(l-r) Jason and Rena Pilalas and Angela Olsen celebrate the Fourth of July at Morgan Point Light House.
by Angela Olsen
If you spend any time at all in local watering holes, you’ll hear more fish tales than there are fish in the sea! People you met ten years ago with grandiose ‘get-rich schemes’ are still singing that same old song, bumming a smoke and five bucks from the person next to them. Enter a young boy with a dream, “Mr. P” Jason Pilalas, Vietnam Veteran, Financial Wizard, teller of naughty jokes, humanitarian and that ol’ tune becomes a melodic masterpiece!
Jason grew up in Greenwich, loved history and reading, and received a small row boat at the age of ten. He cruised around in his boat gazing at the Great Captain’s Island Light House in the Western Long Island Sound dreaming of some day living in it. He went away to The New Hampton Boarding School in New Hampshire in 1954 and subsequently, ran away to join the Navy.
After doing the “not-so-glamorous’ job of chipping paint, Jason was granted a full scholarship to the University of Southern California, (USC), where he met the love of his life, and wife, Rena. To this day he still questions whether his Head Master from New Hampton might have had something to do with this. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the Navy and served our country in Vietnam, completing three tours, including one in the Mekong Delta.
In 1991, local landmark Morgan Point Light House became available for sale and happens to be the twin of the Great Captain’s Island Light House which Jason dreamed of as a kid. He says, “Rena was reluctant because it was in rough shape,” but they saw it through and it is now a remarkable property, a private nautical museum.
Jason and Rena welcome many local people every year to celebrate the Fourth of July at Morgan Point, including a guest of honor this year, local legend, Captain Ben Rathbun. On the people of Noank, Jason says, “I’m fortunate enough now that I can live anywhere, yet it’s the ‘salt of the Earth people’ here that influenced our decision to make Noank our summer home.” In terms of his diplomacy and generosity with the staff of his yacht “The Rena” Jason says, “The humble jobs I held from age fifteen years old made me a democrat with a small-’d’.”
Rena and Jason have two remarkable adult children Debbie and Troy who both lend themselves to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars through their efforts. When I ask Jason the secret to enduring love with his bride Rena, he laughs and says, “She puts up with me.”
On July 7th, Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department (PBFD) firefighter and acting Captain Todd Williamson lost his fight with cancer.
It is said by many of his close friends that he always wanted to help people. At the age of 15 he became a Firefighter/EMT for North Stonington Volunteer Ambulance Association. After graduating Wheeler High School in 1998 he became a full-time employee with the Groton Ambulance Association. Todd kept advancing with his training and added to his experience at numerous other departments such as North Stonington Volunteer Fire Department, Mohegan Tribal Fire Department, and Town of Preston Fire and Emergency Services. He also graduated from Three Rivers Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science and Technology.
Todd was a key factor in improving the local public education fire safety programs. These programs provided insight and education in fire safety for all schools, day cares, and senior centers in the Groton District. In addition, he also taught CPR to the town of Preston, making them a more heart safe community.
“He was well-loved by the kids. They always called him Fireman Todd. He took great pride in being a firefighter and helping his community” said fellow PBFD Firefighter Bryan Quilter.
Early this year, Todd received the Meritorious Citation Award for his role in providing quality public education to the members of the community. The Meritorious Citation Award is given to individuals within a department to commend their personal sacrifice to make the community a safer place from fire and the tragedies of human suffering.
“He had a positive outlook on life no matter what the circumstances. He was determined to beat the illness and was more worried for the people around him being worried about him. He was a kind and considerate young man and a tremendous firefighter” said Fire Chief Todd Paige of PBFD.
Deputy Chief Curt Floyd of PBFD added “He was taken too soon. He was destined to do more. He was always respectful amongst his brother firefighters. Despite all of his awards and qualifications he never had an ego and was always open to learning and improving on skills.”
Todd is gone but he survives through the memories and the positive impact that he had on the community. He is survived by his wife Cait-Len Merritt Williamson, daughter Lilly Renee and ten month old son Tyler Mathew. Many local fundraisers helped with Todd’s medical bills and his family.
Funeral services were held Thursday, July 15 at St. Joseph Church, New London. For information regarding donations to his family, visit the official union website of Firefighter Todd Williamson www.pbfd2704.com
Joseph Comprone, English professor, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, is awarded a Fulbright Scholar Grant and will be teaching American literature next year in Singapore.
Joseph Comprone, a professor of English at the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, is awarded a Fulbright Scholar Grant for the 2010-2011 academic year. Joseph will spend the coming year in Singapore, teaching American literature and carrying out research into the reading processes of Singaporeans.
Joseph will be in residence during his year abroad at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The themes in the readings, which focus on such characteristic topics as the “American Dream,” may resonate differently with people of other cultures, Joseph says.
“Singaporeans live in a traditional culture that’s mainly about family,” he says. “I’m interested in how they respond to different cultural issues, like characters that are flawed but are also viewed as heroes.”
Works such as Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy will be the cornerstone of Joseph’s research. These studies will create a body of research that he will use in a book on cross-cultural reading studies.
Students from local high schools were awarded $13,000 in scholarships at Chelsea Groton Bank’s annual scholarship presentation. (l-r) Heather Hodges, Waterford High School, Hannah Andronic, Academy of the Holy Family, Sima Nasrin, Montville High School, Kayla Hedman, Griswold High School, Meredith Milligan, Wheeler High School, Frankie Maderia, Norwich Free Academy, Alexander Vivenzio, Fitch High School, Manya Swick, East Lyme High School and Jeffrey Sena, Norwich Technical High School were selected based upon academic merit, character and financial need. (Not pictured) Emilie Saccone, Ledyard High School, Yosmely Liranzo, New London High School, Brandon Dexter, St. Bernard’s High School and Heather Planchon, Stonington High School
“Class 10300/10310″, USS PHILADELPHIA (SSN-690) graduated from Basic Enlisted Submarine School, Thursday, 1 July.
Seaman Apprentice Stephen Marchi was Class Honorman with a 95.65 Grade Point Average. Marchi, who continues in Apprentice Team Training, ATT, was also meritoriously advanced because of his overall academic achievement.
Seaman Robert Bruneel received the Navy League Award for his academic efforts. Bruneel also continues in the ATT pipeline.
Fireman Sean Day was recipient of the Submarine League’s William Purdum Award for most improved student. Day continues in Basic Mechanical Skills, BMS, training.
With Grade Point Averages of over 90.0, Seaman Apprentice Raynard Robinson, Seaman Christopher Archer, Seaman Apprentice Jeremy Kramer, Seaman Francis Rhoad, Seaman Apprentice Troy Puloka, Seaman Edmund Martin, Seaman Christopher Cosme, Seaman Charles Tomberlin, Seaman Apprentice Brian Hartnett and Seaman Jason Sherrill were named Graduates with Distinction.
Basic Enlisted Submarine School is a six-week introduction to the basic theory, construction and operation of nuclear powered submarines. In preparation for an assignment, Sailors receive instruction on shipboard organization, submarine safety and escape procedures.
