In Memory of
Kyle Chapman
It had been a source of chuckles for many years: SNE Ironworker Foreman Kyle Chapman told his colleagues again and again that he wanted none other than CEO Pete Vigue to do the honors when it came time for him to be presented with a 25 year anniversary watch. Kyle also would joke that as soon as he got the watch, he would retire. On Friday, June 21st, Pete Vigue, Vice Presidents Mac Cianchette and Jeffrey Towle, and around 70 of Kyle’s teammates gathered at the Groton New London Airport where Kyle was honored with a 25 year watch presented by Pete. While Pete prepared to make the presentation, Kyle quickly stood up to accept the watch, and Pete said with a smile, “Kyle, you’ve got to sit down because I’ve got to talk first.” Pete went on to talk about Kyle’s career as a “silent professional,” and a proud Marine. He discussed how Kyle started as a tool crib attendant who learned welding on his own time (usually lunch time) from Jim Rusconi in order to advance within the company. “He always took the time to help others whether on or off the job,” said Pete. He spoke about Kyle’s family being present and that the rest of his family was there as well (referring to the Cianbro team members standing nearby). “There is only one word to describe this and that word is‘love.’” Kyle’s wife, Christina, chimed in and spoke of how Kyle came to be a Cianbro
employee. “We were driving over the Niantic River Bridge and he saw all the pieces of equipment with the Cianbro name on them. Kyle said that was a company that he would like to work for.” He called many times to get a job and his persistence paid off when he was finally hired in May 1989. After receiving his watch, Kyle achieved another of his dreams. He always had wanted to fly in a helicopter. Despite his weakened condition, he was able to climb aboard a waiting chopper for a flight over the Mystic River Bridge, where he had spent most of his professional time during the past six months. Only strong enough to withstand 15 minutes of flight time, Kyle returned to the airport after his aerial tour of Mystic and was taken home by his family. Sadly, Kyle passed away less than 24 hours later, in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 22nd. He was 52 years old. NNE General Foreman Charlie Nutter remembers, “I first met Kyle back in the early Nineties, while we were working the Saugatuck Railroad Bridge.
In Memory of
We were talking and I asked him where he was from. I assumed that with that southern accent, he was going to say that he came from one of the Gulf States. Instead, he came out with, ‘I’m from Maine.’ That took me off guard. He then went on to explain that he grew up in a military family, and was born in Limestone, Maine. I knew then that I was going to like Kyle for his good humor and his sense of responsibility. When given a task to do, Kyle always gave his all to it. With Kyle being an SNE employee and myself an NNE employee, our paths would cross intermittently through the years. During the next 20 odd years, we got to work on seven different projects together. Kyle was always the same, rock solid, humorous, friendly, very skilled craftsman that I had befriended years ago. Our most recent opportunity to work together was during the last two seasonal rehabilitation phases at Mystic River Bridge. Kyle stepped out of his normal trades to help us millwrights. He took that challenge without breaking stride and again showed his dedication and professionalism. Kyle became leader, mentor and a true friend to everyone on site. I will deeply miss him.” From Cianbro Ironworker Foreman Tod Parisek: “KC, co-worker, friend, brother. From the day I met Kyle, I immediately knew he was a one-of-a-kind person. His character said it all. KC, a genuine human being.”
Peter Lagasse
Former Cianbro millwright and foreman Peter Lagasse of Dexter, Maine passed away after a long illness on March 21, 2013. He was 71 years old. Pete worked 17 years for the company, serving primarily in paper mills throughout the region including S.D. Warren in Westbrook, Maine in 1986; Groveton, New Hampshire in 1983; and Madison Paper in Madison, Maine from 1980-81. Peter’s mechanical expertise began with a stint in the U.S. Air Force in the early 1960s. His resume included a host of skills, including boiler installation and alignment, pipe fitting, instrumentation, rigging, hydroelectric work, procurement, and blue print reading. He worked at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in Connecticut as an engine mechanic before joining Cianbro. Peter spent lots of time fly fishing, fly tying, and building cedar-strip canoes when he was not on the job. He is survived by another longstanding former Cianbro team member, Peggy Lagasse, his wife. “Both Peter and Peggy cared deeply about Cianbro and about ensuring that they were making a contribution to the company’s success,” said Vice President Alan Burton. 40
C I A N B R O S P R I N G / S U M M E R C H AT T E R