Jerry Vilhotti was a proud graduate of the only college to win both the NIT and NCAA basketball tournaments in the same year. But more significant to him than sports achievements was the legacy of fellow alumnus Jonas Salk, the man who helped rid parts of the world of polio. The college, sometimes called “the poor man’s Harvard,” was a place that welcomed people of every race, nationality and creed. That spirit of inclusion and aspiration shaped his worldview and gave him immense pride.
He often compared his life as a writer to that of a ballplayer. He could hit singles, doubles and the occasional home run. Sometimes he struck out. For him, writing was much the same, filled with small victories, rare triumphs and a few missteps along the way. But through it all, he kept swinging.
He believed deeply in the power of storytelling to connect people across cultures and generations.
He lived among the rolling beauty of the Litchfield Hills, where the echoes of American greats like Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe and John Brown linger in the landscape. There, he shared his life with a devoted wife who stood by him as he wandered through the realms of imagination. Together, they raised three children, a son and two daughters, of whom they were deeply proud.
His words, shaped by love, curiosity and a fierce commitment to humanity, continue to resonate. He left behind not only a body of work, but a legacy of warmth, wit and a belief in the better parts of the human spirit.
Short Stories member since June 2017