By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to Thompson resident Robin Paquette.  A noted local travel agent, Paquette celebrated a special birthday on Wednesday, September 2.  She notes that it’s easy to remember how old she is because she was born shortly following the famous Flood of ’55.  Can you figure out how old she is?  Happy Birthday, Robin.

Thompson Man Relishes 

Every Golfer’s Dream

A hole-in-one is a shot that every golfer dreams of achieving.  Like the elusive romantic dream, it usually occurs when one least expects it.  Thompson resident Rene Morin, who’s been in the woods a few times during his 30-plus year golfing career, recorded his first ace on Monday, August 31.

Morin, who was competing in the Quinnatisset Country Club Monday Twi-Lite League, recorded his dream shot on the par-3, 15th hole, which was playing 172 yards.  The 15th is a scenic hole lined on both sides by towering pines and plays to an undulating elevated green.  He used his trusty Cleveland 5-wood for the shot, while playing his favorite Callaway ball.

“It was a beautiful shot right off the club.  From the moment I struck the ball I was pleased with the contact.  One of my opponents, Dennis Shippee said, ‘Great shot. I saw it disappear,’ as the ball rolled into the cup,” said Morin.

The shot was witnessed by his playing partner Jim “Pancho” Raftery and his opponents Shippee and Al “Chic” Giovanni.  Raftery joked, “I swear Rene hit his driver on the hole.”  Morin carded a 42 for nine-holes, while Raftery recorded a 46, Shippee 44 and Giovanni 45.  RPC sends along congratulations.

Brooklyn Fair 5K

in the Record Books

The Brooklyn Fair 5K attracted a field of 248 runners, one of its largest fields in the history of the event.  Former Brooklyn resident Nick Magani, who now lives in Higganum, crossed the finished line first in a time of 15:45.  A few weeks back, Magani finished third in the Deary Memorial Five- Mile Race.  Plainfield’s Michael Stadolnik was second at 16:41.

The 2015 women’s crown went to Sturbridge, Mass., resident and local favorite Linda Spooner.  She bested the female competition with a time of 18:35, in front of second-place finisher Kelly Labanara of Chaplin who posted a time of 19:32.  Spooner, who was 10th overall in Brooklyn, was the second-place finisher in the female competition in the Deary Memorial Race.

Welcome Home

A former Tourtellotte Memorial High School three-sport athlete has returned to northeastern Connecticut following a 20-year career as a corrections officer in Pennsylvania.  Jeff Lesniewski, who graduated from Penn State University, retired at the beginning of the summer and is now living in Woodstock.

As a high school athlete, “Spar” as he’s affectionately referred to by his friends starred in baseball, soccer and basketball for the Tourtellotte Tigers.  He followed in the footsteps of his older brothers John and Jay as a member of the TriTown American Legion team.  He’s the son of Stan and Barbara Lesniewski of Thompson.

Zone VI Stars

American Legion Baseball Zone VI Commissioner John Krot recently announced the all stars for the recently concluded season.  Named as reserves were Kolby Reggione of Danielson Post #21, Josh Allard of TriTown and Mike Esposito of Plainfield Post #91.  Esposito also was the winner of the Sportsmanship Award.  J.P. Bergeron was the TriTown winner and Dylan Clarkin was named from Danielson.

Former Putnam Clipper Passes Away

Friends of Charlie Perkins were saddened to learn of his death.  The 1954 graduate of Putnam High School died on July 21 while undergoing surgery.  Perkins is remembered as a feisty defensive back for the Putnam Clippers of coach Jim Greenhalgh.  Despite his diminutive size as a high school football player, Perkins was never afraid to lay a solid hit on an opponent.

Anyone wishing to remember Charlie Perkins may do so by sending a donation to the Putnam High School Alumni Athletic Association c/o Lee Beausoleil, 19 Memorial Terrace, Putnam, CT 06260.

92 Years Young and 

Still Playing (Good) Golf

Carl “Amazing” Eisen continues to dazzle his golfing friends with his skills on the links.  At the ripe young age of 92, the spirited Eisen is a regular at Roseland Golf Course in Woodstock.  In a recent match, while playing in the foursome of Tom Kenyon, “Chico” Panu and Tom Denardis, Eisen recorded a nine-hole score of 38.  His hole of the round was the 8th – where he had a birdie on the par four 385-yard hole by sinking a three foot putt.  RPC extends a Tip of the Sports Fedora to the “Amazing” nonagenarian.

It’s Not Necessarily a Man’s World

In the ever changing world of sports, more and more women are infiltrating the coaching ranks of the men’s game.  Witness Becky Hammon serving as an assistant basketball coach for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA and Jen Welter, who is a linebacker coach for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL.

In northeastern Connecticut, 1997 Putnam High School graduate Stephanie Oles has broken ground as she begins her second season as the boys’ soccer coach at Sterling Community School.  Oles, a graduate of UMass-Dartmouth and master’s degree recipient from the University of Arizona, led the team to victory in her initial season.  Her goal this season is to improve on last year’s record.  In her real life, Oles is the manager of 85 Main in Putnam.

Heading To The Hall

Congratulations to former Griswold and Ellis Tech cross-country coach Gerry Chester, who was selected for induction into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.  This is the 39th annual induction ceremony.  The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 19 at the Aqua Turf in Southington.

During his coaching days Chester had a magic touch in developing quality runners and teams.  At Ellis Tech his teams won five State titles.  In 1999 he moved on to Griswold where his teams captured eight State championships.  He’s also developed more than 100 quality high school runners, who later went on to college.

The election into the CHSCA Hall of Fame isn’t the first time that Chester’s been honored.  In 1992 he was the CITCA Coach of the Year and in 1995 received the same honor from the CHSCA.  The icing on the cake for Chester came in 1996 when he was named the National Cross-Country Coach of the Year.

ESPN Recognition

Hamidou Diallo, the Putnam Science Academy basketball standout who hails from Queens, N.Y., has seen his recognition star rising of late.  In addition to being heavily recruited by numerous NCAA Division I schools, he was recently recognized by ESPN.  

In its latest rankings of the college freshman class of 2017 Diallo was ranked in the Top 60 in the nation.  He was the top ranked prospect in New England, where he landed in the 10th spot of the 60 players rated.

Diallo and the Mustangs arrived on the Maple St. campus over the Labor Day weekend, ready to begin the 2015-2016 school year and basketball season.

It’s Nice To Give Back

One final note involving baseball occurred on Thursday, August 27 at the Connecticut Tigers game against the Lowell Spinners at Dodd Stadium in Norwich.  My little company, RPC Associates, hosted 18 local individuals in a suite at the game, which coincidentally went 12 innings before the Tigers were able to walk off with a 3-2 victory.

On hand for the evening were David Smutnick, Roger Franklin, Victor Kratz, Tom Auclair, Barney Seney and Donald Steinbrick of American Legion Post #13.  Also there were John Foucault, Mike Carignan and Dan Durand of the TriTown American Legion Baseball team coaching staff.  And a contingent of relatives and friends, including State Representative Dan Rovero, Bob Jacques, Paul Aldrich, Mike “The Mailman” Coderre, Jim St. Jean, Romeo Blackmar, Chris “CC” Coderre, Tom Espinosa and the last man to let you down, Bob Fournier.  Woodstock resident Brad Favreau, a member of the Tigers front office staff served as our group’s liaison and was tuned into every detail to make the evening comfortable for everyone.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “If I didn’t wake up I’d still be sleeping.”  Yogi Berra

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