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This blog is designed to enable viewers to post their comments on various subjects related to The Torrington Company's demise as a separate corporate entity. We will try to answer the question "Why?" and hopefully provide guidance to other Companies who might find themselves in a similar situation. We will also try to be a vehicle for alumni to express their thoughts
About Me
- Norm M
- North Reading, Massachusetts, United States
- Now retired, I was employed by The Torrington Company / Ingersoll Rand from 1963 through 1987. Recently widowed, relocated from TX to MA
7 comments:
Norm,
First of all thanks for continuing to send out updates.
I'm especially appreciative of the two pictures you've included of the new courthouse. On my last trip up to Torrington, I took a drive through the old complex and was literally sick to my stomach seeing the Corporate Building that I called home for so many years in disrepair. Worse yet was the video I saw of it's demolition posted in the Waterbury Republican a few years later. It's nice to see something going up on the site and when it's complete I may just have to take a ride up to the old stomping grounds.
I'm thankful for all the years at the Big "T" and for all the friendships made there. The Torrington Company and all my mentors there are a big part of my success since leaving in 2004 and I'm sure many others feel the same way. To those of you on this list that modeled the way for all of us who were once young but now growing "long in the tooth" as Dick Kelleher used to say, thank you for making a difference. It's a testament to all of you that long after leaving the company we still look back to it with fond memories. I still quote many of you from time to time when passing on some lesson to one of my employees or coworkers.
Thanks Tony
Thanks Norm for continuing to send out this information…as it is less enjoyable to hear about those that have passed away, let me just add a little about a few of us that are still living…
After 40 years on the job… I retired here in Germany in June 2015 with Koyo, after having spent my last 20 years with Nastech > NSSE >Torrington > Timken > Koyo here in Europe. While I had invited a number of people that I had crossed paths with over this span of time… the one person that made all the way from the US to Künsebeck to celebrate with me, was Skip Frederickson, who I had trained with in Torrington back in 1975/76.
During the ensuing trip to the US - which I made with my family (wife and 2 teenagers) - had us visiting with a number of former Torrington Sales Team members. The first few days of our trip were spent in Chicago, where Jeff Krebs, who was part of the Torrington Sales Office - together with Ted Crotty - while I was there between 1983 and 1985, was our gracious host.
Passing through Ann Arbor, Mi, we had dinner with Jeff daughter Laurie, as well as Jon Johnson, who was part of my slaes trainee class during the years '75 through '77.
During a stay in Toronto a few days later, we were able to spend time with Ed Cloutier, also a member of our sales training class, who acted as our tour guide, while enjoying the local sites.
While not part of this trip, I am still in touch with my former bosses Ted Crotty, who is stilling going strong at 90+ in N. California as well Gordon Clarke, who resides in N. Carolina. I communicate regularly with Stu Wallak in CT - also part of our training Class - as he is handling some of my life insurance issues.
Hope this little report may be of interest to at least some of those involved with your blog.
Wishing you all a good summer.
Jogi
Norm - I tried to send the message below to everyone but my email doesn't allow me to send to so many people. I at least want you to know I appreciate what you do. Thank you.
Debbie
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I, too, appreciate the updates Norm. Thank you. I also enjoy reading the replies. Even though I don't know everyone on the distribution list I do know a fair amount of names.
My Torrington days were from 1989-1999 doing office layouts from my perch in the Standard Plant in the Plant Engineering Department. My tenure was not as long as many of you but they are still years that are dear to my heart.
I also am not as well traveled as many of you and I still live local to Torrington, in Canton, CT, and run into Torrington Company alum quite a bit - or come across someone who had a relative who worked there. My kids always roll their eyes when we are somewhere, usually in Torrington, and I recognize someone. Their comment is: "Another Torrington Company co-worker Mom?" There are so many of us and I am just amazed at how special that feeling still is to say that I worked there and met so many wonderful people.
Keep up the good work with the blog, Norm. We all appreciate your efforts.
Debbie Poleyestewa
Jun 1 , 2016
Norm san (and the people listed above)
First of all, thanks a lot for working for keeping all of us informed of Torrington Alumni updates for so long time. I always enjoy much the news, reminding of old good days with Torrington people in CT. Anyway, Torrington is a very special place through my whole life, where I stayed for 3 months in 1969 for the first time followed by many repeated trips and stayed for several days at the last trip in 2010 to attend to Torrington Christmas Party. As Mr. Russo and Mr. Saggerer appreciate the photos of the latest situation of the Excelsior Plant & old head quarter area, I am glad to see them with bittersweet memories.
As you used to be a director of NTC ( the joint-venture company between Torrington and NSK in Japan) , I tell you of the update as follows. As NSK has bought the final small amount of NTC shares from the minor private owner recently, old NTC has belonged 100 % to NSK itself. The operation of NTC portion is still healthy and prosperous, having 3 domestic manufacturing facilities and several in foreign countries with totally around 2000 employees.
Taking this occasion, let me tell of my recent private life. We are OK to lead our common life with some health problems which typical old people have. I had to quit some favorite hobbies such as golfing, vegetable gardening, travelling to foreign countries, mahjong game & etc during last few years, enjoying meetings with local people more in Takasaki, my living city, rather than going to far-away places. Now, I have two daily pleasures, English conversation meetings and attendances to jazz café, twice a week each. I joined the former event through a volunteer work to teach Japanese to foreign people, which I began thinking of a lot of good will I have got from many foreign good people like all of you through my life. It is a happy time to meet/help such people as American, Canadian, British, French, Chinese, Bangladesh, Myanmar & etc as well as Japanese. I started to go to jazz café to appreciate jazz music at my high school time. Since then, I went to many such places in Tokyo. After coming to Takasaki, I could fortunately find several good cafes where there are very good audio systems and a lot of collections of LP, CD, DVD of jazz as well as the magazines/books. The one recently I go often has the other special characteristics, too. The place is a small one having a lot of good paintings, carvings, collection of antiques. It is a tiny fun to appreciate jazz, reading the books surrounded by good arts.
Dear Norm,
I finally found a way to scan these pictures as JPG files so I hope you can do something with them and they are of interest to someone from The Torrington Company.
The first three sets of Pictures will be of the old Thomaston Plant. I will then send you three set of Pictures of the Morris Plant and the last two set would be of the Waterbury Plant. We consolidated these three plant into the Watertown Plant in 1993/94.
I will load your inbox with the pictures.
Best Regards
Willy
from: Jean-Pierre Vincent
to: Normand Massicotte
date: Sun, Nov 27, 2016 at 3:50 AM
Hi Norm,
Just a quick update, I am still working for RBC, and I am located in Switzerland. Thus I will not be able to participate, but keep me in the loop and say Hello to the everyone.
I wish you all a Happy Holiday Season.
Best regards, J-P Vincent
from: Tom Bennett
to: Normand Massicotte
date: Mon, Nov 28, 2016 at 10:53 AM
subject: Re: 2016 Big T Gathering
Norm,
I'd sure like to attend but I'm in Florida for the winter and I have Essential Tremor with some Parkinson's symptoms that would prevent me from attending even if I wasn't up north.
I wish all a good holiday season and a happy new year.
Tom. Bennett
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