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Date: 4/24/2015
CHICOPEE – A Chicopee hero will probably be honored by his name adorning the new middle school.
On April 16, the School Committee’s Facilities Subcommittee voted to recommend to the full committee that the new middle school should be named after Chicopee native Sgt. Kevin A. Dupont. Committee chair Susan Lopes said the full committee should vote to approve the designation in May.
Although Dupont received the most support in a solicitation of possible names for the new school, which is slated to open in the fall, there were other suggestions made.
The new middle school will take the place of the current Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle School and several residents suggested the name “Chicopee Veterans Memorial Middle School.”
Walter Kapinos wrote the School Committee in part, “Might I suggest that the new name of the school encompass all of the Chicopee veterans over the past 115 years. I think it would be more appropriate of the new name was Chicopee Veterans Memorial Middle School. This way all are remembered and no one is forgotten. That’s what it is all about, isn’t it?”
The late Chicopee High School math teacher Christine DoCarmo also received several nominations. Jennifer Dout, a former student, wrote, “I was extremely saddened to hear of Mrs. DoCarmo’s tragic passing in the fall of 2007. That day, Chicopee Public School lost one of their best teachers, alumni and an overall wonderful person. It is for these reasons that I am asking that you consider naming the new middle school in honor of Mrs. DoCarmo and the dedication she gave to the city of Chicopee and her students.”
Another suggestion was to name the school after Rev. Lucjan Krolikowski, a man whom Jennifer Spirito described in her nominating letter as “an author, an educator and survivor of atrocities and a rescuer and savior of children.”
Joshua Clark nominated former high school teacher and city historian Stephen Jendrysik. He wrote, “To name the school for Mr. Jendrysik would be an honor but it would serve as a reminder to city residents and former current and future students of the pride that one needs to have in its city. Hometown pride is so important and too often it is neglected to the detriment of history and beauty of what once was.”
The late Judge Robert Kumor Jr., a former mayor of Chicopee, was nominated by James Reilly who wrote, “Mr. Kumor would be a good role model for students to look up to.”
Born in Holyoke, Dupont graduated from Chicopee High School in 1975. He joined the Marines and served six years on active duty rising to the rank of first sergeants. He joined the Massachusetts Army National Guard in 1984. He was deployed twice overseas and was seriously wounded in 2009 when serving in Afghanistan. He passed that year from his injuries.
He was the recipient of the Bronze Star, The Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service medal, four Army Commendation medals, five Army Achievement medals, two Army Good Conduct medals and two Marine Corp Good Conduct medals.
His nomination was supported by a petition with 169 names.
His mother, Gwendolyn Dupont, told the subcommittee the scholarship program in her son’s name has given six scholarships to Chicopee high school students of $1,000 each in the past six years. This year the amount will be increased to $1,2000. Started with donations made in his name, the scholarship fund has grown to $75,000.
The City Council had approved the naming of the school in Dupont’s honor last year. The full School Committee will vote on the measure, and then it will be returned to the City Council. Most of the councilors attended the meeting.