Tag Archives: Gordon Hall

[OPINION] That’s What (Westport) Friends Are For

Posted on December 6, 2025 | 22 comments

Fred Cantor was a longtime Westporter. The 1971 Staples High School graduate still feels connected to this town — and our blog. Fred writes:

My wife Debbie and I are moving soon for health-related reasons from Oronoque Village, a senior community in Stratford, to a senior community in Southern California.

So we made a visit to Westport. We stopped by my childhood home on Easton Road — where Debbie and I got married in a small family ceremony in 1982 — and the home on Drumlin Road where we lived for 22 years.

Fred Cantor’s childhood home on Easton Road …

Both houses epitomized the era they were built: the 1950s. The Easton Road home was roughly 1,850 square feet. The Drumlin one was approximately 1050 square feet.

I am fortunate in that, in contrast to many childhood friends, stopping by my old stomping grounds feels almost like a step back in time. Neither home became a “Teardown of the Day.”

… and Drumlin Road, where he and Debbie lived for 22 years.

So being back there triggers a variety of memories.

But in going back, it’s not just the memories of family — many of whom are gone now — that make these places feel special.

I realize too what will always make Westport feel like my hometown are the wonderful neighbors and friends from the times I lived in these houses.

We sold our Drumlin home privately to a friend and former neighbor who was looking to return — and Debbie and I are so glad we did. Cheryl enjoys the home every bit as much as we did, and has put such loving care into the property.

When Debbie and I approached our former longtime home Cheryl, in her 60s, was out in the yard cutting the grass and mulching leaves with her very quiet electric mower. Gotta love that.

And seeing our former Drumlin neighbor, the beloved Staples teacher and administrator Gordon Hall, to wish him an early happy 98th birthday brought back memories of the various kind things he and his wife Dot — and several other Drumlin neighbors as well — did for us over the years.

 

This visit came not long after attending the boys soccer FCIAC championship match in Fairfield. I sat near my former Staples coach, Jeff Lea, former teammate Jim Bacharach, and other Staples soccer alums. This was accompanied by a flood of emails with former Staples teammates during the remarkable postseason run by the 2025 squad.

These combined experiences reinforced the feeling that there have indeed been a number of terrific friends and neighbors over the years who helped make Westport seem like I was living the story in “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

So here’s a farewell toast to all of those people who made me feel lucky to have lived for decades in such friendly and supportive small-town surroundings.

Fred Cantor and Debbie Silberstein wave goodbye. (Photo/Tracy McIntosh)

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Posted in Looking back, Real estate, Westport life

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Friday Flashback #389

Posted on March 8, 2024 | 11 comments

Alert reader, avid sports fan — and 1971 Staples High School graduate Fred Cantor — contributes today’s Friday Flashback:

This month marks the 70th anniversary of the conclusion of one of the most successful seasons in Westport scholastic basketball history.

But that squad did not play at Staples. It was the Bedford Junior High School hoops team (at a time when junior highs fielded formal varsity squads).

The Bedford Junior High School basketball team.

The Bedford Bears went undefeated in 9 games against junior high competition from New Canaan, Darien, Wilton, Weston and Bridgeport. Their closest game: a 10-point win over Saxe JHS of New Canaan, whose best player, Wilky Gilmore, went on to become an area sports legend. He led New Canaan High to consecutive state titles, then starred at Colorado on a Big 8 championship squad.

Bedford’s leading scorer in that game against Saxe was Jack Mitchell, who scored as many points as Gilmore. Mitchell was Bedford’s leading scorer that season. He went on to star as Wesleyan University’s football quarterback, then worked at his parents’ clothing store, Ed Mitchell — and later become CEO and now chairman of Mitchells Stores.

His former Bedford teammate Bob Darnton went on to become a Rhodes Scholar, and an award-winning historian, professor, and director of the Harvard University Library.

He recalls: “When I played on the Bedford Elementary School basketball team against Greens Farms, we said to ourselves, ‘This guy Mitchell is unstoppable,’ or words to that effect. He had a formidable reputation.”

(Yes, Westport elementary schools participated in interscholastic basketball competition as well back then.)

Bedford Junior High athletes, off the court.

Darnton also remembers another teammate, underscoring a different time in Westport: “I always had a fondness for Red Izzo, a fast guard. Back then, I sometimes visited him in his home, where his mother spoke Italian. I learned the language as a grad student, remembering when I first heard the Calabrian variety around spaghetti dishes in my home town. We swore in Italian in elementary school.”

The 6 players who were the mainstays of the team (the “big 6,” according to a local newspaper account) were Mitchell, Darnton, Izzo, Bruce Cummings, John Aulenti and Kenny Linn.

Thanks to the margins of victory, the reserves saw plenty of action during the season.

Bedford’s superb play drew this quote in a local newspaper: “Nick Zeoli, well-known athlete, coach and official, rates the 1954 Bedford Bears as the finest junior high basketball team — the best he has ever seen in action.” Zeoli went on to serve many years as Wilton High School’s athletic director.

Perhaps the Bedford Bears’ greatest success was splitting 2 games against the Staples sophomore squad. They lost once in overtime and won the other, in front of a capacity crowd at a fundraising event for the Wachob Memorial Scholarship.

Cheering on the teams, at the Wachob Memorial Tournament.

The Bedford coach went on to make his mark at Staples, as a beloved history teacher. But in 1954 he taught math at Bedford. While undoubtedly having a terrific influence on the Bedford varsity players that season, his greatest impact might have been on a non-player connected to the team.

That impact was described in a memoir by Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times writer John Darnton — Bob’s brother.

Their father had died as a war correspondent at the beginning of World War II. That tragic event left a gaping hole in their childhood.

John wrote: “It mitigated some of my wild behavior that I was getting good marks at school. I was moved up to a more advanced math class, and the teacher there took an interest in me.

“He was also the coach of varsity basketball….The teacher, Gordon Hall, appointed me as official scorer, presumably to give me a position to buck up my self-esteem. I enjoyed traveling around with the team….

“Before long, the school year ended. I did not want to leave and found it painful to say goodbye to my friends…

“On the next-to-last day, the math teacher offered me a ride home.  As we arrived at the house where I was staying, he pulled the car to the shoulder…

“He reached over and patted me on the back, then grasped my hand to shake it and held on to it for what seemed like a long while. Then, his voice breaking, he wished me good luck.

“Two days later, I left Westport.”

(Friday Flashback is a regular feature on “06880.” If you enjoy it — or any other part of the blog — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Homemade Pies, Swim Records, Will Haskell …

Posted on November 20, 2021 | 5 comments

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The Westport Young Woman’s League’s newest holiday fundraiser may be its sweetest one yet.

They’re selling Lyman Orchards homemade pies and cookies. Each purchase supports the WYWL grants program that funds local non-profit organizations.

Orders may be placed through Tuesday (November 23) with WYWL for a variety of pies and cookie dough, frozen fresh for delivery. They can be kept fresh in the freezer until ready to bake and serve.

Orders can be picked up at the Westport VFW (465 Riverside Avenue) on Friday and Saturday, December 17-18. 

WYWL members also offer holiday gift wrapping, for a recommended donation of $5 per gift. Items can be dropped off at the VFW on those same  days (December 17-18).

Click here to place pie and cookie orders.

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It sounds like a broken record: The Staples High School girls swim tam broke 4 records again.

Wednesday night’s eye-popping performances came at the class LL (extra large schools) state finals at Southern Connecticut State University. Freshman Annam Olasewere rewrote the state and LL record books in 2 freestyle races. The freshman wowed the crowd with a time of 22.67 in the 50 free, breaking the 2016 record of 23.02. She also took the 100 free in record time, with a blistering 50.14.

Staples, which placed 4th overall, also saw 2 relay teams finish first in record times. The 200 freestyle foursome of Jessica Qi, Ella Alpert, Ayaan Olasewere and Annam Oleseree broke the 25-year-old state record, with a time of 1:35.75. Qi, Alpert, Ayaan and Annam Olasewere came back to win the 400 freestyle relay in yet another state record time: 3:28.54.

Up next: the state open meet tomorrow (Sunday) in West Hartford.

Congratulations to coaches Mike Anderson, Elaine Rankowitz and Kuku Fleming. — and of course to the girls! Can you imagine what they’ll accomplish as seniors?!

Staples’ record-setting 400 meter free relay team (from left): Ella Alpert, Annam Olasewere, Ayaan Olasewere, Jessica Qi.

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Speaking of swimming: Earlier this month, the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Water Rats swim team ran a food drive. They collected 880 pounds of food — nearly half a ton — for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Those donations will provide 735 Thanksgiving meals.

Team members also collected $205 in cash, good for 82 more meals.

The entire Water Rats team participated, from pre-competitive swimmers to seniors.

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Yesterday, driving around his old Drumlin Road neighborhood, Fred Cantor saw former neighbor Gordon Hall.

The longtime — and long-respected — Staples social studies teacher turns 94 today. Happy birthday, Mr. Hall!

Gordon Hall (Photo/Fred Cantor)

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Will Haskell is in his 2nd term as Westport’s state senator. When he was elected in 2018, he was the youngest legislator in the country.

He’s still not far removed from his Georgetown University days. He’s a proud alum — and his school is proud of him.

The other day, the school newspaper The Hoya interviewed Haskell. Click here to read his thoughts on government, politics, his college experience and more. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)

State Senator Will Haskell

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The early bird gets the Westport Country Playhouse summer camp worm.

“Early bird pricing” is available now through December 5 for CampWCP, a social justice theater program for 20 middle school students (June 27 through July 23).

The camp “empowers young artists to activate their creative voice on issues that matter to them and turn it into something theatrical — so that they can ignite social change for their community and beyond.”

Campers explore the art of playwriting, and create and perform an original play. devise their own play. They learn acting techniques, and participate in workshops with Playhouse staff. For details and registration, click here.

CampWCP is open for registration.

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image shows the Saugatuck River at sunset. This natural resource never gets old.

(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)

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And finally … music photographer Mick Rock died recently. He was 72.

Among his subjects: David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Queen, Syd Barrett, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, Motley Crue, T. Rex, Blondie and Thin Lizzy. He shot the covers of albums like “Queen II,” Reed’s “Transformer” and “Coney Island Baby,” Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” and the Stooges’ Raw Power.

He also directed Bowie’s music videos for “I’m Only Dancing,” “Jean Genie,” “Space Oddity” and “Life on Mars.”

Click here for a full obituary. (Hat tip: Amy Schneider)

 

All campers are

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Posted in Politics, Sports, Staples HS, YMCA

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1 Road, 3 Neighbors, 50 Years

Posted on January 30, 2012 | 17 comments

In 1952, Mike and Galy Starzyk moved to Drumlin Road.

Two years later, Gordon and Dot Hall moved in across the street. Nine years after that, Bernie and Barbara Dorogusker bought a house next door to the Starzyks.

Much has happened since then. Countless families moved in, had kids, raised them, moved away. Decks were built, 2nd floors added. Trees have grown tall (and fallen).

But nearly 50 years later, all 3 families still live on the horseshoe-shaped drive near Hillspoint and Green’s Farms Road, just south of the railroad tracks (and the “Connecticut Turnpike” — I-95 — which was still being debated when the former cow pasture was developed back in 1952-53).

There may be no other place in Westport where 3 neighbors have lived so close together since the Kennedy Administration.

A 1952 ad for "Compo Manor: A Residential Community Situated in Westport, Beauty Spot of Southern Connecticut" shows "The Perfect Three-Bedroom Rancher" model home. It is "Priced at $14,500. Complete."

The Starzyks are the only original owners left. Mike and Galy were living in Bridgeport. With 2 children, they needed more room. Galy’s brother-in-law — Art Reale — told them about a new development, “Compo Manor.” The lots were small — 1/4 acre — but the $14,500 price was perfect.

Better yet, nearly all their neighbors were like the Starzyks: young, and with kids.

In 1955, Gordon and Dot Hall’s daughter was not yet born. Married 2 years, and both teachers — he at Bedford Junior High School, she at the brand-new Coleytown Elementary — they had rented “tiny, ramshackle places” elsewhere in town.

But they saved their pennies — “literally,” Gordon notes — and loved the little ranch house that was for sale. Other tract homes they’d seen — on Reichert Circle, Bauer Place and Tamarack — all faced in the same direction. The 43 Drumlin homes were built with the same 2 or 3 floor plans, but they were angled uniquely. And each setback was different.

The asking price was $20,600. The Halls paid $19,600. On their salaries — he made about $3,000, she $2,900 — that was manageable. But for 4 summers, when they took graduate courses, they rented the house out. The extra cash helped make ends meet.

“There were lots of strollers, and there was lots of sledding,” Dot recalls. “Everyone was very sociable, because (the adults) were all around the same age.”

Gordon and Dot Hall's house in 1957 (left) and 2012 (right). The 3 families that have been neighbors for nearly 50 years share the mailboxes in the photo at right.

Barbara Dorogusker is the “newest” of the 3 neighbors — but she’s got the longest local connection. A 3rd-generation Westporter, she grew up on 6 acres on Sturges Highway. Her grandmother (a former indentured servant in Poland) lived next door. The property included a pond and barn.

After graduating from Staples in 1952, Barbara married a man from New York City. They wanted to buy a house, but without much land. Bernie was a sailor; proximity to the Sound was key.

With $2,000 in the bank, they searched for a while. Finally they saw a place on Drumlin. With a big field in back — off Jennie Lane — they could look at nature, but not have to take care of it.

“It wasn’t our dream house,” Barbara admits. “But every house is a compromise.”

Her parents were “appalled. They thought we  were moving into tomorrow’s slums because the lots were so small.” But, Barbara says, “it was perfect for us.” And Cedar Point Yacht Club was just down the hill, at Compo Beach.

They built a big sunroom, and a deck. They had 2 children. “We wanted them to grow up surrounded by friends,” Barbara says. “They sure did.”

The kids created secret pathways between bushes. An empty school bus would pull up to the foot of Drumlin Road. It drove away filled.

Every summer, the Drumlin Road neighbors have a block party. Last summer's event showed an enormous span of ages -- but plenty of smiles.

Over the years, the road changed. There were many “older couples, divorced people, one-child families,” Gordon says.

Miraculously for Westport, there have been only 2 demolitions — and both were caused by accidents. One house burned; the other had a tree fall on it.

Of course, many homes have been remodeled. They’re a bit larger than they were (Gordon calls them “mini-mansions, not McMansions”). So they’re once more attractive to young couples. “We’re seeing bicycles and strollers again,” says Dot.

But not every house has been sold, re-sold, and re-re-sold.

“Why would we ever want to move?” Barbara asks. “Everyone looks out for each other here. We’ve got one story, which is great.” (She’s 77; Bernie is 85.)

“And with housing prices going to pot, why leave?”

Similarly, after the Starzyks’ kids grew up and moved away, Mike and Galy stayed. “We were comfortable,” she recalls. “There was no reason to leave.”

Sixty years later, they’re still on Drumlin Road.

“I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in this world,” 93-year-old Galy says. “But I have no plans to move.”

Nor do her neighbors. After 49 years together, there’s no place like home.

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Posted in Beach, Looking back, People, Places, Real estate

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