Lodge to honor longtime Elk  

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Bruce LaCharity

NAUGATUCK — A longtime member of Naugatuck Elks Lodge 967 will be recognized for his work this weekend.

Bruce LaCharity, 65, who has been a member of the Elks Lodge for 35 years, will be honored as the lodge’s Elk of the Year during a celebration Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the lodge, 758 Rubber Ave. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the Elks Lodge.

“It’s an honor and a recognition of what I have done to help support the club over the more than 30 years I’ve been a member,” LaCharity said.

LaCharity, a retired electrician from Naugatuck, said before he became an Elk his friends kept trying to get to join the lodge. What won him over was when he found out that the Elks offered a league for setback, a card game LaCharity enjoys.

“I’ve been playing in the Monday night setback league for 35 years now,” LaCharity said. “They also have a Thursday night game for couples, which my wife and I play.”

Shortly after he joined the lodge, LaCharity began using his skills and knowledge to serve both the Elks and the community.

When the Elks wanted to build their outdoor pavilion, LaCharity was able to get the company he worked for to donate materials and he wired the pavilion. He also helped the lodge install windows in the basement for fire escapes.

In addition to his construction work, LaCharity has cooked breakfast at the lodge’s Breakfast with Santa event for 20 years and for veterans on Memorial Day for many years.

Naugatuck Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler John Farrell said LaCharity’s work during his time as an Elk has been a benefit to the lodge.

“Over the years, because of his ability and what he knows, he saved the lodge a lot of money,” Farrell said. “He is good Elk.”

Farrell said, without people like LaCharity, the lodge couldn’t continue to serve the community.

“Without people doing stuff for the lodge, it would not exist. So it means a real lot to have someone like him,” Farrell said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include comments from Naugatuck Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler John Farrell that were received after press time for the March 9 edition.