DKH seeks
volunteers
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare is seeking teenagers who are interested in volunteering for Day Kimball Hospital’s summer Junior Volunteer Program. The program offers teens a first-hand experience of working in the healthcare field and provides community service hours for school requirements.
The program runs from June through August requiring a minimum of eight hours per week from each volunteer. Junior volunteers are responsible for many tasks including transporting patients, running errands, helping in various departments and assisting staff in the Emergency Department. After gaining valuable work experience, the juniors are rewarded for their diligent efforts with a trip to Ocean Beach and an Awards Night at the end of the program.
Sandra Gould, junior volunteer coordinator, said, “Day Kimball’s Junior Volunteer Program is a great way for teenagers to explore careers in healthcare, while at the same time providing their community with a valuable service. I look forward to another successful summer program this year.”
Students who have completed their freshman year of high school up to the age of 18 may apply for the program. Applications are available in school guidance counselor offices, at the Day Kimball Hospital Front Desk and on the Volunteer webpage at www.daykimball.org. For more information or to request an application be mailed, call Day Kimball’s Volunteer Services Department at (860) 963-6458.
Admitted
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --- Saylee Phongsamphanh of Danielson has been admitted to American International College in Springfield, Mass. Phongsamphanh, a graduate of Killingly High School, is a Psychology Major (BS) major.
By Ron P. Coderre
It was quite fitting that the funeral for coach Bob Deveau, who died March 20 at the age of 77, was on a Saturday. It seems like it was only yesterday, when on Saturday afternoons at Murphy Park that Deveau and his Clipper football teams performed in front of avid cheering football fans, on hand to watch some of the best teams in the history of Putnam football.
Saturday morning in cavernous St. Mary Church in Putnam approximately 100 family members, friends, former coaches, former players and former students gathered to pay their final respects to the man who they respectfully referred to as “Coach.” There wasn’t any loud cheering, only whispered words and couched sobs as the gathering said its final good bye.
In a quiet fashion Bob Deveau was a very proud man. Proud of his time spent with the U.S. Marine Corps. Proud of his days on the gridiron at his high school alma mater Griswold and his college, little Arnold College, which has morphed into Bridgeport University. Proud of his children and family, and his sister Julie Rawson and her son Gerry, who were his family during his bachelor days. But when the topic turned to Putnam football that’s what evoked the biggest smile on Deveau’s cherubic face.
Coach Deveau came to Putnam in 1972 to assume the football job from the legendary coach Jim Greenhalgh, no small task. With the exception of one season when he was an assistant at Fitch, Deveau molded a winning program that he nurtured for 25 years, which will always be remembered whenever and wherever Putnam football is discussed.
There was a point in his tenure as Putnam coach beginning in the fall of 1983, when that team produced a 10-0 record, that Deveau and his Clippers were owners of the highest winning percentage of any high school team in Connecticut. It seemed every fall his teams were undefeated or had only a single loss. And whether it was luck or skill, Deveau produced a stable of running backs season upon season that was unparalleled.
On Saturday, the co-captains from his first undefeated season Bob Mooney and Dave Coderre were on hand to see their former coach off, as were former players Steve Faucher, Brian Herlihy, Rick Weiss, Chris Coderre and John, Michael and Peter Deary, and probably other. It was Peter Deary, who was not only a co-captain but later served as an assistant, in delivering the eulogy, lauded Deveau as a “coach, teacher and mentor of young men, whom he loved equally in a special way.”
Coach Bob Deveau has heard his final cheers but the memories will linger. He’ll always be remembered for his famous ‘20-trap pass’, a play that worked to perfection for his teams. He’ll be remembered as an innovator, which many claim he developed offensive formations that later became famous in the college and professional ranks. But most of all, when the name Coach Deveau comes up in future conversations, it will be synonymous with caring, loyal friend.
The last time I saw Bob Deveau, about two months ago, I recognized him when I saw the license plate - 20-Trap. If it wasn’t for the plate I might not have known it was him because he appeared to have aged beyond his 77 years. He suffered through some tragic moments in life, which contributed to his aging, but always persevered. His passing, though sad, will certainly serve as an inspiration when times are tough, to those who knew the man they lovingly called “Coach.”
By Ron P. Coderre
Now that the high school and prep school seasons and tournaments have concluded, all star games have become the order of the day.
The Putnam Rotary Club Ray Brousseau Memorial Senior All Star Shootout, originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, was the victim of snow and rescheduled for the following Tuesday, March 26, weather permitting. A full reporting of both the girls and boys games will be featured in Putnam Town Crier Sports next week.
Fortunately, for the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Basketball Festival, both the boys and girls contests dodged the weather bullet. The games were held on separate dates and at separate locations.
The boys played on Wednesday at Maloney High School in Meriden and the girls on Thursday at North Branford. Both contests had a local connection.
The Class LL vs. Class L contest had Woodstock coach Greg Smith on the bench for the Class L unit as one of the coaches and Centaur standout Ian Converse was on the floor representing the area.
Converse as has been his habit this season didn’t disappoint scoring 10 points and providing offensive spark in a losing effort, as his team went down 113-93.
In the female game on Thursday, Putnam coach Willie Bousquet was on the bench for the Class S team with his star, Ashley Espinosa.
The team was beaten by Class M 81-71. Espinosa, who continues to nurse a knee injury, saw limited action, playing about one minute each half.
Notes
Woodstock Academy climbed back into the State rankings following its 52-49 win over Trinity Catholic in the Class L title game. The Centaurs, who were unranked the previous week, finished 3rd in the New Haven Register Media Poll and 3rd in the Hartford Courant poll …The Hartford Courant recognized Woodstock’s Ian Converse as the Best Male Individual Performer in the entire State Tournament playoffs.
The paper also recognized Woodstock as The Best Student Section, noting “the arena rocked with the Centaur fans who were the loudest and appeared to have the greatest numbers.
Surprisingly, Converse prior to the team’s State tourney run hadn’t received a great deal of attention from college coaches.
That changed on Saturday, March 22 for the 6’5” Converse as he received an invitation for a workout at NCAA Div. II Assumption College in Worcester.
On hand for the CHSCA All Star Festival at Maloney High School was former Centaur Dennis Kelly, who reports he thought Converse was equal to or better than all the players in the LL vs. L game.
News from Marianapolis Sports Department reports that senior, 1000-point scorer Sydney Latour was named the 2013 SENE Player of the Year. Her teammates, junior Jillian Bodreau and sophomore Julia Ford were recognized with second-team All Conference honors …Former Killingly High School three-sport standout Kirk Kaczor, who is the coach at Lyme/Old Lyme High School was one of the coaches in the CHSCA Class S vs. Class M contest.
Look for the Putnam Town Crier Sports high school and prep school all stars who’ll be unveiled next week.