Seniors honor ‘favorite son’

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Curtiss Leilich pulls a raffle ticket with the help of his daughter, Maylee, during the Naugatuck Senior Center’s annual Christmas Social and Luncheon Dec. 4. Leilich, who has volunteered at the center for the past three years while serving as the Army recruiter in Greater Waterbury, was honored by the center before returning to active duty. –LUKE MARSHALL
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Curtiss Leilich pulls a raffle ticket with the help of his daughter, Maylee, during the Naugatuck Senior Center’s annual Christmas Social and Luncheon Dec. 4. Leilich, who has volunteered at the center for the past three years while serving as the Army recruiter in Greater Waterbury, was honored by the center before returning to active duty. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck Senior Center has said goodbye to one of its favorite sons.

Staff Sgt. Curtiss Leilich, 28, a native of Tennessee, has served as the Army recruiter in Greater Waterbury for the past three years. Over the time, he has done a lot more than recruit in Naugatuck. Leilich has volunteered at the senior center all three years.

“When he walked in the first time he was met with a round of applause. That applause has never stopped, right to his last day here,” Naugatuck Senior Center Director Harvey Frydman said. “He became our favorite son.”

Leilich, who has served 15 months in Iraq, has been ordered to return to active duty and will join a troop in Virginia.

“I’m getting stationed in Virginia. And after that, who knows what happens. All I know is the next step,” Leilich said.

Before he returned to active duty, the senior center made sure to give him a proper send-off.

Leilich was the guest of honor during the center’s annual Christmas Social and Luncheon Dec. 4.

“When he let us know in September that he was leaving in December the seniors were all brokenhearted,” Frydman said. “As we knew that this was coming, and this program was going to take place in early December, we wanted it to be more than just a Christmas party but a way to say we truly loved him,” Frydman said.

On Frydman’s request Mayor Robert Mezzo proclaimed Dec. 4, 2014 as Sgt. Curtis Leilich Day.

Leilich became involved at the senior center after receiving a call from Frydman.

“It seemed like something fun that was out of the ordinary to come over and try,” Leilich said.

Though it was Harvey who initially asked him to come, it was the seniors that kept him coming back.

“Whether it was meeting people who were just genuinely nicely or hearing stories from veterans from Vietnam or World War II,” Leilich said.

Frydman said Leilich and the other members of the recruiting office provide an invaluable service by volunteering — whether calling Bingo games, helping to plant a vegetable garden or moving tables.

“They’re on a tight time schedule, they’re working for the United States Army, and recruiting to take their place in the Army. They’re working with younger people. So to take time to work with older people I feel is a great honor,” Frydman said.

Frydman said Leilich also led an exercise class at the senior center that was acknowledged by the Connecticut Association of Senior Center Personnel in 2013 as a program that could be implemented around the country. The program went on to win the Connecticut Association of Senior Center Personnel Award of Excellence in senior center programming.

“It was through Sgt. Leilich who said, ‘I’d be glad to coordinate an exercise class.’ It was more than just an exercise class. It was a January and it was cold when the seniors came out not only to exercise but to share their military experience as well. Some were from World War II, but others were from Korea and Vietnam,” Frydman said.

Frydman said the seniors have really enjoyed having Leilich around the senior center.

“He really became a part of our family for the past three years so it has been very hard to say goodbye,” Frydman said.

Leilich said he’s going to miss serving at the senior center.

“I’ve met a lot of wonderful people. It’s rare to meet complete strangers and then end up having an emotional attachment with a lot of them. It’s definitely a good experience that I will cherish the rest of my life,” Leilich said.

Leilich said he had so many good memories at the senior center that it’s difficult to choose a favorite.

“Today will be pretty hard to top, but it probably is just the interactions with the people. Whether it’s sitting around, chatting while crafts are being done or listening to stories. There was one gentleman here who was a World War II veteran that had specifically the same job I had in the army. So just to hear how things were in the ‘40s and how they were in 2013 when I last talked to him,” Leilich said.