By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Marlborough – When kindergarten through fourth-grade students at Sgt. Charles J. Jaworek Elementary School in Marlborough assembled Jan. 26 for their monthly all-school meeting, they learned more than details about the history of the Olympic Games. They also learned about Bobby Butler, who attended Marlborough public schools and is now preparing to compete with the United States men’s hockey team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. His parents, Wendy and John, accepted an invitation to attend the assembly.
Fourth-graders Kyle DeVincent and Libby Rowe of the Student Leadership Council welcomed the students, faculty and guests. Music teacher Meg DeFazio directed second-graders of Donna Cunningham’s class as they sang “America.” T-shirts emblazoned with “Bobby Butler, USA Hockey Olympian” were donated by family friend Donna Christo for her granddaughter Sophia’s kindergarten homeroom class of Tina Adamson, and grandson Jackson’s second-grade homeroom class of Julia Carlman.
The presentation was organized by Marjorie Risotti, who provides administrative support for special education at the school. After explaining the Olympics origin and current activities, she focused on this winter’s athlete of special interest locally.
“Bobby married my daughter Lisa, and they have two children,” she shared. “They live in Milwaukee, Wis., and Bobby plays hockey for the Milwaukee Admirals.”
Butler is a 2005 Marlborough High School graduate. Soon after graduating from the University of New Hampshire, he visited and spoke to students at Jaworek Elementary School in 2010, Risotti noted.
“His message to the students then was to work hard, study in school, and practice, practice, practice – never give up,” she relayed. “Bobby worked very hard to achieve all of his goals: graduated from college, playing in the National Hockey League, played in the World Cup, and more importantly, Bobby is going to the Olympics, representing our country by playing on the USA men’s hockey team.”
Risotti led the students cheering, “Good luck, Bobby. Bring home the gold.”
Photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.
