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Putnam hires new
curriculum director
PUTNAM — The Putnam Public School District announced the hiring of Donna Maynard as Putnam’s new curriculum director.  
Maynard emerged from a broad pool of highly qualified candidates.  Maynard has a bachelor’s degree from Southern CT State University in special education, a master’s degree in educational psychology from UConn and a 6th year certification in educational leadership from UConn. Maynard also has an Executive Educational Leadership certification from UConn.
Most recently, Maynard has been the director of Special Services for the Montville Public Schools.  In this capacity she oversaw and developed high quality district programs for students with disabilities.  In Montville, she has also worked with special service staff helping to ensure all students have the ability to meet new Common Core State Standards.  Before becoming the Director of Special Services in Montville, Maynard was a building principal and had over ten years of classroom experience as a special education teacher.
Superintendent William Hull said, “I have had the good fortune to work with Ms. Maynard for over ten years.  I have witnessed firsthand the great things she has achieved for both students and staff.  She has the innate ability to bring about wonderful things for students while collaborating with all stakeholders.  Putnam is indeed lucky to be able to hire such an accomplished administrator.  She will make a fabulous addition to the Putnam school family.”

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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out is sent along to former Putnam High School defensive back Lou Labonte.  Today the retired Labonte enjoys playing golf at Quinnatisset Country Club with his cronies.  He blew out another candle on the cake on September 8.
It’s hard to believe that East Lyme native John McDonald is 38 years old.  It seems like only yesterday that he was playing for the East Lyme Vikings before moving on for two years at the University of Connecticut-Avery Point and finally finishing his college baseball career at Providence College.

This week, just before the Sept. 1 deadline for teams to call up players on expanded rosters, McDonald was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Boston Red Sox.  That’s correct, Johnny Mac, the utility player who has been called a “pro” and is respected everywhere he’s played is getting an opportunity to be a member of a team that looks like it will be playing baseball in October.
McDonald’s 15 year Major League career started when he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians.  He was then traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he appeared to have found a home, only to be traded briefly to the Detroit Tigers before returning to Toronto.  In 2011 he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and this spring he went through a roller coaster baseball journey.
In the spring he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and before he could play a game he was sent back to where he started his career, Cleveland.  That stop lasted two weeks before he was on his way to Philadelphia.  It appears that McDonald is excited about being part of the Red Sox.
McDonald who’s married with a daughter resides in Scituate, Mass.,  about 20 minutes from Fenway Park. 
“My daughter was very excited.  She can’t wait for me to come home and hang out with her and put her to bed at night.  Growing up in New England and being able to play in Fenway Park and to put on this uniform, it’s pretty awesome,” said McDonald in an MLB Bleacher Report article.
Although he’s spent his entire career as a backup infielder, McDonald is considered a valuable asset because of his versatility and great defensive skills.  He’s equally adept at shortstop, second base or third base.  His defensive skills once earned him a full-page spread in Sports Illustrated and numerous clips on ESPN’s Sports Center Top Ten Plays of the Day.
McDonald’s mother, Joanne continues to reside in East Lyme following the death of her husband, the popular Jack McDonald who was a noted baseball umpire and football referee in Eastern Connecticut.  One of the most moving moments in McDonald’s career occurred when he returned to the Blue Jays shortly after his dad’s funeral.  In his first at-bat Johnny Mac, who is not known as a home run hitter, did the unusual, hitting a four-bagger.  His return to the dugout was a joyful, tearful event, as there wasn’t a dry eye on the team.
The newest member of the Red Sox comes to Boston one game shy of 1000 Major League games.  He has 553 career hits and a .235 batting average. In the field he’s handled more than 3,200 chances, sporting a .974 field average.
After umpiring many of McDonald’s high school, American Legion and Avery Point games, it’s great to be able to see him at Fenway Park.  Always a player to give more than 100% between the lines, McDonald should prove to be an asset to Boston on the diamond, in the dugout and in the community.
On Fenway’s Big Screen…
On Wednesday, August 28 my wife Donna and I had the good fortune to take in the Red Sox win over the Baltimore Orioles, thanks to a pair of ducats from WEEI sports radio personality Mike Mutnansky.  Seated in a box just behind third base, we were afforded a perfect view of the action, including the various shots projected on the new big screen located above center field.
Between one of the innings, my wife said, “Hey I think that’s Joe Markley on the screen.”  Sure enough it was the former Danielson resident with his fiancé Chloe.  They were caught on the “kiss-cam” in front of more than 36,000 avid BoSox fans.

Thompson’s Golf Pro
Remembered…
When he was alive, Raceway Golf Club professional Jack Kelly was one of the best liked and respected men in the game of golf.  Whether it was fellow golf professionals, the average golfer or the low handicapper, Kelly treated everyone with equal care and respect.
Jack Kelly died in the mid-‘90s when he succumbed to cancer, a dreaded disease that took him nor only from his family, but also the people who frequented Raceway, the person taking a lesson and the community in general.  Though he was taken from life too soon, through the efforts of Raceway owner Donald Hoenig, Kelly’s name has been kept alive.
Last week Shennecosset Golf Club in Groton hosted the Jack Kelly PGA Junior Tournament of Champions, consisting of 41 boys and 17 girls from Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.  The tournament originally ran from 1995 through 2004 and was held at the Raceway Golf Club in its early years.

Taste for NOW…
Former Tourtellotte Memorial High School standout athlete and current Board member of Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW), Earl Rosebrooks sends along word of a gourmet event scheduled for Friday, September 20 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Elsinore Mansion in Pomfret.
In its second year, the event entitled “A Taste for NOW, A Taste for Life” is once again sponsored by G-Seven Catering Co. and Friendly Spirits and hosted by the Simpson family, and  features a variety of foods for every taste from more than a dozen local restaurants, as well as a wide selection of beers and wines.  The cost for the evening is a reasonable $60 per person.

From The Annals of Putnam Sports History…
September 1906: Officers of the C.A.C. located on Providence St. are as follows: President, A.A. Brodeur; Secretary, Peter Bonin; Treasurer, William Authier; Hall Committee, George Lewis, Armand Magnan and Noel Dupre.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: Over-tip the breakfast waitress.

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Get degrees
EAST HARTFORD --- Four local students received associate's degrees at Goodwin College Commencement June 6, 2013 including:
Tanya Burnham of Woodstock, Associate in Human Services; Erin Jenkins of Woodstock, Associate in Nursing; Jennie O’Brien of Woodstock, Associate in Medical Assisting; Kimberly West of Thompson, Associate in Nursing.

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Benjamin Kondysar
PUTNAM — Benjamin Michael Kondysar Jr., 30, of Underwood Road, died suddenly Sept. 2, 2013 at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester.
He was born April 5, 1983, in Putnam, son of Benjamin M. Kondysar Sr. and Jackie (Howard) Dagitz.
Benjamin participated in the Woodstock Little League and WPTP Football. He also played football for Putnam High School. He enjoyed sports, fishing and outdoor activities. Ben was very artistic and creative. He worked for JC Fence and the US Button. He recently worked for Fairview Farm.
He leaves his father Benjamin M. Kondysar Sr.; his mother Jackie Dagitz, and stepfather David Dagitz; a sister Kristina Compton and her son Brody,  his step-father Jerry Compton; his grandmother Sophie A. Kondysar; aunts Sandra Kondysar-Montie (Robert) and son Andrew, Roseann Kondysar-Montie (Kevin), Kathy Collier (Al) and their son Jason, Kim Tafe (Walter), Linda Howard, his uncle Rev. Dennis Monroe (Pam). He was predeceased by his grandparents Boleslaus Kondysar and Doris Monroe-Howard.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 6 in St. Mary Church, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: Benjamin Kondysar Memorial Fund, c/o Citizen’s National Bank, PO Box 6002, Putnam, CT, 06260. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Ashley P. Megarry
THOMPSON —  Ashley P. Megarry, 26, of Buckley Hill Road, died Sept. 6, 2013, in UMass Hospital, Worcester.  Born in  1986 in Mendon, Mass., she was the daughter of James Megarry of Brunswick, Ga, and Susan (Sheehan) Megarry of Bloomfield.
Ashley worked as a manager for a local tanning salon.  
In addition to her parents, Ashley leaves her sons, Seth Duquette of Thompson, Keegan Stall of Thompson, and Landon Megarry of Athol, Mass.; sister, Kathleen Megarry of Worcester; her grandmother, Carolyn Megarry of Pennsylvania; her step brothers, Phillip Megarry of Worcester, and Josh Megarry of Northbridge, Mass. her step sister Megan Desrosiers of Northbridge; step nephews and nieces, Collin and Nathan Desrosiers, and Tiara Megarry of Worcester.
Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.

Paul Fitzgerald
WEBSTER — Paul R. Fitzgerald, 67, of Webster, died Sept. 4, 2013, at UMass Memorial Health Care - University Campus, Worcester.
Paul was born in Northbridge, son of the late Francis and Mary (Rumrill) Fitzgerald and lived in Webster most of his life.  He was a construction worker and enjoyed fishing and sports.
He leaves a son, Donald Fitzgerald of Colorado; two daughters, Kim Wellman of Colorado and Sara Leveille of Whitinsville; three brothers, Edward Fitzgerald of Whitinsville, James Fitzgerald of Whitinsville and William Fitzgerald of Worcester; three sisters, Mary Bruso of Oxford, Theresa Lavalley of Thompson, and Kathleen Gardner of Oxford.  He was predeceased by two brothers, Donald Fitzgerald and Francis Fitzgerald.
Donations: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

Ruth Girardin
SOUTHBRIDGE — Ruth M. (Haggerty) Girardin, 97, died Sept. 6, 2013, at Southbridge Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.
Ruth was born in Webster, daughter of the late Charles and Ruth (Levens) Haggerty and lived here all her life.
Familiar to many people as the lady seen around town wearing skirts and always a hat, she was employed as a bookkeeper for many years at Al & Ray’s Diner, and worked for a time at the former Woolworth’s store on Main Street in Webster.
She leaves her sons, Jay Duteau (Nancy) of N. Grosvenordale and Daniel Duteau (Joyce) of Webster; one grandson, two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two husbands, Henry Duteau in 1964, and Alfred Girardin in 1986.
Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.