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THE RAYS OF SUNSHINE
All of us can think of special individuals who always manage to find time to help other people. 14/WILI and the Mohegan Sun have a name for those special people. They are Connecticut's RAYS OF SUNSHINE, and together we're paying tribute to one of them each month. For details on how to nominate someone, please scroll to the bottom of this page.
The September 2007 winner is Paul Doyle. John Norton's nomination said:
I would like to nominate Mr. Paul Doyle, Director of the Covenant Soup Kitchen, and minister at
Scotland Congregational church. Mr. Doyle has always expressed professionalism with working with the variety of people who depend on the services of the soup kitchen.
I’ve seen Mr. Doyle many times put in his own time at work to come in early, stay late, do charity functions and always with a smile. Mr. Doyle doesn’t say “No” to people in need, and seems to always keep things running at the soup kitchen, even when there’s a flood in the bathroom a quarrel amongst people. Mr. Doyle makes sure people in need of food or basic needs gets what they need and takes pride in his work, not because it may be his job, but because he knows, as a human being, it’s the right thing to do.
Mr. Doyle also is a minister at the
Scotland Congregational church, and is always there to listen, counsel, console, in a nut shell “Help where Help is needed – no questions asked.” I hope that Mr. Doyle will win this award – though he probably doesn’t want to get recognized for the things he does, he deserves it. Whether they realize it or not, there are many people that are grateful for what this individual does, and would be in dire need if Mr. Doyle didn’t have the compassion, patience, and love for what he does.
Mohegan Sun VP Entertainment Tom Cantone with Paul Doyle
The July 2007 winner was Pam Horrocks. David Stoloff's family made the nomination:
We would like to nominate Pam Horrocks for the June 2007 Ray of Sunshine. Pam and Bob Horrocks are pillars of our community. This nomination is to specifically recognize Pam's leadership as chair of this year's very successful Victorian Home Tour. Pam was involved in every detail of this 9th annual celebration of Willimantic past and the Hill Section neighborhood. Additionally, she brought loveliness and grace - with her vintage outfits - to a sunny weekend.
Wayne Norman, David Stoloff, Pam Horrocks, and Mohegan Sun Executive Pastry Chef Lynn Mansel
The June 2007 winner was Lauren Perrotti, Director of Camp Horizons in South Windham, a camp for children and adults with developmental disabilities. She was nominated by Ernie Doten, who writes:
I would like to nominate my boss Lauren Perrotti from Camp Horizons in South Windham, a camp for mentally retarded kids. She has been my boss. It will be two years on June 13. I can't think of a better way to show her how much she has been an inspiration for me to work there for so long. She treats people like people should be treated, she treats everyone here with respect, she treats her clients with respect, and does anything they need. She listens to people. If they have a problem, no matter if she is busy or not. She has helped me plenty of times with problems, work related or not. She is a very special person who will help anyone that needs it.
Ernie Doten, Lauren Perrotti, and Lori D'Orio, Mohegan Sun Director of Music and Variety
The May 2007 winner was Jean DeSmet, who has worked tirelessly on community projects, especically the 3rd Thursday Streetfest. She was nominated by Annie Clark, who wrote:
Hi, Wayne! Listen, if Jean DeSmet ain't a Ray 'o Sunshine, well...you don't know weather!
Lori D'Orio, Mohegan Sun Director of Music and Variety, Jean DeSmet, and Annie Clark
The April 2007 winner was Gen McCali, who was nominated by Victoria Nimirowski, executive director of the Windham Area Interfaith Ministry, and WAIM volunteer Barbara Sayer. The nomination said:
Since her retirement, Gen McCali has been a loyal volunteer at WAIM for the past 17 years, and at the Red Cross for 15. I don't know anyone who takes their job as seriously as she does. Even though we don't pay her a dime, Gen shows up for work every day that WAIM is open to the public - three to four days a week. She knows many of our clients and treats them like old friends, and she treats everyone with dignity and respect. She certainly is a ray of sunshine each time she enters our doors, and it would mean a great deal to her to be recognized for her commitment and compassion to our community.
Mohegan Sun VP Development Paul Brody, with Gen McCali and Victoria Nimirowski
Our February winner was Belinda Clark of Willimantic. Jean Rotter's nomination letter said:
I would like to nominate Belinda Clark for this award. As the director of client services of the AIDS Program at W.R.C.C., she has worked tirelessly for years with individuals who may not have a network of family and friends to look out for their needs. She has been there for these folks in their most desperate and vulnerable moments (long after office hours). As well as doing a fabulous and selfless job for W.R.C.C., she has been a bright spot in the community and for family and personal friends. She never misses a chance to help raise money for a good cause--or to laugh and dance and bring joy to others.
Jean Rotter, Belinda Clark, and Lori D'Orio, Mohegan Sun Director of Music and Variety
The January winner was Miriam Epstein, who was nominated by 9-year old Thomas Beebe, who wrote:
MY NAME IS THOMAS, I AM 9 YEARS OLD AND WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE, MY FRIEND MIRIAM EPSTEIN FOR THE NEXT RAY OF SUNSHINE WINNER. SHE IS MY FRIEND BUT SHE IS AN ADULT, SHE IS THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF BOOKS TO DREAMS. SHE COLLECTS NEW OR ALMOST NEW BOOKS FOR POOR KIDS, OR KIDS THAT CANT AFFORD BOOKS. I KNOW BOOKS ARE SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE I LOVE TO READ AND I HAVE TRAVELED TO MANY PLACES THRU BOOKS. MIRIAM HAS RAISED MORE THAN 240,000 BOOKS. SHE LIVES IN MANCHESTER, BUT HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT IN WILLIMANTIC, SHE HELPS THE PEOPLE AT ST JOSEPH HOMELESS SHELTER AND AT ALL THE SCHOOLS.MIRIAM ESTABLISED OVER 60 PERMANANT LIBRARIES FOR THOSE THAT NEED THEM, 130 ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN BOOKS TO GIVE TO PEOPLE IN NEED.LAST YEAR SHE GAVE OVER 31,867 BOOKS OUT, SHE DONATES TO THE SOUP KITCHEN, TO KIDS AT NATCHAUG HOSPITAL, AND BOOKS 4 BABIES, I'M ONLY 9 SO I DONT KNOW ALL OF THEM. HER HUSBAND, HOWARD, IS AN ACTING FRIEND OF MINE, HE HELPS HER A LOT TOO, AND HE ALSO WORKS AT UCONN. SHES ALWAYS SO HAPPY AND HAS LOTS OF HUGS AND BOOKS FOR THESE KIDS, SHE NEVER ASKS FOR DONATIONS, JUST PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN THIS PROGRAM DONATE MONEY, WHEN SHE WINS, I BET MOHEGAN SUN WILL ALSO WANT TO HELP HER WITH A DONATION, PLEASE PICK MIRIAM SHES MY FRIEND AND SHE DESERVES IT.
Miriam Epstein and Thomas Beebe
Our December winner was Anita Sebestyen, who was nominated by Tim DeVivo, who wrote:
I would like to nominate Anita Sebestyen. She Windham's Ray of Sunshine in my eyes. She gives more time to numerous community events then anyone I know. She is heavily involved in the Rotary club and was a driving force in getting the funds raised for our community police dog "Z." As a Rotarian she puts the motto "service above self" better than anyone I know. She works for all the local museums, especially the Jillson House. (her pet project). She basically organized the whole reenactment event this past October on the major parcel. She and (husband) Ernie donate more free auction time for all community events. I wonder how they find time to run their own business. She is my choice for "Ray of Sunshine."
Mohegan Sun VP Administration Ray Peneault with Anita Sebestyen
Our November winner is Eileen Spear of Columbia, who was nominated by John Evans, who wrote:
I would like to nominate my neighbor, Mrs. Eileen Spear for your Ray of Sunshine award. Eileen and I met four years ago through friends of ours, Maxton and Karleen Lessenger. My dad, the Rev. George K. Evans passed away on February 22, 2005. Eileen has been a wonderful second mom to me since we met. Eileen also volunteers at Protectors of Animals , which is a non-profit organization in South Glastonbury that finds homes for dogs and cats who are abandoned by their owners. Eileen givers her time and effort to POA and she loves animals. Eileen has helped me so much since my dad passed away and she is such a loving and giving person. She also helps out at the Beckish Senior Center on a committee and in many other ways at the senior center.
Ray Peneault, Mohegan Sun VP Administration holds Eileen's plaque
Our October winner was Monique Roy of Mansfield. She was nominated by her mother, Maggie Dubois, who wrote:
"I am writing about our daughter, Monique Roy. She has sung and played guitar with the St Mary Folk Group in Willimantic for over 25 years. She has also been the director of the children's choir for Christmas and Easter. She makes tapes of the songs the children will sing and sends the tapes home with them so that they can learn the songs, since most of them can't read music.
This year, she is helping with the Relay for Life for the St Mary Footprints team since the previous team captains won't be available on the Relay weekend.
Her most recent actions are what promoted me to write. Since there was no representative for our church this year to ride in the Steeple Chase Bike tour, she and her family volunteered. Her husband, Brian and two children, Eric 13, and Amanda 10,[ the Roy Family Riders] rode 20 miles and raised over $1,700. They came in fourth in raising the most money and were awarded a new mountain bike. They promptly brought the bike over to a needy relative and presented him with it. Needless to say he was thrilled. But most of all what a tremendous lesson to teach her children ! To help others less fortunate in doing the race and also in the "gift" giving.
She is certainly a Ray of Sunshine to those who know her, she is a joy to be around."
WILI's October Ray of Sunshine Award winner Monique Roy's mother Maggie Dubois (L), Monique's son Eric, daughter Amanda, husband Brian, Monique (with Ray of Sunshine plaque), and Ray Peneault, VP Admininstration Mohegan Sun
"I am writing about our daughter, Monique Roy. She has sung and played guitar with the St Mary Folk Group in Willimantic for over 25 years. She has also been the director of the children's choir for Christmas and Easter. She makes tapes of the songs the children will sing and sends the tapes home with them so that they can learn the songs, since most of them can't read music.
This year, she is helping with the Relay for Life for the St Mary Footprints team since the previous team captains won't be available on the Relay weekend.
Her most recent actions are what promoted me to write. Since there was no representative for our church this year to ride in the Steeple Chase Bike tour, she and her family volunteered. Her husband, Brian and two children, Eric 13, and Amanda 10,[ the Roy Family Riders] rode 20 miles and raised over $1,700. They came in fourth in raising the most money and were awarded a new mountain bike. They promptly brought the bike over to a needy relative and presented him with it. Needless to say he was thrilled. But most of all what a tremendous lesson to teach her children ! To help others less fortunate in doing the race and also in the "gift" giving.
She is certainly a Ray of Sunshine to those who know her, she is a joy to be around."
WILI's October Ray of Sunshine Award winner Monique Roy's mother Maggie Dubois (L), Monique's son Eric, daughter Amanda, husband Brian, Monique (with Ray of Sunshine plaque), and Ray Peneault, VP Admininstration Mohegan Sun
Our September winner was Helen Thompson Card of South Windham. She was nominated by her neighbor Ruth Ridgeway, who wrote:
"She found time to be a church clerk, treasurer and historian of the local Congregational Church, which she represented at national councils. Its carrilon is her gift in memory of her husband Edward Card. She was a director and treasurer of the Guilford Smith Memorial Library, arranged the renovation of the second floor, helped at their book sales, and on summer evenings, dug and replaced daffodil bulbs. In the spring she collected, arranged, and delivered daffodils for the Cancer Society. Her only brother, Elton Thompson, served in the Honor Guard of General MacArthur in Tokyo. On Memorial Day, Helen sees there is a flag at his grave. Helen is one of five women who bake, prepare, and serve a free monthly lunch for seniors at the local church. She also gives taxi service to those who can no longer walk, to ones confined to a wheelchair, she packed and delivered a lunch."
Helen Thompson Card with Mohegan Sun Director Of Advertising George Galinsky
Our August winner was Joan Doiron of Mansfield. Her husband Dave wrote:
"Your announcement of the Ray of Sunshine got me thinking about
Joan. I don’t really know the criteria, but I think she’s a gift to a lot of people she encounters. If you asked anyone at E.O. Smith or at the Relay for Life about her, you’ll hear things like dependable, kind, fair, a champion of the underdog and a real work horse. During E.O. Smith’s graduation, I pointed out to her that the program said to hold applause until after everyone had received thei diplomas, but no one was paying attention to it. And she said she was particularly applauding the kids who didn’t have much family and friends who would cheer them, kids that were “special students” or kids that weren’t popular and wouldn’t get a lot of cheers from their classmates. She’s been a real gift to the special kids at Smith, both in her P.E. classes and with a group of those students who get paired up with other students to participate in competitions that could get them to the Special Olympics. She’s so patient with them and always works with a good sense of humor.
In her usual P.E. classes she grades a person not if he/she is doing everything perfectly but for effort and improvement. And she won’t tolerate bullying or disparaging comments by her students.
Joan rarely shows up in the candids taken at the Relay for Life, because she’s to busy working. And she’s the one who stays up all Saturday night keeping the teen campers in line."
Mohegan Sun VP Administration Ray Peneault, Ray of Sunshine winner Joan Doiron of Mansfield, and her husband Dave, who nominated Joan
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Our July winner was local 911 dispatch agent Roddy Joe McComber, who was nominated by his mother Charlotte. She wrote:
"He always find joy and laughter for everyone he meets--especially on holidays. He looks for the good in life in everyone. He shares a smile and the miracle of life and his words of wisdom with everyone. He tries to make a difference in the hearts of the ones he meets during his 5-mile walk each and every day. He is amazing."
Our June winner was long time Windham historian Tom Beardsley, who left Windham in June to become Executive Director of the Erie (PA) Museum. Much of Tom's research can be found at http://www.threadcity.org
He was nominated by Richard Kelley, who wrote this letter to the editor of the Erie Times News:
"As a resident of Willimantic, Connecticut, I applaud your area for acquiring the servies to Thomas Beardsley for your new Erie Museum Director. Tom came to Willimantic 18 years ago and has been a tremendous asset to our community in several ways. He is an historian with great interest in the development of this area and has written hundreds of articles about past centuries of this little mill town. He is a tireless researcher with a knack for picking out interesting people and past events.
Fortunately for me, I met Tom and his lovely wife Margaret when they first came to our vicinity. Being of Irish descent I was leery of this Englishman, but we soon struck up a close relationship and have enjoyed many good times together. Tom has taught many history courses in various universities and has earned the respect of many people and institutions. His work at our local history museum earned him the respect he so richly deserves.
His work for our community has been invaluable and I wish him the best in his new endeavor. In closing, I can only say that Erie's great gain is our great loss."
Tom Beardsley with Mohegan Sun Executive Pastry Chef Linn Mansel, who presents Tom's plaque and a box of fresh pastry
Our May winners were Victor and Martha Funderburke, who have been the driving force behind the WINDHAM THEATER GUILD for nearly 25 years.
Mohegan Sun VP Administration Ray Peneault with Martha and Victor Funderburk
Our third winner, announced March 28, 2006 was Barry Shayer of Willimantic. Barry's wife nominated him, itemizing the many ways he helps his family and his community.
Wayne Norman, Barry Shayer and Mohegan Sun Chief Operating Officer Jeff Hartman
Our second winner, announced February 28, 2006 was Judith Jencks of Lisbon, who was nominated by Glenna Morin of Bozrah. Judith is director of the Lisbon Senior Center. A group from the center, led by Glenna Morin, wrote:
"Our unsung hero in Lisbon is Judith Jencks. Judith is director of the Lisbon Senior Center, municipal agent and chairman of the board of directors for the Senior Resources Agency on Aging in Lisbon.
Anyone who comes to Judith with a problem, she will help them until the problem is fixed or finds someone who knows how to help.
Just recently, Mrs. Jencks has been appointed to a four year term with the Connecticut Commission on Aging, an independent state agency that advocates for the state's elderly.
Mrs. Jencks and husband Bob live in Lisbon and have raised four children.
We think Judith Jencks would make a great unsung hero, for she is our hero."
Our first winner, announced on January 31, 2006 was Ray Milvae of Lebanon. His wife Carol wrote:
"I would like to enter my husband, Ray Milvae's name into the Ray of Sunshine award. He is a Justice of Peace and when he performs weddings in of lieu of payment for his services he asks the wedding couples to make a donation in any amount they wish to either CIB/Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind ) or to The Hole in the Wall Gang.
He travels to the various sites of the weddings and does so at his own expense. Also he makes the most beautiful potty chairs and always gives them as gifts, he will never accept money for his time, material or any part of this. His greatest joy in life is to make other people happy. He is a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend to all that know him. "
Ray Milvae and Judith Jencks (front), with WILI's Wayne Norman and Mohegan Sun Vice President Mitch Estess
If you know someone who selflessly gives to others without reward or recognition, write a short note telling us why they should be named a RAY OF SUNSHINE.
Each month WILI will tell everyone about their generous efforts, and Mohegan Sun will reward them with a gift certificate for a buffet dinner and entertainment.
Winners will be announced on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:30 AM on WILI.
Join us as we honor those who make our state a great place to live and work. The Connecticut RAY OF SUNSHINE award, brought to you by Mohegan Sun--A World at Play, and Good Company, 14/WILI.
To nominate someone as a RAY OF SUNSHINE, send your entry to wayne @ wili.com (be sure to write Ray of Sunshine on the subject line), fax it to 456-9501, or snail mail to 720 Main Street, Willimantic, Ct. 06226.
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