2 Valley Scouts attain Eagle rank

Pictured from left, Troop 3 Eagle Scout Ryan Cafaro of Ansonia, Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti, Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto and Eagle Scout Justin Patten of Derby at a recent Court of Honor held at Derby Second Congregational Church. / Contributed photo

DERBY-  Housatonic Council Boy Scout Troop 3 Derby members Justin Patten and Ryan Cafaro were recently recognized for achieving Eagle Scout rank during a Court of Honor held at the troop’s sponsoring organization, Derby Second Congregational Church.

Junior Assistant Scoutmaster and Life Scout Matthew Moran served as Master of Ceremonies. The program was under the direction of Troop 3 Assistant Scoutmaster James Frovarp.

Justin Patten, 16, is the son of Joe and Sheryl Patten and older brother of Jessica Patten, all of Derby. For his Eagle Scout Project, Justin chose to lead a group of Scouts to renovate the computer lab at Assumption School in Ansonia and help raise funds for them to purchase an iPad Cart by applying for grants and coordinating a Butter Braid fundraiser.

Justin began his trail to Eagle Scout as a Tiger Cub in Pack 3 in Derby, advancing through the Cub Scout and Webelos ranks to earn the Arrow of Light Award. He joined BSA Troop 3 in Derby and has been a member of the Trojan Rabbits, Ghostriders and Bananas in Pajamas Patrols. Justin has served as a patrol scribe, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, Troop  Historian, Troop Guide and is currently Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.

Justin has earned a total of 41 merit badges and is a member of the Order of the Arrow Paugassett Lodge 553.

Justin has traveled with Troop 3 on trips to Cape Cod, the  Pacific Northwest and participated with the Housatonic Council contingent to attend the 2010 and 2013 National Jamboree.  Justin will represent Troop 3 this summer as an Exchange Scout to Limerick, Ireland. He will also participate in Troop 3’s  three-week Cross Country Camping trek this summer.

Justin is a Junior at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, where he has earned his Varsity Letter in Cross Country and also participates on the Indoor and Outdoor Track teams. Justin has achieved  high honors every trimester and he plans to attend college in pursuit of his lifelong dream of working in the medical field.

In addition to his Scouting and scholastic activities, Justin has played basketball for Derby Youth and GNHPAL leagues and baseball for Derby Little League, Derby Babe Ruth and Ansonia Babe Ruth leagues. Justin is currently a volunteer at Griffin Hospital.

Ryan C. Cafaro, 16, is the son of Troop 3 Committee member Carole Cafaro and Troop 3 Assistant Scoutmaster Christopher Cafaro of Ansonia.  He is the younger brother of Troop 3 Eagle Scout James B. Blaskewicz, III and older brother of Rebecca and First Class Scout Matthew Cafaro.

Ryan is a junior at Ansonia High School, where he is a member of the National Honor Society, Cooperative International Studies Program, Spanish Club and Spanish National Honor Society. 

Ryan is an active parishioner at Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia, where he has been an altar server. He has also been a Junior Docent with the Derby Historical Society.

Ryan began his Scouting career as a Tiger Cub in Pack 3 Derby. He went on to attain the Arrow of Light Award as a Webelos Scout and then joined Troop 3 Derby.  As a member of Troop 3, Ryan participated in trips to Cape Cod and a camping trip along Pacific Coast Trip in 2011.  Ryan also attended the National Scout Jamboree in 2010 as a member of the Housatonic Council contingent.

Ryan has served Troop 3 as Patrol Scribe, Grubmaster, Assistant Patrol Leader, and Patrol Leader.  He was also a Den Chief for Pack 3.  He currently serves as Troop 3’s Senior Patrol Leader.  He is a member of the Housatonic Council Order of The Arrow Paugassett Lodge #553. Ryan has volunteered at Cub Scout Day Camp as well as attended resident camp at the Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation.

Ryan’s Eagle Scout Project took place at the Derby Historical Society’s David Humphreys House and Sarah Riggs Humphreys House. He led a group of Scouts to do landscaping,  constructing a portable handicap ramp and installing doors with ventilation for the collection rooms. 

Ryan will be representing Troop 3 as an exchange Scout to Derby, England for three weeks this summer.  He plans to attend college to become a history teacher.

Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti and Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto presented gifts and proclamations to the Eagles on behalf of their communities. 

Also giving greetings were Housatonic Council Scout Executive Kevin Bishop and District Director Bill Zinky. Scouts who were part of the ceremony include Joe Szewczyk, Mike Szewczyk, Anthony Bartholomew, Colby McLiverty, Dominic Livoti and Andrew Devine. Additional participants included Eagle Scouts and Scout leaders Charles Stankye III, Daniel Cyrul, William V. McDonnell Jr, James Blaskewicz and Scoutmaster Randy Ritter. 

Also participating were Tim Bailey, Pam Neuendorf, Beverly Martin and Margaret Vernazza, Director, Holy Rosary Church.

Cafaro and Patten are Troop 3 Derby’s 292^nd and 293^rd Eagle Scouts since the troop was founded in 1914.  

Troop 3 meets Wednesdays, 7PM at the Derby 2^nd Congregational Church and invites all boys at least 11 years of age to join in on the troop’s Scouting adventures.

This is a press release from Scoutmaster Randy Ritter.