Tag Archives: Honorary

Ruth Hewston

Posted on

Ruth Hewston had a love for athletics her entire life and started teaching sports, including volleyball, to children at the town park and recreation summer programs while she was still in high school.

Ruth carried this love into her teaching career by earning a degree in Physical Education at Southern Connecticut State College, currently Southern Connecticut State University. Shortly after beginning her teaching career at Bristol Eastern High School, she would also begin her coaching career. Ruth coached for a decade where she made lifelong friendships and fostered the love of volleyball, teaching and coaching; including Coral Richardson a Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame (CWVBHF) 2023 inductee. Coral would continue to influence Ruth for many years after high school, sharing their passion for coaching and officiating. She began officiating girls’ volleyball in 1982 and continued for 40 years.

Along with her career in coaching and officiating girls’ volleyball, Ruth also played a major role in the development of the boys’ volleyball program from a club to an officially sanctioned Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) high school sport, and would become the leagues assignor for more than 40 years. Blessed to create lifelong friendships with Heather Kursman, Shirley Breuer, CWVBHF Class of 2016, Liz Alling, Brian Hurlock, and along with many others.

In addition, Ruth volunteered with the Special Olympics and Unified Sports. She was honored to be selected as an official for the World Special Olympics held in New Haven, Connecticut in 1995. Ruth was the recipient of the Michael’s Jewelers Unified Sports Cup Friends of Unified Sports, as well as the 2024 Boys’ Volleyball Official of the year.

Rosie Della Ventura

Posted on

Growing up, Rosie’s love for sports was perpetual. Instead of playing with dolls, she would beg her brother to play baseball with him and his friends. The love of sports has remained with Rosie to this day, as she is active in golf and officiating girls high school volleyball.

Organized volleyball was introduced at the early age of twelve; the year was 1964. While attending Irving A. Robbins Junior High School in Farmington, Connecticut, Rosie participated in all after school activities including volleyball intramurals. A pioneer in female athletics, she played on the Farmington High School varsity volleyball team coached by Jean Hunt, a future Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame inaugural member Class of 1998. The Indians

(the mascot was changed to River Hawks in later years) captured the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) State Championships from 1966 – 1970. This accomplishment is remarkable since Title IX would not be signed into law until June 23, 1972.

Rosie began officiating volleyball her senior year in high school. This led her to officiate both high school and collegiate level volleyball matches. Upon graduation from Farmington High, she attended Central Connecticut State College, currently Central Connecticut State University. Persevering through barriers that female athletes faced at that time, Rosie would play volleyball for 4 years coached by Brenda Reilly, a future Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame member Class of 2001. While pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education, Rosie’s love for the sport continued after graduation when she coached Westfield State College, Westfield, Massachusetts in 1974.

In the 1980’s, Rosie decided to change career paths from academia to manufacturing, where she became a Trainer at an electronic manufacturing company producing printed circuit boards. She continued working in manufacturing at various supervisory positions. Even in the manufacturing world, her passion for volleyball remained, participating in competitive co-ed leagues held at the Waterbury and Naugatuck YMCA’s over the years.

Retirement in 2014, did not slow Rosie down as she continued to officiate high school girls’ volleyball and ventured out to officiate weekend United States Volleyball Association USVBA tournaments. As a current member of the Connecticut Board of Volleyball Officials, Rosie is focused primarily on officiating high school girls’ volleyball matches throughout Connecticut. As an active member of her church’s Vestry, as well as an accomplished golfer, she continues to remain active today.

Rosie shares, “My participation playing competitive sports in high school and college was enhanced by having been coached by excellent and talented women. They were not only exceptional coaches, but also legends in their time. Jean Hunt and Brenda Reilly who are no longer with us today physically, paved the way for young women to excel in sports. I contribute on receiving this great honor to both Jean and Brenda for all the coaching and mentoring in the sports I truly loved, volleyball being one of them. It is an honor to join these two former Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Famers”.