon on Tuesdays at the Christ Church, 527 Pomfret St. Please use the lower level door, near the flagpole. All welcome.
Sat. April 11
Cornhole Fund-raiser
N. GROSVENORDALE --- A Cornhole Tournament benefiting American Legion Post 67 veterans and community programs will be held at the legion. Doors open at 10; bags fly at 11 a.m. $70 per team (2 players per team). Register: Scoreholio – search American Legion Post 67 Cornhole Tournament; or at the legion.
Bottle, Can Drive
PUTNAM --- Paws Cat Shelter is holding a Can and Bottle Drive from noon to 3 p.m. at the shelter at 74 School St. Please separate 2-liter bottles. Pet food and donations are always welcome and greatly appreciated. 860-315-1228.
Sun. April 12
Finnish Coffee Hour
CANTERBURY --- The Finnish American Heritage Society will present an authentic Finnish coffee hour from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Finnish Hall on North Canterbury Road. Open to all ages, with juice provided for children. Free, but donations accepted to support the Society’s ongoing cultural programming. Reservations, info: 860-546-6671.
Spring Concert
CHEPACHET --- The Chepachet Baptist Church will present “An Afternoon with Fannie Crosby and Other New England Hymn Composers” with Pastor Emeritus Jeff Brooke-Stewart at 2:30 p.m. at the Meetinghouse on Rt. 44. All welcome. Free but a free will offering is welcome. Refreshments follow. Chepachetbaptist.org.
Wed. April 15
Donations Welcome
POMFRET --- From April 15 through April 28 the Windham County 4-H Auction and Tag Sale will be accepting donations for the annual auction and tag sale set for May 1 and 2. Donations accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays Wednesdays and Friday; from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.. Antiques and gently used household goods, furniture, toys, electronics, tools, books, decorative items, etc. will be welcomed . No clothing, textbooks, magazines or encyclopedias. 860-974-3379.
Sat. April 18
Spaghetti Dinner
PUTNAM – Cub Scout Pack 21 of Putnam will host its Spring Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Albert J. Breault VFW Post 1523. $10 for adults; kids 12 and under eat for free. Take-out or eat-in. Music, candy, raffles. Tickets: the VFW Post, Joseph’s Jewelers on School St. Benefits the pack’s Summer Camp Fund. 860-928-5873 (voice only).
Open House
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Open HHHouse on Taft Pond Road will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet the director and other camp staff, take a camp tour, registration materials available. 860-974-3379.
Main St. Stroll
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association and Discover Putnam will present Main Street Restaurant & Market Stroll in downtown Putnam from noon to 4 p.m.
Sun. April 19
Fund-raiser Concert
POMFRET --- Take Note!, an acapella choral group of 20 people from Mansfield Center, will raise their voices in song again at Christ Church at 3 p.m. Benefits Partners in Development, LLC, a nondenominational 501c3 charity which helps the poor in Haiti, Guatemala, Peru and the Delta of Mississippi. Free will donations accepted at the door. Refreshments afterwards.
Wed. April 22
Food Drive
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club will hold an Earth Day Food Drive from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. at WINY. Proceeds will be split between TEEG and Daily Bread.
Sun. April 26
Radio Flea Market
THOMPSON --- The Eastern Connecticut Amateur Radio Association (ECARA) will hold its flea market for 8 a.m. to noon at the Raceway Restaurant at Thompson Speedway Motorsport Park. Admission is a $7 donation to ECARA, students are admitted free. Sellers may purchase tables for $20 and spaces for tailgate sale in the parking lot for $15. Benefits ham radio operators, and showcases a service that assists the community with emergency communication capabilities. All welcome. ECARA.net.
Sat. May 2
BBQ Chicken
WOODSTOCK --- The Bungay Fire Spring Chicken BBQ takeout will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the firehouse. $15. Tickets through department member or www.bungay.com or 860-974-0316. Support 2 great causes by purchasing a meal for a veteran. We will get it to the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse for Veterans to pick up meals.
Sun. May 3
Concert
CHEPACHET --- The Music at the Meeting House at the Chepachet Baptist Church will present a 250th anniversary concert at 2:30 p.m. All welcome. Free but a free will offering will be taken. Chepachetbaptist.org
Sat. Oct. 3
Revolutionary Abington
ABINGTON --- The Pomfret 250th Committee will present a simulated battle re-enactment Oct. 3 and 4 at the Pomfret Recreation Park. There will be two encampments – one British, one American. Battles will be staged at some points Oct. 3.
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Putnam Corridor Gallery features
Anna Ionkin through June
PUTNAM — The first ever public display of the amazing art by Anna Ionkin is currently on display at the Corridor Gallery in the Putnam Municipal Complex. The show, titled “Many Paths,” features landscapes from around the Quiet Corner and places Anna has traveled over the past year. Mixed in are smaller moments from her home.
She sums up her approach to art: Nature is an overflowing well of inspiration but also a source of connection. Whether I focus on a bird, plant, a whole landscape or just the sky, I try to reimagine the familiar to make them feel more fantastical as if looking at them with new eyes by over emphasizing colors and stylization. My work connects with the people in my community who share appreciation for simple pleasures that come from hikes, bird watching, and gardening. The moments and scenes I render have a New England charm but also explore my personal experience living in rural Connecticut.”
The show will be on display until the end of June. The Corridor Gallery, sponsored by the Putnam Arts Council, is in the Putnam Municipal Complex, 200 School St. Hours and more information are available at PutnamCtArtsCouncil.com
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Danco Bridge progress in good form
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — It’s full steam ahead on construction of the Danco Drive Bridge.
Last week, crews from NJR Construction LLC of Torrington, built forms for the “wing walls” that will channel the upstream water under the new bridge. This entailed support posts and braces, heavy plywood and massive rebar.
March 30, the main middle section of the “wings” was filled with concrete. The form for that section was removed March 31.
Next week the two outer wing wall section forms will be filled with concrete.
Once that is complete, the bridge surround will be backfilled and by then the asphalt facilities should be opened. The bridge will be paved and guard rails will be added. NJR hopes, if all stays on schedule, to have the bridge finished by the end of April.
Last year Town Administrator Elaine Sistare said the state had changed it rules years ago and left the inspection of any bridge shorter than 20 feet as a town’s responsibility. The new Danco Bridge will be 20 feet, 6 inches long.
The approximate cost for the bridge replacement is $2.6 million. Fifty percent of it is handled by the state and the other 50 percent is covered by the town. The grant was approved a couple years ago and the town had been adding to the capital projects budget to cover the town’s half.
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caption:
Left: Building the forms. Bottom left: "Rebar" extraordinaire. The middle section is covered because rain was forecast. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page.
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