Never before have two individuals, from two different backgrounds, shared so intensely the same goal.\u00a0 One came from the coal mines of West Virginia, the other hailed from the outside city of Turners Falls, Massachusetts.\u00a0 One had a zest for challenges that persuaded the members of the Recreation Commission to hire him while the latter sized up activities for juveniles.\u00a0 For former recreation director and 1988 Branford Sports Hall of Famer Joseph Trapasso and tonight\u2019s inductee Harry Brazeau, recreation became more than just a job \u2013 it became a way of life.\u00a0 Born in Turner Falls, Massachusetts on February 8, 1897, Brazeau was the son of Charles and Victoria Brazeau.\u00a0 He graduated from Turners Falls High School in 1918 and St. Mary\u2019s College in Kansas.\u00a0 Long before he came to Branford, Brazeau was a headline in the sports pages of the Turner\u2019s Falls paper.\u00a0 He excelled in all sports, including basketball, baseball, and football.\u00a0 Harry was well known for his game winning basket at the buzzer as he was knocked to the gymnasium floor to win a game while playing for Turners Falls in Hibernian Hall.<\/p>\n
He joined the Navy in World War I before he turned to community services and recreation.\u00a0 Ironically, Brazeau was hired by Turners Falls about the same time an individual by the name of Dave Kilgore was heading the Community Council in Branford.\u00a0 In some unexplained manner, Kilgore and Brazeau decided to change jobs and youth athletics and other activities began to shape up. Children who never had the opportunity to participate in activities now had that chance.\u00a0 Brazeau organized sports programs for kids from first to eight grade and set up the first leagues in basketball and baseball involving kids from grammar schools such as Center School, Harbor Street, Laurel Street, Stony Creek, and Short Beach schools.\u00a0 Baseball was played at Hammer Field.\u00a0 With the combination of Brazeau and 1988 Branford Sports Hall of Fame inductee John Knecht, Jr. during the late 1920\u2019s sports in the town put Branford on a new high level in the Connecticut sports world.\u00a0 Harry was popular with the businessmen in town as well.\u00a0 His annual aquatic meets were testimonials of the affection he held for the citizens and were financially secured by business contributions.\u00a0 Brazeau also organized field day events for the town\u2019s youth.\u00a0 Sadly, Brazeau, his wife, Priscilla, and their two daughters moved to Philadelphia where he worked as the recreational director of the Smith Memorial Playground in Philadelphia.\u00a0 Brazeau passed away at the age of 61 on January 8, 1959.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was an outstanding recreation director, the best we ever had.\u00a0 Harry was well-loved and well-respected.\u00a0 He was admired not only by the kids but by the adults.\u00a0 Harry was extremely popular with the townspeople.\u00a0 A tremendous, warm, devoted individual.\u00a0 This award is the greatest thing that could have happened in his life.\u00a0 He loved Branford.\u00a0 This is the ultimate honor for Harry Brazeau,\u201d said Joe Trapasso.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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