Memorial pays tribute to Jack Mahoney

FALLS VILLAGE — The two-hour memorial service held in his honor on June 10 was a snapshot of everything that mattered most to John Leo Mahoney, known to all as Jack, who died May 14, 2011, at the age of 73.Of course tears were shed by many in the audience and on the stage of the auditorium at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. But overall, it was a service that, like Mahoney, was fun, funny and filled with references to the Boston Red Sox — including a “seventh-inning stretch” about three quarters of the way through. Everyone in the audience stood up and sang along to “Sweet Caroline,” which has been the official seventh-inning stretch song at every Red Sox game since 2002.Fenway Park would, arguably, be the only other place that Mahoney might have chosen for a memorial service in his honor. But, really, no place was more appropriate than Housatonic Valley Regional High School, to which he had devoted so much of his life. The downstairs of the auditorium, which seats 406 people, was full. The front seats were filled with family, including Mahoney’s mother, Florence.Ed Kirby was the master of ceremonies, taking charge of the stage and proceedings as he had done so many times during the years when he was a top administrator at the school and in the school district, and when Mahoney was (first) an English teacher and (later) the high school’s principal. Kirby was also one of Mahoney’s closest friends and (along with another close friend, Barclay Prindle) a member of the National Outlaw and Lawman’s Association. His commitment to exploring the Wild West, his devotion to tennis, his annual almost mythic visits to the Red Sox training camp in Florida and his joy in other such pleasurable activities were recounted in many of the tales shared by the 14 guest speakers.But much was also said about his extraordinary commitment to the high school (and, especially, its students), the nearby D. M. Hunt Library, the Democratic Party and many other nonprofit and charitable organizations.Each of his four children spoke, sharing stories that were amusing and tender, sometimes choking back tears at memories of the many ways their father supported them, guided them and loved them.“The two words that sum him up are teacher and father,” said Nancy (Mahoney) Soper, the youngest child (known affectionately by her dad as Number Four). “He was always right beside me, with a hand on my back, giving me a gentle nudge.”His colleagues from his years in education spoke reverently of him as a mentor and someone who set an example that they could and still do follow. David Bayersdorfer was an early protege of Mahoney’s and has filled many roles at the school (including a recent stint as interim assistant principal last fall, after he officially retired). He referred to Mahoney as “mentor and tor-mentor” at times because he set a high standard and was unwavering in his expectation that the standard would be met. Grammar and clarity in thinking and writing were areas of particular concern. Several people, including his children, recalled the way he wielded a red pen like a sword, ruthlessly correcting errors in spelling and syntax.Many of the speakers referred to Mahoney’s love of the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. And, yes, several mentions were made of his devotion to the Red Sox. Mahoney’s companion on his Florida baseball trips was always his cousin, Mike Groom, who shared some of the highlights of their travels. He talked about how thrilled they both were to be able to stay in the same hotel as their baseball-playing idols, and stopped to ask, “Do you remember the last time you were just thrilled?” The biggest thrill of all came when the cousins came upon legendary Sox player Nomar Garciaparra at the hotel: “We instantly turned into two 12-year-olds.”After he received word that Mahoney had died, Groom said he sat down to watch the Yankees and the Red Sox play each other. The Sox won. And they swept their rivals in that series. Groom said he is sure that those victories and similar wins on June 7, 8 and 9 were a tribute to one of the team’s most devoted fans.Fred Baldwin was one of the final speakers, and he reminded audience members that there will be a Jack Mahoney Memorial Tennis Tournament at the high school tennis courts (named in honor of Mahoney and former high school Athletic Director Roland Chinatti) on Saturday, Aug. 27, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. In Mahoney’s memory, everyone will play with everyone and play will rotate every 20 minutes. All proceeds from the tournament and the sale of refreshments at the courts will benefit the 21st Century Fund.The finale to the evening ceremony was the reading of a letter from John Perotti, who is chairman of the 21st Century Fund. The letter explained that Mahoney got the idea for the fund while traveling across America to study “best practices” in education. A California school was using a mix of public and private funding to pay for programs. Mahoney returned to Connecticut to create the 21st Century Fund (with the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation), which sought private donations for all the seven schools in the Region One School District.At present, the fund is trying to raise $5,000 to finish the new science and technology center in what was formerly the Clarke Wood agricultural education building at Housatonic. Memorial donations in Mahoney’s memory may be sent to 21st Century Fund for HVRHS, 246 Warren Turnpike Road, Falls Village, CT 06031.For information on the tennis tournament, email Cynthia Hochswender at cindyinsharon@gmail.com.