Here is the obituary of Richard Hastings, the former Newington High School teacher and wrestling coach who died Saturday in a house fire. The memorial service will be tomorrow at 11:00 AM at the First Church of Christ Congregational on South Main Street in West Hartford.

The local Youth Wrestling Club has set up a memorial page for Mr. Hastings. It includes a video of the coach and the following statement:

It is fair to say that Coach Hastings WAS Newington Wrestling. During the time he was coach, and even after he left the program, Coach Hastings was an inspiration to many of Newington’s young people. He not only coached the sport of wrestling, but taught his team and all the young people of our town about thinking big, believing in themselves, and about character. He will be sorely missed.

There’s also an e-mail address where you can send in your own tribute.

Memorial donations may be made to the NHS Wrestling Booster Club, Newington High School, 605 Willard Ave., Newington, CT 06111, attn: Matt Rossi; the Hampton Volunteer Fire Department, West Old Route 6, Hampton, CT 06247; or the Kingswood-Oxford School, 170 Kingswood Road, West Hartford, CT 06119.