By Ron P. Coderre

There are individuals who go through life and are well known, yet they don’t seem to get the recognition they deserve for the deeds they accomplish.  These individuals fit the description of “unsung hero.”  Often their contributions are only made known following their death.

One such person was Gerald “Gerry” St. Jean of Putnam, who died on Sept. 21.  Gerry was one of those people who enjoyed a life filled with love, laughter and family but, who on top of all that was able to positively affect the lives of so many others.  Especially young people who are model adults today thanks to the influence he along with his wife Claire had on them as youngsters.

St. Jean was born in 1929 during the height of the Great Depression.  The lessons he learned growing up he passed on to the next generation as a way of sharing.  This was something everyone did in the decade of the ‘30s, but St. Jean did it in a special way.

Loyal to his country, St. Jean enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1948 and was honorably discharged in 1952.  It was in the Corps that St. Jean acquired a skill that he would carry with him throughout his lifetime, writing sports.  According to his DD Form 214, his MOS was reporter. 

St. Jean brought his love of writing, particularly sports, to Putnam in the form of his weekly column in the Windham County Observer-Putnam Patriot, ‘The Saint Sez.”  The column was one of the most popular and widely read sports features in Eastern Connecticut and one that people enjoyed during Gerry’s many years on the keyboard.  Along with his wife, Claire, he also published a magazine titled “Sport Light,” which certainly is a collector’s item today.

His biggest contribution to the youth of Putnam and vicinity was the organization of the St. Mary’s Crusaders youth football team.  Once again, with his wife fully in support, they developed a youth football program that was unparalleled in all of New England.  The pair raised the fund, purchased the equipment, provided the transportation and lodging and coached the Crusaders, who year after year produced near perfect records in addition to involving numerous young men and women (as cheerleaders) with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

In high school, St. Jean was a running back on the 1948 Putnam State championship team, although for an unknown reason was the only player absent when the championship photo was taken.  Although he’s mentioned in many of the clippings that exist today, he was not the star of the team.  A very good athlete, he was often overshadowed by other teammates, but yet was a valuable member of the Clipper teams of his era.

Even within the St. Jean family he was overshadowed athletically by his brothers, Edmund “Tonto” and Russ who were stars of the Putnam Hawks softball team that took on all comers, from all corners of New England, something he was very proud of.  

As a dad he was proud of the accomplishments of his four children, Kevin and Tim, who were musicians and Jim and Laurie, who were standout athletes.  There was no halfway for Gerry St. Jean.  Whether it was a concert or a band performance for Kevin or Tim or a big football game for Jim or State basketball game or college game for Laurie, Gerry and Claire were in for the duration.

You see, Gerry St. Jean was a man who grew up appreciating the value of respect and hard work.  He passed that on to his children and to his extended family, the kids of the Putnam area.  He also taught them the value of humor and humility in all that they did and achieved in life.  Today the quartet is a reflection of their dad and mom, solid contributing members of society who also care about the welfare of their friends and fellow citizens.

Gerry St. Jean never proclaimed to be a hero.  Not in the military.  Or in his everyday life.  Not as a father, husband, brother or friend.  All he ever did was to be there whenever and wherever he was need.  That’s a true “unsung hero.”

Putnam has lost the “unsung hero” but when you see someone doing something for others today, it just might be because he or she was a disciple of Gerry “The Saint Sez” St. Jean.  Rest in peace my friend.