Union News Friday, January 29, 1993 16 Western Massachusetts Crash takes life of noted reporter, 51 By KEVIN CLAFFEY SPRINGFIELD Donald C. Ebbeling, a veteran court and political reporter for The Springfield Newspapers. died early yesterday at Baystate Medical Center. His death was the result of injuries suffered in a multiple car crash Dec. 31 in Interstate 91 in Holvoke.
He was 51 years old. a native of Whitinsville, was taking his 8-year-old daughter, Laura, and two other children to ski lessons at Mount Tom when the crash occurred. Larry A. McDermott, executive editor of The Springfield Newspapers, said Ebbeling will be missed. "We are hurting today because we have lost a friend and colleague, someone important in our lives.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, especially to his wife, Donna, and their young daughter, Laura." Generous and helpful Throughout his tenure, Ebbeling was known among colleagues as being generous with his experience and helpful to new reporters. He was invariably courteous, even when he disagreed, and took great pride in successes of his colleagues. Ebbeling was passionate about being a reporter and often remarked, "I love this job. How many people get paid to do what they love to do?" When judges would try to engage Ebbeling in banter during court sessions, he would invoke a rule he applied with fervor never become part of the story. He would grin and refuse to respond until the session was adjourned or until he saw the judge a back hallway.
He had a knack for composing crisply-written stories as deadlines loomed. He once said that among his proudest moments was when the city editor of the rival Morning Union complained that her reporters had no unexplored angles to write about because Ebbeling and his colleagues had so thoroughly covered a riot on the city's streets. Began in High School Ebbeling began his journalism career while a junior at Northbridge High School when he was hired as a reporter for the weekly Blackstone Valley Tribune. After his graduation in 1958, he worked for the Woonsocket (R.I.) Call for five years in the Uxbridge bureau, beginning as a sports reporter and advancing to a position as reporter and photographer. He joined the staff of The Daily Hampshire Gazette on Sept.
1, 1963, and for three years covered courts and City Hall' in Northampton. It was during that tenure that Ebbeling established an network of contacts among law enforcement officials that held fast through his final working days. In November 1966. he joined the staff of The Daily News to cover Hampden Superior Court and county government. A judge's review of a high-profile murder trial, which included an assessment that Ebbeling's coverage was superior, led to The Daily News approaching him with a job offer, Associate Publisher Richard C.
Garvey recalled. Ebbeling expanded his duties to include coverage of organized crime. He became among the most knowledgeable in the area about the workings of the underworld. REGION BRIEFS His mother went to his door and heard the television, but her son did not answer her knock. She called the manager, who opened the door.
Bontempo's body was found on his couch in front of the television. He had been dead about two weeks, police said. MISS AMERICA VISITS: HOLYOKE The first Miss America to become a registered nurse helped Holyoke Hospital celebrate its 100th birthday yesterday with the reminder that "what it boils down to is people, taking care of Lani Ray Rafko, Miss America 1988 from Michigan, spoke at the annual meeting of Holyoke Hospital's parent corporation of her quest to become a nurse and help others. She helped establish and works at a hospice for terminally-ill cancer patients in Monroe, Mich. Her decision to become a nurse resulted from a suggestion by a high school teacher who asked her to do 10 hours of volunteer work at a hospital in the summer of her junior year.
"I gave 300 hours," Rafko said. "I fell in RAFKO love with the personal side of it. I had good feelings when I went home at night. I found with a little effort I could make a difference in someone's life." AIDS CURRICULUM: MONTAGUE The Gill-Montague Regional School Committee will vote on an AIDS curriculum Tuesday that emphasizes abstinence but also includes information on condoms for older students. Last summer, the School Committee voted against making condoms available to students.
But it directed school administrators and a curriculum subcommittee to draft a kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum on AIDS and HIV. The curriculum is similar to what is now taught in the school system. Teachers, for instance, are already explaining to students that abstinence is the only 100 percent safe way of avoiding sexual transmission of HIV. But it calls for more AIDS education in the elementary school and in grades 10 through 12. STELZER TO RETURN: SPRINGFIELD Police Chief Ernest M.
Stelzer plans to return to work Monday, two months after undergoing a quadruple bypass operation. Stelzer, 58, was out of work for much of 1992 because of various ailments and was hospitalized on three separate occasions during the year. The quadruple bypass was performed Nov. 27, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield after the chief suffered chest pains on Thanksgiving morning. The chief's plans to return to work next week were announced last night by his son, Paul Stelzer.
Stelzer was appointed chief i in July 1990. SLAYING SENTENCE: SPRINGFIELD Jesus Merced Jr. was sentenced to 19 to 20 years in state prison yesterday for killing Eduardo "Boomer" Caban. Merced, 20, of 884 Worthington pleaded guilty Monday in Hampden Superior Court to manslaughter and a charge of murder was dropped. He admitted shooting Caban, 18, of 878 Worthington but on Franklin Street on Aug.
10, 1991. He said the two argued, said the shooting was an accident. He said the gun fired when he tried to hit Caban with the gun. He will be eligible for parole in 12 years. CONDOM CHALLENGE: NORTHAMPTON Former city councilor James G.
Brooks, an opponent of the high school condom-availability plan, is seeking parents willing suit against the city to stop the program, scheduled to begin Monday. Brooks, of 229 Glendale Road, said last night he would be willing to organize such an effort, but has no standing to file suit since he has no children enrolled in the system. 'At the least, I can get it started and get it stopped," Brooks said. The School Committee voted in October to make condoms available free of charge to students at the high school. BODY FOUND: GREENFIELD A man was found dead in his apartment in the former Miles Hotel on Main Street yesterday, but police do not suspect foul play.
Leonard A. Bontempo, 46, was found at about 4:25 p.m. when his mother came to visit, said Patrolman Gary Magnan. Newsman receives tributes Union- News file photo by Don Treeger AT HIS WORK Donald C. Ebbeling, left, veteran reporter for The Springfield Newspapers, is shown serving as a Statehouse reporter panelist during a televised U.S.
Senate debate in 1984. At right is Union-News Glenn Briere. In the late 1970s, he was assigned briefly to the Northampton and Westfield bureaus and in 1976. he authored a book, "Courtroom Crucible: The Smith Charities," a history of the charities established by Oliver Smith of Hatfield. In 1978, Ebbeling was named political and State House reporter for The Daily News.
He and Glenn Briere, political reporter for The Morning Union, were panelists on "The State We're In," a weekly public affairs show on Channel 57, for five years. For one season, he hosted "The Don Ebbeling Show" on the Public Broadcast System outlet and conducted interviews with jail inmate Ray Ray Williams, then a 20-year veteran of the criminal justice system; former pro football player Roger LeClerc of Agawam and Dr. Thomas Wilson, a Greenfield dentist who lost his license to practice because of his refusal to Athletic Association. pay federal taxes. He leaves his wife, Donna During his -year tenure as George-Ebbeling; three daughters, political reporter, he earned the Laura at home; Debra Rejniak of respect of politicians and report- Florence and Jan Cole of Greenhis ers throughout New England for field; a son, thoroughness and fairness.
He Scott of Bristol, maintained contact with them and his mother, Ethel M. Flint was an invited guest to the fishing of Whitinsville; a sister, Marjorie tournament that the late U.S. Rep. Smith of three nieces Northbridge; five grandSilvio 0. Conte sponsored in Pit- sons, and three nephtsfield each spring.
ews. His father, Cornelius and his Ebbeling was an avid golfer, brother, Harold, died in 1972. bowler and fisherman, had Calling hours are at Forastiere coached Little League teams in Family Funeral Home, 45 Locust Uxbridge and Northampton, be- St. Sunday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. longed to The Valley Press Club, The funeral will be at 9 a.m.
Monwas elected an officer to the day in the funeral home with a Springfield Newspapers Employ- service at 10 a.m. in St. Anthony's ees Association in 1975 and was a Maronite Church, 419 Island Pond member of the Springfield News- Road. papers 25-Year Club. He was Burial will be in Gate of Heavpresident of the parish council at en Cemetery on Tinkham Road.
St. Anthony's Maronite Church on Memorial donations may be Island Pond Road and coached his sent to the Laura Ebbeling Fund, daughter and other eight-year-old in care of Our Lady of Hope girls on a basketball team spon- School, 474 Armory Springsored by the Our Lady of Hope field, 01104. Ebbeling, consummate reporter, never forgot to be human, too By FORD TURNER SPRINGFIELD Don Ebbeling filled countless notebooks with details of events both monumental and mundane and characters both prominent and obscure during a quarter-century of reporting for the Springfield Newspapers. Ebbeling died yesterday, 28 days after a crash on Interstate 91. Colleagues, politicians, judges and others familiar with him mourned the loss of a respected professional and friend.
"He had a passion for the role of the reporter. To see Don in action was to see a sense of purpose," said Marsha Marotta, a former reporter and city editor for the Daily News, which merged with the Morning Union to form the Union-News in 1987. For much of the last decade, Ebbeling covered Springfield District Court. His byline appeared over stories about the first reported carjacking in the city: a New Year's Day 1991 brawl outside the Pizza King restaurant; the courthouse stabbing of a prosecutor by a state police detective; and many murders. Always comfortable District Court Judge George Bregianes said of Ebbeling, "You always felt comfortable talking to him.
I just thought he was one of the most honest people that I had ever worked with." Ebbeling joined the Daily News staff on Nov. 14, 1966, after three Hampden County Sheriff Michael years at the Hampshire Gazette in Ashe's annual golf tournament. Northampton and five at the He attended a party at the Woonsocket (R.I.) Call. He was as- Hyannis property of Sen. Edward signed to Hampden County Superi- Kennedy, and 1 Sen.
John Kerry asor Court in Springfield. sisted Ebbeling i in arranging his He covered the aftermath of the Martha's Vineyard honeymoon in July 4, killing of a 17-year- 1983. old Easthampton girl, Cindy Lou Baxa. A Williamsburg man, John On the political beat A. Campbell, pleaded guilty to Ebbeling competed with Mornsecond-degree murder.
ing Union reporter John Appleton on the political beat in the midFirst reporter there 1980s. When the Daily News re-opened "He had a base of nitty-gritty, a news bureau in Northampton, solid reporting experience before Ebbeling was the first reporter he went into politics," Appleton assigned there. He also did gener- said. "He had people afraid of him al assignment work out of the city on the one hand, but some of the room in Springfield and the West- people who would feel that he field bureau. could sting them, loved him.
Union-News Managing Editor that "It if was he great, because I knew Wayne Phaneuf recalled Ebbel- beat me, I got beat by ing's role in the coverage of civil somebody good." disturbances in the city in the late Some of Ebbeling's closest 1960's and early 1970's. friends in his final years were "He was a great anchor man," those who covered, courts with Phaneuf said. "All the reporters him for the Cynthia were out in the field, but Don was Simison, who covered Hampden here putting it all together. He said, County "One Superior Court for years, was really cool under deadline thing Don taught me pressure and the best rewrite man was not to take myself too seriwe had." ously in this job." Ebbeling was named Kevin Claffey, who did a long reporter for the Daily political stint as federal court reporter and News in shared a newsroom aisle with Ebwith October, politicians 1978. His left them encounters im- beling, said, "One of the things he ity pressed to be with both his fairness and abil- to know when to put away the pad always used to tell me is you have friend.
a reporter and and stop thinking of yourself only a reporter. and deal with He was a regular at fishing get- people on only a human level. It's togethers hosted by the late Con- something that he taught me, and gressman Silvio Conte. and at it's valuable and it's right." Media offered sneak preview of Mullins arena By DANIEL MILLER HADLEY Workers yesterday were positioning the baskets, testing the scoreboard and putting down the floorboards at the new $48.8 million William D. Mullins Memorial Convocation Center at the University of Massachusetts, which opens Sunday.
Reporters got a tour of the arena, which will be the home court of the university's basketball team and the home ice of a yet-to-be formed hockey team. The facility also will stage concerts and other events. One of the best views in the house will belong to the basketball and hockey coaches, whose offices will have a glass wall that looks out onto the arena. The arena's VIP lounge also has a window of fifteen floor-to-ceiling glass panels that of- By JOHN APPLETON For many years Don reported on politics and and offered his analysis his columns and as a regular elist on Channel 57's "The We're In." As word of his death through Western Massachusetts, the Statehouse and Washington, D.C. yesterday, politicians, officials and former colleagues the press remembered him for toughness at the job and warmth as a person.
U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, "I got to know him and ly liked him. He was a wonderful, warm-hearted fellow with a outlook on life.
He took all of politics with a great sense of mor and a grain of salt. "He was fair as a reporter. asked tough questions but was in the way he handled them. didn't try to work an angle. tried to report.
A lot of people spected him because of that. U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, "Don was a great er and a wonderful person.
He cred me many times, and he fair, accurate and insightful time. "I extend my deepest thies to his family." U.S. Rep. John Olver, herst: "Don was a news reporter's news reporter. I met a lot of porters in my time at Statehouse.
What remember most about Don was that he ways had his facts right. His smile will be sorely missed. U.S. Rep. Richard E.
Neal, Springfield: "I thought he was fair and good reporter. I was pressed with p*rn Ebbeling's the last years at St. thony's Maronite Church on Pond Road, and I knew him to very active with his family." District Court Judge Robert Howarth, a former state legislator from Springfield: "Don had an ity as a Statehouse reporter bring a politician down to quick. "When you were on 'The We're you could be going fine, and all of a sudden you see that little smile on Don's and you would think, 'Uh-oh, And then he woul you with a line or two, but it always fair." Veteran radio newsman Hall of Northampton's WHMP: "Don was a cheerful, positive son who you never felt you bothering. As court and police porter for the Hampshire Gazette, Don made it a point to get to the police officers and court cials about whom he was report-: ing." State Rep.
Paul E. Caron, Springfield: "He was a professional journalist in the finest sense of word. Our friendship would never stop him from asking aggressive: questions on why I voted a certain' way. He was a man with a sense humor and probably most importantly, he was a man of integrity." State Rep. Raymond A.
Jordan, D-Springfield: "He was one favorite reporters. His dry always made you feel good about bad situation. He had courage strong convictions." Hampden County District torney William M. Bennett: "Don. Ebbeling was a great reporter.
knowledgeable and insightful. loved to talk about politics and courts." Former Hampden County Commissioner Rita Tremble: "Don a good writer and he wrote he saw it. He was very, very candid, extremely honest and fine man. He was always tally absorbed in what he was doing." fer a view of the arena from above one of the In its first months, the arena will play host goal areas. to the Ice Capades and the Harlem Globetrot-, The men's basketball team's first practice ters.
Also scheduled are Metallica and Guns at the arena is scheduled for Monday. The first 'N' Roses. game will take place Feb. 4, when UMass plays the University of West Virginia. Visitors yesterday were greeted by collegeArena finance director David Faytel said aged staffers in maroon jackets who guided smoking and alcoholic beverages will not be them down the hall, into the double doors, up allowed at any arena event.
He said spectators two flights of stairs and into the VIP lounge. will be able to pay for souvenirs, such as T- In the VIP shirts and programs, with cash, check or a lounge, staffers offered hors credit card. d'ocuvres and gave out folders containing Faytel said seats in one half of the arena arena, tographs plus and floor slides plans of for rows of different chairs kinds in the of are padded for people attending theatrical events. Theater pieces will be staged on the events, a list of names of the arena's staff, and floor. stickers bearing the Mullins Center logo.
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