To the editor:
The communications over the past few months with regard to the fundraising softball tournament in May are quite disheartening.
Yes, Mr. Armstrong had a lapse in judgment that he does not deny and that he has taken full responsibility for. It was a mistake that he has made restitution for tenfold.
The individuals that have made it their personal mission to use Mr. Armstrong either for their own personal gain or to carry out a personal vendetta have succeeded in stripping our community of one of its most valuable employees, one who was well-respected and overly dedicated to the constituents he served.
I don’t wish to beleaguer the point or afford individuals the opportunity to slander Mr. Armstrong further, nor do I wish to subject myself or my family to a disrespectful response to this correspondence, but I am compelled to share another perspective about the communications that The Manville News has allowed to transpire — the perspective of other individuals who are personally affected by the rude commentary and lack of compassion.
I can tell you that there were many occasions when Mr. Armstrong had to put his family aside to perform his duties as recreation director. He made sure there were registration events convenient for program participants, coordinated and attended community events and coached youth athletic teams that his children weren’t part of because no other parent would do it. He officiated at athletic events because someone didn’t shown up, attended programs to further his education and grow opportunities for every demographic, made sure the parks and pools were ready for the summer season, and accomplished whatever was needed to serve his customers — the residents in this small community — often times well beyond the 40 hours for which he was compensated.
Did anyone compelled to exude such anger and resentment take the time to think about the children that Mr. Armstrong and I are raising in Manville? These innocent young individuals who are proud of their father and who have understood unselfishly that he had to devote some of the time he could have been with them to the community in which he lives?
These wonderful children have volunteered with no expectation of a return by working during Community Day, by coaching in the youth programs, by ensuring that the Easter Bunny would certainly be part of the Easter Egg Hunt, by ensuring that Santa and Mrs. Claus would have elves with them for the holiday parade, and by doing whatever they could to help because their father was and still is committed to instilling in them the importance of giving to the community in which they live.
Our children look up to Mr. Armstrong, as they should, for his strong principles, his strong commitment to family, his sense of pride and leadership, and for his courage in admitting he made a mistake and shouldering the consequences of that mistake. These compassionate children have had to endure this immature public outcry for far too long. Was it fair for one to have to enter his first day at Manville High School one day after the first article was published? Was it fair to them both to deal at this difficult time not only with a frightening and devastating diagnosis of cancer for one of their most cherished family members, but also with the public bullying of their father?
I am very proud of our children’s matureness in coping with the cold-heartedness of people who they knew for many, many years as their father’s “friends and supporters.” I, with them, support their father, my former husband, as he moves forward to share his talents and compassion in his future endeavors.
Lastly, I publicly thank you, Rich, for everything you have done the past 17 years for the residents of Manville. You have touched upon hundreds, if not thousands, of lives in a positive way, especially those of the youth and young adults who you have coached, mentored, provided work opportunities for, and for whom you have helped strive for excellence. I know how hard you worked for everyone, how dedicated you were to everyone and the sacrifices you and your family madefor everyone. I know you cared for everyone, and I know you made a difference.
Linny Mahedy
Manville

