Pulkkinen becomes member of Saint Joseph’s College Athletics Hall of Fame

By Matt Pascarella

Both Windham varsity boys’ basketball coach Chad Pulkkinen’s basketball teams have put up impressive numbers in the past couple years winning multiple state championships. He was Coach of the Year in 2024 and in March achieved 100 career wins. Pulkkinen’s latest honor came when he was inducted into the Saint Joesph’s College Athletics Hall of Fame at Saint Joseph’s College on Friday, Oct. 17.

Windham High varsity boys' basketball coach Chad
Pulkkinen, left, was greeted during his induction into the
Saint Joseph's College Athletics Hall of Fame by SJC
Athletics Hall of Fame member John Wassenbergh 
during ceremonies held at Saint Joseph College on
Friday, Oct. 17. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA   

“I never even thought it possible – it’s hard to be a hall of famer here, it’s a storied basketball program. It’s an honor to be a part of that Hall of Fame class,” said Pulkkinen. “It’s definitely something that my family can be proud of especially my parents and my brother and sister who were my biggest support growing up. I think sharing (this) with my family, my friends and teammates, that’s the thing that makes me the happiest.”

Each inductee was interviewed by someone who had had an impact on their time at Saint Joseph’s College. 1996 graduate and 2007 Saint Joseph’s College Hall of Famer John Wassenbergh interviewed him.

When Pulkkinen was around 10-years old, he would watch the men’s basketball games at Saint Joesph’s College and quickly found a friend in Wassenbergh. That friendship has lasted over 30 years. Wassenbergh coached him during the summer and watched him develop as a player. Pulkkinen looks up to Wassenbergh, but Wassenbergh said he also looks up to Pulkkinen.

“There are moments in your life that you just don’t forget; this’ll be one of them,” said Wassenbergh, in reference to the ceremony. I’ve known him since he was 10 years old. Chad is the epitome of hard work, perseverance, dedication, doing it the right way. He overcame two surgeries in his college career. He gives it his all every single time. He kept fighting (when injured), which is a testament to his character. I see his son today and it brings me back to the spitting image of a kid running around our gym when I was playing here. He came to every single game; I would throw him the ball during the layup lines and there was a great connection.”

In his freshman year at Saint Joseph’s College, Pulkkinen tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Less than a year later, he tore his ACL again in what he described as “extremely dark moments” for his first two years playing college ball. Being injured was a life lesson for him. It took away everything he loved. He said he thought it was the best thing for him because he looked at the game differently; he appreciated it differently, especially after the second injury.

There were doubts from people that maybe it was time for him to stop playing, but this was motivation for him to fight harder and come back stronger than before. He loved playing for Saint Joseph’s College, and after returning had his strongest season in his graduate year.

He watched players like Wassenbergh and Carl Howell go overseas and thought maybe that could be him someday. Pulkkinen started a dream through them. After college, with his BS in business, he went to play for the Northampton Neptunes in the European Basketball League.

Almost all of Pulkkinen’s coaching style can be attributed to Saint Joesph’s College and the best basketball coach in Maine, Rick Simonds. He got a kickstart his freshman and sophomore years when he was injured. Having Simonds his freshman year and Rob Sanicola his sophomore through graduate years really set him up with the Monk standards and traditions that he and his coaches work to pass on to Windham teams.

“I want Windham alumni to be proud and hopefully my experiences including failures and successes can help my current players,” said Pulkkinen.

Former Saint Joseph’s College men’s basketball coach Rob Sanicola said one word defines ever player over the course of their career; for Pulkkinen, that word is perseverance. Not just in his strong stats, but in the unseen battles and long rehabs. He kept pushing, rising and believing. He didn’t just play through adversity; he became the definition of how to overcome it. During his time as a Monk, he was a fighter, a teammate, and the heart of St. Joesph’s College basketball. Sanicola said this was a well-deserved honor and more than that, he’s proud of their friendship to this day.

“As coaches you’re constantly asking your players to come back as better versions of themselves,” said Windham varsity assistant boys’ basketball coach Geoff Grigsby. “Coaches have to work and come back a better version as well. That may be Chad’s best quality, he’s never content with where things are; he works to be a better dad, husband, coach, business owner, better community member. His players respect him and want to do well for him and be like him. He worked even harder to come back from multiple knee surgeries and still have a great career and be the best version of himself in his last year here. There’s nobody that has better character than Chad.” <

Windham mourns loss of community icon Moody

By Matt Pascarella

Exactly one week after more than a thousand supporters gathered to dedicate basketball courts in Windham to him, longtime community champion Patrick “Pat” Moody passed away from pancreatic cancer on Sunday evening, Nov. 10.

Sherma Moody, left, and Pat Moody stand and cheer on their 
son AJ and the Windham boy's varsity basketball team during
the 2024 State Championship Game at Cross Insurance
Arena in Portland on March. Pat Moody died Sunday, Nov.
10 just a week after Windham's public basketball courts were
dedicated in his honor. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA   

Immediately upon hearing the news about Moody’s death, a flood of support, condolences and stories poured in. Many residents have shared the positive affect that Moody had on their lives and the lives of the many children he coached.

“Pat and I first met in 1993,” said Windham High School varsity assistant basketball coach Geoff Grigsby. “I had just moved back to Maine and was playing in the first basketball game of the season against Windham. Pat was the big shot point guard on his team, and I was for my team. We started out as rivals, and it was such a big rivalry that he was actually my “pet peeve” in my senior picture in the yearbook. I ended up going to Windham’s prom with a friend of Pat’s and she introduced me to him for the first time off the court, and he was just the friendliest guy, so I couldn’t hate him anymore. We’ve been friends ever since. When I moved to Raymond and became part of the Windham community 17 years ago, he started recruiting me for Windham Youth Basketball and other coaching roles. He pushed for me to join the Windham High coaching staff, and more than anything we’ve just been friends forever.”

Windham resident Kristin Osgood Drottar said this is a tremendous loss to Windham and Moody made an impact on everyone who knew him. During the basketball courts’ dedication, many people got shirts that asked, “What Would Pat Do?” and Drottar said she has been thinking a lot about this. She thinks Pat would hold the door for a stranger, he would smile at someone, even if he wasn’t in the mood, he’d take silly pictures with his kids and never miss an opportunity to tell the love of his life that she was his everything.

“He would want everyone to know they mattered; he’d be kind. In a divided and busy world, we should ask ourselves what Pat would do and ... do that,” she said.

Others expressed gratitude for having such a positive person in their lives.

“I am forever grateful to know you and be one of the countless people Pat Moody had an incredibly positive, profound and uplifting relationship with,” said New Gloucester resident Jordan Scanlon. “From a young-age hooper ... to a young adult faced with a mountain of fears and challenges, Moody never wavered in support or willingness to help, even if it was just a text to come hoop – it meant a lot to me. Moody’s God-given ability to make everyone he’d encounter feel appreciated, seen and valued is unmatched. I will never stop looking up to him as a hooper, a positive community leader, or most importantly a father. You’re truly one of the greatest examples of humanity I have ever known."

There are people with so many good things to say about Moody, and it could fill numerous articles.

“He has such a strong connection and bond with my children and so many children in this town, his infectious smile will be deeply missed,” said Windham resident Maureen Flaherty Janvrin. “I am so happy he was able to see Windham bring home the first basketball state championship, the Celtics win the NBA finals and have an outpouring of dedication courts, and he could be a part of all of that joy; he was the epitome of community.”

Around a year ago Windham resident Shane Bryant was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), a non-curable but manageable blood cancer. Bryant only shared this with family and a few very close friends. One of those close friends let Pat know because of his own cancer diagnosis. Pat had rung the bell on cancer, which was amazing. Pat immediately reached out to offer his support and to let Bryant know he was there anytime he wanted to talk. Moody told Bryant he needed a pair of “lucky sneakers.” Moody said the sneakers he purchased brought him tons of luck and Pat sent Bryant’s daughter, Nola, a gift card to Footlocker so she could buy him the lucky sneakers.

While this might seem like a small act of kindness, it meant so much more to Bryant and his family.

Windham resident and town councilor Jarrod Maxfield and Moody worked together on the community center committee. Maxfield says he remembers Moody being passionate and not one to shy away when obstacles arose. It meant a lot for Maxfield to get to know him, because Moody was always positive and set a great example to follow.

Ashley Fearon of Windham met Pat through her son.

“I have known Pat Moody since my son was in preschool, which he is now a senior in high school,” said Windham resident Fearon. “Braycen and AJ went to kindergarten together and have played sports their whole lives. I met Pat because I was waitressing at Pat’s Pizza, and he used to come in with Hayleigh and AJ. Pat has always been such a friendly, optimistic person. He never judged and never excluded anyone. He taught my son how to play basketball and how to drive. He was definitely always the dad with a carload of kids for every adventure. The best are the pictures; Pat was always doing group selfies or sending funny shots. There wasn’t anything that Pat wouldn’t have done for somebody else. From day one I think Pat became family and that’s just how he made you feel being around him.”

The Windham community’s thoughts and prayers are with the entire Moody family and are deeply saddened by the loss of Pat. <

Maine's 'Assistant Principal of the Year' hails from Windham High School

Windham High School Assistant Principal Phil Rossetti
takes a moment in his office to answer phone calls from
the community and emails from staff and students after
learning he has been honored as the 2022 'Maine Secondary
High School Vice Principal of the Year.'
PHOTO BY LORRAINE GLOWCZAK 

By Lorraine Glowczak

The students and staff at Windham High School perked with curiosity after the usual daily announcements were completed on Monday, Nov. 29. Silence rang through the halls as an unexpected message was spoken over the intercom by RSU14 Superintendent Chris Howell explaining that the Executive Director of the Maine Principals Association (MPA), Holly Blair was in the building and had good news to share. 

Blair followed Howell with the resulting statement:

“MPA recognizes outstanding high school assistant principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for their students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession,” Blair said. “After much consideration, MPA has determined that Mr. Rossetti meets those standards and has decided to name him the Secondary School Assistant Principal of 2022.”

Becoming the Assistant Principal of the Year of Maine High Schools can be a long and winding road of joy, hard work, and luck that included encouraging mentors and loving family members who guide you along the way.

“I was lucky to have good teachers and people who cared about education during my high school years,” Rossetti said. “Plus, I had very supportive parents who encouraged me to get an advanced education.”

Rossetti, who lived most of his childhood life in Casco, explained that both of his parents came from a long line of hardworking people, and although his mother and father’s traditional education ended early, they believed in the power of conventional study and held grand hopes of high achievement for their son.

“They believed that the only way to my own success was through education and encouraged me to go to college,” Rossetti said. “They told me they wanted me to have the opportunities that they didn’t have.”

In addition to his parents’ encouragement, Rossetti had a very engaging history teacher at Lakes Region High School where Rossetti’s formative years were created.

“It was the way my history teacher taught classes that made the lessons enjoyable,” Rossetti said. “Plus, he was one of those teachers who really cared about you. He was very encouraging to the students and wanted his students to succeed. This inspired me to follow in his footsteps. I remember thinking to myself one day, ‘I want to be a teacher just like him.’”.

There was also another favorite activity that held Rossetti’s attention and that was playing sports; specifically, football and baseball. As a result, he wanted to be a coach too.

Carrying out his parents’ wish of college and thinking that sports medicine with a focus on sports journalism might be an option to consider, he began taking classes in those fields. But it didn’t take long before he realized that becoming a history teacher was more in alignment with his passions.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire, Rossetti accepted a position as a Social Studies Teacher at WHS from 1996 to 2015. During that time, he filled in as Assistant Principal periodically during extended and medical leaves while obtaining a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. Rossetti was at the time and remains the WHS Assistant Football Coach.

In July 2015 he was asked to be the full-time assistant principal at South Portland High School and remained there until a full-time assistant principal position opened up at WHS. He applied and was offered the position in August 2016.

Rossetti’s role as assistant principal has made many impacts on the community. Captain William Andrew of the Windham Police Department works closely with Rossetti as a leadership team member for Be The Influence Coalition.

"Phil’s dedication, commitment, and most of all his heart for the betterment of education, the staff, and most importantly the students is what makes this a most deserved award,” Captain Andrew said.

His coworkers enjoy the opportunity to work with Rossetti including WHS Principal Ryan Caron who has known Rossetti for over twenty years, eight of those years were teaching together at WHS in the social studies department. Rossetti was also one of Caron’s assistant principals at South Portland High School, and now, they work together on the administrative team at WHS and have done so for the last four years.

“The opportunity to work with Phil again played a big part in my decision to return to Windham,” Caron said. “Phil puts the needs of our students and staff first in all things that he does. He takes the time to really get to know both students and staff, which allows him to provide support and guidance that is appropriate for the individual while building lasting relationships. When you work with Phil you know that he cares about you and wants the best for you. Students and staff respect his honesty and integrity and believe that he has their best interests at heart. I am extremely lucky that he works just down the hall from me.”

WHS teachers also believe that Rossetti being named Assistant Principal of the Year is a well-deserved honor that represents his commitment to staff and students. Adrianne Shetenhelm, lead teacher of WHS's alternative education program, APEX, said that the award doesn't surprise her.

“He cares about the whole student experience,” Shetenhelm said. “I work with Phil almost daily and he is always focused on what is right for a student's best interest, considering their academic goals, social-emotional needs, and future hopes. He is an integral part of our admin team and school community.”

Superintendent Howell agrees with Shetenhelm and added that Rossetti does a great job mastering the skills and expectations of a vice principal.

“I have known and worked with Phil for close to 20 years,” Howell said. “He is a highly skilled administrator who has a huge heart for meeting the needs of students. Phil has always been able to focus on the big picture as he works to support the students at WHS. I cannot think of a more deserving person for this honor.”

 For those who may wish to follow in Rossetti’s footstep, the newly named vice principal of the year offers the following advice:  

“There are two things that one must have in terms of character,” Rossetti said. “You have to really enjoy working alongside other people [students and staff] and you have to be willing to work long, hard hours. There are many challenging days but I love working with the kids. They not only make it a fun job but they help me grow in terms of my journey as an educator – not only on a professional level but personally as well.”

Rossetti also said that making a positive change in a student’s life is what motivates him to be the best he can be. “We work to find restorative practices and conversations to turn negative experiences and actions into something positive that create long-term change. People make mistakes and it's what you do with those mistakes that matters. These kids are really good kids. They say funny things and make me laugh. It is for these reasons and more that this has been the most exciting and rewarding job I’ve ever had.”

Rossetti lives in Raymond with his wife Sara and daughter Maria. When he is not busy at work, Rossetti enjoys golfing and vacationing with his family. <