Page 42 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 47 Spring 2024

Henry Cadett III
by Joe Pajor
The Wallingford Education Foundation
(WEF) established the Distinguished Alumni
Award in 2004 to honor individuals who have
attended the Wallingford Public Schools and
meet one or more of the following criteria:
• Recognized excellence in their chosen
vocation on a local, regional, or
national level
• Outstanding leadership in their
vocation or in a local, regional, or
national organization
• High achievement in one or more
fields of cultural endeavor such as
music, theater, dance, literature or
the arts
• Significant contributions to the
community at large through
volunteer work or charitable giving.
The WEF has recognized 97 Wallingford
school system alumni since the inception
of this award and will honor five additional
alumni at a dinner to be held at the Farms
Country Club on May 16. The Class of 2024
WEF Honor Roll inductees include Henry
Cadett III, Dominic Ferrie, Jane Haffner,
Ronnell Higgins, and Stacey McPherson-
Ranciato. They each share a common thread
of lives that impacted their communities
and others.
The Wallingford Education Foundation was
established in November 2003 as a 501 C 3
non-profit, community-based partnership
supporting educational innovation and
excellence in Wallingford. To date, over
$300,000 in grants has been awarded. In
addition, it serves as a fund custodian and
shepherd for scholarship endowments. The
WEF also has awarded yearly scholarships
to Wallingford high school graduates. It has
spearheaded large, specifically designated
fundraising activities known as Signature
Grants when requested in collaboration
with the Wallingford School District.
For more information or to purchase tickets
for the Distinguished Alumni Dinner, go to
www.wallingfordeducationfoundation.org.
42
Ronnell Higgins
Henry Cadett III is a 2001 Lyman Hall High School Ronnell Higgins graduated
graduate and a 2022 Charter Oak State College grad- from Lyman Hall High School
uate with a B.S. in public safety administration. Henry in 1989. Ronnell began his
was a staff sergeant in the Connecticut Army Nation- career in 1994 as a State of
al Guard from 2003-2012. He served in Afghanistan Connecticut correction offi-
from 2006-2007 as part of Operation Enduring Free- cer and, in 1997, became a
dom, earning both the Combat Infantry Badge and Yale University police officer. Wallingford Public School
an Army Commendation Medal. Henry is currently a He progressed through Yale's Distinguished Alumni Honor Roll
Wallingford Police sergeant. His community-oriented ranks, eventually leading the
policing philosophy led him to many roles within the department as the Police Wallingford public school alumni who have through deligence,
department, including bike patrol supervisor, school Chief in 2011. In 2015, he took demonstrated leadership, and/or service to others, made signif-
on the concurrent position
resource officer, sniper section team leader of the
emergency response team, and member of the crisis of Yale University Director of icant contributions to their chosen profession, their community,
intervention, peer support, and honor guard units. Public Safety. Ronnell’s Yale experience culminated state and country.
He attended fly-fishing guide school in Montana to qualify as a river guide for with his promotion to serve as the Yale University As-
Rivers of Recovery Northeast. This program provides inclusive fly-fishing trips sociate Vice President for Public Safety and Commu- 2023 2022 2019
nity Involvement, overseeing over 180 staff. He left
to help combat veterans and first responders manage post-traumatic stress.
Dundee Benson
Since 2018, he has guided Rivers of Recovery, remaining ever faithful to his Yale University in November 2023 to be sworn in as Anthony "Tony" Cassella II Michael A. Bonini Amanda Bundock-Simjian
Julie Baska-Hipp
Mel Horowitz
Jane Fisher
fellow combat vets and first responders. the State of Connecticut Commissioner of the CT De- Gloria Adriana Rodriguez Joan Ives-Parisi Frank W. Binder
Thomas J. Brockett
partment of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Thomas Wachtelhausen Neal E. Robinson, Jr
Dominic Ferrie Security Magazine named him as one of the Most Influ- Dr. Mathew E. Schmitt
Dominic Ferrie graduated from Lyman Hall in 2007. ential People in Security, and the NAACP named him as 2018 2017 2016
one of the Most Influential Blacks in CT. He received a
Since then, his work and community service have Community Service Award from the National Associa- Donald L. Curtis Maureen F. Binder Lori Chuba-Parisi
positively impacted the Wallingford community in
many ways. As described by his former teacher Tere- tion of Black Law Enforcement Officers. Paul W. Imgraham William J. Gannon Tarn Granucci
Mark R. Gingras
sia O’Hala, Dominic has “a pure heart and soul that is Elizabeth R. Landow Stephen W. Knight Barry M. O'Brien
Ralph A. Riley
Maureen Moore
Raymond Ross
of a child-like innocence, free from the world’s impu- Stacey McPherson-Ranciato Timothy Ryan Heather M. McDonnell Stephanie Rubin
rities of greed, anger, and ego. He doesn’t know how
Michael C. Tyrell
to harm or take advantage of another person because
he is full of love, kindness, and forgiveness.” His mis- Stacey McPherson-Ranciato 2015 2014 2013
Richard Cavanaugh
sion in life is to spread joy, positivism, and kindness. attended Rock Hill School and Catherine M. Bonneau Elizabeth Birney-Gagliardi Carolyn Dorsey-Vanacore
Bill Fritz
Beth Brooks
By any measure, he has succeeded. His work and vol- Dag Hammarskjold Middle Rosalind "Roz" Gallagher Catherine C. Giapponi John S. Gawlack III
unteer experience includes All Pet’s Club, Walgreens, School, graduating from H.C. Marie Gannon-Russell John "Rozz" Hrehowsik Gregory Myerson
Good Will, Master’s, LA Hair, and the Wallingford Wilcox Technical High School Philip A. Ottachian Roger McMahon David A. Soroko
James Vitali
Public Library. At L.A. Hair, Dom’s job was to ensure the salon stayed ready in 1988. Stacey entered the Joseph Pannone Kellyann Mengold-Gerson Thomas Yankus
real estate field in 2013 and
to serve its clientele. However, he attended to his work with such a positive currently owns the Genera- Gregory Myerson
attitude and enthusiasm that clients would schedule appointments based on
Dominic's working days. Dominic brings the same approach to his volunteer tions Team at Keller Williams. 2012 2011 2010
work of shelving books, CDs, and DVDs at the Wallingford Public Library for Stacey is steadfastly commit- John S. Barberino Tara Carey Jay Cei
the past 15 years. Again, his attention to detail, combined with his joy and ted to volunteer service. She Joseph E. Geremia Sean Doherty Carol Hayden
positivism, is greatly appreciated, and valued by the library staff and patrons. is a representative to the Real Michael Kolakowski James Fitzsimmons Joseph E. Mirra*
Estate Agent Leadership Coun- Carol P. Wallace Mary Ellen Kingsland-Eckels Peter Struble
Jane Haffner cil, a 15-plus-year Relay for Life participant, and a pri- Donald C. Warzocha Roberta "Bert" Wachtelhausen Timothy Wall
Dale A. Wilson*
mary organizer of “Red Day,” a community give-back
Jane Haffner is a 1962 Lyman Hall High School and a day when over 300 real estate agents give a full day 2009 2008 2006
Western Connecticut State University graduate with of volunteer service. She was honored in 2005 as the Lorraine B. Devaney Jenn Castelli George Cooke
a master’s degree from Central Connecticut State Volunteer of the Year for Wallingford Schools. She was Robert J. Devaney Maureen DeLucia Jim Kennedy
University. Jane returned to Lyman Hall as a music
active in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) from
Jerry Farrell, Jr.
teacher, where she prepared choruses for Walling- 2001-2013, running successful fundraisers, dances, Kathleen A. Murphy Bill Dickinson* Marianne Lacey
Jim Lynch
Tom Grasser
ford civic performances, including town hall cere- teacher appreciation events, and field days. She served Jon-Paul Venoit Stephen Hoag, Ph.D. George Mushinsky
monies honoring Martin Luther King Jr., as well as as treasurer of Nature’s Classroom trips and as treasur- Elizabeth Verna Elizabeth Mitchell-Bryce John Powers
town-wide and Senior Center Christmas events. Vi- er of the PTO at large. Stacey continues to give to the Bill Piper
vace, an honors singing group established by Jane, Wallingford Schools through her volunteer work on the 2005 2004
notably performed at the Sandy Hook remembrance Board of the Wallingford Education Foundation, having Dave Hocking Cathy Inglese
at the Connecticut state capitol. Jane is a past pres- served as secretary and the current WEF treasurer. Iris Papale Ed Loughlin
ident and a current Wallingford Symphony Board of Dolly Parisi Gail McCormack
Director. She also served on the Board of Directors Lucille Trzcinski Robert Parisi
Bill Saas
Tom Wall
for the American Choral Directors Association and Walter Yaskot Fred Ulbrich
was a 25-year member of the New Haven Chorale. She served as a certified
adjudicator for CT All-State chorus auditions and as the choral director for
twelve Lyman Hall musicals, and as the Art and Music Department Coordi-
nator. Jane Haffner was honored as the Lyman Hall High School 2007-2008
Teacher of the Year.
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