August 17, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

The Harwood Union Hall of Fame Committee has announced its 12th annual class of inductees to be honored at a ceremony in November.

Each year the committee selects individuals or groups who represent the best of Harwood Union and the former Waitsfield and Waterbury high school communities offer. In announcing the new additions to this elite group, the committee said: “This group of inductees has left their mark on their respective high schools and through their actions and accomplishments during high school and beyond.”

The inductees comprising the 12th class of the Harwood Hall of Fame are: Frederick Domey Collins ’60, Bernard Carpenter ’61, Robert Charles Grace ’66, Chris Grahber ’99, Mariah Liberty ’09 and Harry Brusa (retired educator).

The annual induction ceremony will be held on Nov. 9 at Harwood Union High School. For tickets to the event, please contact Athletic Director Ian Fraunfelder at ifraunfelder@huusd.org.

Below are summaries from the committee on the backgrounds of each of this year’s inductees. Photos are courtesy of the Hall of Fame committee.

Harry L. Brusa – Educator

Harry graduated from Northfield High School in 1949 and enrolled at St. Michael’s College to pursue a degree in English. Upon graduating from St. Mike’s in 1953, took a job at Hardwick High School for two years, followed by a two-year stint teaching in Kansas. From there, he went on to teach at U.S. Department of Defense schools, completing assignments in France, England and Labrador, Canada. It was in Labrador that he met his wife Muriel Ross and they later married in Madrid, Spain. Harry and Muriel then moved back to Vermont where he earned his master’s degree in 1963 and took a job at Rutland High School. In 1968, he moved to Harwood where he was hired to lead the English Department. It was in this position that he made an incredible impact on the educational world and the Harwood community.

Harry’s students were his first love. For a man who was short in stature, he was a larger-than-life presence in the halls of the school. He never missed an opportunity to connect with students past and present students, attending every Harwood sporting event, concert, and play. During this time, he instituted the Advanced Placement curriculum for the school. He was a member of the Vermont Boys’ State Cadre and the head of the Boys’ State Newspaper. He developed a new class and curriculum at Harwood that focused on Vermont literature. He served on the College Board, which runs the SAT, as a Vermont representative. He was a longtime member of the Harwood Boosters Club. The theater was a passion of Harry’s too. He eventually became a judge for the very competitive Vermont State One Act Play competitions. In 1984, Harry was named the Vermont State Teacher of the Year, considered one of the highest honors in Vermont teaching.

A colleague once said, “Harry was one of the first generation of Harwood teachers, and he was among the very best of them. His calm, kind, steadfast nature was well-suited for working with both adolescents and staff. He was a consummate professional who was respected by the faculty, the administration and the community.” In 1995, the Harwood school library was dedicated to Harry in recognition of his contributions to the community and to his students that went beyond the classroom and that will live forever in his students’ hearts.

Harry passed away on May 1, 1995.

Bernard R. Carpenter – Soccer, Basketball, Baseball

Bernard was a 1961 graduate of Waterbury High School where he was a four-year varsity soccer and baseball letterman and a two-year letterman in varsity basketball. He was a member of the 1961 Vermont State Baseball Tournament State runner-up team. Bernard was involved in many other activities during his high school career: he was class president 1957-1959, vice president and then president of the Boys Athletic Association, and a member of the drama and yearbook clubs. Bernard was also an active member of his community working as a lifeguard and member of the Waterbury swim team, and working as a projector operator for the Waterbury Public Library.

After high school, Bernard attended Norwich University and graduated in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in Education. He joined the U.S. Army, serving from 1965 to 1985, when he honorably retired. In 1972 Bernard graduated from Suffolk University Law School.

He now resides in Fairfax, Virginia.

Frederick Domey Collins – Football, Track, Educator

Frederick was a 1960 graduate of Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans where he was a four-year varsity football player and a four-year track athlete, lettering in both of these sports for three years. He was selected to the All-State 2nd Football team as a left tackle and was a state champion in football in 1958 and 1959. He was the 1960 state pole-vaulting champion which allowed him to compete in the New England Track and Field Championship in Boston in 1960. During his time at BFA, Fred also was involved in student government, the glee club, boys state, allied youth club, and the play committee.

After high school, Fred joined the U.S. Air Force and served four years. He attended Keene State, graduating in 1969 with a bachelor's in Education. In 1969, Fred entered a master’s program at Ball State University with a focus on Industrial Arts Education. Upon graduating in 1970, Fred was hired by Harwood Union High School where he served as an educator for 30 years. Following his distinguished teaching career, Frederick opened his own woodworking business. He also has served on a variety of town boards and committees.

Frederick currently resides in Duxbury with his wife Carol.

Chris Grabher – Chorus, Theater, Circus Smirkus

Chris was a 1999 graduate of Harwood Union High School where he participated in the chorus program from 7th through 12th grade. He was part of the I Cantori ensemble from his sophomore through senior year and participated in the Winooski Valley Music Festival during his last two years of high school. Chris’s love for the theater was evident as he participated in seven plays and musicals during his time at Harwood. Chris traveled with the Circus Smirkus troupe from 1991-2000 and used his performance skills to perform for the community and in schools, and to lead circus workshops for elementary students.

Chris then attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, graduating in 2003 with an associate’s degree in Theater. During that time, he was involved in clubs that focused on set design, performances, and stage crew. He was honored with the Max Fischer Award, given to a student who demonstrates the most growth as an actor. Chris took his skills to Los Angeles where his career has involved many roles in the TV, film and entertainment business. He has been in six feature films, numerous roles as a co-starring actor and/or stuntman. Chris continues performances in the circus arts as well.

Robert Charles Grace – Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Waterbury Fire Department

Robert was a member of Waterbury High School’s last graduating class in 1966. He participated in four years of varsity soccer, basketball and baseball and was co-captain of each of these teams during his senior year. During his junior and senior years, he was one of the leading soccer goal-scorers in the league and he batted .450 during his sophomore, junior and senior years. During his sophomore year, Robert joined the Waterbury Village Fire Department where he continues to serve. Robert was very involved in the Harwood community and was part of the French club, Boys’ State, and student council where he served as vice-president in his junior year and president in his senior year.

After high school, Robert attended Vermont Technical College where he earned an associate degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1968. There he was a member of the varsity baseball team. Robert then served his country in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Army, earning the rank of sergeant and receiving numerous commendations and medals. After his service, Robert was employed as a mechanical engineer at General Electric. Serving the community has always been important to Robert. He has served as a Waterbury village trustee, president of the Waterbury Bowling League and as a coach in the Clyde Whittemore Little League, winning five district championships with his teams. The Waterbury Fire Department named its Engine #2 named after him as an honor to mark his 50 years of service.

Robert lives in Waterbury with his wife Kathryn.

Mariah Liberty – Soccer, Softball

Mariah was a 2009 graduate of Harwood Union High School, where she participated in both soccer and softball. She was a two-time varsity letterman in soccer, leading her team in scoring in 2008. She was a four-year varsity letterman in softball. She was captain of the team her senior year when the team went to the Vermont state championship game. Her accomplishments on the field, on the pitch, and in the classroom were numerous. Inducted into the National Honor Society in 2007, she was on the honor roll all four years at Harwood. She was a Times Argus Player of the Year Finalist in 2007 as a catcher. That year she was also named to the All Metro Conference Honorable Mention team. In 2009, she achieved conference first team in softball. In 2008, she was named to the Capital Division All-League 2nd team. Mariah also earned the VPA’s Student Athlete Award for Outstanding Senior Female Athlete and in 2009 the Athletic Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship.

In 2013 Mariah graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University with a bachelor’s degree in Health Science. There she continued her academic and athletic excellence, playing both soccer and softball during all four years of college. She was soccer captain for two years and softball captain for three. She obtained a long list of academic and athletic awards and scholarships during her time there. In 2016 Moriah graduated from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a doctorate of Physical Therapy. She continues to be a leader in her field by running a program for students in physical therapy that offers practicum experiences. She is currently a clinical manager in two private-practice settings.

Mariah lives in Boylston, Massachusetts.

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