Marc ‘Skip’ Bates
BROOKLYN —Marc “Skip” Bates, 69, of Brooklyn, CT passed away peacefully at home on May 3, 2025, surrounded by family.
Born on Aug. 1, 1955, Skip was a proud graduate of Putnam High School, Class of 1973, and went on to earn his degree from American International College in Springfield, Mass., in 1977. During his college years, he worked at Sunnyside Farms alongside Peter Deary and the Deary family —an experience he treasured.
Skip dedicated more than 40 years of his professional life to Colt’s Plastic Company, Inc. in Dayville, where his work ethic and loyalty left a lasting mark. In retirement, Skip worked at Country Living at Westview Commons, where he found great joy in providing transportation to residents for various errands and outings.
Beyond his career, Skip was deeply involved in his community and in the organizations he loved. He was a lifetime member and treasurer of the Pomfret Rod and Gun Club, a devoted Chaplain for the Christian Motorcycle Association, and served as President of the Northeast Connecticut Human Resources Association.
Of his many passions, Skip was most at home cruising the hills of northeastern Connecticut with Tori on the back and his friends by his side. He was also a licensed pilot, a skilled skeet shooter, and an avid gun collector.
Skip is predeceased by his parents, Bob and Ruth Bates. He leaves his wife, Victoria “Tori” Bates; his brothers Michael (Denise) Bates and Alan (Janet) Bates; five children, Brittany (Chris) Yule, Ryan Bates, Glenn (Wendy) Bates from his first marriage to Erica Bates and Ross (Katie) Adams, and Lindsey (Dylan) Weigand from his marriage to Tori. He also leaves 13 grandchildren to whom he was lovingly and affectionately known as Poppy Skip; plus nieces, nephews, family members and great friends.
The Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. May 10 at the Congregational Church of Putnam, 175 Main St., Putnam. Donations: The Cancer Center at UMass Memorial Health - Harrington, 55 Sayles St., Southbridge, MA 01550; Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut, 415 Riverside Drive, Suite 3, North Grosvenordale, CT 06255; or the Congregational Church of Putnam Faith Fellowship, P.O. Box 463, Putnam, CT 06260.
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Contributions recognized
Charitable contributions come back to serve local community
PUTNAM — Rotarian Marc Archambault was recently recognized for his continuing financial contributions to Rotary International’s charitable efforts.
His contributions support various Rotary Foundation programs, including the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, and Humanitarian Grants.
At a recent ceremony Club President Doug Porter, presented Archambault with his latest Paul Harris Pin.
Archambault is just one of the club members who have contributed to Rotary International this Rotary year. Various members of the Putnam Rotary Club have donated more than $9,000 to Rotary International this year, Porter said. These contributions support local and International efforts of Rotary. With support from Rotary International and Rotary District 7890, the Putnam Rotary Club has donated grant money to TEEG to help with its community garden, including a new fence, and installed outdoor musical instruments at the Thompson School Complex.
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Contributor
Rotarian Marc Archambault, left, and Putnam Rotary Club President Doug Porter. Linda Lemmon photo.
Roseland Legacy campaign tops $1 million mark
WOODSTOCK — The Roseland Park & Golf Course Legacy Campaign “150 Years and Beyond” steering committee chairman John Rauh and Board of Trustees President Martha Beckwith announced Phase I of the capital campaign reached $1 million, doubling the original goal of $500,000.
“Embarking on the campaign our Board was cautiously optimistic that we would achieve our goal. Celebrating this successful landmark, we are pleased with the support the Campaign has received and the work that’s been completed with the money. Observing the changes taking place in the park and on the golf course, makes us all very grateful to the many donors from Woodstock and surrounding communities who placed their trust in us,” said Beckwith.
Under the guidance of Chairman John Rauh and the planning and coordination of committee members, immediate changes are noticeable on both sides of Roseland Park Road.
The golf course, which recently opened for play for the 2025 season, is in the capable hands of course manager Mike Pizzetti. Improvements so far include much improved conditions to the greens, widening of fairways and removal of encroaching trees, upkeep and maintenance to the clubhouse, construction of a new bridge between the 1st and 2nd holes, new and improved carts and all-around upkeep of the historic nine-hole layout.
Adjacent to the course golfers will enjoy a modern driving range, complete with a mechanized ball dispenser, 16 new and comfortable driving stations, and an expanded driving area, measuring 350 yards, able to accommodate long ball hitters. Rauh and his team have also purchased new and gently used equipment to keep up with the day-to-day needs of both the course and range.
Scenic Roseland Lake can now be viewed upon entering the park through the new main entrance. The roads within the park have witnessed new and improved traffic patterns designed for the safety of pedestrians, children and seniors. An initial coat of asphalt was laid down in the fall and the roads will receive a second “finish layer” in early May, thanks to the work of Pinecroft Paving and Landscaping.
Underground wiring and seeding of highly trafficked play areas as well as those areas where roadways have been permanently removed, will make the center of the park greener, safer, and more enjoyable. All of these features will be officially unveiled around the 4th of July when the committee will celebrate the revitalized Roseland and publicly say thank you to its many donors.
The committee is busy planning the next phase of improvements and revitalization to the nearly 150-year-old property, which was entrusted in 1876 by Henry Chandler Bowen to a trust initially comprised of his children, and is the same Trust that manages the park today.
“Witnessing the positive changes and improvements to the properties has proven energizing to our committee. As the work moves forward, we look forward to completing Phase I of our efforts. As a private non-profit entity we are grateful to those individuals and businesses who have shown faith in our effort by willingly supporting the park and golf course,” said Chairman Rauh.
The committee continues to execute the remainder of Phase I, still to include construction of a basketball court in the vicinity of the Little League complex, continued improvement to the children’s play area, finalization of the new main entrance, improvements to existing structures especially to the boat house and other park amenities.
“These are exciting times for Roseland Park and Golf Course. The community is fortunate that Mr. Bowen had the foresight and generosity to make his dream the dream of all of us more than a century later,” Rauh said.
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Quiet Corner Pride
clockwise from top left:
Costume contest: Sir Sparkle Pants, second from the right, won the contest.
From left: Putnam Police Officer Chip Carney; Ray Beausoleil, VFW quartermaster; Rob Challinor, chair of the VAC; Putnam Mayor Barney Seney; and Putnam Police Officer Nick Ursin.
Singer John Simpson.