Marblehead skiers show skill, class

Girls, boys each finish second at state finals

BY JOE MCCONNELL

The Marblehead High boys and girls ski teams concluded another extraordinary season under the direction of head coach John Thompson, who just completed his 10th season at the helm. John’s wife, Sarah, was one of his assistants, along with Ned Clark, Will Thompson and Kyle Heffrin.

The girls team secured the top spot in the Mass. Bay Ski League East and ended up second to Mohawk Trail (5:13.54) in the state finals, which took place at Berkshire East on March 1. They finished with a time of 5:16.61.

The boys were also second against their state peers and were third in the league. But they were No. 1 in the sportsmanship department after discovering a timing error that originally saw them awarded the state title. St. John’s Prep of Danvers (5:02.91 1) was eventually crowned champion after the error was cleared up. The Magicians (5:13.71) took second.

Before this year’s state finals, the Marblehead boys program had won the most state titles in a row from 2017 to 2020 to climb into a third-place tie with St. John’s for the most overall championships all-time. But now the Eagles have leapfrogged over them, and the Danvers school is tied with Lincoln-Sudbury with five. Mohawk Trail leads the field with six.

“The boys were of course disappointed when they had to hand the first-place trophy back to St. John’s Prep, but I was proud of the way they handled the entire situation,” Thompson said.

Individually among the girls, Cate Honos was the top skier throughout the regular season in the entire league. Courtney Hoguet finished third, followed by Sydney Hamilton fifth, Grace Arnold 12th, Lexi Fischelli 16th and Ginger Guy 21st.

In the state finals, Honos was first in the giant slalom and second in the slalom. Hoguet was seventh in the slalom run.

On the boys side, Baxter Jennings owned the top spot in the league throughout the regular season. Tyler Dana was 15th, followed by Thomas Svencer 17th. Jennings carried over his mastery on the slopes with a first-place finish in the slalom. He was second in the giant slalom.

The top 17 girls teams in the state this year were as follows: Mohawk Trail Regional (5:13.54), Marblehead (5:16.61), LincolnSudbury (5:28.31), Wayland

(5:32.22), Masconomet (5:33.80), Newburyport (5:36.32), Newton South (5:36.99), Wachusett Regional (5:39.21), Weston (5:43.34), Lexington (5:43.93), Hopkinton 5:48.17), DoverSherborn (5:49.94), Monument Mountain Regional (5:50.18),

North Shore Wings win championship Track

Marblehead Youth Hockey players Olivia Siden, left, and Emma Johnson hold the championship plaque after they helped the U-12 North Shore Wings capture the Massachusetts State Hockey Championship in the U-12 Tier-IIS Division earlier this month, along with three of their Hollyhock teammates.

COURTESY PHOTO

The 2022-23 North Shore Wings are, from left, top row, coach Maddy Donlan, Parker Booth (Marblehead), Gwyneth Barry (Newburyport), Lily Cook (Salem), Katelin Aloi (Manchester), Addie Co-Peeps (Marblehead), Grace Robinson (Swampscott) and coach Adam Corbeil (Marblehead). Middle row, Chloe Smith (Newburyport), Katherine Demady (Swampscott), Molly Girotti (Wakefield), Khloe Litwin (Swampscott), Viola Fazio (Wenham) and Sophia Downing (Peabody). Front row, far left below banner, Cassie Aceto (Wenham); holding banner on the left, Olivia Siden (Marblehead), Emma Johnson (Marblehead), Madi Reno (Marblehead) and Kendall Powers (Salisbury).

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Needham (6:02.96), Wellesley (6:12.69), Norwell (6:15.48) and Hampshire Regional (6:43.90).

The top 15 boys teams statewide this year were as follows: St. John’s Prep (5:02.91), Marblehead (5:13.71), Dover-Sherborn (5:15.48), to carry a peak performance for more than two weeks. Ryan has been trying to stretch his peak since the Division 3 state championship meet four weeks ago. He will now take some very well-deserved time off this week before starting the spring season in practice on March 20.”

In the 4x200 relay, Cate Trautman, Claire Davis, Devin Whalen and Le’Daisha Williams (1:46.70, personal best) finished 25th out of 80-plus teams in the Rising Stars group of national qualifiers.

“It was an exciting race that had a collision on the third leg as the two teams immediately behind Devin tangled legs and fell very hard,” said coach Nolan Raimo. “At the beginning of the season, I hoped they could just break the school record of 1:48.50, but in the end they smashed it by almost two seconds, while competing on the biggest stage.”

Raimo continued, “For Devin, Claire and Cate, it puts a ribbon on a fantastic indoor track career,” adding that he is confident that Williams will be back at the nationals next year in the same event.

Keira Sweetnam competed in the high jump in which only 50 nationwide jumpers took part.

“The opening height of 5-3 1/4 was very close to Keira’s personal best of 5-4,” Raimo explained. “She, along with about half the field, did not clear the opening height. It was a difficult environment to jump with all the theatrics going on like mini-fireworks before every championship race and lights dimming among other things.”

Winchester (5:17.07), Mohawk Trail Regional (5:19.04), Hingham (5:23.72), St. John’s (5:24.07), Ashland (5:24.46), Wellesley (5:29.88), Brookline (5:31.31), Monument Mountain Regional (5:35.66), Bromfield (5:36.98), Acton-Boxborough (5:39.60), Hampshire Regional (5:41.21) and Westborough (5:49.53).

Raimo added, “There is a relatively short window for peak performance, often only two or three weeks depending on the athlete, and we are about five weeks out from the NEC championship meet, so the conditions were not ideal, but it was still a great milestone to cap off an incredible season for Keira.”

The Marblehead athletes also were able to bear witness to quite a few national records falling during the event, including in the boys 60-meter, boys 5K and the girls 200-meter.

Robin Adair Ronchi, 57

It is with deep sorrow and love that we announce the passing of Robin Adair Ronchi of Marblehead on March 17, 2023, at the age of 57. Robin passed away peacefully, and was supported by a wealth of loving friends and family members during her prolonged illness.

Robin was a proud and devoted mother to her two daughters, Maria and Emilia Ronchi, and a loving wife to Emil, who preceded her in death.

Robin was born on Nov. 15, 1965, in Albany, New York, to Robert and Patricia Adair. She was raised in Castleton-onHudson, where she attended high school and spent many

Siegel

From fabrication of several town signs to his military service in the Navy and his current and past various town commissions and boards.

“You are a pillar of the community,” Grader told Siegel in front of a seated crowd. “It’s entirely appropriate and fitting that we set aside this day to honor and celebrate Carl.”

Rotary District

Governor Alexander Falk awarded Siegel with a pair of Avenues of Service Awards, one for service to the Marblehead summers at her favorite place on earth — her grandparents’ farm in East Meredith, New York. This is where she met Emil.

Robin loved teaching and innovative pedagogy for students, so she pursued her bachelor’s of education at the University of Connecticut and her master’s in education at SUNY Geneseo. Robin and Emil then settled in Rochester, New York, where she taught elementary school.

Robin and Emil next founded a berry farm in Sydney, New York, where they poured their hearts and entrepreneurial spirit into sustainably growing raspberries and strawberries. Here they began their life as a family, working to build Cradle Valley Farm from the ground up while raising two small children.

The family eventually moved to Marblehead, where both Robin and Emil pursued new endeavors. Robin earned her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at Lesley University and commenced a gratifying career in social work at Lynn Community Health Center. She went on to establish her own private practice as a licensed mental health counselor, where she continued to meaningfully connect with both colleagues and clients.

Robin lived a life strongly influenced by spirituality, wellness, diversity, compassion and love. Robin was a talented gardener and maintained bountiful vegetables and beautiful flowers at her beloved family farm in upstate New York and at her charming home in historic Marblehead.

She taught yoga in Marblehead and led a meditation group at the Unitarian Universalist Church, and participated in dance, book club, the board of Me&Thee Coffeehouse, philosophy club, and many other organizations geared towards inner growth, community, music, global understanding and the earth’s sustainability. community and another for service to the Marblehead Rotary Club.

In addition to her daughters, Robin is survived by her parents, Robert Adair and Patricia Cinelli, as well as her brother, Michael Adair.

Robin thoroughly enjoyed life and shared kindness and compassion with everyone that she touched. She had a sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes that always lit up a room. Robin is, and always will be, missed greatly and remembered dearly by many.

A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m. at O’Donnell Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square, Salem. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Robin’s favored causes: The Food Project (thefoodproject. org/donate) or HAWC (hawcdv. org/donate-now).

“Our club has nominated you for two of them because of all the outstanding work you’ve done for our club and for the community all these years,” said Falk as he held up two certificates.

Congressman Seth Moulton was on hand to present a certificate of “special Congressional recognition to Carl Siegel in recognition of your outstanding and invaluable service to the community.”

“What’s remarkable about this, from my perspective, is we do a lot in Congress to honor

“We’ve been very, very fortunate. We have always been really busy,” said Mike Quillen. “We have our slow times like most any small business, but all in all, we’ve been steady as long as I can remember.”

The 68-year-old was a teenager when he began working part-time at the garage. Greg Quillen, who is 64, followed after high school. The duo grew up playing in Marblehead’s Old and Historic District streets.

“I love this neighborhood. I love the neighbors. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to work and grow up,” Greg Quillen said, as his brother nodded in agreement. “That’s what I’m gonna miss the most.”

The pair takes pride in their family’s legacy, and they attribute Bartlett Garage’s longevity to a strong work ethic, going the extra mile and cultivating a loyal customer base.

“We actually had a lady who was 91 in here the other day,” Greg Quillen said. “She knew my grandfather, and my grandfather died in 1963.”

Granted, that particular woman, who has been a customer since the important people in our nation,” he said. “They are almost always dead.”

The comment prompted widespread laughter before Moulton handed the citation over and thanked Siegel for showcasing “such vibrant living.”

Many may know Siegel as the man who tallies votes on two huge chalkboards in the heart of Abbot Hall on election night. For more than 25 years, voters have elected Siegel to the Water and Sewer Commission. Before that, he was on the Recreation and Parks Commission.

“I retired at 55,” said Siegel, “so I have been retired longer than I worked.” He has made several hand-carved signs for town buildings, parks and schools. He joined the Rotary Club in 1992 and has served 27 years as the group’s treasurer.

“I enjoy doing it,” Siegel told the Current, surrounded by birthday cards and gifts.

Siegel’s daughter, Suzanne Siegel, said her dad moved to Marblehead in the 1960s on a sixmonth assignment with General Electric.

“He ended up staying for 63 years,” she said. “He just loves the town.”

Siegel sat with friends and family at a circular table in a Boston Yacht Club room filled with fellow volunteers and community members with whom he has worked.

“I’m just so proud of my dad,” Suzanne Siegel said. “Proud to be his daughter, and feel blessed that he has seen 90 years of life.”

Marblehead Rotary Club President Nancy Gwin ended the presentation with the announcement that “we’ve decided to make a $1,000 donation to the Harriet Siegel Memorial Scholarship Fund that you set up in your wife’s name.”

The celebration ended with everyone singing “Happy Birthday” and pieces of cake being passed around the room.

1960s, may be the only one who can make that claim, he added.

Residents may not fully realize how much sacrifice running a small business entails, Mike Quillen said.

“Most people work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” he said. “But for us, that’s a foreign concept.”

In their remaining days on Stacey Street, the brothers have been receiving gift cards and phone calls from customers wishing them well. To keep themselves occupied in retirement, both have part-time jobs lined up that do not involve vehicles.

“It’s just time to close because it’s our bodies telling us,” Mike Quillen said, who will be having surgery a week after he retires.

Greg Quillen agreed.

“That’s the hard part of this line of work,” he said. “It’s more physical than mental.”