By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s sporty RPC shoutout is sent along to Dick Bianchi.  Most people don’t realize that Bianchi’s given first name is Edward.  During his heyday in high school, Bianchi was a stalwart on the offensive and defensive line for the Putnam Clippers football team.  Bianchi blew out another candle on the cake on Tuesday, September 2.

In a brief announcement from the office of Putnam Superintendent of Schools William Hull it was revealed that the Clippers have a new Director of Athletics following the resignation in June of the previous AD Rick Konieczni.

Putnam stayed within its system with the naming of Molly Panteleakos from what was described as a “very strong pool of candidates for the position.”  Panteleakos has been a member of the Putnam faculty since 2012, serving as a Physical Education teacher at Putnam High School.

“Mrs. Panteleakos will be an advocate for the high school, our coaches, but most of all, for our students,” said Superintendent Hull.

Mrs. Panteleakos, who has earned a reputation as a hard working, dedicated professional during her brief tenure at Putnam High School, has a bachelor’s from Eastern Connecticut State University in physical and health education.  She has a master’s in educational technology, also from ECSU.

Mrs. Panteleakos assumed her new position with the start of the 2014-2015 school year. 

Going The Distance In Memory

 of Grandma

Woodstock resident Cary Bentley, who recently completed the excruciating Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hill Climb in New Hampshire, is off on his next physical challenge and he’s hoping that his effort catches on with local residents.  On Sunday, November 2 Bentley will join tennis professional Caroline Wozniacki and thousands of other runners in the New York Marathon.

Bentley will be running the marathon on behalf of the New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.  His run is dedicated to the memory of his late grandmother Ruby Bentley who died after struggling with the dreaded disease.  The New York City Marathon has been a personal goal of Bentley’s for some time.  He’ll be part of the “Athletes To End Alzheimer’s” team.

“We as a family saw firsthand the impact this devastating disease had on my grandmother’s daily life as she battled the disease until the end.  It was truly heart breaking, and words can’t describe what Alzheimer’s took from her,’ said Bentley in an e-mail.

“Running for the Alzheimer’s team is an opportunity to continue to spread the word.  Alzheimer’s disease is greater than one person or family.  More than five million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer’s disease,” he stated in the e-mail.

Bentley has set a goal of $3,500 to assist the Alzheimer’s Association in its fight to end this devastating disease.  He’s looking for support in his quest to reach his financial goal.  Any donation is 100% tax deductible and can be made on his personal fund-raising page at http://act.alz.org/goto/carybentley-nycm14.  Those individuals who prefer can mail a check payable to “Alzheimer’s Association,” including the event information (2014 NYC Marathon – New York, NY & Mr. Cary Bentley) on the check.  Checks should be mailed to Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter, 360 Lexington Ave. – 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

Following The Machnicki Tour

Putnam resident Will Machnicki, who plays golf out of Mohegan Sun Country Club at Pautipaug, has been busy on the links this summer.  In July he played in the annual Connecticut Father & Son Tournament and most recently competed in the Connecticut Mid-Amateur.

On Thursday, September 4 Machnicki will once again be in competition representing the Mohegan Sun CC at the CSGA’s 74th Four-Ball Championship.  He’ll be representing his home course with fellow golfers Chris Grieder and Frank Villazante.  The Four-Ball is being held this year at The Course at Yale.            

The Ageless Boys of Summer

One of the best kept baseball secrets is the Rhode Island & Massachusetts Senior Baseball League, which competes at local sites throughout the Ocean State and the Bay State.  The league has two divisions, the Over 50 and Over 58, composed of former high school, college, minor league and major league players.

Pomfret’s John Smutnick, who during the winter in Florida has participated in the Roy Hobbs World Series, is active in both divisions.  He pitches and plays shortstop for the EWG Waves in the Over 50 Division and for the Raves in the Over 58 Division.  One of Smutnick’s teammates is former Boston Red Sox pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, who continues to toil on the mound and at first base when not on the hill.

“The guys who play on these teams are diehard baseball men, who just don’t want to give up the game.  Personally, I play because of my love of the game,” said Smutnick.

Mike Fortin and Jim Dexter of Danielson are members of the Marlins.  Believe it or not, Fortin is a catcher, while Dexter pitches and plays third base.

From The Where Are 

They Now Files

Remember Denny Morrison the name?  The once great running back and standout baseball player of the Killingly High School Redmen is still in the area. During his days on the gridiron for Killingly he was literally unstoppable as a runner.  He was also one of the top players on the former Deary Bros. softball team that dominated area leagues.  Morrison currently holds a middle management position at the Rite Aid plant in Dayville.  He sends along best wishes to all his former teammates and friendly opponents.

Wedding Bells…

Former Putnam resident Jillian D’Elia and Donnie Marshall, the former University of Connecticut basketball standout, recently celebrated their lives by saying, “I do.”  The destination wedding took place in the Virgin Islands and was attended by the groom’s mother Bobbi Marshall and the bride’s parents Barney and Sara Seney.  Also on hand was the bride’s sister Jennifer D’Elia, her aunt Lois Pray, as well as the couple’s children Savannah and Malia.

Jillian is a marketing executive with United Natural Foods Inc.  Her husband, who had a brief career in the National Basketball Association, is a member of the broadcast team for the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: Energy is contagious…Exercise regularly, at least five times a week, 40 minutes a day.

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