By Justin Roshak, Contributing Writer
HUDSON – The Hudson Select Board accepted a donation from the estate of the late Victor John Billings at its Sept. 27 meeting.
The $10,000, will cover fees for children from low-income families who wish to participate in town recreation activities.
“This is a very generous donation from the Billings family,” said Select Board member James Quinn. “It does not surprise me at all.”
Quinn continued, noting that Billings graduated Hudson High School in 1969 before attending Notre Dame University.
He loved hockey and was “heavily into sports” altogether, Quinn said.
Billings worked as a substitute teacher in the Hudson Public Schools before taking a teaching job in Clinton, according to his obituary.
He pivoted careers in 1986 to start a carpentry business. He also worked as a part-time bartender at Hudson’s Bar Lunch.
He remained involved in sports, golfing, playing hockey, running marathons, skiing and swimming at various points in time, his obituary noted.
Billings passed away in May of this year.
“Vic would just about be reaching his 70th birthday right now,” Quinn said.
“This is a very generous donation,” said Recreation Director Steve Santos. “I got to know Vic. He took part in our annual golf tournament. Whenever I’d see him around town, he’d always stop and ask how things were going.”
“This money will go a very, very long way in assisting families here in Hudson,” Santos continued. “…I’m proud to say that in all my years here we’ve never turned anyone away from any recreation program due to cost.”
