The scholarship memorializes Margaret, the foundation for the growth and development of her 10 children, 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, and George, a firefighter and avid sports fan and coach.
George and Margaret Beglane By KIM O'CONNELL
WESTFIELD - George and Margaret Beglane were lifelong residents of Springfield and very strong believers in their children's education, along with the discipline and teamwork that came from sports.
Margaret was the mother of 10 children. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and worked as a nurse in the operating room at Springfield Hospital (now Baystate Medical Center), as well as an Army nurse during World War II at what is now Bradley International Airport.
More importantly, Margaret was the foundation for the growth and development of her children, 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Sitting around the kitchen table on Sunday mornings, you would see Margaret and the family sharing stories and supporting each other. The strength of family and togetherness were key lessons she taught.
HOW TO HELP
- Here are the ways you can donate to the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Westfield:
Mail a check: CSF of Westfield, P.O. Box 382, Westfield MA 01086 (Specify if you are donating to an existing scholarship)
Create a permanent scholarship: Established with a donation of $10,000 or more and named by donor
Create a memorial scholarship: One-time scholarship established with a donation of $500, also named by donor
For info: Contact William Harmon at (413) 562-0805
George Beglane was a "jack of all trades." His formal trade was a firefighter for the city of Springfield for more than 30 years. When time allowed, he was a floor sander, and he also coached the Holy Name Coaches Club baseball team in Springfield.
George had a passion for sports. A devoted New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox fan, you could find him shouting at the radio and television helping to urge his team on. Of course, he always had words of advice for the coaches and players on how the play should have been handled if things went wrong!
George believed that the discipline and teamwork of sports, along with higher education, would help you be successful in life. This passion for sports, plus the need for an education, was passed on to his children and grandchildren, the majority of whom played sports both at the high school and college levels.
Being a coach, George always had advice for members of the family. One of his words of advice to his oldest granddaughter, Kim O'Connell (a Citizens' Scholarship Foundation recipient between 1984 and 1988) before she went to college was, "Never forget where you came from."
We hope this Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Westfield scholarship partially fulfills his "words of advice" by helping another female scholar athlete be successful in life.
Written by Kim O'Connell, granddaughter of Margaret and George Beglane, in 2006.