Beloved teachers reconnect for Sharon Center School reunion

Former Sharon Center School teachers Jack Comporesi, left, and Irv Robbins are planning a reunion for March 1 to gather those they taught from the 1970s to 1990s.
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Former Sharon Center School teachers Jack Comporesi, left, and Irv Robbins are planning a reunion for March 1 to gather those they taught from the 1970s to 1990s.
SHARON — Stories of teachers who left lasting influences on their students abound. But it was the students at Sharon Center School who will forever live in the hearts of former teachers Irv Robbins and Jack Comporesi.
The two, who taught and coached at the school from the 1970s to the 1990s, are planning a reunion to be held Saturday, March 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school.
“I really liked the kids,” said Robbins, who taught social studies, algebra and science to seventh- and eighth-graders. Now living in Cabot, Vermont, Robbins has visited many of them throughout the country, beaming as he describes the successful adults so many of them have become.
Comporesi, lovingly known as “Compo,” taught physical education and coached. His affable personality and sense of humor made him a popular figure throughout the school and the community.
“We were a family,” he said, describing the staff and students at the school.
Because of the memories the teachers hold dear, as well as a desire to bring together as many of those who passed through their classrooms as possible, they decided to hold the reunion.
The two enjoy reminiscing about those days when they both coached school teams. “The players weren’t perfect, but they didn’t have to be,” said Robbins. “One year, 32 girls went out for basketball and they all played. We divided them into two teams. We played everybody and anybody. That made my year.”
Comporesi, who lives in Harwinton, recalled the many trips they took with the students. Claire and Ed Pedersen, owners of the local bus company, gave them a bus to use. Comporesi got his CDL license and off they went to such destinations as the Yale Bowl, UConn, Marist and the then-Civic Center to see games. One trip to Block Island was for an Audubon program.
An excursion that stood out to Comporesi was a camping trip to Port Judith, R.I. “We dug for clams and made clam chowder,” he remembered. “But my spaghetti was terrible. I didn’t boil the water over the fire hot enough. The kids laughed and said even skunks wouldn’t eat it.”
For both men, teaching was much more than just a job. They have kept up with many of the students, still receiving Christmas cards from some. Robbins has made it a point to try to visit those who are sick.
“I probably taught a thousand kids over the years and only sent three to the principal,” he said with a smile.
The two are hoping for a good turnout for the reunion and are encouraging all to spread the word.
CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.
Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.
CVFD’s Ian Ridgway sat on the truck committee and said Greenwood was not just chosen for the price, but also for the design of each vehicle. He said their models had a shorter wheelbase and more ground clearance, as well as extra storage space on board, compared to the next best bid.
After $100,000 in discounts offered by Greenwood, the combined purchase price for both vehicles was shown to be $1,200,408. The delivery time was estimated at 15 months.
CVFD raised $600,000 during its recent fundraising campaign, of which $500,000 will be given to the town to buy the trucks. That figure will be paired with $720,000 in town truck fund reserves. The additional donated funds will be used to outfit the trucks with equipment and tools.
“I want to praise the town of Cornwall,” said CVFD President Dick Sears. “We’re able to buy these beautiful new pieces of equipment courtesy of the tremendous citizenry of this town.”
FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.
She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.
Robin loved the beach, sunshine, and gardening, and was known for her strength, humor, and unwavering support of those she loved.
She is survived by her daughter, Sierra R. Zinke, and brothers, Darren Roy and Todd Roy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sharon Thomkins Roy and Robert Roy, and her brother Nevin Roy.
No services will be held at this time.
SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.
At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.
“Mike” loved the sun, sand and water and spent many summers at Westport Point, Massachusetts with the kids and their best friends, the Bauers.She was the consummate hostess, and a wonderful cook.She also appeared in several plays with The Sherman Players and also a show or two on special occasions at The Kent Community House.She took enjoyment from working outdoors doing chores around her home in North Kent.She lived in that house until she sold it and bought a condominium on North Main Street in Kent in May of 2003.She lived in the condo until 2018 after which her light began to fade and her last 8 years were spent comfortably at Noble Horizons.
“Mike” leaves behind her children, Richard (Susan) of Lakeville, her daughter Nancy Rutledge (Jim) of Salisbury; two grandchildren, Chandra Gerrard (Sean) of Litchfield, Matthew (Larissa) of Lakeville; three great grandchildren, Addison, Emilia and Everett, all of Lakeville.
She was predeceased by her beloved granddaughter Caroline in 2020.
All services are private.The Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in charge of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.
Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in June. Memorial contributions may be made to Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury and Scoville Memorial Library.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.