The Old Guard

The Old Guard is a group of retired and semi-retired men dedicated to education, fellowship and community service. Weekly meetings feature guest speakers from government, education and business. Opportunities for fellowship include informal gathering before the meetings, excursions and athletic events, bowling, golf and luncheons. Committee chairmen work with civic groups to organize opportunities for member contributions, both financial and donation of time,some periodic, some ongoing. Old Guard members work with Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Foodshare, Salvation Army, the West Hartford YMCA and the University of Connecticut Medical Center. Old Guard members provided leadership in the revitalization and ongoing administration of the West Hartford Seniors Job Bank.

Now Meeting Virtually

A Tradition Continues

The Old Guard members have staffed a Salvation Army kettle at the LaSalle Road post office in West Hartford for many years. The members took turns ringing the bell and greeting passersby during the Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year will be the same, with one difference…in addition to wearing a Santa hat, a face shield will also be a part of the uniform.

In the past, the kettle was also present at the Old Guard weekly meetings  with the late Tom Desmond ringing the bell. With Old Guard now meeting virtually only, there is not an opportunity to contribute at a meeting. To enable member collections this year, the Salvation Army has created a site on the web to accept contributions.

Below is a link to the Salvation Army site. There is also an opportunity on the form to recognize the dedication of Tom Desmond, former leader of Salvation Army activities with the Old Guard and other many civic organizations.

The Old Guard relationship with the Salvation Army is now being led by Ed Turbert.

Old Guard Officers 

Ron Van Winkle - President

860 558-2794 (cel)

Richard Moffitt - Vice President

George Stephan - Secretary

Kevin Slane - Assistant Secretary

Stephen Guest - Treasurer

Paul Dean - Assistant Treasurer

Membership Information

Ron Robinson -

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December Newsletter

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President’s Message

As you all well know, it's been an interesting year for you and for the Old Guard.  The Old Guard has changed how it operates; we have moved to Zoom meetings and have taken over all administrative duties once performed by the YMCA.  The Zoom meetings are temporary but the administrative duties are likely to stay with the Old Guard.  The collection of our dues once held by the YMCA are now in our bank account and we pay the expenses as they come due.  Our major expense is the rental of our meeting room at Westminster Presbytrian Church.  Unfortunately, fortunately we have had virtually no significant expenditures this year.  Recently the Old Guard Board met and decided to take a portion of our revenue and make a donation to the two institutions that have been part of our operation for many years, the West Hartford YMCA and the Westminster Presbytrian Church.  Each institution will receive a donation of $3,000.

Ron Van Winkle

Member News

We are mourning the passing of three more former Old Guard members. 

Richard Scoville Krissinger passed on November 6th at the age of 90.  Dick was president of the Old Guard in 2002-03.  Dick served in the military during the Korean War.  He was an architect who was rightly celebrated for his model building of many of many schools and offices designed by other architects.  Volunteering was an essential part of his life.  He was a leader and volunteer of many nonprofit organizations from Hartford Hospital to Loaves and Fishes. 

J. Morton Dunn passed on November 10th at the age of 94.  Mort was a long term member of the Old Guard step back this past spring.   He sent us a note that read in part, “It is with great sadness that I must leave the Old Guard scene, but I wish the Old Guard much success as you try to cope with Coivd-19,”  Mort served in the military during World War II and the Korean War and served as a Captain in the Army Reserve.  Mort Graduate from Harvard and UConn Law School and practiced law for 48 years.  Volunteering was also an essential part of Mort’s life.  As an active member of the Universalist Church and received a Distinguished Service Award for his efforts.

Eugene L. Knorr, Jr. passed on November 25 at the age of 90.  He joined the Old Guard in 1999 and was an active member in our bowling, Meals on Wheels and other programs. Gene was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served during World War II.  A graduate of the University of Hartford in accounting, he worked most of his career at Industrial Safety Supply. 

 All three men had extraordinary careers and served their country in the military and their communities as volunteers.  We have expressed the condolences of the Old Guard community to their family. 

Better Member News

Jim Doran, one of our most appreciated Old Guard members, is also a huge supporter of the Seniors Job Bank, which he was instrumental in restarting in 2012. As a member of the West Hartford Senior Citizens Commission, Jim saw the need for a way to connect seniors wanting work with businesses and households with work to do. He developed the business plan and found several folks (primarily from the Old Guard) to serve on a reconstituted Board. In 2015 Jim won AARP's Andrus Award for community service, which came with money he immediately donated to SJB. Jim continues to provide talent as a Board member as well as significant financial assistance for SJB.

WEST HARTFORD FOOD BANK

Lou Aiello - Chairman

We are in a huge struggle for monetary donations for the needy, we will be collecting money and/or food for the West Hartford Food Bank, Foodshare and/or Loaves & Fishes. We received contributions of $170 food items and $11,000 in food value. This year there is more need than ever for contributions than past years. We have to preserve, protect, and help our community with the changes going on in our world, and have the Old Guard out in front as a top contributor to support our community. The need is greater than ever. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. Our goal this year is to help as much as we are able for with our contributions, we are helping others in their time of need(s)! A contribution of $30.00 would feed one person for 30 days with the organization cost. We could donate money to West Hartford Food Bank and/or Foodshare: Greater Hartford & Tolland County; also Loaves & Fishes.

1. For collecting non-perishable food will be for the West Hartford Food Pantry.

2. To contribute by check for West Hartford: Paid to the order of -Town That Cares-West Hartford Food Pantry, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107, and for Foodshare: Paid to the order of Foodshare, 450 Woodland Street, Bloomfield, CT, 06002 or Loaves & Fishes Ministries, 646 Prospect Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105

3. To contribute by charge card: West Hartford FoodBank, visit WestHartford.org/townthatcares and click on Donate Now. Foodshare (860)286-9999 or www.foodshsre.org. And for Loaves & Fishes (860)524-1730 Alice Hild 64 Prospect Ave., Hartford, Ct. 06105. Let me know if you contribute by charge, so I can add contribution to our total. All money is tax deductible. Any questions call me (860) 970-6502.

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Habitat for Humanity

Ron Robinson, Tom Trumble - CoChairmen

Habitat – On Veteran’s Day we had a very enjoyable, productive and injury-free build in Bristol.  Many thanks to the folks who participated – Hank Boulton, Chuck Hasbrouk, Bill Higgins, Kevin Morrison, Ron Robinson, Bob Schaefer, Jim Schepker, Allan Thompson and Tom Trumble – with Don Kauke taking pictures.  And major appreciation for the 11 members who donated $900 to Habitat.

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Communication

Don Kauke

The Old Guard web page (ctoldguard.org) continues to provide information about organization activities. Our page is for updates for members and to provide information to prospective members.

You will find on our Home page a button to make a contribution to the Salvation Army. In addition,  recent Old Guard presenters are saved for two weeks on our Members Only section of the Other Information page. 

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Membership

Ron Robinson - Chairman

We are having good attendance and great speakers at our Zoom meetings the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month but many members are missing out.  If it is a technology issue, feel free to reach out.  And please consider attending if you haven’t already in addition to sharing our Zoom link with a guest.  Also, remember that our website – – is chock full of very valuable information/resources about our history, mission and activities that can be very helpful for both members and prospective members

Meetings and Speakers

We are always looking for good speakers especially this year with our Zoom meetings.  If you have a suggestion please contact: Ron Van Winkle at or Richard Moffitt at

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December 1st Zoom Meeting

Speaker:  Ruvim Izikson MD, Epidemiologist

          Introduced by John Mitman

STORYTELLER: Kevin Slane

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December 15th Zoom Meeting

Speaker:  Andrew Lattimer

Partner, Blum Shapiro

Introduced by:  Stephen Guest

STORYTELLER: Mike Feehan

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Special Events Report

Paul Dean, Chairman

A Reminder:  Paul Dean is offering a special bargain purchase of Old Guard memorabilia including the Old Guard hat, lapel pin and auto magnet (also good for your refrigerator) all for a mere $20.  You know your lapel pin is somewhere in that chest of drawers, it's time to give up searching and get a new one. Contact Paul at 860-521-0955 or email him at Paul.Dean@Comcast.net.  He delivers!

Salvation Army

Ed Turbert - Chairman

My Old Guard friends,

I cannot wear the hat and ring the bell and smile my way into your pockets this year.

To make up for this shortfall we offer instead  the opportunity to donate to the Salvation Army online.  Have you used a credit card to pay for parking at Blue Back or W H Center?  Or ditto for payments via credit card at a druggist or grocer?  How about a restaurant, have you made payment by credit card there?  It is just as convenient and just as safe to use this new generation mechanism to help the clients of Salvation Army, just as sound a way.  So, come on in, the water’s fine, and put something into the Old Guard Virtual Red Kettle .  Use the link below to make a contribution and people in Harford will bless you for your goodness.  They may not know your name, but God will know!

Thank you, Ed

December Birthdays                 

We send Happy Birthday wishes to all those who have a birthday in December.

Twenty-two birthday wishes tied with March for the most in any month!

Happy Birthday Guys:

Dom Pasquale             Thomas Archambault      Daniel George   

Richard Grudzinski      Hiro Tanaka                        Jack Plotkin

Al Mulvey                      Jere Johnston                    Leo Bonetti

Hank Boulton               Thad Hasbrouck             George Perakis           

Skip Schoeninger         Parker Simonds              Bob Jeffreys                          

Neal Freuden               Brooks Joslin                     Stanley Fellman          

Bob Kennedy               Anthony Ferrante              Robert Thompson

Newton Clark

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