Dr. Richard McDonald

Retiring 'hero' takes a last bow

Outgoing Shen principal Richard McDonald is praised during tribute

  By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer

First published in print: Saturday, December 12, 2009 CLIFTON PARK -- They sang. They danced. They cried. They pledged to "be nice, work hard and have fun," the mantra of the man at the center of the celebration.

Students, parents and teachers told Arongen Elementary School Principal Richard McDonald that the assembly Friday afternoon was to mark the winter solstice. When he walked in, he discovered they were instead honoring the autumn of his career.

McDonald has been principal of the school for 21 years including the 17 it has been in its current building. He has been an educator for 38. He is retiring Dec. 23.

The tribute began with a tongue-in-cheek discussion between students Chris Rudge, a fourth grader, and Matt Remes, a fifth grader. With a dictionary in hand, the two 10-year-olds discussed the meaning of the word "retire."

The possible definitions:

To go to bed?

"I don't think he's going to leave us to go to bed," Chris said.

To go to a private place?

No, not that either.

To put out in baseball, like "the pitcher retired the batter?"

"I don't think he plays baseball any more," Rudge said. "Didn't he just have his hip replaced?"

To give up work, usually because of old age?

"Now that sounds like the correct definition," Chris said.

It was part of a teasing, rousing tribute that saw faculty in white shirts and hats covered in golden glitter singing and dancing, waving golf clubs instead of canes, to a rewritten version of "New York, New York." Principal McDonald's cousin, State Sen. Roy McDonald, presented a proclamation from the state government.

Video clips showed students in McDonald's office -- he was actually out after hip surgery -- answering questions about his departure.

One student said he expected McDonald to now sit in a chair and watch TV all day, while another thought he might become a veterinarian.

Known for his superhero costumes and sweeping the cafeteria floor himself, McDonald was told his portrait would join the school's wall of fame. With 700 students, Arongen is the largest elementary school in the Shenendehowa district.

McDonald has two children including a daughter, Molly, who is a teacher at Shaketon Elementary School in the district. He said he does plan to golf, to spend time at a vacation home in North Carolina and to volunteer helping people with autism and Alzheimer's disease.

At the assembly, he had expected students to sing him a song, he said, but he never expected the hourlong-plus tribute,

"I told everybody I wanted to go quietly," he said to the assembled crowd. "What we did at Arongen, we did as a team. No one person was better than another. There are no prima donnas here."

He said he felt blessed to have his job.

"I feel very lucky," he said, choking up. "Thank you for today and for all the wonderful memories."

Students eagerly praised their principal.

"I'm sad because he's our superhero, and everyone needs a superhero," said Tyler McFarland, 10, a fifth grader.

Sister Mary Kenan, RSM

 

She's touched many lives

Published: Monday, October 19, 2009

Bill Lawrence of Clifton Park laughs with Sister Mary Kenan McGowan during her retirement party Sunday at the Grafton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. (Photo by J.S. Carras — The Record)

by Dave Canfield
The Record

Click to enlarge

Sister Mary Kenan McGowan

GRAFTON — Over a decade ago during his U.S. Army career, Dave Huskie awoke in Samaritan Hospital’s hospice ward suffering from what would eventually be diagnosed as the sometimes-fatal hemorrhagic fever. He remembers little about his hospital ordeal, but he clearly recalls opening his eyes at one point to find Sister Mary Kenan McGowan in the room.

She didn’t say much, he recalls. But she didn’t need to.
“I remember waking up and her sitting next to me,” said Huskie, of Petersburgh, who would eventually recover. “That was an important hour for me.”

Judging by the words spoken at her well-attended retirement party Sunday, Sister Kenan had offered that sort of comfort for decades prior in her Grafton parish and as a teacher at Catholic Central High School, among other schools. And despite now being technically retired, she is expected to do the same in the coming years.

“She has been the rock and the stable influence in this parish community for years,” said Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard at the retirement party held at Grafton’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.

At that event, Huskie handed the Sister the Army Commendation Medal he received during his service, noting she deserved it more than he did. She always makes sure to say a prayer for the military, he said.

Sister Kenan was first received by the Sisters of Mercy in 1952. She then taught at several schools, including St. Paul the Apostle in Troy and others in Albany and Waterford, including a lengthy stint at Catholic Central.

There she was instrumental in organizing the school’s phone drive to raise money. She had a way of getting people to want to participate, said Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino, who went to the school.

“That’s what makes Sister Kenan so special,” she said. “It’s the fact that (she) draws so many people in and makes them think they can make a difference.”

She also made a difference in what is now Parish of Our Lady of the Snow. She was able to secure a new church for Grafton during the mid-1990s, parishioners said, largely through her ability to unite people and get them on board for the project.

“She mobilized everybody,” Huskie recalled. “She’s a glue that kind of holds people together.”

A steady stream of people made their way to the Sister’s table Sunday to say hello and offer their thanks. The VFW Post was stocked with a wealth of food. What was left at the end of the day was to go to feed the homeless.

“That’s another thing she started,” Huskie said. “If we don’t eat it, someone eats it.”

“She’s a remarkable woman,” added his wife Debbie. “I can’t even begin to imagine how many people she’s touched.”

Kenan said she plans to keep active despite her retirement by continuing to volunteer at the church. The avid New York Yankees fan plans to remain in Grafton for the next few years, where parishioners expect to see her face despite her technical retirement.

“All of us who know you well know that (retirement) is not a word in your vocabulary,” Jeanne Schrempf, director of religious education for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, told Sister Kenan during the party.

For her part, given a packed house at the VFW ranging in age from children to the elderly, does the Sister think she’s made a difference to many over the years?

“I hope so,” she said modestly.

Dave Canfield can be reached at 270-1290 or by e-mail at dcanfield@troyrecord.com.

Congratulations to Tom Norton

Another CCHS graduate from the class of 1966 achieves a personal milestone in their life.  Tom Norton made a clock for national competition that came in 4th place.  This is awesome.  The clock is 7 ft. tall and there are over 300 scrolled pieces glued together making the clock.  A photo of the clock is below.

You may also view this clock online by doing the following:

1.  type the word “winfield collection” in your search engine

2.  click on winfield collection

3.  scroll down the page and click on “project contest” located on the left

4.  click on “4th - Our "Good" Prize ($100 retail value)...view 2009 Winner”

or just click here

Congratulations, Tom. Great job!

Hall of Fame Photos

From Left:  Joe Yerdon, Tom Hayes, Pete Knapp and Bill Kalbaugh 

From Left: Dave Murray and Bill Kalbaugh

Capital District Hall of Fame Inaugural Class

Several athletes from Catholic Central are being inducted into the hall tonight at 7 p.m. June 28, 2009 at the Terrace Restaurant in Troy, NY.  Congratulations to all of the athletes from the local high schools especially those from Catholic Central. 

First published in print: Sunday, June 28, 2009

The inaugural class is at the top of the class.

Seventy-six individuals tonight will become charter members of the Capital District Basketball Hall of Fame, which will hold its induction dinner in Troy.

Ten were drafted by the NBA, including three (Pat Riley, Barry Kramer, Sam Perkins) in the first round. Riley also can sport five NBA championship rings as a coach.

There are three father-son combinations (Bob and Jason DeLuca, Gary and Greg Holle, John and Tony Traver) and three father-daughter tandems (Chris and Kate Fagan, Bill and Carrie Kirvin, Phil, Wendi and Caryn Schoff).

Seven will be enshrined for their coaching accomplishments, including the late Sig Makofski and John Traver. Eleven players are being inducted posthumously.

And just so everyone will get along, two highly regarded NCAA referees -- Jim Burr of Latham and John Cahill of Slingerlands -- were added to the class.

Birds of Section II feathers tended to flock together. Of the 67 players on the list, five played at Xavier (Ohio), and three each at Centenary, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Siena, Syracuse and Vermont.

On the high school side, there are eight representatives from Linton and six of Philip Schuyler, neither of which exists nowadays.

The initial class focused only on players who played (or coached) in the Capital Region during the past 50 years. As time goes by, prominent Siena and UAlbany players will be in the mix, as well as those from before 1958.

-- Pete Dougherty

Players School Year College Noteworthy

Karl Bankowski Bishop Gibbons 1977 Utah1981 sixth-round draft pick (116th overall) by Dallas Mavericks; played at Utah with Tom Chambers, Danny Vranes; played professionally in Europe

Talor Battle Bishop Maginn 2007 Penn State Sophomore captain at Penn State; recently named to U.S. team for World University Games; 1,880 career points at Bishop Maginn

Nate Bland Philip Schuyler 1972 Centenary Played collegiately with Hall of Famer Robert Parish; 12th on Centenary's career scoring list and is in Louisiana school's athletic Hall of Fame

Ticky Burden Philip Schuyler 1972 Utah Left Utah under hardship rule after junior season in 1975 to play for ABA Virginia Squires; played under coach Willis Reed for New York Knicks

Tim Cain Shaker 1980 Manhattan Sam Perkins' teammate at Shaker; three-time all-MAAC first-team player; conference rookie of the year in 1981-82; in Manhattan Hall of Fame

Ron Carrington Albany 1973 Manhattan Scored 1,146 career points at Albany High, including school-record 46 in one game; four-year player at Manhattan

Mike Catino Linton 1976 Siena Only Siena player to have two 40-point games; ranks 19th on college's career list in points (1,438) and fifth in assists (426)

Lionel Chalmers Albany 2000 Xavier 2004 second-round draft pick (34th overall) by L.A. Clippers, for whom he played 34 games; led Xavier to Elite Eight; playing professionally in Europe

Scott Cherry Spa Catholic 1989 North Carolina Won 1989 Section II Class CC title for Spa Catholic with buzzer beater; on 1993 NCAA champions; recently named head coach at High Point (N.C.)

Chris Ciaccio Gloversville 1990 Georgia Second on Section II career scoring list (2,372); league MVP all four years at Gloversville; went to Georgia on baseball scholarship as pitcher

Willie Deane Schenectady 1998 Purdue All-Big Ten first team in 2003; teammate of James Thomas on state champion Schenectady team of 1998; playing professionally in Europe

Bob DeLuca Linton 1962 Cornell Two-time all-Ivy League guard at Cornell, often matched up against Princeton All-American Bill Bradley; inducted into Cornell Hall of Fame in 2005

Jason DeLuca Burnt Hills 1992 Saint Rose Career scoring leader at Burnt Hills (1,114); two-time Suburban Council Player of the Year; played two seasons at Saint Rose

John DiBiase Watervliet 1972 New Mexico St. Second-leading career scorer at Watervliet (1,307); once scored 53 points in high-school game; four-year career at New Mexico State

Sid Edwards Linton 1970 Houston Played under Guy Lewis at Houston, senior captain; played three years for Globetrotters; on 24-0 Linton team regarded as best ever in Capital Region

Chris Fagan Catholic Central 1973 Colgate Won two Diocesan championships at CCHS under Don Bassett; received ECAC Merit Medal at Colgate as senior; played professionally in Ireland

Kate Fagan Niskayuna 1999 Colorado Three-year starting guard at Colorado; first-team all-Times Union as Nisky senior; currently reporter covering 76ers for Philadelphia Daily News

Craig Forth Columbia 2000 Syracuse 7-1 center started every game (136) in Syracuse career, including 2003 NCAA championship team; 1,465 points, 1,175 rebounds, 451 blocks at Columbia

Jimmer Fredette Glens Falls 2007 Brigham Young Section II career scoring leader (2,404 points); led BYU to consecutive NCAA Tournament trips, earning all-Mountain West Conference honors as sophomore

Rashaun Freeman Schenectady 2001 Massachusetts Three-time all-Atlantic 10, NABC all-district player; fourth on UMass career scoring list (1,744); MVP of French professional league

Joe Geiger Catholic Central 1960 Xavier 1964 eighth-round draft pick (69th overall) of Cincinnati Royals; led nation in free-throw pct. (.902) as sophomore; inducted into Xavier athletic Hall of Fame (2005)

Sonny Gooden Saratoga 1973 Broome Tech Scored 1,490 points in high school; won Section II title as sophomore; played two seasons at Broome Tech under coaching legend Dick Baldwin

Joe Greco Whitehall 1971 Vermont Section II career scoring leader (1,983) at time of graduation, currently sixth; led Whitehall against Philip Schuyler in classic 1971 game (won by Schuyler)

Dick Grubar Bishop Gibbons 1965 North Carolina 1969 sixth-round draft pick (83rd overall) by L.A. Lakers; played in three straight Final Fours; participated in two games with ABA's Indiana Pacers

Gary Holle Catholic Central 1972 Siena Siena leader in career scoring average (20.6); scored 53 in a game at Catholic High; played five games as Texas Rangers first baseman in 1979

Greg Holle CBA 2007 Texas Christian All-time CBA scoring leader (1,355); Big 10 MVP as senior; attending TCU on baseball scholarship, helped Horned Frogs to NCAA Super Regionals

Todd Holloway* CBA 1983 Texas A&M More minutes (4,191) than any player in A&M history, 11th in career scoring (1,331), fifth in assists (491); 1,321 career points at CBA; died Oct. 19, 2004, at age 39

Skeeter Horne Philip Schuyler 1969 Centenary 6-8 center on Philip Schuyler team ranked fourth nationally in 1969; matchups with Linton's 6-9 Sid Edwards were legendary; 1,096 career points in high school

Milton Horne* Philip Schuyler 1969 Centenary Skeeter's cousin transferred from New Mexico, for whom he played in 1970 Final Four, to Centenary; four-year starter at Schuyler; died Sept. 5, 2001, at age 52

Billy Kalbaugh Catholic Central 1965 St. Bonaventure Senior point guard on Bob Lanier-led 1970 Bonnies team that made Final Four; all-city at Catholic High, which won two Diocesan championships

Bill Kirvin Mont Pleasant 1958 Xavier1962 eighth-round draft pick (67th overall) by San Francisco Warriors; 1,088 career points at Mont Pleasant; in Schenectady, Xavier Halls of Fame

Carrie Kirvin Shenendehowa 1994 Vermont Scored 708 points in two seasons at Shenendehowa; two-year starter at Vermont, ranks 20th on school's career assists list (220)

Tim Kolojay Amsterdam 1964 Duke Surname spelled "Kolodziej" at Duke, where he played in 1966 Final Four; part of Amsterdam "Fab Five" that beat Pat Riley's Linton team five straight times

Greg Koubek Shenendehowa 1987 Duke First player (with Clay Buckley) in NCAA history to play in four consecutive Final Fours; 12th on Section II career scoring list (1,792 points); won 1987 state title

Barry Kramer Linton 1960 New York U. 1964 first-round draft pick of San Francisco Warriors (sixth overall); 29.3 points per game as NYU junior second in NCAA; played two NBA seasons, one ABA

Elander Lewis Albany 1986 Va. C'wealth Played two seasons at St. John's before transfer to VCU, where he was a two-year starter, leading Rams in scoring as junior; led Albany to 1986 Section II title

Leo McDermott* St. Columba's 1959 Xavier Averaged 31.2 points a game as senior, regarded as best player from his school; one of four area players from his era to play at Xavier; died Nov. 23, 1994

Kevin McGraw CBA 1978 Siena Point guard was top Siena scorer in junior and senior seasons; ranks 21st on college's career points list (1,217) and eighth in assists (352)

Jason McKrieth Schenectady 2001 Rice Eighth on Rice's career scoring list (1,508); played on two state championship teams at Schenectady (1998, 2001); played professionally in NBA Development League

Brendan Mitchell Mont Pleasant 1981 Potsdam Three-time all SUNYAC player, led Potsdam to 1986 NCAA Division III title; only D3 player to earn Olympic tryout; 17th on Section II career scoring list (1,658)

David Modest*Linton 1972 Providence All-time scoring leader at Linton (1,508); teamed with Ernie DiGregorio to lead Providence to 1973 Final Four; died Feb. 19, 1992, at age 37

Mark Mondoux* Stillwater 1986 St. Rose 42-inch vertical leap; 621 points as Stillwater senior; ranked third in St. Rose career scoring (1,272), currently 15th; died Nov. 28, 1990, at age 22

Jon Mueller Stillwater 1988 Eckerd Eighth on Section II career scoring list (1,917); went to Eckerd for baseball; played seven seasons in pro baseball; currently UAlbany baseball coach

Calvin Nicholson*Philip Schuyler 1965 New Mexico Two-time Times Union all-city selection; all-city MVP as senior; MVP of Cardinal McCloskey holiday tournament

Brendan O'Sullivan Shenendehowa 1987 Dartmouth Won 1987 state title at Shen; 1991 Dartmouth captain; two-time Alvin F. "Doggie" Julian Award winner for service to New England college basketball

Sam Perkins Shaker 1979 North Carolina 1984 first-round draft pick (4th overall) by Dallas Mavericks; first-team AP All-American as UNC senior; 17-year NBA career with four teams

Frank Pinchback* CBA 1958 Xavier 1962 11th-round draft choice (88th overall) by Cincinnati Royals; one of three Xavier players drafted that year; CBA Hall of Fame (1983); died in June, 2003, at age 63

Warren Prehmus Scotia 1973 Vermont Vermont career scoring leader at time of graduation (1,402 points), currently ninth; considered greatest player ever at Scotia, led team to 1973 sectional championship

Gary Przybylo* Linton 1968 Michigan St. State high jump champion; later coached at Bethlehem and Mohonasen; son of Walt Przybylo, who coached Pat Riley at Linton; died Jan. 26, 1999, at age 48

Joe Quickley* Albany 1966 Arizona State Bronx-born player moved to Albany in 1961 and starred at Albany High; later served as volunteer coach for youth teams; died Aug. 6, 2004, at age 56

Armand Reo Catholic Central 1958 Notre Dame Two-year scoring and rebound leader at Notre Dame, captain in 1962; played with Schaeffer Brewers; later coached at Catholic Central

Pat Riley Linton 1963 Kentucky 1963 first-round draft pick (7th overall) by San Diego Rockets; averaged 18.1 points at Kentucky; played nine NBA seasons, coached 24, winning five NBA titles

Phil SchoffSt. Johnsville 1963 Syracuse Played with Dave Bing, Jim Boeheim at Syracuse; played professionally in the Eastern League with the Schenectady-based Schaeffer Brewers and Utica Wreckers

Caryn SchoffSt. Johnsville 1995 Syracuse Top scorer in state high school history (3,548 points), winning three straight Class D championships; 583 points, 429 rebounds in career at Syracuse

Wendi SchoffSt. Johnsville 1994 William Smith Older sister of Caryn had 2,285 points in high school; junior and senior teams were unbeaten state champions; now coaches at Fonda

Larry Sheffield La Salle 1962 Notre Dame Voted to Notre Dame's all-decade team for 1960s, scored 47 in an overtime loss to Detroit; considered greatest player ever at La Salle

Leon Simon La Salle 1963 Sante Fe 1967 eighth-round draft pick (94th overall) by Chicago Bulls; made half-court "shot heard around the world" to beat Vicentian for Diocesan League title

Eric Stover Schuylerville 1978 St. Bonaventure 1978 state sportswriters' small-school Player of the Year; four-year starter for St. Bonaventure, second in career blocked shots list (163), eighth in rebounding (737)

Jim Tedisco Bishop Gibbons 1968 Union Union's all-time scoring leader (1,632), inducted into college's Hall of Fame (2002); NCAA Silver Anniversary award in 1997; scored 55 in final game at Gibbons

James Thomas Schenectady 1998 Texas 33 NBA games in two seasons for four teams; career rebounding leader at Texas (1,077); led Schenectady to 1998 state title; playing professionally in Europe

Jim Town Glens Falls 1973 Massachusetts 6-8 lefty 21st on Section II career scoring list (1,599); sixth-leading career rebounder at UMass (879), where he also played football as tight end/punter/kicker

Tony Traver Greenwich 1980 William & Mary All-time Section II scoring leader (2,189) at time of graduation, currently third; scored 53 in a high-school game; coached at William and Mary after graduation

Jim Traynham* Philip Schuyler 1971 Albany Business Nicknamed "Booie," started at Hartwick before transferring to ABC, where he once had 58 points in 130-113 loss to Sullivan; died April 28, 1990, at age 37

Johnnie Ray Wall Albany 1978 Boston U. Extremely quick player was four-year starter at Albany High; one of Rick Pitino's first recruits at Boston U., where he ranks ninth on career steals list (137)

Jack Washington*Linton 1961 Dayton Helped Linton to 46-game winning streak; also played at Hudson Valley after serving in Army in Vietnam; died Nov. 9, 2003, at age 61

Billy Williams La Salle 1963 St. Joseph's All-city and all-league two years at La Salle; inducted into school's Hall of Fame; father of Bill Williams Jr., starting center on the (Ind.) 1991 state federation champions

Antoni Wyche Bishop Gibbons 1995 Notre Dame Two-year starter at Notre Dame; played professionally on four continents; recently accepted assistant-coaching position at Lehigh

*Deceased

Coaches Noteworthy

Don Landrio Retired from Gloversville after 2008-09 season; earned 400th career victory Jan. 9, including four seasons (60-7) at Canajoharie; had two teams in state final four

Joe Loudis Led Cohoes to seven Colonial Council titles; coached Mechanicville to three Section II titles, two runner-up state finishes; elected to NYS Basketball Hall of Fame

Paul Lyons515 victories ranks third in Section II history; 10 Big 10 titles, seven runner-ups in 24 years at Albany High; elected to NYS Basketball Hall of Fame

Sig Makofski* 107-11 at Schenectady (five seasons), 354-24 at Mont Pleasant (20) with six undefeated teams; elected to NYS Basketball Hall of Fame; died Jan. 15, 1994, at age 89

George Mardigan Section II leader in coaching victories (546-158); 1991 Watervliet team won Section II's only Federation championship; elected to NYS Basketball Hall of Fame

John Traver* Won eight league titles and five sectional championships at Greenwich, compiling 419-235 record; elected to NYS Basketball Hall of Fame; died Sept. 26, 2008

Jim Zullo Compiled 469-213 in 35 seasons at Little Falls, Broadalbin, Shenedehowa; 1987 team won state Class AA championship; elected to NYS Basketball Hall of Fame

Referees Noteworthy

Jim Burr Has worked 16 Final Fours; won James Naismith Basketball Official of the Year award in 1993; worked 1987 game in which Indiana coach Bobby Knight was ejected after three technical fouls

John Cahill Has worked 7 Final Fours; won James Naismith Basketball Official of the Year award in 2007; worked six-overtime game between Syracuse and Connecticut in 2009 Big East Tournament

Capital District Basketball Hall of Fame

• When: 7 p.m. today

• Where: Terrace Restaurant, Troy

• Tickets: Event is sold out

Memorial Day Tribute

Below is an article written by Kathleen Schongar who graduated from Catholic Central in 1971.  She is the sister of Mike and Tim Schongar classmates of ours.  The article appeared in the Times Union Saturday, May 23, 2009. 

From Lansingburgh to Vietnam

Remembering 3 young lives cut so tragically short

By KATHLEEN SCHONGAR
First published in print: Saturday, May 23, 2009

Paul Baker, Ray Tymeson and Pete Guenette were boyhood friends. They were neighbors, school mates and Little League buddies. Baby boomers, proud sons of Lansingburgh all, these children of the Cold War era stand together still. White names etched in a massive wall of black that pays tribute to all the brave souls who gave their lives in Vietnam.

They seemed old to us who were just out of grade school. Now they seem so very young. Young men in their prime, old enough to drive, to drink and to die in service to the nation. They were not yet old enough to vote.

How time alters our perspective. These friends never enjoyed the Age of Aquarius, never saw man walk on the moon, never saw the Berlin Wall come down. For them, personal computers and cell phones with pictures existed only in comic books. There was no World Trade Center.

Today, those who stand at the Wall in Washington reading the names of their young friends do so with reverence. There is an abundance of pride and a compounded sense of sadness, for our faces reflect the passage of years, in contrast to their eternal youth. Only as we grew to maturity could we begin to understand the true value of their sacrifice in our name.

While we sat safely in our classrooms, they waded through rice paddies. We saw the world transformed in ways they could never have imagined. While they rested in honored silence in cemeteries overlooking the Hudson River, we earned diplomas and had careers and families.

We lived the dream. Only after seeing what we have gained, can we fully appreciate the void the absence of each of them leaves in our lives. So much potential lost.

Ray, Paul and Pete were all regular kids from the neighborhood. Life revolved around family, church, school and the 112th Street Park. All went to Catholic Central High School, where courage, constancy, honor and sacrifice were more than words in a school song. They were words to live by and ideals to die for.

Pete lived less than a stone's throw from our house. He was my brother Tim's best friend, the skinny kid who played ball and shared the usual adventures and pranks of adolescence, would become a national hero on May 18, 1968. Under fire in Quan Tan Uyen Province, Pete smothered a grenade with his body, saving at least three lives. For his courage and selflessness, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He was 20 years old. Lansingburgh was very proud, but profoundly sad. In less than 11 months we buried three of our best and brightest.

The casualties on the nightly news were our friends. So our generation came to understand the tremendous cost of war, the price of freedom.

It is a lesson every generation must learn. It is our responsibility to pass on the legacy of the three who gave their lives for us. We must never forget.

As we look at the gray-haired reflections at the Wall, or in our own mirrors, let us be grateful for the sacrifices of Pete, Paul and Ray and all who have died in uniform. Let us support the men and women currently serving our nation with distinction.

This weekend, let us honor the fallen, as they say in song, by teaching our children well to study war no more.

Through our words and examples, may we teach them to tear down the walls of hatred and mistrust, building in their place a bridge that will bring us closer to a time when a just and lasting peace will guide the planet.

Kathleen Schongar is a special education teacher at the May School at St. Catherine's Center for Children and a published poet. She lives in Albany.

This is the first of several Memorial Day essays from Capital Region writers. Others will appear on Sunday and Monday.

Dennis Griswold

East Hampton celebrates the life of a legend

BY Cristina D. Johnson    September 5, 2008 - 07:50.

Some call him "funny" and others call him "kind" but everyone agrees: Dennis Griswold was a "character."

East Hampton celebrated the life and gifts of the owner of the Happiest Paddler last week after the 61-year-old died unexpectedly from a short-term illness.

Griswold – also known by lifetime friends as "Dennis the Menace" – was not only the owner of the Happiest Paddler, but also as the founder of Friends of Lake Pocotopaug.

His wife, Gladys Yeager – an award winning real estate agent – is among the many who loved Griswold, and is left with nothing but loving memories.

"He always smiled," Yeager said thoughtfully. "Always had a smile on his face."

Sitting on the deck of the home they shared beneath which Griswold made a living running the Happiest Paddler on Lake Pocotopaug, Yeager could only smile as she spoke of her late husband. "He always had a twinkle in his eye… he always was able to laugh and tell stories." With this she paused and chuckled slightly, adding "Tell stories… tell stories…tell stories. He was always telling stories."

"He had no enemies never had a bad thing to say about anybody. He was just generally a good-hearted wonderful man."

As the couple moved to their home on the shore of Lake Pocotopaug, Griswold’s love of the lake became readily apparent.

"Once he got here, he knew this was where he wanted to be. He’d always say ‘We are so lucky. Look at how lucky we are,’" Yeager recalled.

And as the couple built a deck overlooking the lake, she remembered his loving expressions towards the 511-acre body of water at the heart of town.

"He used to come out here and I’d stand up on the window and look out and he’d stand up there and just look at the lake with such love."

"All seasons – even when it’s frozen," Yeager recalled. "He kept on saying ‘We gotta fix it. We gotta fix it’"

And as his love for Lake Pocotopaug filled him more, he formed the FLP even as he told everyone – friends, visitors and family members – about the help the lake needs.

"He accomplished awareness. He’s made a lot of people aware of what’s happening. He did boat tours and even on his boat tours the people that weren’t even part of East Hampton he’d say ‘We have a sick lake and we have to nurse it to get it better.’"

Nikki O’Neill served as the Co-Chair for FLP and said it was here that she became known to Griswold.

"I worked with him being vice chairman of [FLP]," O’Neill said. "He just was so dedicated to everything he did. Whether it was running this place downstairs (The Happiest Paddler), anything to do with the lake. This guy loved the lake more than anyone I know. Always thinking of the lake, the lake, the lake… what can we do with the lake. I think of [Griswold] I think of [Lake Pocotopaug]."

Griswold – though not an East Hampton native – made an impact on many peoples’ lives, from those who rented kayaks and canoes from his shop, to officials.

Town Council Chairwoman Melissa Engel said the loss of Griswold is a huge one for the Town.

"What I admired most was he was a very busy man - as most people who get things done are – but he was so enthusiastic. When he or you came up with a project and suggested it to him, it was always a great idea. He would always make it happen," Engel recalled. "He was a positive guy, the likes of which we don’t see enough."

Councilman John Tuttle said Griswold will be sorely missed.

"[Griswold] was a friend to many, and a tremendous advocate for our Lake. I never heard [him] say "no" to a request. [He was] always helping happily and enthusiastically," Tuttle said. "It's a sad reminder of how fragile life is. I will miss him terribly."

Yeager said the couple had planned to close the doors of the Happiest Paddler soon but now, she says she is not sure what the future holds for Griswold’s beloved shop.

"I think about it now and I say I really don’t think I want it to close. I think I want it to live on but it won’t live on to the magnitude he did. I’ll rent kayaks and canoes and have the store open for little stuff but he …that was his life," she said. "He didn’t just rent a canoe. He rented a canoe and talked to you about your experience in it. With two replaced hips it wasn’t the easiest thing but women and guys who’d never done it before he’d go down and help…Tell you how to get into it and just holler when you get back and he’d help you out."

O’Neill said FLP will go on to honor the passion of Griswold for the health and beauty of Lake Pocotopaug.

"We’re going to go on, and we’re going to have a new chairman. Nobody will be [Griswold] but we’re going to go on and keep doing what we’re doing," she said.

We were able to get the above article from Kamey Peterson, Dennis’ step daughter.  Kamey said of Dennis, “ He was a wonderful man and we miss him very very much.”

Click here for the link to the article in the East Hampton Report news. 

Kamey Peterson also sent us the two photos below of Dennis enjoying life.

Thank you Kamey for sharing this information about Dennis.