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- Category: Past Issues
By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty hello goes out to former Putnam business man Charlie Puffer. Since his retirement in December, he’s now able to pursue his love of golf as well as devoting more time to watching and analyzing his beloved New England Patriots.
Word from Pomfret School was received regarding wrestler RJ LaBeef who was recently nominated for a prestigious recognition award. LaBeef, a senior at Pomfret, has been nominated by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for the noted 2012 Dave Schlutz High School Excellence Award, which is presented annually to a high school senior.
LaBeef, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald LaBeef of Pomfret, has been a standout wrestler for the Griffins for four years. He was nominated for the award based on his excellent performance on the wrestling mat as well as his outstanding work in the classroom. Additionally, the award recognizes individuals who are active in their school and in the community. Each honoree will receive a plaque from the Hall of Fame and their name will appear on a bronze plaque at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Wrestling is an integral part of the LaBeef family. His dad, Ronald, has been an active cog in youth wrestling in northeastern Connecticut for many years. He’s also coached on the high school and prep level. Young RJ cut his wrestling teeth in youth programs prior to moving on to Pomfret School.
The hard work that LaBeef has put in over the years is paying off handsomely for him. In September he’ll be heading to NCAA Division I Cleveland State where he’ll continue his education and his wrestling career.
Duke University Honors
Ashley Trama…
The CHAVI Scientific Leadership Group selected Ashley Trama of Duke University as the Young Investigator of the Month for January 2012. The award recognizes outstanding young investigators who have made significant contributions and who have been nominated by their mentors for exceptional leadership and valuable research.
Trama, a 2008 graduate of College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, studied in Dr. Ann Sheehy’s lab, investigating HIV-1. She joined the labs of Dr. Barton Haynes and Dr. Larry Liao in 2009 at Duke University. She is currently a PhD candidate in the cell and molecular biology program and the immunology department at Duke.
Ashley is the granddaughter of Peter and Dorothy Trama of Putnam. Her dad is former Putnam High School basketball standout Paul Trama and her mother, the former Sue Meade, a standout athlete at Marianapolis Prep in Thompson. Miss Trama played rugby while she studied at Holy Cross. She’s a graduate of Mercy High School in Middletown where she was a standout member of the soccer team.
Woodstock Academy Planning
Athletic Hall of Fame…
Woodstock Academy and the Woodstock Academy Alumni Association have begun serious work on the establishment of a Woodstock Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. The inaugural class is scheduled to be inducted in the fall of 2012.
The Hall of Fame will provide a forum to recognize individuals, alumni and others, who have distinguished themselves in athletics while at the Academy and later in life. Nominees will be rated in five categories, athlete, coach, athletic director, team and booster/benefactor.
The Academy is inviting alumni and the general public to submit nominations to the Woodstock Academy Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. Nomination forms and induction criteria can be found on the Academy website, www.woodstockacademy.org. They are also available in the Alumni Office or by contacting Kristen Willis, director of Development & Alumni Relations, at 860-963-4926.
The organizing committee is planning to honor the initial class of inductees at a banquet in the fall, on a yet to be determined date. After the initial induction class, future classes will be presented on a biannual basis. Hall of Fame inductees will be enshrined on a wall of recognition on the campus of Woodstock Academy.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” Theodore Roosevelt.