RIPPLES IN A POND: 

A TRIBUTE TO KINDNESS

By Peter Vuono

   In 2010 my son was about to graduate from Massasoit Community  College but ran into an imposing stumbling block. One of his professors was inadvertently late in turning in a necessary grade for graduation. I panicked and called every dean and administrator that I could find but to no avail. 

   I contacted the then president of the college. Not only would the secretary not let me speak to him but she  also mentioned that she too was hesitant to ask him any burdening questions herself. I was exasperated, disheartened and disappointed in my alma mater. Fortunately a kind Dean and one additional administrator came to my aid and Micheal graduated on time but not without my having some disappointment.

   At about the same time, one of the most beloved professors in Massasoit history died from leukemia. She purposefully martyred herself by refusing treatment. She wanted it to go to someone younger than she. She never had a religious service and there was no burial place for her. Her ashes were scattered amongst the snow and ice. I thought, given the magnitude of her service, she should have some small memorial and remembrance. This is where the new president, Ray DiPasquale came in.

  Due to my past experience, I had a copious reservation in contacting him. After my confidence was bolstered by coach Bill Mitchell( who worked with the president), I contacted him. President DiPasquale was a man who had educational and political experiences dating back to Presidential candidate Mike Dukakis. He had absolutely nothing to gain by even listening to me but Professor Yellen was worth it and I sent him a story I wrote about her. 

  President DiPasquale shocked me because  he carried with him a trump card that not enough people carry-  kindness. I never actually met him; nor did I talk to him on the phone yet, he was more than willing to honor Professor Laura Yellen with a plaque. Furthermore, he also came up with an idea to honor a graduate who was severely inflicted with cerebral palsy- Pete Murby- who from approx. 1977-2023 selflessly volunteered his service to the college.

  Unfortunately on 4/4/24, President DiPasquale succumbed to cancer but not without teaching us all a lesson. He knew  full well that kindness transcends time and is forever stored up as treasure in heaven. Some people say that kindness is like dropping a pebble in a pond. The pebble sinks but it's impact spreads with ripples and continues to reach out touching one person upon another.

  If after hundreds of years go by and every brick and mortar of the buildings of Massasoit crumple, the pebble that Ray DiPasquale dropped will  transcend time.  It will continue to create ripples in the hearts of men and in the eyes of God.

  

 

 "THOSE WHO ARE FIRST NOW WILL BE LAST, AND

THOSE WHO ARE LAST NOW WILL BE FIRST"

By Peter Vuono

   Super Bowl LVIII is hyped to being the most watched super bowl of all time not to mention the most bet on. It's no wonder as the Kansas City Chiefs team is comprised of a modern day Camelot. They have a handsome quarterback who will go down in sports history as one of the greats. He, in turn has a model wife who appears in Sports Illustrated.

  The Chiefs have an uber-talented tight end who happens to be dating the world's most famous pop star. So it is quite normal for the general public to project themselves into the lives of the Chiefs and the corresponding  and glamorous social lives of the team and it's associates. It has always been this way since the Circus Maximus and is quite understandable. The bread and circus of Rome's gladiators were the heart and soul of it's people.

  On the other side- the 49'ers- there is an extraordinarily humble quarterback(Brock Purdy), who was picked in the final draft of the 49'er

s in 2022. He has been sometimes called, "Mr. Irrelevant". It is unknown to this author as to the degree of confidence Purdy has given the enormous interest in the other team but one thing that is evident, is Purdy's faith.

  Pope John Paul II once said that "This is no time to be afraid of the gospels. It is time to preach it from the house tops". Purdy seems to be an advocate of this type of thinking as he espouses his faith frequently.

  It's possible that he sees and follows a narrower and yet wiser path than just the pursuit of glory and a $30,000 ring. It's clear to this author that although Purdy is a gallant sportsman who wants to win, his priority is to build up treasure in heaven. A few years from now, sports fans will forget the game and the luster of the ring will fade but win or lose, his faith and the inspiration he has imparted to others will always remain.  Mr. "Irrelevant" has proven that he is perhaps more deserved of the nickname his team mates have given him- "Mr. Relevant". He's pointing to a statement which has been said in Genesis, 1st Corinthians and in the gospels. One that is more "Relevant" now, than ever, that, "Those who are 1st now will be last and those that are last now, will be first".

  

 HUMILITY, RESPECT AND GRACE

BY PETER VUONO

   In 2012 I had put in abut 8 years into Kenpo Karate training. My son and I trained together at Master Steve Arsenault's Kenpo in New Bedford Ma. Unfortunately, nature and genetics caused a large speed bump and I had a heart attack and quadruple by-pass in 2012. I recovered and continued training. Mike got his Black belt in front of Larry Tatum in 2013 and I finally got it in 2014 at age 61.

  Upon receiving a belt one must do a mandatory one year of additional training which is a probationary period where one proves that he or she would not abuse their training. It was during this time that Master Steve would incorporate sparring on Wednesday nights.

  He would pick the two combatants and we were all pretty well protected with head gear. One night he paired me with Black Belt C.J. Soares. C.J. was in his teens and had much experience in sparring competition. He only weighed about 145 but he had taken on opponents who were above 200lbs. His kicks(especially his tornado) were a sight to behold and he was about as fast as a sled on ice powered by nitrous oxide injection! I, on the other had had arthritis in the knee, hips and shoulders. I was about as fast as a centenarian Galapagos tortoise on valium!  I knew I was in for a thorough drubbing!

  Then something unexpected happened. A win is scored when one scores three strikes before his opponent does. I never saw C.J.'s lightning. It never struck. He defended himself and showed a minimum of offense. Somehow, I scored 3 points first and it didn't a take a Rhodes Scholar to figure out what happened.

  C.J. "jobbed" for me. What does "jobbing" mean one may ask? It's a carny/ pro wrestling term where the job of one wrestler is to lose and at the same time make his opponent look good before the audience. C.J. curbed his abilities so as to not outshine my lack of them.

  I'll never know if it was my age, or my disabilities that he was thinking of but it didn't matter. He had made a great example of himself in that encouragement trumps discouragement every time. That is what we are all here for and in every facet of life. C.J.'s example was for me and for everyone who reads his story. His act was the epitome of humility, respect and grace.

HUMILITY IS NOT THINKING OF YOURSELF LESS; IT'S THINKING LESS OF YOURSELF"-C.S.LEWIS