Bob Glander Is Still Affecting Lives

To the Editor:

As we approach the fourth anniversary of the death of Bob Glander, we cannot help but think how pleased he would be to see the first ever Newtown High School hockey team take to the ice. In our minds, this is one more testament to the continuing effect of Bob Glander on the lives of Newtown’s children. Youth hockey was just one of the many sports that Bob was involved in, always motivated by and driven exclusively for the good of the kids.

What a wonderful gift we have been given, to be able to briefly take our minds off world events and lose ourselves in such an exciting, fast paced sport! Whether as participants or spectators, we will all benefit because of the tireless efforts of so many people, who, like Bob Glander, put children first. Mark Koratash, Chris Hoeffel, Gerry Kass, Jouk Mallen, Joanne and Jim Giesen, Cindy and Steve LaPorta, and of course Ginger Glander, will have given us more opportunities to gather with friends and family and cheer for “our kids.”

For those of us who have often bemoaned our children’s seemingly endless participation in multiple sports, we have recently become more acutely aware of just how precious those moments are. We are so thankful to all those caring people who have, like Bob Glander, given their time and energy over the years to the children of Newtown. For us it is one more thing that makes Newtown special…Go Nighthawks!

Sincerely,

Bob and Mary Beth Collier

8 Smoke Rise Ridge, Newtown                                    October 16, 2001