Draghi, Ray Farmer, Lila & Bob Patel, Mihir 1991 Table of Contents Cooper, Bill Duffy, John Storms, Scott & Dale Remotti

1991 TABLE OF CONTENTS DRAGHI, RAY COOPER, BILL FARMER, LILA & BOB DUFFY, JOHN PATEL, MIHIR GREATER HARTFORD OPEN STORMS, SCOTT & DALE SANZARO, MIKE REMOTTI, CLAUDIO WELCH, CAROL CARRAGHER, JACK MCNAMARA, DAN III BOWEN, MARGE & BURNEY REDMONDS AT STRATTON MOUNTAIN AMO, MICHELLE MATTIA, KEN PHELPS, DWIGHT & NANCY NODWELL, ERIC BRYAN, VERE & MARCE RIZZO, NICK BLAIS, PETER STANHOPE, PATTI DESOUSA, JORDAN CULCASI, THOM DOERING, JOSEPH FELBER, FRAN BATTISTINI, CHRIS DURKIN, TOM SR & JR FLORIDA BASEBALL TRIP FIREFIGHTERS NAVAROll, JACK SQUIRES, BRIAN SMALLEY, VI ANTONACCI, RAY DESHAIES, MIKE (Colorado) OSBORN, JILL BaRNAS FAMILY BURNHAM, RED VIERA, BERNIE HARRIS, MARY ANN LINDE, STEVE & PAT ZENZICK, ALEX FOSTER, JACK MAGLEORA, NELSON QUAGLIAROLI FAMILY HILLIARD, REV WM WHELAN, MIKE REDMOND, JACK 1991 AWARD RONCARI, LESLIE BALCK,RUTH GEAHIGAN, TIFFANY SCHWAB, STEVE & MARY LYNES, JULIE TARAVELLA HAMEL, BILL CLAFFEY, ANN MARIE & NEIL Raymond Draghi Resident Has Fond Memoiie~urU~~RY~ Old Days' Raymond Louis Draghi has now Public Wodcs are located " of Yankee pilcher, Vic Raschi, been many things in his full cabbages & kings Ray saw the great Babe Ruth, anativeofnearbySpringfieJd. life ... a ball player, politician, Lou Gehrig and Bill Dickey, According to Ray, Vic would factory employee, devoted JACK REDMOND jfWIJt,One day, the Babe, always the receive a call from his cousin father and husband and club ~~' showman,putonagolfexhibi- for tickets to a game, hc and organizer in his seventy plus i:i~ lion, before the game, hitting Ray would drive to New York, years, and today retired, en- He played for the local team Ray never went into the %~ ~ (~l: ~v.>;,:"< ~,~::, golfballs from Route 159 into have the best seats in the house joying his ten grandchildren called"KettleBrook."Theway service, well, he almost did, f r' ""'0)' theConnecticutRiver.Raysaid that Ruth built, even get into and five great-grandchildren. Ray tells the story ... "we were going to New Haven with bags F";z""~~" -'~ theballshithalfwayacrossthe the club house and Ray said, TheCenterStreetnativehas a bunch of Center Street kids, packed in 1945, only to find he ,~ ;"\~,,.,t~ river. "We met Yogi Berra., Johnny had many fond memories of all friendly, from happy fami- was color blind, and was back . },:~ ",:,>,~<':' , The other park, so familiar Mize, Ally Reynolds, Phil the good old days in Windsor lies and I wanted to build a at Pratt the next day. toRay,isPesciPark,justacross Rizzuto and Mickey Mantlc." Locks where he grew up and clubhouse." These young men, Ray had a diversified ca- the street from his home. He When Ray is not, these days, spent the years, from his youth with organizer Ray Draghi reer, but before telling his en- recalled when the park was watching sports in television, until his retirement. taking the lead, persuaded a tire story the woman in Ray's " "" < filled with fans, watching semi- he'sintofinishingfurnitureand Ray was the son of the late local turkey fanner to give them life played a very important pro baseball and football, long at holiday time, does a lot of Frederick and Lena (Barberi) one of his prize turkeys for a part. He had met. Frances before Little League would be the cooking for the family Draghi. He has a brother, raffle. It was a success and 13 Greene, a local girl, at a social Ray Draghi pitcher for apart ofthe history ofWinds or reunions. Edward, now living in Enfield boys had brand new maroon in the old Central Hall on Oak . d k I ( • ddt Locks. When the chl1dren were "mcl a sister, Theresa Colombi, jackets with the name "Kettle and Main, a gathering place Wm sor loc s AA 5 ml e Speaking of Li ttle small, Ray said, they made who resides in town. Brook" suitably printed for for the youth of those times. 30s.) League ... Ray was a faithful many trips to the Connecticut Their father came from It.' easy recognition. They were married on Novem- fan, himself, of the 1965 Sound,LakeGeorgeandCape aly, at the age of sixteen, lived The team played in the ber 30 1939, living on Grove He was a member of the Champs, led by Bob O'Con- Cod. Ray and Frances made in New York City for a time, Farmington Valley League, Street and at the present home Democratic Town Committee, nor and Russ Mattsen, and a two memorable trips to the worked on the railroad in winning two championships in ofRay, on Center Street, oppo- 28 years; Clerk of the Court, great group of boys, honored island of Bermuda, that stands Maine, came to Windsor Locks the 40s. Two of his teammates site his favorite park, Pesci. six years; Constable, 15 years; last year on their 25th anniver- out in his memory bank. lO visit his brother, John wereJohnandVicSasali.Ray Frances, the daughter of the and on the Park Commission sary.InarecentPublicTelevi- When it came to admiration Draghi, decided to live here, said the team was in the league late Tom and Margaret Green, for 15 years. He served during sion Program, called "Dreams of others, Ray said, "My fa and married Lena Barberi, a for five seasons.-When his passed away in 1987. She was the years ofJames Rabbitt and Go By'" Ray played a small ther, there wasn't much he local girl. Mr. Draghi worked pitching career was over, Ray a high school grad and worked John Fitzpatrick. Ray was also partin remembering the games couldn 'tdo.. .I probablypicked locally at Horton and at turned to coaching and man- at the school's cafeteria for friendly with the late Ella won by the boys of that sum- upalotfromhim,especiallyin Montgomery, before going to agerroles. many years after her family Grasso. As Clerk of the Court, mer. (Unfortunately, he was wood working." Ray's per- PraU& Whitney, retiring from When Ray left school he was grown. he worked under Meyer listed as "AlDraghi," instead sonal -philosophy ... "Stay the aircraft company. wanted to earn a living and And speaking of the family, Lynskey in the local court of Ray). However, Ray was healthy,(Rayhashadhisshare Now for the active career of decided to go where his father Frances and Ray had three system. pleased to do his bit for local of operations) ... don't give Ray Draghi ... who attended worked, Pratt & Whitney. He children ... Frances Rae ehri- As mentioned, Ray played history. He and Frances fol- up ...... 1 love all kids, and en- local schools, worked on to- was 18 at the time, it was 1935, tian, who lives in West Suf- with and organized the "Kettle lowed the boys that year and joy helping people." bacco, as a young boy, on the and the depression has been field with her husband, -Brook," team and club, and in they had the best seat in the Epilog fieldl), that are now called felt around the country. But Richard.They have four chil- addition, pitched for the Wind- house ...theirhousewasacross Raymond J..ouis Draghi, a Bradley Airport. Ray knew what he wanted, dren. Margaret Flint and her sor Locks' AAs, while in high the street from the park. true native son, is known His hobby and main sport some might call him spunky. husband, George, lives in town school and as an employee of On the subject of baseball, around the Center Street area, was baseball. The old timers in He got ajob and worked there and also have. four children. Pratt, played in the Industrial and when you talk to Ray, its as just "Pop," And "Pop" has town will remember the 119- (as an inspector in the Quality David,fatheroftwo,residesin League. ~ the only gameintown ... he'sa ledaninterestingandeyentful pound lefty pitcher, with ere- Assurance Department) for Huntington, Mass. As men- Other memories that we great Red Sox and Ted Wil- life, with fond memories of dentials fit for semi-pro or over 43 years, with his first tioned, Ray has ten grandchil- talked about was the time the Iiams fan, from way back. He Frances, his family, basebaQ majorleaguehurler.Rayaver- retirementin!978.Hewanted dren,andfivegreat-grandchil- famed New York Yankees did manage to get to attend and his town. agedJ2to 13_striJc~01.Jt~ag~e mor~_wo!k,.t~ok aj~b.forthe dren to spoil year round stopped he~ for a game with many of the Yankee gam~ at Its beeR said_before, but it on local diamonds, in addition _next decade in 'Vindsor at ih~ -on the local political scene, Ray saying, "They played just the stadium, due to the fact that_soUJ!f fits Ray well ... "Recall .lo other parks in the area. Redington Counters Company. Ray was active for m any years. off Route 159, near where the he workedatPrattwith a cousin it as often as you wish, a happy memory never wears out." WINDSOR lOCKS JOURNAlJANUARV 11, 1991 Living An Active Lifestyle In Retirement Lila Gagnon was from Fall up the task of little league River,Mass.,BobFannerwas cabbages and kings umpire. from Waterbury, Vennont. When admiration for others They met while working at BY JACK REDMOND was mentioned, Bob said, "My Pratt and Whitney, married, dad, a good man, fonned a lot and today, have five children, of my habits, 1 always wanted nine grandchildren, enjoying basketball, baseball and soc- a construction worker on the to grow up like him." the good life in ~tirement . cer teams. He hadn't taken up highway and was quite an ~th- Lila said: "My mother, she However,notJustcontentto the game of golf until later. lete as a young boy growmg had a hard life, but was always being retired and sitting in a Not long after graduation up. Billplayedvamtybasket- ac~e~rfulperson.':Bobadded, rocking chair, Lila and Bob from high school Bobjoined ball and football at the local "LilalSthebestthingthatever Farmer are both the U.S.

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