MASSASOIT DREAMING

BY PETER VUONO

DEDICATED TO MY FRIEND PETE MURBY

     Although I'm very pleased with the way my family life turned out, my years at Massasoit Community College are among my fondest memories. I was a student there from 1972-1974 and continued to work for the athletic department until 1995. I started out on a work study program making sure that no one would steal the adding machines and an early prototype computer out of a boring computer room. It was about as entertaining as watching one wrestler. I wanted more than this easy job so I boldly went to the office of athletic director Bruce Langlan.

     I plead my case with him and even though he didn't know me from Adam, the rough, tough, Marine showed me that he was as trusting and willing to give a guy a job as he was tough. It was after working for Bruce that I made lasting friendships which helped me to grow up. It truly helped me lay down a solid foundation for my future.

     Mr. Langlan made me the shot clock operator and time keeper for all the basketball games. I became good friends with many of the players on the men's and women's side and the cheer leaders .I was truly blessed to be part of a group that  liked and accepted me even though I was just a team helper. Many of the coaches that I met at Massasoit deserve honorable mention because most of them were gentlemen and ladies who never vilified but rather encouraged the athletes. This is attributed to Mr. Langlan who knew the kinds pf coaches he wanted in his department.

     Among them were, Joe Cleary, John Boutin, Mark Showan, George Dunn, Rico Cabral, Mark Ottovanielli, and Julie Mulvey for basketball. There was also Skip Culpepper and Nick Palantzis for soccer. Massasoit had many other fine coaches like Rolly Blanchette, Tom Frizzel and Big Bill Mitchell, although I never saw them coach.

     A couple of memories I wanted to mention was how very classy Nick and Julie were. Nick had an international team of super stars from all over the world. They were literally unstoppable. One day, his team trounced Greefield CC by a score of 11-3. Nick stopped the dejected team as they left and said,"You guys have a lot of class. Thanks for coming down here. I want you to come back next year and I want you to beat us". I never forgot his sportsmanship. Julie was another. In the 90's she had a real hard core group of girls that were so tough, that after the game they'd go to the Greek restaurant and order broken leg of lamb!

     I knew many of them as some went  to Brockton High where I taught. One would become a prison guard! As tough as they were, however, there was never any profanity and a great respect for Julie.She had the "It factor" as a coach and molded those girls into a real power that almost defeated Mitchell, the best CC team on the East coast.

     One of the most important components and personnel in the athletic department was Mrs. Marie Forrest, our secretary. Marie, who was recently inducted into the athletic hall of fame, was far more than a secretary. I referred to her as the Massasoit Matriarch of Muscle and with good reason. Like the little Dutch boy who filled the cracks in the dike, Marie was a troubleshooter for nearly every calamity. If the athletes needed  a secretary, coach ,counselor, coordinator or mother, it didn't matter as Marie was always there for more than 30 years.

     In 1980, Mr. Langlan allowed me to rent the gym free of charge for a national championship wheelchair bench press competition. The numbers were small but the athletes came from as far away as California including Viet Nam veteran Harvey Martin who was paralyzed from an accident in the war. Another footnote to this contest was that our national Olympic WL trainer Karl Faeth, drove from Pennsylvania to watch his friend Chuck Rottlebron bench press 375 at a bodyweight of 129!!!!

     When I went to Massasoit, I was into the sport of powerlifting. Mr. Jim Yess. who was director of student activities and a super guy interviewed me and put an article in the school newspaper on my behalf talking about my exploits in powerlifting. Jim was another one who made Massasoit so special. Jim was kind, gracious, and never angry even though my occasional impetuousness warranted it!!

    Another fond memory was the student body. There was real synergy here where people from many walks of life got along great. One could feel the love. Some fellows spent 4-5 years at Massasoit(a two year school) and we wondered why. I now know it was because it was one of the happiest places a person could be in. Too many people than one could mention were unforgettable but I'd like to mention 6 great personalities.

   Pete Murby was a buddy of mine who had CP. He once asked me if I would help him perform a workout in our little gym in the game room. He loved it and as he was having a great time, something in me was inspired by his enthusiasm. It was at THAT moment that I decided to major in Special Education at BSU because there was no feeling on earth like helping someone in need. I taught Sped for 35 years and after retirement I put another 1.4 years in on Adapted Phys Ed. Pete helped me to go full circle. I made a LOT of mistakes but any successes that I had were because of Pete's inspiration. Thank you Pete!

     Another pal was my late, great friend Danny Derito who was brilliant not to mention one of the funniest persons I've ever met. Danny often threw out various off the cuff jokes; many of which I've stolen and used to this very day. ALL his jokes were original and spontaneous. Danny was a great hockey player and we played together on an intramural team. He also edited an independent school newspaper called "The Evening Breeze". He was in constant demand for awards ceremonies due to his incredible wit which makes me laugh 50 years later!

     The cafeteria was never a better place than when Mark Delahanty pulled out his harmonica and spontaneously played some of the best blues I've ever heard. Having seen Muddy Waters, I've seen the best and Mrk was among them! I felt like I was on stage at Woodstock listening to "Ten Years After" singing "I'm Coming Home". He was that good!

     Lenny Alsen was a bodybuilding friend of mine who was a great herpetologist long before Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin! In Mr. Chase's speech class, he brought in a South American Tree Boa.

Half way through the lecture , the boa sprang out scaring the pants off everyone in class! Lenny was the first person I have ever known to own a pit bull and snakes from all over the world.

   Tom Wall and Dave Giampa were super athlete hockey players who befriended me, took me places, trained with me and even helped me build my ramshackle garage gym. They made me feel special; even now so many decades later. If there were ever two authentic "stand up" guys, it was Tom and Dave.

   One of Massasoit's strengths was that their staff was second to none! These people really cared and went on beyond just being "professor". I'll always remember Rick Butterworth, Marilyn Maxwell, Doug McKay, Senor Caputo, Alan Kohrman and John Chase. Each in his or her own way, proved that they wanted to do more than teach. One professor, however deserves a few more accolades. 

   In 1974, Professor Laura Yellen entered Massasoit. I've never met a person who was more loving, caring and helpful than this woman. She wound up working in the LATCH program and in Helping Hands. Laura selflessly, constantly and tirelessly did favors for students, faculty alumni or anyone who needed help.  If there ever was a Mother Teresa of Massasoit, it would be she.

  There are far too many to thank for putting me on this journey that was one of the happiest times of my life  but it would not  happened if Bruce Langlan did not believe in me.

  Years ago there was a song by the Young Rascals that had a refrain in it that went, "Things  ain't like they used to be and love's the only thing I see".  Yes, in this world of ours that is rife with anger, violence, profanity and egocentrism Massasoit Dreaming shines  in my mind like a diamond in the rough. A memory which will always stay close to my heart.