"This Man Went High Tech Against the 'Big C'", 9/24/16, page 4, The Chronicle.

1. 4 the Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn., Saturday, September 24, 2016
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Obituaries
To place an obituary: Classified Dept. at 860.423.8466, ext. 3363, or 860.423.8466, ext. 3337 after 5 p.m. on Fridays
Roxanne Pandolfi
Beth Rhines, Goodwin’s program director, leads a group on a
trail to find their ‘sit spots.’ Along the way, she quietly observes
her surroundings.
challenging for me too, but it’s
rewarding.”
She then related an anecdote of
one of her earliest forays into try-
ing a “sit spot” herself.
At first, her arrival into a patch
of forest excited birds and small
mammals, but as she kept still,
they grew more relaxed as well.
Then, suddenly, the birds
began to chatter agitatedly to one
another, before falling silent, and
Rhines knew that since she hadn’t
moved, a different type of preda-
tor must be coming closer.
That’s how she was able to spot
the bald eagle that suddenly glid-
ed overhead.
“Nature is constantly teaching
us lessons,” said Rhines.
Rhines then led participants
through a series of exercises
designed to calm them, heighten
their other senses and be more
aware.
First participants were asked to
stand in a circle with Rhines and
each was given a paper cup.
Their task was to pass the cups
all around, until Rhines’ cup had
made it all around the circle and
back to her, but participants could
only hold one cup at a time.
The group determined a method
to put the cups in their right hands
and drop it into their right-hand
neighbor’s left hand, while receiv-
ing a cup from their left-hand
neighbor into their left hands at
the same time.
At first, the group counted
down so they all knew when to
exchange cups, but with practice
everyone was able to synchronize
their movements without speak-
ing.
The exercise focused everyone’s
attention and made them more
aware of movements, rather than
sounds, from the rest of the group,
forcing them to use their periph-
eral vision to determine how to
pass the cups.
Then the group dispersed to
find natural objects nearby.
Their task was to find any
object that attracted them in some
way, and then fully observe every
aspect of it, short of taste.
The group then brought the
objects back to the circle and
took turns describing how it
smelled, felt and sounded, as well
as looked.
The group found leaves, a pine
cone, a feather, a flower — and
one participant, Marcia Kilpatrick
of Hampton, was able to find
and capture a water glider insect,
bringing it back cupped in her
hands, along with some green
scum, to show the others before
releasing it.
With increased observational
powers, the group set off on a
hike around Pine Acres Pond with
Rhines.
She asked everyone to make the
trip in complete silence, focusing
only on the scents and sounds
(while watching where they were
going).
Away from the noise of Route
6, Rhines stopped the participants
and asked them what they had
observed on the walk: collec-
tively or individually, they had
seen katydids and butterflies,
smelled the sharp scent of brush
that had just been chipped by the
state Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection, felt the
differences between the springy
moss and the hard gravel path
underfoot and heard frogs jump
from lilypads into the pond.
The group then dispersed into
the forest and along the pond’s
edge to find their own “sit spot.”
Birds chirped overhead and
squirrels chattered nearby, then
they grew quieter.
Occasionally a bird darted over-
head on business of its own.
Ants crawled under, around and
over twigs and dry leaves.
Ferns swayed constantly in even
the lightest of breezes.
A strand of a spider web less
than a foot off the ground, prob-
ably broken by a human finding
a sit spot, sparkled in a sudden
shaft of sunlight through the leafy
canopy.
The sun grew warmer. Bugs
zipped right past a face, then one
landed on a nose.
If one had only jogged along
the gravel path, one might have
noticed the way the pond reflected
the cloudless blue sky and the
green leaves of the trees just start-
ing to turn yellow, maybe would
have noticed the lily pads and a
butterfly if it had crossed directly
in front of them.
But sitting still in the forest
brought a host of other wildlife
into focus.
“It’s really nice to have this
opportunity,” said Marge Nichols
of Lebanon. “It’s nice to just sit
and observe.”
Sit-and-stay is the
way to look at nature
(Continued from Page 1)
Edward E. Eyler
COVENTRY
Edward Eyler (Ed), of
Coventry, CT, passed away
at home on September 19,
2016.
Ed was born in Akron,
Ohio on March 8, 1955.
He received his Bachelor of
Science from Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in
1977 and his Ph.D. from
Harvard University in 1982.
A professor of physics at
the University of Connecticut
since 1995, and formerly on
the faculty of the University of
Delaware and Yale University,
his research interests encom-
passed many areas of atomic,
molecular, and optical phys-
ics.
Ed was an avid hiker,
cyclist, and cross-country
skier, and loved anything that
involved the outdoors.
He leaves behind his lov-
ing spouse, Karen Greer; his
parents, Mary and Eugene;
his sister, Marian and her
husband, Scott; sisters-in-law,
Joyce, Janice, and Elizabeth
Greer and Christine Collymore,
and a number of nieces and
nephews.
A memorial gathering will
be scheduled at a later date.
Donations in Ed’s honor can
be made to a charity of your
choice.
STORRS
Michael Goodale, passed
away September 20, 2016.
Michael was born November
20, 1992 in Rockville, CT. He
spent many years in Florida
before returning to Storrs,
CT, where he attended and
graduated E.O.Smith in 2011.
Michael had a great love for
animals and a passion for
cooking and music.
Survived by his mother,
Terri Jo Myers, her husband,
Danny, father, Willis Goodale
of Enfield, CT, maternal
grandmother, Kristy Emery of
Storrs, CT, paternal grandpar-
ents, Michael and Bernadette
Medina of Bandera , TX and
his sister, Melinda, husband,
Alex and nephew, Wyatt, all
of Colorado. Michael will be
greatly missed. His special
friend, Annalyse Rosado of
Groton, CT, as well as aunts,
uncles and cousins mourn his
passing.
Although a private memo-
rial service will be held, the
family extends an invitation
for friends to join them in a
gathering on Sunday Sep. 25
at 1 p.m. To 6 p.m. at the
home of the maternal grand-
mother.
In lieu of flowers, please
make any donations to, Our
Companions Animal Rescue
at P.O. box 956 Manchester
CT, 06045.
Michael Goodale
News in brief
Suspect sought in Canterbury bank heist
CANTERBURY — State police are seeking the public’s help in iden-
tifying the suspect in a bank robbery at a Savings Institute on Route 14
in Canterbury Friday morning.
According to state police, the robbery happened at approximately
9:10 a.m.
Upon arriving on scene and investigating, troopers from Troop D in
Danielson determined that a lone suspect entered the bank, implied he
had a weapon and left with an undisclosed amount of cash, troopers
said.
Troopers said the suspect left on foot traveling west on Route 14.
According to state police, the suspect may have fled the area in a
dark SUV.
State police described the suspect as a white male, approximately 5
feet, 7 inches tall, in his late 40s to early 50s.
They said he had a light-brown beard and was wearing aYankee base-
ball hat, blue jeans, maroon-hooded sweatshirt and dark work boots.
The Eastern District Major Crime Squad responded to the scene and
took over the investigation.
Those with information about this incident or the suspect should con-
tact detectives at (860) 779-4900 or text “TIP711” with information to
274637. All calls/texts will be kept confidential. An image of the alleged
robber is visible on the Connecticut State Police’s Facebook page.
Fund set up to help pilfered Lebanon farmer
LEBANON — A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help a long-
time local farmer who has been using the honor system to sell some of
her produce for several decades and had nearly 200 pumpkins out for
sale gone earlier this week.
Louise “Teddy” Randall, 88, who owns Our Acres Farm on Exeter
Road, said she hopes whoever took the pumpkins from the front lawn
either returns them or makes a fair donation to the farm, which is
located about a half-mile from Lyman Memorial High School.
The Go Fund Me page was set up by a Lebanon resident to help
Randall recover some money.
So far there has been a tremendous outpouring of community support,
of which the family is extremely grateful.
As of Friday night, $1,077 had been raised by 47 donors.
Anyone who would like to make a donation may visit GoFundMe.com
and type “Help Elderly Farmer Get Funds Back” in the search bar.
believe in change, regardless of party lines. She also said “You’ll only
be heard if you shout.” Shaw’s comments at presidential candidate Jill
Stein’s visit in Willimantic Thursday were incorrectly attributed to
another person in a story appearing in Friday’s Chronicle.
(Continued from Page 1)
For the record
Elizabeth, who was 46 years old
at the time.
“When you hear ‘bring your
wife’you know something’s going
on,” Tucker said, adding when he
went to his appointment, he was
told by his doctor that he had
cancer and would need to go to
either Hartford Hospital or St.
Francis Hospital, both located in
Hartford, for treatment.
Medical experts say treatment
for prostate cancer can have pos-
sible side effects such as urinary
incontinence and erectile dys-
function.
Tucker said that, at the time,
he had two children, 8-year-old
Elizabeth Tucker, and 12-year-old
Steven Tucker Jr. Both children
are named after their parents.
Currently, the younger Elizabeth
Tucker is a 16-year-old senior
at E.O. Smith High School in
Storrs while Tucker Jr. is a junior
studying journalism at UConn
and working with the university’s
radio station, WHUS.
Tucker Jr. is also a member of
the Connecticut National Guard
involved with their public affairs
video production department.
Prostate cancer is unusual for
younger men,Tucker Sr. said, add-
ing for those who are diagnosed
with prostate cancer in their 70s,
a doctor may recommend a “wait-
and-see” approach to determine
whether the cancer will grow.
However, that was not an
approach doctors recommended
to Tucker Sr. as they told him
there was a danger his cancer
could spread to another organ.
He chose to have surgery done
at St. Francis but in a unique way,
by a robot called the da Vinci
robot for a robotic prostatectomy.
Da Vinci surgery is less invasive
than traditional surgery, as it uses
a magnified 3-D high-definition
vision system using tiny wristed
instruments that bend and rotate
much more precisely than the
human hand.
This allows surgery to take place
with only a few small incisions.
According to the da Vinci sur-
gery website, this robotic option
can be used for cardiac, colorec-
tal, general, gynecologic, head
and neck and thoracic surgery.
Tucker Sr. said he heard positive
feedback from others who chose
the robotic route as opposed to
traditional surgery.
In fact, he said he was able to
meet the robot before the surgery
took place.
Additionally, he said he had
“two surgeons, one at the table
and the robot controlled further
away by another surgeon.”
Those two surgeons included
Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, who was
the former chief of surgery for
St. Francis, and Dr. Carl Gjersten,
who performs urological surgery
at St. Francis.
He still sees Gjersten on an an-
nual basis.
“The team at St. Francis was
excellent, the nurses, nurses’aides
that took care of me,” Tucker Sr.
said, adding recovery time was
minimal.
He had surgery Dec. 19, 2008,
and would have been released that
day if not for a snowstorm forc-
ing him to stay at the hospital for
three days.
Before leaving, Tucker Sr. was
taught Kegel exercises to help
him gain bladder control back
since the prostate normally pro-
vides bladder control.
In fact, his quick recovery
allowed him to return to work
after Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Since he had his prostate
removed, he did not have to
undergo chemotherapy or radia-
tion treatments, which is recom-
mended by medical experts for
many cancer victims.
Tucker Sr. previously worked
as a special education teacher
for the state Department of
Developmental Services for
their birth-to-3 program in the
Willimantic office.
While he has since retired, he
spends much of his free time with
his family and friends and tak-
ing care of himself with fun and
healthy activities, such as an aqua
therapy class at the Mansfield
Community Center in Storrs.
“I always thought of myself as
a positive person, but this experi-
ence made me greatly appreciate
that every day is a gift,” Tucker
Sr. said.
While he has been volunteering
for the Relay for Life for Greater
Windham County in Mansfield
since 2009, he said he has also
helped the American Cancer
Society by writing press releases
regarding their Road to Recovery
program.
Regarding increasing resources
to help folks beat cancer Tucker
Sr. said, “there is good news
everyday, but there are still a lot
of people in big battles of can-
cer.”
He said his son participated in
the Tolland Relay for Life event
for a couple years, along with his
classmates at E.O. Smith. Tucker
Sr. participated in both races.
The message that Tucker Sr.
would like to give to those strug-
gling with cancer is to “hold onto
hope, utilize your support net-
work, accept all offers of help,
but also take time for yourself and
listen to your body. If it’s telling
you to rest, then rest.
“Don’t try to be a hero because
you already are one, so trust your
gut and choose the treatment that’s
best for you.”
He additionally advises men and
women to get properly screened
and listen to their doctor’s advice.
For more information about the
Windham Relay for Life, contact
event coordinator Julie Kessler at
julie.kessler@cancer.org or (203)
379-4881. The Relay for Life for
the Greater Windham Region
takes place Oct. 15 starting at
noon and folks who want to par-
ticipate, donate or get more infor-
mation can visit the American
Cancer Society website at www.
cancer.org.
(Continued from Page 1)
Man wages a high
tech war on cancer
was accurate,” the minutes of the
hearing by the SEEC read in part.
“The commission concludes that
the website posting … did not
violate statutes.”
Martin also alleged the text on
the website pertaining to the refer-
endum, which stated the question
was “whether the town should
initiate a study of dissolution”
was misleading.
The commission ruled the “com-
munication’s tone and tenor” did
not constitute a violation.
The sign placed on the green
read “PH Study — Referendum
Vote — 12 Noon-8 PM — June
23 — SVFD.”
Additionally,asecondpostonthe
town’s website, under “Upcoming
Events,” stated “Thursday, June
23 — Tri-Town Referendum for
Dissolution Study.”
Martin said the wording was
explanatory, which violated state
statute that says only the town
clerk and the town attorney can
post explanatory text about an
upcoming referendum.
The commission ruled the stat-
ute did not apply in this case.
Nelson said she attended the
SEEC hearing held Sept. 14 to
respond to the complaints against
her. “They were all dismissed,”
Nelson said.
In the conclusion, the SEEC
stated “the commission finds that
the communications that are sub-
ject to this complaint and investi-
gation neither contained prohib-
ited advocacy … nor procedural
violations.”
Syme was grateful Scotland
and its employees were cleared of
wrongdoing.
“There was nothing found in
violation,” Syme said.
Martin said her complaints were
about relatively minor issues, but
noted she had brought them to
light because of the principle of
the matter. “I want them to do
things right,” she said. “Hopefully,
it will make (staff) more careful in
the future.”
She said the SEEC’s ruling was
“disappointing,” but that since the
referendum vote last June, there
was also a silver lining.
Martin, who is opposed to dis-
solving the district, noted many
residents have taken a more active
stand in regards to Parish Hill’s
future, with more people attend-
ing the newly reorganized Parent
Teacher Organization meetings,
even some without children in
school, and more volunteers step-
ping up to take on building proj-
ects and reduce taxes.
Although the study on whether
the region should dissolve takes
at least a year to complete, Martin
said she will be reconciled to a
vote in favor of dissolution as
long as a true majority of resi-
dents approves it.
Per statute, the majority of vot-
ers from each town must approve
dissolution in order for it to hap-
pen. “My goal is to get a lot of
people to vote,” Martin said. “If
a lot come out, and dissolution
is what they vote for, I can live
with that. We’d have a real idea of
how people feel. I just don’t want
the decision made by just a few
residents.”
SEEC says ‘no’
to local complaint
(Continued from Page 1)
State police reported Michael Kulmaliski, 91, of Windham, who
was the passenger in Woods’ vehicle, who had a suspected serious
injury, was taken by Life Star to Hartford Hospital at the time of the
accident.
A Hartford Hospital official said Friday evening Kulmaliski remains
in critical condition.
State police reported that all three vehicles had heavy damage and the
roadway remained closed for several hours.
Improvements have been made to the roadway aimed at making the
roadway safer.
However, fire officials have said it’s still a very dangerous stretch of
road with many accidents.
Route 6 a crash hotspot
(Continued from Page 1)
be OK, and she’ll be out soon,”
Brierley said.
Brierley said members of the
CVFA, as well as Coventry
ambulance and Windham Hospit-
al Paramedics responded. He
described the road where the
accident happened as a “back
road, fairly quiet and a low speed
limit.”
CVFA EMS Capt. Ann Brierley
was not at the scene and could not
provide any more details.
While police said it does not
appear the operator of the sedan
was at fault, the case remains
under investigation.
Anyone who may have wit-
nessed the crash should contact
Officer Thomas Kuhns of the CPD
at (860) 742-7331.
Girl injured in bike crash
(Continued from Page 1)
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Family shows video of shooting
Reuters
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The family of a black man fatally shot by
police in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday released its own video of
the encounter that sparked three days of protests and they continued to
urge officials to release their own recordings of the slaying.
The moment that a black police officer shoots Keith Scott, a 43-year-
old father of seven, cannot be seen in the two-minute video recorded by
his wife, Rakeyia, who can be heard urging officers not to open fire.
“Don’t shoot him! He has no weapon,” she can be heard telling offi-
cers as they yell at Scott, “Drop the gun!”
About a half-dozen gunshots can be heard in the video released to
U.S. media, followed by her scream, “Did you shoot him? He better
not be dead.”
The video was filmed from a nearby curb as the drama unfolded on
the street in front of Rakeyia Scott.
Scott’s death was the latest in a long string of controversial killings of
black people by U.S. police that have stirred an intense debate on race
and justice and unleashed waves of protests and riots.
A United Nations working group Friday compared the killings to the
lynching of black people by white mobs in the 19th and 20th centu-
ries.
Scott’s death sparked two days of rioting in Charlotte, North
Carolina’s largest city, with protesters dismissing police officers’ claim
that Scott was holding a gun.