Hall of Fame Inductees

Carl Robinson (Sports)

1937 – 1983

Born in Wrightsville, GA he moved to Meriden and became an outstanding football and basketball player for Meriden High School, graduating from there in 1956.

He received his B.S. Degree in Physical Education from South Carolina College in 1961and completed requirements for his Masters Degree in Specialized Education at Southern Connecticut State College.

He was named to the "Negro College All-American Football Squad" and played pro-football with the San Diego Chargers and the Boston Patriots.

He taught athletics at the Connecticut School for Boys, joining the Connecticut Department of Corrections in 1969.

He was appointed warden of the Connecticut State Prison at Somers on September 1, 1972. His excellent record at Somers brought him national recognition.

In Meriden he served as a member of the Community Action Agency. He was a member of the N.A.A.C.P., National Association of Health, Recreation and Physical Education, The Connecticut Education Association and the Meriden-Waterbury Chapter of Lambda Rho, of Omega Psi Phi Rho Fraternity.

Humphrey Davis (Nee David Dittmer) (Performing Arts)

1912 – 1987

Born David Dittmer on Springdale Avenue in Meriden, he graduated from Meriden High School with the Class of 1929. He joined the Meriden Players where he became inspired to follow an acting career and assume the new identity of "Humphrey Davis."

He is equally at home with Shakespeare, comedy, soaps or musicals. He has written scripts for Nick Carter, Master Detective; The Black Castle; and he wrote and directed and starred in the off-Broadway show, "The Beloved Bachelor."

He has television credits of more than 1000 shows, including "Another World," "The Edge of Night," "All My Children," "The Honeymooners," "Sgt. Bilko" and others.

He played in the motion pictures "Annie Hall," "The Long Journey Home,” "For Good or For Evil" and "Women Without a Shadow," among others.

His musicals include "My Fair Lady," playing Colonel Pickering for three years; "Pajama Game," "West Side Story," "Kiss Me Kate," and others.

His stage credits include "The Play's The Thing," "Romanoff and Juliet," "Once More With Feeling," "Make A Million," and others.

He has directed on and off-Broadway shows, organized and directed the Merrick Players of Long Island, the Stagecraft Players of Freeport, Long Island and is presently starring in his own creation, a one-man show entitled "Longfellow Returns."

He now makes his home with his family in Edgewater, New Jersey.

Jean Tamburine Bertolli (Art)

1930 – 2013

Born in Meriden and graduated from Meriden High School in 1941, she studied under premier art teachers in New York and New England.

She illustrated more than thirty books including eleven by noted folklorist May Justis. She authored and illustrated children's books including "I Think I Will Go To The Hospital," created to prepare a young child for a hospital stay.

She was selected by Pearl Buck to produce renderings for the Pearl Buck Foundation which have been widely distributed.

Her paintings and drawings are represented in the collections of the Connecticut State Library; Nashville, Tennessee, Public library; Strong School of Hartford; L'Heure Joyeux, Paris, France; and private collections.

She was commissioned to do a theme sculpture for the Wallingford Public Library. It was dedicated in January 1986.

She has been awarded the Founder's Prize of Pen and Brush, N.Y., N.Y.; Associate Member's Prize, Academic Artists, Springfield, MA; First Prize Sculpture, Meriden Arts and Crafts Association of Meriden, CT; and the Martha Moore Memorial Award for Portrait, Any Medium; Sculpture, "The Paisley Scarf," Rockport Art Association, Rockport, MA.

She was one of the fifteen original commissioners appointed by Governor John Dempsey to the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. She is listed in Who's Who in American Art; Who's Who of American Women; Who's Who in the East; Gale Research "Contemporary Authors" and "Something About The Author" and foremost Women in Communications.

She involved herself in the preservation of Meriden's War Memorials, doing extensive research and raising funds for restoration.

She resided in Meriden with her family up until her passing in 2013.

John D. "Bub" Shaw (Business & Commerce)

1910 – 2006

Born in Meriden, John D. Shaw graduated as president of the Class of 1927 from Meriden High School. He enrolled at Duke University where he was active in campus affairs and athletics. He was an outstanding baseball and basketball player, being named to the All Southern Conference Basketball team. He graduated in 1932.

Returning to Meriden he taught history at Meriden High School and also coached some of the school's most successful baseball and basketball teams.

He resigned his teaching position in 1931 to begin a new career with The International Silver Co., rising to the position of General Sales Manager of all International Silver's direct lines and he was elected to the position of Vice President of the firm.

He was elected to the Board of Education, serving 10 years in that capacity. He also served on the City of Meriden Board of Apportionment and Taxation.

His civic pride involved him in the American Red Cross, the United Way, the Meriden Boys' club, the CUNO Foundation, the Conn. Easter Seal Rehabilitation Program and others.

He was recently recognized as "The Sportsman of Distinction" at the Third Annual Reunion Banquet. He currently makes his home with his wife in Meriden.