By Ron P. Coderre
Shortly after Thanksgiving Day the boys’ basketball season started with the usual amount of anxiety and anticipation. It’s hard to believe that within a week the 2015-2016 regular season will come to a close and the postseason will be upon us.
With just a few games remaining the only high school teams locked into the postseason are Plainfield and Putnam. Woodstock Academy, Tourtellotte and Ellis Tech are definitely locked out. Killingly with some last gasp performances is one win shy of qualifying with only a single game remaining on its schedule.
In the prep ranks, Putnam Science Academy, which just enjoyed one of the biggest weeks in its hoop history, is rolling along at 30-3. The Mustangs posted four big victories last week as they eye a return to the National Prep School Championships.
Pomfret School enjoyed a good week, winning both games it was involved in. Hyde School-Woodstock, which lost to PSA picked up wins in its other two games. Marianapolis took the collar going 0-2 on the week.
Conference and CIAC Tournaments
Around the Corner
Killingly High School holding on to the slimmest of opportunities to make the post season picked up two wins last week as it fights for its tournament life. The Redmen, who are 7-12 need on win with one game left on the schedule. They are 2-7 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium division.
The Redmen opened play last week on a high note, eking out a 50-49 victory on the road in East Lyme. Chace Wood with 16 and freshman Luke Desaulnier with 10 were the big reason for the win.
In a must win situation against Montville, coach Jimbo Crabtree’s troops crumbled, losing 53-49 at home. A 20-point fourth-quarter effort fell just short of victory. Desaulnier came up big in the loss with 16 points, while Wood added a dozen.
Against Wheeler the team responded with a 74-56 victory edging them closer to the postseason goal. Brendan Turner came up big against the Lions with 22 points. He received offensive support from Woods who added 12.
Plainfield took it on the chin from Woodstock in a game they may have been counting in the Win column. On their home court the Centaurs beat the Panthers 52-46. Sam Majek was the culprit who destroyed the Panthers, scoring 21 points. He received help from Nick Short who tossed in 14. Dylan Horn had 17 points in one of his best games for the Panthers this season. Liam Jacobs added 11.
Plainfield bounced back and took out its revenge on Tourtellotte, beating the Tigers 80-27 to raise its record to 10-9. Jacobs was high man for Plainfield with 15, while Horn had another good game with 11 points. Jeff Nicolosi was game high scorer with 19 points. Tourtellotte lost its only other game, 49-29 to St. Bernard. The Tigers are 5-14 on the year and 1-8 in the ECC Small Division.
Woodstock, which closed out the previous week with a 49-27 loss to University also lost two other games last week. They were beaten by Ledyard 83-59 and Bacon Academy 55-49. Majek had 18 and Jared Bouten 17 in the Ledyard contest. Majek posted 21 against Bacon. He was joined in double figures by Bryce Jarret with 12 and Short with 10. The Acads are 5-14 overall and 0-8 in the ECC large Division.
Putnam was demolished by its Constitution State Conference East Division opponent Norwich Tech 55-29 in its only game of the week. The Clippers are 8-8 on the season and 6-3 in the CSC East Division. Ellis Tech fell to 0-17 on the season, when it lost 75-20 to Tolland and 72-55 to Grasso Tech.
PSA Rolling
Toward Nationals
An awakened and enlightened Putnam Science Academy team sensing the National Prep School Championships rolled through four opponents in raising its record to 30-3. The Mustangs opened in Woodstock against the Hyde Wolfpack and won 67-52 as coach Tom Espinosa rested his big three, Mamadou Diarra, Hamidou Diallo and Saul Phiri. Four players, led by 15 points from Sean Delaney were in double figures in the win. Tyreek Perkins added 10, Ajiri Johnson 13 and Darnell Brodie had a dozen for the Mustangs.
Next up was Brimmer & May in a game played on the Maple St. campus. The Mustangs beat B & M 85-59 to the delight of the full house in attendance. Diallo was the leading scorer with 21 points, while Jaheam Cornwall had 11, Phiri 13 and Diarra and Tyere Marshall 12 each.
Prior to a matchup of Top 10 teams against Brewster Academy, PSA rolled past Clarkson 112-69. The much anticipated contest against powerhouse Brewster went to the Mustangs 81-65, avenging one of the team’s losses last season.
Diarra and Diallo each posted a double-double with Diarra scoring 18 and grabbing 12 boards and Diallo tallying 13 and nabbing 10 caroms. Fourteen players got into the score book with Brandon Hurst contributing 11.
Pomfret School and Marianapolis, two northeastern Connecticut preps, faced off in Thompson with the Golden Griffins escaping with a 72-64 victory. Vince Conn with 20 and Cam Winston with 19 were Pomfret's top gunners. Gerald Blount added 13 for the winners. Tyler Burton was the high scorer for the Golden Knights with 16, while Joe Del Ricci chipped in 13 and Andrew Ford 12.
Pomfret raised its record to 14-6 with a 71-69 nail biter over Rivers School. The Griffins survived a shot at the buzzer for the victory thanks to 23 points from Conn and 18 from Winston. Blount posted a double-double, 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Marianapolis lost its only other game, a 72-62 decision to Millbrook School. Del Ricci with 21 points was high man for the Golden Knights while Dominique Senat added 15 for 5-16 Marianapolis.
Following its loss to Putnam Science Academy, Hyde-Woodstock picked up a pair of victories. The Wolfpack bested the Dexter School 75-50 thanks to Rodney Ray who posted 26 points and 10 boards. Eamonn Joyce who had 19 points tallied the 1000th point of his career at Hyde.
The Wolfpack followed the win with an easy 97-38 victory over Hebron Academy. Ray led the way once again with a 24-point performance. Kris Carroll had 15 points and five assists for the 11-11 Hyde-Woodstock contingent.
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David C. Gity
N. GROSVENORDALE — David C. Gity died Feb. 13, 2016, at UMass Medical Center after an illness.
A life long resident of N. Grosvenordale, Mr. Gity attended Thompson public schools and following took a post graduate degree at the H.H. Ellis Regional-Vocational Technical School in tool making. He subsequently earned a degree in engineering at Norwich Technical Community College.
Mr. Gity was employed for many years at the Sanitary-Dash Corporation in N. Grosvenordale as plant engineer. Afterwards, he owned his own company, Maxim Tool Co. He completed his work career as a design engineer at Linemaster Switch Corporation in Woodstock.
A life long weather enthusiast, Mr. Gity captured weather data for the Thompson area and provided detailed weather information to the National Weather Service as well as regional radio and television outlets.
Mr. Gity was a senior member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and was a certified contributor of the Citizen Weather Observers Program with NOAA.
Mr. Gity leaves his wife, Doina Gity; and daughter, Andrea, both of N. Grosvenordale; his sister, Norma LoMonaco (James); his nephew Matthew; and nieces, Sarah and Bethany LoMonaco.
The Funeral was Feb. 18 in the Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, with burial in West Thompson Cemetery.
George H. Fitzgerald,
Army vet
N. GROSVENORDALE — George H. Fitzgerald, 76, of Juliette Ave., formerly of Sand Dam Rd., died Feb. 16, 2016, at the home of his daughter Pamela.
Born in 1939 in Brockton, Mass., he was the son of the late John and Eleanor (Pope) Fitzgerald.
Mr. Fitzgerald worked as a pipe fitter at General Dynamics/Electric Boat for many years and prior to that at U.S. Steel in Worcester. George served in the U.S. Army.
George was an active member of the Parish Family at St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale. He was also an avid reader and enjoyed the outdoors.
He leaves three sons George Fitzgerald Jr. of Webster, John Fitzgerald of Newport, N.H., and Michael Fitzgerald (Kathleen) of Franklin, Mass.; seven daughters Pamela VanDale (Ernest) of N. Grosvenordale, Sheryl Fitzgerald and her partner Kenneth Foskett of Woodstock, Mary Davern (Joseph) of Webster, Lisa Charmchi (Behrooz) of Webster, Catherine Merritt of S. Grafton, Mass., Christine Fuller (Michael) of Orlando, Fla., and Debra Fitzgerald of Orlando; a brother John Fitzgerald (Carol) of Daleville, Idaho; four sisters Patricia Lenhart of Newport, R.I., Mary Penswick of Naples, Fla., Barbara Andrews (David) of Quincy, Mass., and Theresa Fitzgerald of Raleigh, N.C.; his former wife Margaret Yuen of Poinciana, Fla.; 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers Francis and William Fitzgerald.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 22 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph Church, P.O. Box 897, N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255; or the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Lorraine Beaulac
PUTNAM — Lorraine Claire (Marion) Beaulac, 87, of Putnam, formerly of Attawaugan, DIED Feb. 16, 2016 at home.
She met and married her beloved husband, Armand Beaulac, and shared 54 years of married life with him until his passing in 2001.
Lorraine was born in 1928 in Hartford, daughter of Eudore and Blanche (Vanesse) Marion. Lorraine grew up on a farm in Dayville, now the site of Killingly Intermediate School. She was a communicant at the Church of St. Anne in Ballouville, and enjoyed playing cards and traveling to Florida. After Armand died she enjoyed traveling and playing cards with her companion Lou Jussaume.
Lorraine has lived in Putnam for the past 13 years, making her home with her daughter and son-in-law Carol (Beaulac) and Joseph J. Rice Sr.
In addition to raising her family, she worked for Wm. Prym Company, American Optical and at her daughter’s craft store, The Craft Menagerie, until her retirement. In 2013, Lorraine joyfully attended the ordination to the priesthood of her son David, who serves in the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, N.Y. She always took pride in her dress and loved her jewelry, but her best gem was her smile. People loved her company knowing there would be a loving conversation (and at some point a giggle or a laugh).
She leaves her children Carol Rice Joe Rice Sr.) of Putnam; The Reverend David Beaulac (Barbara (Waldron)) Beaulac of Queensbury, N.Y., Marion Lewis of Putnam and her companion Adrien LaPalme of N. Grosvenordale; grandchildren, Joseph J. Rice Jr.; Kevin D. Rice; Christopher A. Rice, Karen B. West, Daniel W. Beaulac, Adam J. Leidemer and Chris Leidemer, as well as their spouses and partners, nine great-grandchildren; special first cousins, Claire Sarrette, Jeanne Denome and Muriel Denome; her dog Scrappy. She was predeceased by her sister Claire and her brothers, Norman and Gerald.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Feb. 27 at St. Joseph Church, Dayville, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: Hospice of NE CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260; or The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, 555 Long Warf Dr., New Haven, CT 06511. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Scott M. Brennan
ASHFORD — Scott Michael Brennan, 54, of Ashford, died Jan. 31, 2016.
He was born Jan. 24, 1962, in Worcester, the son of the late Harry and Hellen Brennan.
Scott graduated from Oxford High School in Oxford, Mass., in 1980 and received his associate’s degree in auto mechanics from the Providence Career and Technical Academy. He worked at Diamond Chevrolet until 1985 (he quit because “A car in the shop talked to me and I said I’d quit if one did”). Scott also attended all the necessary classes to start his own home improvement business, N&S Home Repair after many years of working with his father Harry and Dan Carrey. Scott’s favorite foods were: Ring Dings, pecan rolls (and pie), pretzel sticks, and fries and gravy, and cheese pizza. His favorite drinks were Dr Pepper, pink lemonade, and Fanta. Scott’s hobbies were playing Texas Hold’em, Solitaire, reading, and collecting various things like, quarters, keychains, and wizard and dragon statuettes.
Scott leaves his son Kyle Brennan (17 years), and soul mate of 22 years and mother to his son Norma Fabian and her mother, Wanda Fabian; siblings Bruce Brennan (Sue), Jamie Zeveska (Steve) and the rest of his family’s nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his two sisters, Linda Bakerlis and Wendy-Jo Brennan.
The funeral was private. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Virginia Elie
THOMPSON — Virginia Ann (Laskowski) Elie, 51, died Feb. 16, 2016 after a battle with breast cancer.
Ginny was born in Worcester and worked at Commerce (Mapfre) Insurance in Webster. She liked Cape Cod, fishing, watching the seals and yard sales but more than all loved to see the ever changing sunrise and sunsets.
She leaves her husband of 28 years Kevin Elie; two daughters Sharissa and Katelyn Elie, all of Thompson; her mother Virginia (Desavage) Laskowski of Worcester; her brother, Joseph Laskowski of Millbury, Mass.; a sister Cheryl Parent (Wayne) of Worcester; granddaughter, Hope. She is predeceased by her father, A. Joseph Laskowski.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 20 in St. Joseph Church , N. Grosvenordale, with burial in E. Thompson Cemetery. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Todd R. Montigny
PUTNAM — Todd Roland Montigny, 46, of Walnut St., died Feb. 14, 2016, in his home. Born in 1969 in Putnam, he was the son of Richard Montigny of Putnam and Barbara (Wysocki) Montigny of Niantic.
Todd worked as a maintenance mechanic for TJMaxx in Worcester for the past 15 years. Previous to that he worked for Staples. He was an avid pool player and golfer and was a ranked player with the American Pool Players Association where he has been a member since 1993. He was also a member of the Roseland Country Club.
In addition to his parents, he leaves his brothers, Ross Montigny of Brooklyn, Jay Montigny of Niantic; his sisters, Theresa Landry (Bill) of Kentucky, and Robin Gaucher (Tim) of Danielson; his nieces and nephews, Sarah and Tyler Montigny, and Stephen and Deidre LaCroix.
Visitation was Feb. 21. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.
Sr. Priscilla Paradis
PUTNAM — Sr. Priscilla Paradis, 81, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died on
Feb. 20, 2016, at Holy Spirit Provincial House where she had been in residence since 2010.
Born Priscilla Vivienne Paradis Oct. 31, 1934, in Norwich, she was the daughter of Lionel Joseph Paradis and Emmanuella Varieur. She entered religious life in Putnam at the Holy Spirit Provincial House there in September 1954 and made her religious profession in April of 1955. She was then known as Sr. Priscilla Joseph.
She held a bachelor’s in education from the Diocesan Sisters’ College, Putnam branch and a master’s in religious studies from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She began her teaching career in elementary schools operated by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit at St. Anne’s in Hartford in 1958, at St. Rita’s in Fairfax, Calif., in 1959, at Holy Family in Fairfield in 1963, at St. Mary’s in Putnam in 1969, and in Waterbury at St. Anne’s in 1972.
In 1976 she was assigned to Rice Memorial High School in Burlington, Vt., and she was CCD Coordinator in Pittsfield, Mass., in 1980. In 1981 she taught religion at St. Bernard High School in Uncasville until 1986. In 1987 she took a job with Day Kimball Hospital providing Home Health Care to the sick and elderly in the area until 1994. She provided professional and compassionate care to all of her clients. She was well liked and often requested. She retired from this work in 2009 and moved to the Provincial House in 2010.
She leaves a sister, Jeanne Lucier (Joseph G.D.) of Danielson; a niece Donna Grauer (Gregory) of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; a nephew, Marc A Lucier of Dade City, Fla.; all of her sister Daughters of the Holy Spirit, the DHS Associates and Secular Branch member.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Provincial House with a prayer service at 7:15. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Feb. 27 at the Provincial House. Donations: DHS Retirement Fund, Holy Spirit Provincial House, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Irene Trembly
PLAINFIELD — Irene Cusson Trembly, 96, of Plainfield, died Feb. 11, 2016, at Colonial Health & Rehab in Plainfield. The wife of Norman Trembly, they were married June 24, 1939, at Sacred Heart Church in Wauregan. He died Oct. 8, 1998.
Born Aug. 15, 1919, in Danielson, she was the daughter of Joseph and Emma (Poirier) Cusson.
She retired from Uncas on the Thames Hospital in Norwich in 1981. She was a member of Plainfield Senior Citizens, Daughters of Isabella Immaculate Conception Circle #733.
She leaves a son Wayne Trembly of Mansfield Center; granddaughter Sara Thrasher (Cristofer) of Scio, Org. She was predeceased by her son Bruce Trembly in 1959, three brothers and five sisters.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 20 in Sacred Heart Church, Wauregan, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Donations: Colonial Health & Rehab, 16 Windsor Ave., Plainfield, CT 06374.
Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Walter Jackel Sr.
WEBSTER — Walter O. Jackel Sr., 90, died Feb. 17, 2016, at home.
He was the husband of the late Frances (Sandecki) Jackel who died in 2009.
He was born in Webster son of the late Max and Augusta (Schur) Jackel and lived here all his life.
He was a maintenance supervisor for Anglo Fabric for many years.
He leaves three sons, Stanley Supinski of Plattsburg, N.Y., Walter O. Jackel Jr. of Webster and Robert F. Jackel of Coventry, R.I.; a daughter, Dolores Perry of Woodstock; 11 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren.
A Graveside Service was held at the St. Joseph Garden of Peace in Webster. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Mary LaFountain
WEBSTER — Mary J. (Bassett) LaFountain, 77, died Feb. 14 at home.
She was predeceased by her husband, Francis (Skip) LaFountain who died in 2000.
Mary was born in Lebanon, NH daughter of the late William and Edith (Duhaime) Bassett on Dec. 26, 1938, and lived here most of her life.
She worked at Price Chopper in Webster for many years, and was affectionately known as “Mrs. Claus” by her coworkers and customers.
She leaves four daughters: Brenda Lizotte of Killingly, Judith LePage of Webster, Susan Niles (Wayne) of Hubert, N.C., and Terri LaRochelle (Walter) of Dayville; one sister: Carol Garfield of Concord, N.H.; eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two sons: William and Scott, her sister Kay and. two brothers; Robert and William Bassett.
The Funeral was Feb. 19 in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Webster. Donations: Webster-Dudley Food Share. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
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On dean’s list
GRANVILLE, Ohio — Pomfret Center student Jennifer Kristal was named to the Denison University 2015 fall semester dean’s list. She is a graduate of Woodstock Academy and is a member of the Denison class of 2016.
Honored
Emily Coderre, left, was presented her Gold Award by the Girl Scouts of America. The Gold Award is equivalent to the Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts. Pictured with Emily is State Senator Paul Formica, center, and State Representative Kathleen McCarty. Emily is the daughter of Lance and Lisa Coderre, formerly of Putnam. Courtesy photo.