Ray Pellegrini "Reach for the Stars Scholarship" Golf Tourney Fundraiser

It's time for a Vermont reunion. We're headed back to the green mountains in the first half of August, and the fam has put together a golf tournament to help raise money for dad's scholarship.

If you're going to be in that part of the states, please come play a round with us (it's OK, I suck at golf, too). If you're really not into that sort of thing, then how about coming out for the BBQ that will accompany the sloppy golf?

All proceeds go to dad's scholarship which aims to send Vermont high school graduates to college (especially if they're the first in their family to go). So it's for a good cause, and there should be plenty of old faces there.

August 13th is the day, and my brother, Scott, is the point-man on this. Should be a good time! Please check the entry form for more details.

Ray Pellegrini "Reach for the Stars Scholarship" Golf Tourney Fundraiser

Mike Salinetti's tour

My cousin, Mike, left for Iraq (via Kuwait) a little bit before Christmas, and he's posted a set of photos here.

Sounds like he's planning to upload more photos in the future, so check back again soon.

Mike Salinetti's tour

A family that dines together, smokes together

I don't have any stats to back me up, but I bet that the number of 4-year-olds in Japan with emphysema is astronomical when compared to children in other developed nations.

If you smoke in your kid's face at home that's your business. I still call that child abuse, but you're fortunate in that most governments don't agree with me.

But when you drag your two-year-old into the smoking section of a fast-food restaurant and puff smoke in her face for half an hour, then you might as well be one of those over-worked and drunk fathers who kicks his kid in public because he didn't get a good grade in his history class.

I'm complaining about parents right now, but it's a grandmother that shocked me today. McDonald's, as so often is the case in Japan, has a smoking section that isn't actually partitioned off from the non-smoking area (ie. the entire restaurant sometimes smells like it's a part of the smoking area). The picture to the right was taken with my camera-phone, hence the lack of clarity and bad lighting, but it shows a grandmother (facing the camera, cigarette in left hand) smoking in her granddaughter's face.

Of course, the mother is equally to blame here because she's allowing her little girl to be subjected to this. I was just passing through and didn't want to stick around and check, but I noticed two ashtrays on that tiny table, so I wouldn't be surprised if the mother (back to the camera) was smoking at the same time.

I know I'm shoveling forth a steaming pile of righteous indignation right now (and I've done it before), but let's think in practical terms for a moment. How many seconds off the little girls 200m will this equal when she goes to school in three years time? The school sports festival, while normally the highlight of the academic year, becomes the most embarrassing weekend of the child's life. Not that the 200m is the most important event at the sports festival. Tug-of-war is where the youngster's nicotine addiction could really do her in.

But then again, with this much infantile (pun intended) secondhand smoking going on, she'll probably finish in the middle of the pack.

A family that dines together, smokes together

Family at the Game

Tokyo versus Hanshin at Jingu stadium. Photo courtesy of Dave Watkins (September, 2005).

Family at the Game

Kate Pellegrini

My sister is everywhere.

Kate Pellegrini

Happy Birthday, Scott!

I don't think he even checks this blog, but a big Happy Birthday to my brother, Scott, who turns 27 today!

Happy Birthday, Scott!

We Miss You, Dad

We Miss You, Dad

Breakfast at Cynthia's (Sept. 3, 2006)

Yong-nam, Cindy, and Mama An after an amazing Vermont breakfast hosted by Mama Brisson.

Breakfast at Cynthia's (Sept. 3, 2006)

Mama An sitting with Grandma and Grandpa.


The house that Grandma and Grandpa built.

The River

In front of Bartlett's Falls (New Haven River).


Just above Circle Current (New Haven river) in Bristol.

The River

Vermont

The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory in Shelburne, Vermont.


Church St. in downtown Burlington, Vermont.

Vermont

Bristol, Vermont

The Canon on the green. (l to r) Mama An, Chris, Scott, Anna, and Shin.

The cat is taunting me.

Super happy!

48 East Street.

Bristol, Vermont

Sunglasses

Sunglasses

Snake Mountain Hike (Aug. 06)

With Brook leading the way, we stormed up Snake Mountain. I didn't have time to take any photos on the way up, so most of the photos on my camera are from the top. At the top we all sat down to a Cubbers style picnic. (l to r) Erin Bergen, Scott, Brook and Elek, Mama Brisson, Anna, Chris.


Anna and Scott posing in front of quilt of fields that make up the Champlain valley.


Mama Brisson and Mama An on top of Snake Mountain.

Snake Mountain Hike (Aug. 06)

Snake Mountain Hike (Aug. 06)

The view from the top of Snake Mountain. That's the Champlain valley, a little bit of Lake Champlain, and the mountains of New York state in the background.

Odd photo; might have been staged. (l to r) Christopher and Scott Pellegrini, Erin Bergen, Anna Ayers, and Brook Brisson.

The cousins! Erin Bergen on the right came in from Wisconsin for Kate's wedding.

Snake Mountain Hike (Aug. 06)

BBQ at the Ayers' House (Aug. 06)

Scott, Anna, and Chris on the sidelines of a lively badminton game.


Aaron, Kate, and Mom taking a breather. This was definitely one of the best BBQ's I've ever been to.

BBQ at the Ayers' House (Aug. 06)

Bristol Horseshoes

Some of you may be acquainted with Bristol Horseshoes. If you don't know why Chris and Aunt Beth are standing around a ski pole with an empty beer bottle balanced on top, then you should probably show up the next time someone from Bristol holds a picnic or BBQ.

Bristol Horseshoes

Baggio

Mom's cat, Baggio, trying to decide which one of my toes to eat first.

Baggio

Bergens Everywhere

My mother, her mother, and her three "little" brothers.

Bergens Everywhere

Raymond Pellegrini (obituary)

Raymond Paul Pellegrini May 12, 2006

BRISTOL – Raymond Pellegrini died suddenly on Sunday, May 7, 2006. The son of Joseph C. and Mildred (Bevilacqua) Pellegrini, he was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 23, 1950. A graduate of State University of New York at Oneonta, he began his teaching career at Herringswell Manor School in Bury St. Edmunds, England. He later earned his M.A. in educational leadership from Castleton State College.

Mr. Pellegrini worked for 32 years as an educator and administrator in the schools of Vermont. He taught, coached and was principal at Mt. Abraham Union High School (MAUHS) for 12 years, was a teaching principal at Monkton Elementary School for five years, served as principal at Middlebury Union Middle School for 10 years, was superintendent in Milton for two years, and had served as the executive director of the Vermont Principals' Association since July 2003.

Mr. Pellegrini was recognized with several awards, including Outstanding Teacher, MAUHS; UVM Outstanding Teacher Award; and the John Winton Award (Middle Level Principal of the Year). He served on the board of directors of Vermont Middle Level Educators and the Secondary School Commission of NEASC. He established such programs as the Education Recognition Program and Study Circles, implemented breakfast programs and created the "Challenge Diploma."

An advocate in the state Legislature, he was an authority on curriculum, administration and issues of equality, justice and protection in Vermont schools.

Survivors include his wife, the Rev. Lucy C. B. Pellegrini; sons Christopher of Tokyo, Japan, and Scott of San Diego, Calif.; daughter Katie of Burlington; his parents of Dorset; his sister Darinda of Schenectady, N.Y.; three nephews; and many in-laws, aunts and uncles, cousins and their children. He was predeceased by his brother Donald in 1993.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Raymond P. Pellegrini "Reach for the Stars" Scholarship, dedicated to a student destined to be the first in their family to attend an instate college and stay in Vermont after graduation, c/o: VPA; 2 Prospect St., Suite 3, Montpelier, VT 05602, or to Save the Children: 54 Witton Road, Westport, CT 06880.

There will be a rite of Christian burial with Holy Eucharist at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Middlebury, at 10 a.m. today. There will a celebration and remembrance of Mr. Pellegrini's life of service to the children of Vermont on Tuesday, May 16, 2006, at 7 p.m. at Mt. Abraham Union High School in Bristol, with a reception to follow.

Raymond Pellegrini (obituary)