Rotary Club to Unveil HDI Memorial on Anniversary

Wednesday might bring back a lot of painful memories for some people, but the Rotary Club of Manchester is hoping to turn the day into one of healing and remembrance for the friends, family, and co-workers of the eight employees of Hartford Distributors, Inc. who lost their lives one year ago today in the worst instance of workplace violence in Connecticut history. 

On that day a year ago, Omar Thornton, a disgruntled employee of the beer distribution company on Chapel Road, before turning the gun on himself, following a disciplinary hearing where he had just been fired for stealing beer from the company. 

Wednesday, the Rotary Club of Manchester will unveil a honoring the victims' on the grounds of the beer distributor’s Chapel Road property – eight stainless steel pillars connected by a braided aluminum tube to represent the eight employees who lost their lives that day. The pillars will be made of mirror-finished stainless steel and contain an etching bearing details of the lives of each of the victims, while the center will be hollow to allow family and friends to place “time capsule” items belonging to the victims inside.

The Rotary set an ambitious goal for itself to raise all the money needed to cover the cost of the memorial garden and sculpture –estimated in the neighborhood of $50,000 to $60,000 – while also hoping to raise additional funds to donate to the victims' families, and after months of they appear to have accomplished just that. 

David Skoczulek, the incoming vice president of the Rotary club who has helped spearhead the fundraising efforts, said last Friday's fundraiser at the in town appears to have put the club over the top of its fundraising goal. 

"It was a moving target based on how much time, labor and material was donated. We ended up changing from metal park benches to granite benches, which was more affordable but also looked better. We had a lot of landscaping and labor donated," Skoczulek said by email Tuesday. "The final cost was $57,118. And if all of the pledges are paid we may have some money left for the family fund. It is not set in stone until all of the checks come in, but we believe we have covered the cost through the generosity of companies, agencies and people in the community." 

A ceremony to dedicate the memorial and honor the victims of the tragedy will be held Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. on the grounds of Hartford Distributors, Inc. at 131 Chapel Rd. State and local dignitaries are expected to attend, including Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.