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Hilltopper 1
hilltopper Tourtellotte Memorial High School Alumni Association Newsletter
Volume 5 , Issue 2 February/March 2012
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E
continued on page 2
continued on page 2
When Brian Szpyrka ’05 represented Tourtellotte Memorial High School on the grid iron, he was recognized as one of Thompson’s very best. After leaving Tourtellotte he attended Worcester State College, Worcester, Massachusetts, where he continued to play football. While at Worcester State, Brian also participated in the Army ROTC program and was commissioned an officer in the United States Army. After the service Brian continued with football and hopes to play in the NFL. His story in his own words can be found on page 4.
ALUMNI BANQUET
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
INDUCTION CEREMONY SET
JUNE 16, 2012
Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the TMHS Auditorium, admission is free. Alumni banquet starts at 5:00 p.m. at the Thompson Speedway - tickets - $40.00. For tickets contact us at [email protected] or contact Eileen Deary at 860-928-2154.
Brian Szpyrka's ’05 Journey to the
NFL - Making the impossible possible Tourtellotte’s Oldest Graduate
Leaves Much Behind.
WHAT SHE MUST HAVE WITNESSED IN HER
LIFE
The Tourtellotte family recently loss it’s oldest
ever graduate. Henrietta (Seney) LaChapelle, from the Class of 1923, passed away on January 13. 2012. She was married to the late Pat LaChapelle of North Grosvenordale, CT. Born in 1906 in North Grosvenordale; she was the daughter of the late Amedee and Josephine (Bellerose) Seney. She and her husband owned and operated the employee cafeteria at Cluett-Peabody and later Pat’s News Store in North Grosvenordale. One of her proudest moments was when she received a citation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for her help with the rationing program during WWII. She was already 35 years old when the United States started its involvement in the war. She was a member of St. Joe’s and the Ladies of Saint Anne.
Left: Henrietta (Seney) LaChapelle, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Class of 1923. Henrietta held the distinction of being TMHS’ oldest graduate until her passing on January 13, 2012. She was the last person from Thompson that was alive when Tourtellotte Memorial High School was dedicated in September of 1909.
Left: Brian Szpyrka TMHS ’05. Brian played for the Tourtellotte Football team, now called the Quinebaug Pride. The Pride is made up of players from Putnam High School, Ellis Tech School and TMHS. Brian was one of its star players. He went on to play football at Worcester State College. His dream is playing in the NFL.
Page 1 – Brian Szpyrka
Page 1 – Henrietta LaChapelle
Page 2 – Life in 1906
Page 3 – TMHSAA Lecture at QVCC
Page 4 – 1909 TMHS Improvements Cont.
Page 5 – Arts and Academic Hall of Fame
Page 5 – First Washington D.C. Trip?
Page 6 – Eddie Kopacz ‘12
Page 7 – More Treasures Found
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continued from page 1
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Initial membership due at time of application, yearly renewals due January 1
st of each year
Regular Membership………. $15.00 Senior Citizens (65 and older)………. $5.00
Graduating Class………. Free
Life in 1906
Henrietta (Seney) LaChapelle
TMHS ’23 - 1906-2012
Henrietta leaves leaves three daughters; Nathalie Schunick of Baltimore, Lorraine Blanchard of Fort Meyers Beach, Fla., and A. Aileen Witkowski of Thompson, 13 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Some of Henrietta’s family that is still involved with Thompson schools include grandson Bill, who is currently the Chairman of the Thompson Board of Education, granddaughters Paula a teacher at TMHS, Ellen, a teacher in Thompson Public Schools, great-granddaughter Nicole, a teacher at Mary Fisher Elementary School, great-grandson Tommy, TMHS ‘04 who just finished a stint in the United States Army (Tommy also served in Iraq for one year), great-grandson Charlie, who graduated from TMHS in 2010, great-granddaughter Kelly, who will graduate this year 2012, great-grandson Luke is currently at Marianapolis, great-grandchildren Andrew, Julia, and Joey are all in school in Thompson. Henrietta was just a few weeks shy of her 106
th
birthday.
Left to right: Aileen Murphy MPS 81, JoAnn Thorstenson TMHS 79, Mary Ellen Jones MPS 83, Memere LaChapelle TMHS 23, Aileen Witkowski St. Joseph HS 52, Linda Pio, Putnam Catholic Academy 77 Paula Coderre PCA 76. Missing: William Witkowski MPS 78, Thomas Witkowski TMHS 80. Photo compliments of the Witkowski Family.
Norman Ream was among the very few in Thompson that owned a car.
1906 was the year Mrs. Tourtellotte started thinking about TMHS.
The average wage in the US was 22 cents per hour. More than 95 percent of all births in the US took
place at home. 90% of all U.S. doctors had no college education. Sugar cost four cents a pound, eggs fourteen cents
a dozen, coffee fifteen cents a pound. Most women only washed their hair once a month,
and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo. Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
Pneumonia and influenza, Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, Heart disease, and Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school. In mill towns like North Grosvenordale, that number could have been slightly higher.
Two out of every 10 US adults couldn't read or write.
Above: Picture of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. The earthquake was among the biggest events of 1906. The actual death toll is still being debated today with some suggesting as many as 3,000. More than 250,000 were left homeless. Those here in Thompson would have heard about the disaster through the newspaper. (Public domain picture)
In Honor of Henrietta LaChapelle’s life, we thought we would give an idea of what life in 1906, the year she was born, was like.
The average life expectancy in the US was 47 years. Henrietta beat this by more than twice!
Only 14 percent of the homes in the US had a bathtub. There were no paved roads in Thompson, CT. Only 8 percent of the homes in America had a
telephone. Children from Wilsonville had to take a trolley to
school. The Grosvenordale Co. owned all the buildings in
Three Rows. School busses in Thompson were a thing of the future!
BANQUET NEWS
This year we are featuring the Classes of 1962, 1972, and 1982.
The class of 1962 can contact Janice Benoit at 863-422-5755. The Class of 1972 can contact June
(Zmituikiewicz) Duclos at 860-942-0687. All others contact us at [email protected]
SPREAD THE WORD!!
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5 things you may NOT know
about TMHS
1. There have been three valedictorians named Tourtellotte – Frank Tourtellotte ’20, Charles R. Tourtellotte ’43, and Mark E. Tourtellotte ‘46
2. John Rivers ran for student council president as an independent – He received 194 petition signatures. Anyone remember the year?
3. Damage to the boys’ lav was such a problem in 1968 that the student council offered to patrol it before and after school.
4. The boys’ lav incident resulted in an assembly held by Mr. Fatsi, with Dave Cournoyer and Maureen Mulligan (presumably student council members) as speakers, to inform students of the ramifications if the trouble continued.
5. Did you know that a dress code committee was formed in 1968? This was to address the rock-and-roll, flower-child wave that was hitting America.
WE WANT YOUR OLD PICTURES
AND STORIES!
We are looking for pictures and stories from your time at TMHS. They can be about anything Tourtellotte and can include athletics, classmates, plays, special events, etc. Each month we would like to feature pictures from the past. Send them to: [email protected] or mail them to Tourtellotte Memorial High School Alumni Office, PO Box 437, North Grosvenordale, CT 06255. We’ll scan them and send them back.
Visit the TMHS Website at:
www.thompsonpublicschools.org
We Need Volunteers!
Much of the good work we do is because of
the volunteers we are fortunate enough to have, but much work remains. Volunteers in our association come in many shapes and forms; from those who are working weekly to those who help on specific projects. Currently we are seeking an association secretary, 2013 banquet chair, Arts and Academic Hall of Fame members, Hilltopper reporters, and membership drive workers. If you feel you can help in any of these capacities, please contact us at [email protected].
If you can’t help in the above capacity, help us by calling your classmates and have them join our good work.
We want to hear! What teacher
made a difference in your life?
At this year’s alumni banquet we would like to honor an outstanding TMHS teacher; someone who made a difference in your life. All you have to do is send your nomination and the reason this teacher made a difference in your life to: [email protected].
Nominations will be collected over the next few months and a selection will be made by the nomination committee in the spring of 2012, and the winner will be recognized during the alumni banquet on June 1, 2012.
More than 80 attend TMHSAA
TOURTELLOTTE CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION
More than 80 life-time learners attended a recent lecture on Dr. Jacob Francis Tourtellotte and his brother Brigadier General John Eaton Tourtellotte. The lecture, given by Joe Lindley ’74, at the Quinebaug Valley Community College, located in Danielson, CT, on March 15, 2012, concentrated on their remarkable military careers. Dr. Tourtellotte served on three man-of-war ships patrolling the Eastern Gulf Blockade. He stayed in the Navy and travelled around South America, before finally being stationed in Chile.
General Tourtellotte served with the 4th
Minnesota Infantry, fighting in 11 major battles where he earned several honors to include a Congressional Commendation. His unit served mostly with Generals Grant and Sherman. General Tourtellotte stayed in the Army more than 20 years, finishing his career as General W. T. Sherman’s chief of staff. He and Sherman were friends until their deaths.
The program was part of the QVCC Learning in Retirement Program.
Above: A lithograph of the Battle of Allatoona Pass, Georgia. It was here General John E. Tourtellotte earned General Sherman’s “everlasting respect.” Tourtellotte was severely wounded during the battle.
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Plaque Lists Valedictorian Glass Case
Project Contributors
(Brian Szpyrka) My Story
For those of you who don’t know me, my Name is Brian Szpyrka. I grew up in a middle class family in northeastern Connecticut. My background and upbringing was essential to the hard work ethic I live by today. Becoming a professional NFL player has been a goal of mine since I put on my first pair of pads at age 8. I truly live by my words, when I say, “I’m going to turn the impossible, into the possible”. We all have dreams, but we have to define how far we are willing to go. How much we are willing to sacrifice, and how bad we really want it. I strive in my life to be that inspiration to others. Know that this is not some half-hearted wish, but an absolute conviction that I will make it to the top. After starting varsity for the Tourtellotte-Ellis Tigers and finishing with numerous awards including first team all-state, I played four years for the Worcester Tech Engineers. The completion of college marked my 14th straight year of playing football. Upon graduation, out of a sense of duty, I commissioned into the Army as an Officer. After being honorably discharged I knew it was time to continue with my life’s calling. My journey brought me out to Hollywood, California where I decided to play my first semi-pro season with the California Dolphins. I’m proud to say, this fall marked my 15th football season and I finished as an all-star player in the league. I was told when I first started out a year and a half ago that due to where I went to college and because of my size and speed, I had a zero percent chance of making the NFL. These words motivated me even further. Upon completion of such a rewarding season, I then concentrated all my hard work on my weaknesses this offseason; gaining 15 lbs, going from a 4.9 to a 4.5 second 40 yard dash, improving my shuttle to 4.3 secs, improving to 225lbs for 15 reps on bench, reaching a 34.5” vertical and signing a sports agent. I realize that I am NOW ready for the NFL. Now is my time! What I am trying to do goes beyond just improving my life. 18 months later, those naysayers have changed their tune. It no longer looks like a possibility, but rather a certainty that I will make it to the games top tier. I believe when I make it to the NFL, it will be cold hard proof that any person can achieve anything they put their mind to. It will show that, when what you believe becomes stronger and more real than what people say, you will achieve the impossible.
Above: Standing proudly in the front foyer of the 1909 TMHS Building across from the WWII Roll of Honor is the TMHS list of Valedictorians displayed in a large glass case. Under the case is a small obscure plaque that lists the contributors who helped to install the board. It reads: Contributors: Class of ’52, Class of ’53, Alumni Association, Mrs. Jeannie Greene, Miss Blanche Green, Thompson Teacher’s Association, Miss Gladys Mowry, Miss Daisy Stewart, Mr. William Fisher, Student Council, School General Fund Committee: Mr. James Canty, Miss Gladys Mowry, Miss Daisy Stewart, Mr. William Singer, Miss Alice Ramsdell – Ex-Officio, Mr. William Fisher - Chairman
1909 TMHS Roof Project Coming
to an End
Above: A picture of the new copper ridge caps recently installed (See white arrows) on the roof of the 1909 TMHS building. The copper ridge caps are replicas of the original caps used in 1909 and replace sheet metal caps temporarily placed on the roof years ago. The temporary sheet metal caps contributed to the problems we have corrected over the past year and a half. Photo compliments of TMHSAA.
We would like to thank those who made generous
donations to the TMHSAA over the past several
months. All have asked to remain anonymous, but
we felt a public thanks was in order. The donations
will be used to help us continue our good work and
for TMHSAA Scholarships.
Again, many thanks!
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With the Athletic Hall of Fame now in its third year, the TMHSAA is seeking to expand the Hall of Fame concept to the Arts and Academia.
Many of our students, after leaving TMHS, went on to establish themselves as leaders in the world of music, film, dance, art, and academics. The Arts and Academic Hall of Fames would honor those TMHS graduates who have made significant contributions in their area of studies. Volunteers would establish Arts and Academic Hall of Fame committee bylaws and nomination and selection criteria. Anyone interested in being a member or chairing this committee please contact us at [email protected]
TMHSAA Seeking Arts and
Academic Hall of Fame
Volunteers
Above: New Tiger mural located in the Canty Gymnasium at Tourtellotte Memorial High School. There is another equally impressive mural in the Thompson Middle School. Photo compliments of Justine (Bodreau) Gendreau ’81.
Right: This picture was found by Mark Snay of the Thompson Historical Society. It is a picture of the 1913 TMHS class trip to Washington, D.C. This trip is possibly the first class to make the trip. It is believed that Mrs. Tourtellotte funded many of the earlier trips. The photo notes that this picture was taken in Washington. Photo compliments of THS.
New Mural in Canty Gymnasium
WWII HONORARY GRADUATES
NAMED
Four years ago we began the project of insuring all our WWII veterans who were unable to graduate from TMHS because they joined the service during WWII be awarded a diploma. This year we are happy to announce two more former warriors are added: They are:
Henry Beaulac Norman Despelteau
Come join us and celebrate this special event at the TMHS 2012 graduation. Their stories will be in our next issue of the Hilltopper.
Class of 2012 Hall of Fame Inductees
Selected
The 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame committee has announced that final selections for the 2012 class have been selected. Nominations for next year’s class are still being accepted and can be sent to TMHSAA, HOF Committee, PO Box 437, North Grosvenordale, CT 06255. The next Hilltopper will feature stories of those being inducted this year.
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Fellow TMHS 1,000-pointer Greg Guillott ’88 (Part of the ’87 State Championship team) was on hand in a packed house to see the newest member of the 1,000 Point Club hit the difficult mark. Kopacz scored his 1,000 point on January 23, 2012 in a 69-65 win over St. Bernard.
Kopacz scored his milestone point in the third quarter of the game, finishing the game with 28 points. He later hit a remarkable 44 points to hit a career single-game high. Eddie’s sister Rachael ’11 now attends Curry College and was an outstanding TMHS athlete in her own right. Sister Julie is a TMHS junior and sister Christina is an 8
th grader at Thompson Middle School.
Eddie is the son of Rob and Joyce Kopacz of Thompson, Connecticut.
At this game, unknown to Eddie, he received one of the greatest compliments he could possibly receive. When Jim Naum ’50 was asked who Eddie reminded him of – without much hesitation he said “George Dargati.” Congratulations Ed!
Above: Eddie Kopacz, TMHS Class of 2012 with mom Joyce and father Rob during a ceremony marking his 1,000 high school career point. Left: Eddie dunking before a game with teammate Joel Jezierski.. Below: Eddie with Connecticut Coaches’ Hall of Famer Coach Falzarrano. Photos compliments of Justine (Bodreau) Gendreau ’81.
Eddie Kopacz TMHS ‘12 - Hits the 1,000 Point Mark
HITS SINGLE GAME HIGH OF 44 POINTS
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MORE TREASURES
FOUND
Left-above: The Class of 1959 secretary ledger, Class of 1959 treasurer ledger, 1958 secretary ledger, the Class of 1958 - 1956-1958 treasurer ledger (including 8
th grade to 12
th
grade), and the 1966-1975 activity fund book. Also included are old bills, bank notes, etc. The ledgers include all the class dues information, expenses and student government notes. The books were donated to the TMHSAA by the Thompson Historical Society. Below: Notes from September 8, 1958, student council meeting, president Eleanor Teguis presiding. Anyone wishing to see the books can contact us at [email protected]. The books and the other information are now being stored in the TMHSAA archives rooms.
Note: The treasurer books show those delinquent in their class dues… We wonder what $3.00 is with 43 years of interest!
This newsletter and other projects sponsored by the TMHSAA are only possible
with the support of our members. Please take the time to join our group or to
renew your TMHSAA membership.
TMHSAA Membership Renewal
Due January 1st of Each Year – Seniors (Age 65+): $5.00, All other Alumni: $15.00
Name:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Maiden Name: ____________________________ Class: Year: __________________________________________ Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________________________________ Email Address: _______________________________________Telephone: _______________________________ Do you have a favorite story or photograph you would like to share with us? Please mail them along with this application.
PLEASE HELP US MAKE NEXT YEAR A SUCCESS!
Detach and mail to: TMHSAA, PO Box 437, North Grosvenordale, CT 06255
Contact us at: [email protected] or Call Joe Lindley @ 860-928-5527
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Tourtellotte Memorial High School Alumni Office
PO Box 437
North Grosvenordale, CT 06255
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
PLEASE SEND US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO:
