Paul "Lefty" Wennik passes away - 1939-2024

[InnervisionsUMASS]

UMass Baseball posted his passing today:

https://x.com/UMassBaseball/status/1861486818115625079


Anyone that had the opportunity to meet Lefty knows how special he was, and just how much he cared about UMass. This is a bit loss for the UMass community. My condolences to his family.

[Old Cage]

Lefty was my classmate and occasional golf partner at UMass events, especially at Haverhill Country Club, if my memory is correct. A true character!

[SignMan]

https://www.wickedlocal.com/obituaries/pneo1021847

[Old Cage]

^ Ed - Thanks for that. It brought a few smiles. If Lefty was born in 1937, he was on more of a "seven year plan" rather than the "five year plan" mentioned, as he graduated in 1962, and is listed as such in our HOF.. The friendship with Yaz was real.They played together at Haverhill CC. Omitted from the obit was mention of the song he wrote about the Red Sox, which was played at Fenway. He was not bashful about telling you about the song.

[SignMan]

I have a CD of the song. Lefty gave one to me years ago.
He wrote it with his friend, Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, who was back in MA at the time.
They offered it to the Sox, gratis, no stringgs attached, but the Sox rejected it...
either they were falsely concerned re $rights or just wanted to control everything from within...
IMO: Both...
Their big loss.
Freddy is 88 now, so don't know if he'll fly in from the Left Coast for the Lefty Tribute in May...
I would expect a lot of names there, including, of course, Yaz: Mariah Carey, Jon Bon Jovi and many more.
I will definitely come back for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgzib59HA40
I emailed the obit link to my friend, blues star, Dana Fuchs, this a.m.
Lefty tried to sign her for Polygram when she started out, but she didn't for whatever reason. When I first told her I was a friend of Lefty, she was pleasantly surprised.

[doubledribble]

I have a CD of the song. Lefty gave one to me years ago.
He wrote it with his friend, Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, who was back in MA at the time.
They offered it to the Sox, gratis, no stringgs attached, but the Sox rejected it...
either they were falsely concerned re $rights or just wanted to control everything from within...
IMO: Both...
Their big loss.
Freddy is 88 now, so don't know if he'll fly in from the Left Coast for the Lefty Tribute in May...
I would expect a lot of names there, including, of course, Yaz: Mariah Carey, Jon Bon Jovi and many more.
I will definitely come back for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgzib59HA40
I emailed the obit link to my friend, blues star, Dana Fuchs, this a.m.
Lefty tried to sign her for Polygram when she started out, but she didn't for whatever reason. When I first told her I was a friend of Lefty, she was pleasantly surprised.

Lefty was a huge supporter of Umass Athletics who frequented MANY UM events. A true HOF’er !

How are things in Florida? You are missed at the M.
Your Final Four roomie

[SignMan]

JQ...Getting more settled in Naples.
Lots of work re the house.
I'm our interior decorator and enjoying it.

We'll get back to the Valley again, as we did for the Homecoming game.
UMass St. Pat's Parade gathering every year in Naples. Will be our 1st...all campus participation.
I think that's time for Naples UM sign in the parade.

[Quann]

Ed you fully move out of Harvard? Congrats on the move.

[SignMan]

Ed you fully move out of Harvard? Congrats on the move.

Yes...
Naples

The signs reside in Harvard, in storage, at a friend's house.

[doubledribble]

JQ...Getting more settled in Naples.
Lots of work re the house.
I'm our interior decorator and enjoying it.

We'll get back to the Valley again, as we did for the Homecoming game.
UMass St. Pat's Parade gathering every year in Naples. Will be our 1st...all campus participation.
I think that's time for Naples UM sign in the parade.

Ed
How about doing the Macy parade next year? You could lead the way for the marching band with one of your signs!
JQ