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By Ron P. Coderre
An RPC opening to Ray Navarro of Pomfret. Few believe that Navarro is an octogenarian the way he gets around town and the golf course. It’s great to open with a greeting to you, Ray.
As the National Football League winds its way to a Sunday, February 5, Super Bowl date, a number of head coaches have already been axed following the conclusion of the regular season. The Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Cardinals all said so long to their head mentors.
The Chiefs hired former New England Patriots offensive coordinator and Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis to revitalize the team. Weis promptly hired a former New London native and former Dallas Cowboy coach Dave Campo as his defensive coordinator.
The Miami Dolphins are still in search of a coach after having been rejected by Jeff Fisher, who accepted the top job with the St. Louis Rams. Fisher replaces Steve Spagnuolo who was fired on January 2, 2012 after finishing the season 2-14.
Spagnuolo, who posted a 10-38-0 log during his three-year stint with the Rams, is best known as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants. It was Spagnuolo’s defensive schemes (and Plaxico Burris’ miracle catch) that derailed the Patriots' perfect season in the 2008 Super Bowl XLII. He believes in a 4-3 base defense with a heavy emphasis on multiple blitz packages, including corner and safety blitzes.
The Putnam community is connected to the ex-Rams coach whose parents Bob and Maria Spagnuolo reside in the Antique City. Their son is a graduate of Springfield College. His coaching sojourn started at UMass as a graduate assistant before moving on to an internship with the Washington Redskins. His college stops include Lafayette, Connecticut, Maine, Rutgers and Bowling Green. He had stints overseas with the Barcelona Dragons and Frankfurt Galaxy.
Prior to assuming the head position in St. Louis, Spagnuolo worked with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in various assistant defensive positions. The way the NFL shuffles and recycles its coaches it’s almost a certainty he’ll land an assistant position at minimum or possibly another head coaching job.
Happy O’Putnam Day…
Plans are underway for a unique running event in March to get the Putnam community into the spring spirit. The Courthouse O’Putnam 5K & Wee Mile Run is scheduled for Sunday, March 11 with a start time of 1 p.m. Organizers James and Sheila Frost of The Courthouse Restaurant are hoping to attract 300 to 400 runners for the initial event. The Wee Mile event is aimed at attracting youngsters ages 2 through 11 years.
The O’Putnam is sponsored by The Courthouse with the support of the Putnam Business Association. The event is owned and operated by the Hartford Marathon Foundation, Inc. a 501© 3 organization founded in 1994 and based in Glastonbury. The mission of the organization is to empower the community to be healthy and fit by offering training and “goal” athletic events, to serve as a catalyst for charity fund-raising and to be an economic engine for the region.
Runners may register online at www.HartfordMarathon.com. Anyone wishing to volunteer should contact Nancy Fagan at 860 652-8866 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Individuals or businesses looking for sponsorship opportunities should contact Danielle Alt at 860 652-8866 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The race course, which has been approved by Putnam Police Chief Rick L. Hayes, will wind its way through Putnam, including Kennedy Drive, Arch Street, South Main Street, School Street, Providence Street and on to the finish.
The O’Putnam will mark the second major race in Putnam, joining the Deary Memorial Road Race sponsored by Day Kimball Hospital in August. Further details are expected on the O’Putnam in the near future.
Greenhalgh Scholarship Dinner…
Tickets are currently available for a spaghetti and meatball dinner that will benefit the Coach Greenhalgh Memorial Scholarship Fund. The event is organized by the Coach Greenhalgh Memorial Scholarship Committee, which is in its final year of fund-raising toward a $30,000 goal to establish a perpetual scholarship in memory of Greenhalgh.
The dinner is at 6 p.m. Feb. 17, at the VFW Post #1523 on Providence Street, Putnam. The menu, prepared by Chef Buster Corey and his staff, includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic bread, dessert and coffee. Gluten-free pasta and meat sauce will be available upon request. The cost is $15 per person. Take-out orders will be accommodated.
Committee members Kevin Shaw, Stu Neal and Roger Franklin are organizing the evening. Tickets are available from committee members, at the VFW and WINY Radio or by calling 860 928-6772 or 860 928-6615.
Jim Greenhalgh coached football, basketball and baseball at Putnam High School for more than 30 years. He also served many years as physical education teacher and guidance counselor. He was a U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant, serving in the Pacific Theater during WWII and with the occupation forces in Japan following the war. The scholarship committee has awarded three scholarships. Awardees include Kelsey Rybacki, Brittany Bousquet and Austin Dodd. Anyone wishing to support the scholarship may do so by mailing donations to CGMSF, P.O. Box 304, Putnam, CT 06260-0304.
Hoop Updates…
Congratulations to Marianapolis senior Christian Medina who recently surpassed the 1000-point career mark as a Golden Knight. Medina is the leading scorer for the Knights of Coach Andrew Vitale.
A former Golden Knight Tom Henneberry is the leading scorer at Fitchburg State University. Henneberry is the primary offensive threat for the 9-4 Falcons, who are 1-1 in the MASCAC. In Worcester, former Putnam Science Academy frontcourt standout Mike Gittens is emerging as an offensive and rebounding force for the Lancers. Gittens is averaging just over 10 points per contest for Worcester State University.
Martin J. Defocy Jr….
It was with great sadness that the word of the death of Martin J. Defocy Jr. was received by friends and family of the former Putnam and Woodstock resident. He died on New Year’s Day at his home in Hobe Sound, Fla., following a long battle with cancer.
Defocy is remembered as a young man growing up on Sabin St. in Putnam where he was a member of the Sabinites, a neighborhood sports team in the days when kids formed teams on their own. Defocy, who scaled in at about 6-feet was a standout junior high school basketball player. In later life he enjoyed hunting and fishing and NASCAR.
A veteran of the Connecticut National Guard he served as a USPO Tech at Bradley Field for many years. He was a proud member of the American Legion Post #67 in Thompson and American Veterans Post #14 in Hobe Sound. He is survived by his wife the former Theresa Auclair and three adult children. He is also survived by his sisters Phyllis (Robert) Trudeau and Sandra Crough and his nephew Glenn (Brenda) Senecal.
Defocy’s life will be remembered with a Mass at Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 28. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam. Rest in peace, Marty.
RPC’s Closing thought For The Day: Found in a church bulletin – Potluck supper: prayer and medication to follow.