Unfinished Letter from Doug Willett
(lightly edited by Wes Willett)
Doug left the following letter on his computer. He had a list of other things to add, which would have included his Rotary experience, so this is incomplete, but does show his mindset in his final time with us.
Sing no sad songs for me
While I was not exactly a volunteer, this passing on April 10, 2022 wasn’t a total surprise. Living with cancer for many years gave me a good grip on my mortality and its inevitable result. But it also gave me a gift…time, time enough to review my almost four score years on this earth and to reflect on what a long, rewarding trip it has been.
I was one of those fortunate ones whose life was filled with laughter and joy, a large, loving extended family, a happy childhood, a first-class education, and ample employment opportunities. I was fortunate to be able to support a comfortable life for my family, engage in interesting and valuable work, retire early enough to travel the world, and establish a second neighborhood in sunny Florida during the winter months.
Along the way, I was able to devote attention to my love of competition, particularly fast-pitch softball, golf, and the UConn Huskies basketball and softball teams. In my later years, I got to indulge my interests in both politics and photography. I’ve gone to my grave passionately believing that better here than registering as a Republican.
My interest in photography led to numerous trips exploring the American West, our great national parks and our natural wonders, buffalo herds in Yellowstone Park, sunrise at the Grand Canyon, the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon as well as the amazing play of light on the walls of Antelope Canyon. It also led me around the world so I could capture shots in Montmartre in Paris, at Monet’s lily pond in Giverny, at the coliseum in Rome, in front of the pyramids in Giza, and the Terra Cotta warriors in Xian. I even ended up capturing the monks praying around the steps of the Dalai Lama’s palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Many of my favorite photos were featured in the annual Willett Family Calendar Diane and I put together from 2011 to 2018.
I met Diane in kindergarten, started dating in high school and married her in my early twenties. Three thriving sons, (Wes. Jamie and Jon), two special daughters-in-law (Stacy and Emma), six natural grandchildren (Marleena, Shealah, Draedon, Spencer, Ada, and Talia), plus five who joined the family along the way (Raquel, Thomas, Kacie, Lucas, and Nicole) and three great granddaughters (Finley, Teagan and Skye) later, Diane and I laughed, loved, and supported one another every step of the way.
My childhood family was headed by Barre/Montpelier, Vermont natives, Emil Willett and Erva Chenette who migrated to East Hartford, CT for employment opportunities during World War II. Good Catholics, they produced older brother Bill, followed by sisters Ginny and Erva, me, smack in the middle, and after a six-year hiatus, brother Greg and little sisters, Michele and Denise. We lived in a working-class environment, with our own home, a park nearby, friendly neighbors and our church and Catholic schools within walking distance. Looking back, I realized it was a boisterous, loving family and I was lucky to be part of it, but for years I waited for the limo to pull up to take me to my true family, since I could not possibly belong to this crazy group. Erva, Greg (Jennifer Prieto) and Denise (Victor Nejfelt) survive with the responsibility of carrying on the family traditions, and I look forward to seeing the others behind the pearly gates.
My formal education began at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Mayberry Village and soon moved on to St. Mary’s elementary/junior high school and East Hartford High School. I was a reasonably good student for the “stirs” (nuns) but more taken with the social side of things. Little League, school yard basketball, following the New York Yankees, along with a love of reading and the easy availability of the East Hartford Library played large roles in my pre-teen years. Upon graduation after ninth grade, I was chosen by my peers as the “Cutest” kid in class, but the magic soon wore off at EHHS where the competition was fiercer, and I had to settle for “Friendliest” and “Most Pleasing Personality.”
I had a blast in high school. In addition to my college prep studies, I was involved with the basketball and baseball junior varsity teams, was the sports editor of the school paper, represented my homeroom as a student council senator and was elected the president of the junior class. After winning my first class-wide election, I easily lost the next two. Popularity was fleeting or maybe “Never regret; vote Willett” just didn’t flutter any hearts in 1960.
In any case, I moved on to the University of Connecticut with the intention of becoming a lawyer. Four years later I had a degree in English Literature, little appetite for prepping for the LSATs, and the prospect of marriage nipping at my toes. I was presented the option of joining Aetna as an underwriter trainee or going to Central Connecticut State College to pick up a secondary teaching credential. I chose the latter and a year ater I found myself as a rookie English teacher at Penney High. Oh, yeah, I was also a newly minted husband with son Wes on the way.
Up next:
Two careers/teaching years/ transition to Travelers/ travelers career/ moving on to retirement.