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Winners

The Woodstock Academy girls' golf team with coach Earl Semmelrock. They won the ECC golf tournament. Courtesy photo.

 

By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to Richard “Dick” Tremblay of Putnam.  A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Tremblay, a Putnam High School graduate, remains very active in the Putnam community.  He’s a member of the Putnam High School Alumni Athletic Association and local veterans’ organizations.  “Semper Fi” Dick, RPC salutes you.

Quinnatisset Country Club was the setting for the 6th Eastern Connecticut Conference Girls Golf Championships on Wednesday, June 3.  The league crowned Woodstock Academy the 2015 champions.  In securing the team championship over nearest competitor Norwich Free Academy by a score of 196 to 230, the Lady Centaurs reclaimed the championship trophy from the Lady Wildcats.  In 2014 NFA edged Woodstock by one stroke, 205-206.

The championship Woodstock team coached by Earl Semmelrock was paced by medalist Roxanne Garceau, who topped the 22-player field with a nine-hole score of 43.  Garceau’s nearest competitor was Hannah Slocum of Norwich Free Academy who posted a score of 45.  Two golfers, Margaret Waugh of Stonington and Woodstock’s Elaina Becher, tied for third place with scores of 49.

Individually for Woodstock Grace Yang recorded a score of 50 and Alice Meng posted a 54 to compliment Garceau and Becher.

At the conclusion of play the ECC golf committee announced the conference all stars for the 2015 season.  Named from Woodstock Academy were Garceau, Becher and Yang, while Slocum of Norwich Free Academy and Waugh of Stonington were also named.  Rounding out the all star selections was Abigail Poirier of Tourtellotte Memorial High School. 

Danielson Rotary Club 

Prepping for 22nd Tourney

A pair of well known athletes, Bob Chenail and Jay Long, is the co-chairmen of the 22nd Danielson Rotary Club Spyder Burke Golf Tournament according to club President Donna Mercier.  The event is scheduled for a 1 p.m. shotgun start at the scenic Connecticut National Golf Course in Putnam on Friday, June 19.

The scramble format tourney is reasonably priced at $125 per golfer and includes 18 holes of golf with cart, use of the driving range, a $400 skins game, refreshments, lunch and dinner, gifts and prizes.  The competition includes closest-to-the-pin contests on all par three holes and a hole-in-one vehicle lease sponsored by King Cadillac of Putnam.  Winning foursomes will be awarded $600 cash prize for the first place, $400 for second place, $200 for third place and a $200 wild card prize.

The tournament offers sponsorship opportunities at five levels – Title Sponsor ($2000), Gold Sponsor ($1000), Silver Sponsor ($500), Bronze sponsor ($300) and Tee Sponsor ($125).  Title and Gold levels include a foursome with the sponsorship, while Silver sponsors are entitled to two players and Bronze one player with the sponsorship fee.

According to President Mercier, the proceeds from the tourney assist in supporting scholarships to local students, providing dictionaries to all third grade students in Killingly, Brooklyn and St. James schools and support of the Amber Alert registry.

Anyone wishing to enter as an individual or registering a foursome should contact Chenail at 860 923-0458 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Long at 860 428-7661 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Checks may be made out to Danielson Rotary Trust and mailed to P.O. Box 394, Danielson, CT 06239-0394.

UConn-bound Diarra Continues

 to Shine

Mamadou Diarra, the former Putnam Science Academy standout who will play in the Woodstock Academy Post Graduate program this coming season, continues to shine on the hardwood as he works his way to UConn as a member of the Class of 2016.  Since announcing his plans of accepting a scholarship with the Huskies of coach Kevin Ollie, Diarra’s confidence appears on the rise.

In the Mary Kline Classic, an annual event in West Orange, N.J., that raises funds for cancer research, Diarra showed his ability to run the court and finish, as he led his team to a 139-132 win, scoring 20 points.  Most of Diarra points were of the slam dunk variety.  The game featured top recruits from the Northeast.

Prior to returning to his second home, Putnam and northeastern Connecticut, Diarra will continue working on improving his skills and strength while playing AAU basketball with the New York Jayhawks over the summer months.

Diarra’s Putnam Science Academy teammate and friend Hamidou Diallo, from Queens, N.Y., also participated in the Mary Kline Classic.  Diallo, who will be returning to northeastern Connecticut in September, scored 13 points.  The 6-foot-5-inch guard tallied a couple three-point baskets and ran the floor scoring on breakaways.  Diallo is pointing toward the University of Connecticut in the Class of 2017.

Little East Conference Names Woodstock Grad

The Little East Conference, which includes Eastern Connecticut State University, recently announced its all star selections for the past athletic seasons.  Woodstock Academy graduate Sarah Froehlich, a junior at ECSU, was named to the All-LEC Academic Honor Roll as a member of the Lady Warriors swimming team.  Froehlich, a three-year member of the swimming team and two-year varsity letter winner, swims in the butterfly and freestyle events.  She’s majoring in elementary Education and Spanish.

Clippers Garner CSC All Star Honors

Three members of the Putnam Clippers baseball team, which concluded its 2015 season with a 9-12 record, were named to the Constitution State Conference First Team All League baseball team.

 Among the honorees was senior Jacob Guertin the Putnam catcher and one of the team’s top hitters.  He was also recently honored as the Putnam High School 2015 Male Athlete of the Year.  Guertin is a member of the TriTown American Legion Baseball program.

Also named was junior Nicholas Foucault the ace of the Putnam pitching staff and the team’s shortstop when not on the mound.  He’s also a member of the TriTown American Legion Baseball team.  The other Putnam selection was freshman Aiden Ciquera who started for the Clippers in his first season at the school.  Ciquera, a middle infielder, proved to be a valuable addition to the team, producing a number of clutch hits and a couple of game winning hits.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”  Henry Ford

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

 

Theodore Messier Sr.

PUTNAM — Theodore J. Messier Sr. (also known as Ted or T.J.), 100, formerly of Addison St., died June 7, 2015, at Westview Healthcare Center.  He was the husband of the late Lillian M. (Briere) Messier for 74 years.  Born in 1915 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Eli and Antonia (Dragon) Messier.

Ted worked as a foreman at Pratt & Whitney, a shift manager at Putnam Woolen, and a manager at Ace Cleaners and Putnam Laundry.  He was a lifelong communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation.  Ted enjoyed fishing, hunting, baseball and served as Scout Leader for Boy Scout Troop 21. He was a Fourth Degree and very active member of Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus. He served as its Financial Secretary for 39 years as well as past Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator. He was honored to serve as a District Deputy for the Connecticut Knights of Columbus. 

Ted (T.J.) leaves  his son, Robert R. Messier (Dolores) of Ellington; his daughter, Carol A. Rodriquez of Ann Arbor, Mich.; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Theresa McQueeney of Newington, and Rita Hood of E. Hartford.  He is predeceased by his son, Theodore J. Messier Jr. and his brothers Louis, Lionel and Antonio Messier. 

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. June 10 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin in the funeral home at 10 a.m. June 11 followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: St. Mary Church of the Visitation.  

 

Lionel ‘Pitu’ Blain,

Army Guard vet

DANIELSON —  Lionel J. “Pitu” Blain, 87, of Danielson, died June 4, 2015. He was born April 19, 1928, in Fairview, Mass., son of the late Leodore and Anna (LeClaire) Blain. He married Lucille Ferron on April 16, 1955. She died in 1980. He was also married to Ada Kelsey-Jacques-Blain in 1984 and died in 2004. 

Lionel was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson and a communicant of Our Lady of Peace in East Killingly until it closed. He loved going to his grandchildren’s sporting events and loved family gatherings.

Lionel was very proud of his military service in the Army National Guard and with the Army in Germany during the Korean war. He enjoyed square dancing, fishing and gardening.  He was an avid bowler at Friendly Bowl.  He grew up in Fairview and in Williamansett, Mass. 

He leaves his children: Leo Blain of Putnam, Linda (Lemery) Charron of Danielson, Lucien Blain of East Elmhurst, N.Y. and Lori Fafard of East Setauket, N.Y., his sisters Jean Morris of Plainfield, Shirley Holmes of Danielson and Cecile Blain of Plainfield; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Besides his wife Lucille Blain he was predeceased by his sister Theresa Boucher and brother Donald Blain. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was June 8 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial with military honors at Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: Day Kimball Hospice, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Marcella P. Goulet

PUTNAM — Marcella (Blain) Goulet, 85, of Cottage St., died March, 1, 2015, at home. She is the wife of the late Edward A. Goulet.  Born in 1929 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Arsene and Beatrice (Poirier) Blain.

Mrs. Goulet worked as a card tender for Belding Heminway.  She enjoyed cooking, walking, swimming and traveling.  

She leaves her godsons, Michael Phaneuf, and James Korch; nieces; and nephews.  She is predeceased by her sister, the late Irene Korch.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. June 13 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT. 06260.  

 

Brian R. LaRoche

PUTNAM — Brian R. LaRoche, 55, died May 30, 2015, as a result of an automobile accident the day before his 56 birthday.  Born in 1959 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Laurent “Joe” LaRoche and Anne R. Hayes.

Brian was an avid Red Sox fan.  He also took in stray animals and cared for them.  He enjoyed going to local ponds and rivers to feed the ducks.  He loved animals.  

He leaves his brother John; his sisters Peggy and Jo-Anne; his daughter Jessica.  He was predeceased by his parents Joe LaRoche and Anne Hayes.

The Graveside Service is at 1 p.m. June 12 in St. Joseph Cemetery, 18 Main St. N. Grosvenordale. Cremation services have been entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Freda St.Rock

DAYVILLE — Freda Mary St.Rock, 90, of Dayville, died June 4, 2015. 

Freda was born Jan. 14, 1925, in Bristol, to the late Andrzej and Julyanna (Dziepak) Pepek. She was married 44 years to her late husband Joseph W. St.Rock Jr.  He died in 1990. 

She attended Bristol schools and later attended and graduated from Tourtelotte Memorial High School in N. Grosvenordale.  She worked at Mailhot Cleaners in Danielson and then worked at the A&P in Danielson for 22 years until her retirement. 

A 70 year resident of Dayville, she was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church and an active member of her community.  From 1955 to 1975, she organized and sponsored 4-H clubs for both girls and boys teaching cooking, sewing, crafts and wood working.  Many club members took top prizes in local and state competitions. She was an advocate at town meetings and on local radio for school safety and sidewalk installation on Upper Maple Street for the Intermediate School in Killingly. She loved entertaining family as well as playing cards and board games with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She enjoyed singing and dancing and listening to polka music. She was always willing to lend a hand. 

She leaves her daughter Sandra Titchenel (Michael) of Culpepper, Va.; her sons Joseph St.Rock (Kathleen) of Stonington, John St.Rock (Heather) of Redondo Beach, Calif.; daughter Stephanie Vose (Gary) of Casa Grande, Ariz.; grandchildren, great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by a sister Antoinette Pepek, brother Chester Pepek and sister Stella Pepek, and her daughter Gail Watson.

The Mass of Christian Burial was June 9 at St. Joseph’s Church in Dayville. Interment was at the St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph’s Church, PO Box 487, Dayville, CT 06241. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

 

POMFRET — On June 1 the members of the Pomfret Independent Fire Department elected officers to lead the department for the next two years. Brett Sheldon, who currently serves an assistant chief, has been elected fire chief. Jim Fernstrom was re-elected assistant chief and Matt Morrarty, currently a captain, has been elected to the second assistant chief position. Pat Boyd, who also serves as the EMS officer, was re-elected president of the company as was Vice President Mike Dumouchel, Secretary Tori Weaver and Treasurer Marcia Williams.

Sheldon will take office on July 1 replacing Fire Chief Derek May who served the last two years as chief and assistant chief before that. The Pomfret Fire Department is always looking for new volunteers to join the effort.