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caption, pg. 10:
'Father Time'
Putnam High School’s “Father Time,” Moe Coderre , at his favorite seat in the Clipper gym. Courtesy photo.
By Ron Coderre
By his own admission, he has “the best seat in the house.”
His cushioned chair is on a pedestal in the middle of a huge room, where he commands all the action with the touch of a finger and the push of a button. He’s not a king or a president. He’s not even a governor or mayor. He’s Maurice “Moe” Coderre, the man who for 26-plus years and more than 1,200 Putnam High School boys’ and girls’ basketball games and various tournaments, has served as the official timer of the Putnam Clippers.
Moe’s attachment to Putnam High School sports goes back many years. In the early 1960s he was a three-sport standout athlete for coach Jim Greenhalgh. Coderre earned 10 varsity letters as a Clipper, where he was captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams. He graduated from Putnam in 1962 after having amassed 305 career points as a Clipper hoopster, a very respectable number during his era.
Upon graduation he spent four years in the United States Air Force. He returned after earning an honorable discharge and married his sweetheart the former Pam Zamagni. Together Moe and Pam had two sons, Derek and Lance. They are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren.
As the story goes, in 1985 when Moe’s son Lance was a member of the freshman basketball team, he was asked to serve as the timer for a game and the rest is history. He’s been at mid-court on the clock since then and is proud of the fact that he’s only missed one game as he begins his 27th season as Putnam’s official timekeeper.
“Moe’s not just another face in our gym. He’s a fixture. We feel he’s the best. That’s why I refer to him as ‘father time’,” said Putnam boys’ coach Shawn Deary.
In real life Moe’s spent 33 years as general manager at U.S. Button Corporation and 10 years at Pallflex Corporation as operations manager. Both positions are stressful and have placed heavy demands on his time. He was honored by the Putnam Rotary Club in 2008 as the recipient of the prestigious Vocational Service Award. Despite the demands of work he truly enjoys coming to the Putnam gym in his off time.
“Managing the clock, even in close games, has become a form of relaxation for me. I’ve had the luxury to work with great scorekeepers and have gotten to meet some wonderful people over the years. Besides that, I have the best seat in the house,” Coderre said proudly.
“Moe is probably the most respected timekeeper in Eastern Connecticut,” said Charlie Lee, president of the Eastern Board of Basketball Officials. “Walking into the Putnam gym as an official, it’s comforting to know that you have a competent timer in Moe. He’s like a third referee,” he added.
During his tenure on the clock Coderre has gone from the original manual clock to two different versions of the electronic clock. Despite the changes he very seldom if ever lost track of time. He’s seen some of the very best Putnam and visiting players come through the gym. And he further noted that he’s now seeing the sons and daughters of players from the past.
His work on the clock has not gone totally unrecognized. The school presented him with a Putnam Clipper golf shirt embroidered with his name. He’s also been honored by the Board of Education with the Pride of Putnam Award in recognition of his support of the student athletes.
He’s also become known as Putnam’s version of the famous tenor Ronan Tynan for his singing of the National Anthem. He’s so renowned that the WINY sports crew broadcasting Clipper home games actually ask for him to sing the Anthem live on air prior to the game.
“It all started one night when a recording of ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’ was inadvertently on the tape. I asked the people to join with me in singing the Anthem. As I sang, everyone was silent and that was the beginning of my singing career,” said Coderre.
“We’re very fortunate at Putnam High to have a professional such as Moe on the clock. The game is in good hands, making it reassuring when we look up from the bench and see him sitting high above courtside,” said Putnam girls’ coach Willie Bousquet.
From inauspicious beginnings at a freshman basketball game to the pinnacle of the timekeeping ladder, Moe Coderre has never missed a beat. Although he’s ready to retire from his professional life, he’s vowed to stay in ‘the best seat in the house’ for years to come.