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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out is sent along by the Putnam Town Crier Santa as he prepares to distribute the presents that have been left under the sports department Christmas tree.  It appears that there are numerous gifts this year for the good sports that grace the fields and courts of Putnam and vicinity.
For Tom Espinosa, Putnam Science Academy’s successful basketball coach, a new gymnasium for the Mustangs.  
 Many more 50-mile runs in support of the Deary Memorial Race for the area’s top long distance runner Scott Deslongchamps.
A return to the days of old when baseball was king for Thompson’s Jim Sali.
Continued growth and success with the Tourtellotte Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame for hardworking Joe Lindley.
A return trip to the CIAC Football playoffs with a win attached to this request for Quinebaug Valley Pride coach Joe Asermelly.
More than 300 students and athletes at Putnam High School for Superintendent of Schools Bill Hull.
A coaching victory for Putnam Science Academy “honorary coach” Jeff Rawson and his guest assistant coach from Arc Quinebaug Valley.
A long tenure on the bench with many coaching victories for Putnam women’s basketball coach Mandi Hogan.
More National Anthem singing opportunities for Putnam’s version of Ronan Tynan,  Maurice “Moe” Coderre.
A winning football season with some Eastern Connecticut Conference dominance for Killingly High School good guy, coach Chad Neal.
Great summer weather for a successful golf season for Jim West at Connecticut National Golf Club, Mike Pizzetti at Quinnatisset Country Club, Dave Hall at Raceway Golf Course and Eric Sarette at Vineyard Valley and Woodstock Golf Club.
As much success with the gavel as he’s had on the basketball court for Putnam Mayor Tony Falzarano.
A football victory for Woodstock Academy football coach Clay Killingsworth.
An abundance of players for TriTown American Legion coaches Paul Faucher and Dan Durand.
Strong legs for a couple of 60 plus year olds Bob Auger and John Smutnick in the Florida Senior Baseball League,
How about another 34 more years on the Plainfield basketball bench for coach Bob Arremony.
A trip to the runner’s fountain of youth for Putnam’s long distance iron man Martin Fey and his sometime running buddy Jimi Gothreau.  Ditto for Alan Rondeau.
A healthy 2014 for three good sports Stan Lesniewski, Tom Auclair and Alan LaBoeuf.
Another year as utility infielder with the World Champion Boston Red Sox for East Lyme’s pride and joy John “Johnny Mac” McDonald.
A steady flow of players to assure victories for Tourtellotte’s women’s basketball coach Carla Faucher and her Athletic Director Deb Spinelli.
The start of construction on the Regional Community YMCA for Betty and Laurence Hale and the people of Northeastern Connecticut.
Another CIAC basketball championship for Woodstock Academy basketball coach Greg Smith.
For Woodstock Academy women’s basketball coach Willie Bousquet a road map to find his way around Woodstock and back to the ECC towns.
For Linda Lemmon, Putnam Town Crier publisher and “chief cook and bottle washer,” enough time and energy to maintain the crazy pace she keeps each week in getting the paper and sports section ready for press.
For Charlie Puffer a Super Bowl championship for his New England Patriots.
For Thompson legend Don Hoenig and Putnam legend John McCormac time to sit back and revel in the past successes you enjoyed on the links.
A head coaching job for Putnam Science Academy assistant basketball coach Josh Scraba.
A steady stream of recruits for Marianapolis basketball coach Andrew Vitale and while we’re at it, how about some baseball recruits for baseball coach Dave Austin and women’s basketball players for coach Lauren Moore.
A shot for Q School or whatever it takes to get on the PGA Tour for Thompson’s Matt Smith.
A job caddying for his son Matt for Dale Smith.
An opportunity to beat Linda Spooner in a local road race for Pauline Frascone.
Many more year of delving into local history, especially sports history for Putnam’s Willie Zamagni Sr.
A shot at playing professionally in some league when he graduates from Quinnipiac University for former Marianapolis standout Ike Azotam.
A strong winning program and start of a hoop tradition at Killingly High School for coach Jim Crabtree.
A resolution to the water problem on the “new” gymnasium floor at Killingly High School for Superintendent Kevin Farr and the Killingly Town Council.
Some exciting races and great sports events on television for G. David Landry, Chelsea Leverette, Erin Crosby, Louise Law, Erin Szela and all the wonderful staff at J.D. Cooper’s Sports Bar and Winner’s.
And a plethora of good sports stories in 2014 for Ramblings Points & Comments as we attempt to give you the stories and personalities behind the stories.

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Virginia Curran
POMFRET — Virginia M. Curran (Shinnick), 88, died Dec. 28, 2013, at home in Pomfret. Virginia was born Feb. 5, 1925, in Winchester, Mass. She married Walter J. Curran in 1947 and prior to her marriage, she worked as an administrative assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She and her husband moved to Beverly, Mass., where they raised their three children. Virginia had an incredible spirit. Despite having suffered a disabling stroke in 1968, Virginia went on to live a happy and positive life.
She  was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. She previously held volunteer leadership positions in the United Way in Beverly and in the Beverly High School Track and Field Boosters Club.
Virginia leaves three children, seven grandchildren, and a sister and brother-in-law. Virginia’s family includes a son Dr. Walter J. Curran Jr. (Laura) and sons Max and Kyle Palickar-Curran of Atlanta; and his daughters Maris Curran of Los Angeles and Mia Curran (Tiernan Morgan) of New York City, daughter, Pamela Ruff, (David) of Pomfret, and their sons Brett Curran Ruff (Virginia) of Lafayette, Calif., and Trevor Curran Ruff of Tallahassee, Fla., daughter, Sharon Curran-Wescott (Earl) of The Woodlands, Texas, and their son Skye Curran Wescott; her sister Kay Conkling (William) of Lexington, Mass..
Donations: St. James School Scholarship Fund, 120 Water St., Danielson, CT 06239; or the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, 1762 Clifton Road, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322. A Memorial Mass will be held later at St. James Church in Danielson. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

Jeannette Auger
DANIELSON — Jeannette M. Auger of Danielson, died Dec. 24, 2013, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester. She was born in Webster, daughter of Joseph V. and Alexina (Bombardier). Auger the youngest of 13 who have all predeceased her, Normand Sr., Gerard, Emile, Roland, Antonin, Paul, Albert, William, Luccienne, Anne Marie, Alice and Celina.
Miss Auger graduated from St. Mary School and the Putnam Catholic Academy class of 1943. Then worked a few years in her father’s “Daylight Bakery” on Van den Noort Street during WWII. In 1947 she began her career with Southern New Telephone Company as an operator on Grove Street in Putnam. When Dial System was installed in the area in January 1952, she transferred to the Danielson Office where she became Chief Operator’s Desk Clerk until 1961 and later accepted a management post in Norwich as Secretarial Stenographer to the Eastern Division manager and in 1969 became a group manager in the Directory Assistance Offices and worked in Danielson, Norwich, New London and Willimantic offices, she retired with 35 years of service.
She is a member of the Morris F. Tyler Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers; AT&T Foundation of Pioneers, the SNET Retirees Association, the French Genealogical Society of Connecticut, with which she researched both Auger and Bombardier families. She loved to read, cross word puzzles, enjoyed the Red Sox and the UConn girls’ basketball.
She leaves nephews and nieces including Lucille (Paul) Tetreault, Paulette (David) Jensen, Robert (Donna) Guillot; Laurent (Louise) Guillot and many grand and great-grand nephews and nieces.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 28 in St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: St. James School, 120 Water St., Danielson, CT 06239.  Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Ruth Mayer
DANIELSON — Ruth Mayer, 87, of Danielson, died Dec. 21, 2013, at Regency Heights in Danielson. She was born Aug. 14, 1926, in Goodyear, daughter of George and Harriet Gosselin.
Ruth was a 1944 graduate of Putnam High School. She studied with Frank Caruso Vocals of Hartford. She sang under the name Ruth Lynn in New England and the east coast states. After returning to Connecticut she was employed with the banking commission of Hartford.
She was predeceased by her daughter Judith Ann. Donations: American Cancer Society. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

William Simmons
BALLOUVILLE — William “Billy” A. Simmons, 46, of Ballouville, died unexpectedly Dec. 24, 2013, at UMass Medical Center in Worcester.
He was born Sept. 16, 1967, in Putnam, son of Elizabeth A. Simmons of Putnam and the late William M. Simmons. Billy was a long time member of the Pomfret Rod and Gun Club and enjoyed hunting and fishing with members of that organization.
In addition to his mother, he leaves his daughter, Genna Simmons of Webster; his son, William “Will” “Jake” Simmons of Webster; his brothers, Roy Simmons of Putnam, Robert “Bob” Simmons of Roanoke, Texas; his nieces, Nichole and Joelle Simmons of Roanoke; his nephew, Andrew Simmons of Putnam; his uncle Edward Simmons of Acapulco, Mexico; his life-long friend Morris Nuttall. Billy was predeceased by his father; his grandparents William B. and Angela O. Simmons and Aloysius and Anna Cierpich.
Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Howard Thomas Jr.,
Korean war vet
DAYVILLE — Howard Thomas Jr. 84, of Chestnut Hill Rd., formerly of New Jersey, died Dec. 23, 2013, in Matulaitis Nursing Home.  Born in 1929 in Summerville, N.J., he was the son of the late Howard Thomas Sr. and Eleanor (Conover) Thomas.  Mr. Thomas was a veteran of the Korean war serving in the Navy as an officer.  He worked as a sales manager for Sanvik Conveyor.  Howard was a member of the VFW Post 1049 in Waldwick, N.J.
He leaves his daughters, Jennifer Thomas of Dayville, whom he resided with and SallyAnn Thomas of Pomfret and Toni Thomas of Ridgewood, N.J.; and six grandchildren. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Martha L. Wiik
THOMPSON — Martha L. Wiik, 93, formerly of Thompson and Grafton, Mass., died Dec. 25, 2013, at the Regency Heights in Danielson. She was the wife of the late John L Wiik Sr. He died in 2008. Born April 16, 1920, in Pawtucket, R.I., she was the  daughter of the late George Lewis and Henrietta (Murray) Pendleton.
A graduate of the Northbridge High School class of 1938 in Whitinsville, Mass., she was a 1940 graduate of Becker College in Worcester and received the Gold Key Award for Scholastic Achievement in typing and shorthand. She worked in the office of Worcester Pressed Metal. She was a member of the Putnam Congregation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. She enjoyed volunteer work and her public ministry. She was an active Jehovah Witness for over 50 years. In 1986 she moved to Florida and in 1999 moved back to Thompson.
She leaves her children Jane H. Robinson, Robert G. Wiik, Steven P. Wiik, John L. Wiik Jr.;  six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Burial was in Pine Grove Cemetery, Whitinsville. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Gene M. Dumas
PUTNAM — Gene M. Dumas, 71,  of New York City died Dec. 5, 2013. A memorial service was held at the Ordinary Mind Zendo in Manhattan shortly after his death and burial was private in Webster.
Born on July 21, 1942, Gene grew up in Putnam, the son of the late Marcel Dumas and Veronica (Reich) Rich. He was a graduate of Putnam High School and Fairfield University. An executive in the insurance industry, he lived overseas for many years in Malaysia, Sierra Leone and in Ecuador. During his extensive career he was employed by AFIA, Sedgewick and eventually retired from Marsh & McLellan where he had been in charge of the Pfizer insurance account. He was a resident of Manhattan for over forty years and truly enjoyed being an active New Yorker.
Gene was enthusiastic about traveling and journeyed to places all over the world. A voracious reader, he was never without several books to read and enjoy. He loved food and exploring new restaurants. A profound thinker, he studied philosophy and the art of meditation. Gene was an active member of the Ordinary Mind Zendo in New York City where a celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 12.
He leaves his mother Veronica Rich of Webster; stepbrother Read Rich (Lorraine) of Brunswick, Maine. Donations:  The Ordinary Mind Zendo, 107 West 74th St., Unit BR, New York, New York 10023.

Wanda Bonczek
N. GROSVENORDALE — Wanda M. (Jezerski) Bonczek died Christmas night, 2013.
Wanda worked hard all her life, ultimately retiring from Stevens Linen Associates in Dudley. A caretaker by nature, she visited nursing homes and tended gravesite flowers, her own plants and her grandchildren.
She leaves her son, Chester (Linda) of N. Grosvenordale; grandson Joe (Heather) and their children Eva and Isaac; and her granddaughter Kate. The oldest daughter of Stanley and Catherine (Szulewski) Jezerski, she leaves her sisters Helen Jerominek, Sophie Stolarczyk and Stella Mroczek, her brothers John, Stanley and Tony Jezerski. She joins her sister Esther and her brothers Alexander, Edward and Frank who predeceased her. Her husband Tony died in 1976.
A funeral service was Dec. 28 in Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster, with burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace, Webster. Donations: Activities Fund of Matulaitis Nursing Home, 10 Thurber Road, Putnam, CT 06260.

Louis Pasay Jr.
PUTNAM — Louis V. Pasay Jr., 58, died Dec. 25, 2013, in Regency Heights of Danielson after an illness.
He was born in Putnam, the son of Louis V. Pasay, Sr. and Olivette (Audette) Pasay and lived here all his life. Mr. Pasay drove 18-wheeler trucks for many years before retiring in 2006. He excelled at woodworking, building furniture and wood products. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and liked target shooting.
He leaves a sister, Veronica Y. Langway (Leonard) of Putnam; a niece, Shari Labrec of N. Oxford, Mass.; an aunt, Lorraine Jarosz (Edward) of Webster.
Donations: Charity of the donor’s choice. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.

Harold Davis Sr.,
Korean war vet
THOMPSON – Harold F. Davis, Sr., 83, died Dec. 23, 2013, at home after an illness.
Harold was born in Putnam, the only child of Frank and Nellie (Chase) Davis and lived in Thompson most of his life. He graduated from Tourtellotte Memorial High School in N. Grosvenordale in 1949. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War, serving four years as an electrician’s mate first class on the USS Fulton, the first tender to support Nulaa Fast Attack Subs, and the USS Niobrara.
Mr. Davis worked at and then owned the family business, H. F. Davis Shoddy Mill, for over 40 years before retiring in 1992. He then made deliveries for CAP Discount Auto Parts in Webster for several years. He also served as a firefighter and later fire chief of the E. Thompson Volunteer Fire Department for over 20 years.
Harold was a man of strong character who worked hard. He had a great sense of humor, enjoyed good-natured ribbing, and had a way of making people feel at ease around him. Everyone could depend on him to help whenever needed. He kept a beautiful garden, and enjoyed fishing, hunting, cooking, and golfing; he was also an avid NASCAR fan.
He leaves his wife of 60 years, Josephine M. “Jo-Jo” (DeNardis) Davis; six children, Harold F. “Buster” Davis Jr. (fiancée Laurie Bowman) of Webster, Josephine M. LaFlamme (fiancée Bob Banks) of Willington, Thomas B. Davis Sr. (his fiancée Andrea Bach) of League City, Texas, Norma J. DeFilippo of Maine, Elizabeth A. Beaudry (Richard) of Albuquerque, N.M., and Kathleen G. Mayotte (Jeffrey) of Thompson; six grandsons; four granddaughters. He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Jennifer Ann Lehrer in 2011. Visitation is from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Jan. 4 at the Thompson Raceway, Thompson. Donations: Charity of the donor’s choice. Scanlon Funeral Service, Webster.

Henry Mrozinski Jr.
THOMPSON — Henry J. “Hank” Mrozinski Jr., 83, died Dec. 23, 2013, in Regency Heights of Danielson after a long illness.
He was born and raised in Webster, the son of Henry J. Mrozinski Sr. and Veronica (Seraphin) Mrozinski. He attended St. Joseph Elementary School and Bartlett High School and graduated from St. Louis High School. He moved to Thompson in 1958. Mr. Mrozinski worked at City Builders Supply Company in Worcester for many years, first as a salesman and then as the office manager. He retired in 1995. He was a member of St. Joseph Basilica in Webster. He enjoyed raising the many animals on his ranch. He was a fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
He leaves his wife of 34 years, Sally A. (Kochanowski) Mrozinski; a son, Henry J. Mrozinski III (Dana) of Thompson; two daughters, Judith A. Hoenig (Paul) of Thompson and Darlene J. Staplins (James) of Pomfret; five stepchildren, Kimberly Eldridge of Barre, Mass., Karen Bacon of Webster, Kathleen Kennedy of Putnam, William Kennedy (Deidre) of Auburn, and Christopher Kennedy of Thompson; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson.
The Funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 4 in St. Joseph Basilica, Webster. Donations: ASPCA (aspca.org). Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home.

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caption:

Working Hard
Woodstock's Douglas Gerrity , number 21, is keeping the puck in. Courtesy photo.




Hockey team
scores 1st win
WOODSTOCK --- Last week the brand new varsity ice hockey team at Woodstock Academy picked up its first ever win in school history with a 2 to 1 victory over Belchertown High School at the UMass Mullins Center.
This was an intense and hard fought game from start to finish. Woodstock Academy jumped in front in the first period when freshman Tyler  Huhtanen scored his first ever career goal to give the Centaurs the 1 to 0 lead. Belchertown struck back in the first and tied the score at 1 apiece. The game stayed tied at one throughout the most of the second period.
Woodstock Academy took advantage of the power play and of every tenth of a second on the clock when Will Liscomb found the back of the net with .3 seconds …yes that is correct .3 seconds left in the second period to give the Academy the 2 to 1 lead.
In the third period Woodstock Academy goaltender Baylee Johns stood on his head saving every shot to help secure the 2 to 1 victory. Johns made 22 saves on 23 shots tonight. Woodstock scored their two goals on 21 shots.
Head Coach Mike Starr, on the trip home, said, "It is an incredible feeling. The players, parents, and coaches all went nuts when we won the game tonight. It was a close game and a hard fought game and we pulled it out. It feels great!”

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Graduates
STANDISH, Maine --- Erika Higgins of Dayville,  graduated in September from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.