Wife upset about snub of husband
Honor. Integrity. Discipline. My husband used to demand these actions from Connellsville Area School District’s wrestlers. He worked diligently and tirelessly for many years to build a winning program.
He worked hard for his family. He worked hard for the Connellsville community, and, most importantly, he always worked hard for his student wrestlers. In 1992, his team won a WPIAL championship tournament, a glorious culmination resulting from discipline, a great work ethic, and a determination to never give up.
Recently someone asked me if Tom and I were going to the wrestling match where they are going to honor the 1992 team and coaches for their hard-earned 1992 victory.
We were never invited.
The head coach who started the wrestling program at Connellsville, mentored countless students, stayed late every school night, and held practice on weekends to ensure student victories didn’t even receive a phone call. Even after he retired from teaching, he couldn’t quite quit Connellsville wrestling. In his old age, he washed mats, joked with the wrestlers, and went to every practice, every match, and every wrestling tournament. He did it for the students.
My husband now has dementia. Yet, when I told him the news that his hard work was ignored, that honor, integrity and discipline are now empty words to the program he founded, his reaction was one of clear lucidity and of pain. And it said it all.
Donna Dolde
Connellsville
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