Altone's in Jewett City to Host Fundraising event to benefit local Bride and Groom

Annie Kudelchuk, owner of Altone's in Jewett City donated the hall at the restaurant for the wedding and is holding a pasta dinner fund-raiser later this month.

How to help: Pasta dinner held from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. on April 20 at Altone's Italian Restaurant, 47 North Main St., Jewett City. Eat-in or Take-out; $7/adult; $5/child. For information - call: 376-5940


A miracle brought him here: Blind couple tying knot in Jewett City
By Liz Mugavero - Norwich Bulletin - April 8, 2007

JEWETT CITY -- When Tammy Robbins heard Bob Chabotte's miraculous story of survival after a devastating motorcycle accident, she was determined to meet him.

After all, they had something in common: Robbins has been blind since birth, and Chabotte lost his sight in the accident.

But she had no idea he would turn out to be the love of her life, or they would be planning a wedding less than a year later.

"My heart just went out to him after hearing his story, and I wanted to meet him," Robbins said. "It took me nine months to track him down, but then he came to my house and never left."

And with the help of a good friend, the couple are hoping to raise enough money for a special wedding day and a few days away to spend together.

Annie Kudelchuk, owner of Altone's in Jewett City and longtime friend of Chabotte, donated the hall at the restaurant for the wedding and is holding a pasta dinner fund-raiser later this month.

"They love each other and want to be together, and I want to help," she said.

Robbins first heard of Chabotte through an October 2005 article in the Norwich Bulletin. She wasn't able to locate him until July 2006, but both agree it was worth the wait.

"We just have so many things in common," Chabotte said.

"When he hugged me that day," Robbins said, "I just knew it was where I belonged. A miracle brought him here."

Chabotte, 37, was living in Florida when the 1996 accident happened. In addition to his sight, the crash took his sense of smell and partial use of his right leg. Pronounced dead three times, doctors only gave him a 5 percent chance of survival.

Today, Chabotte is back to working as a mechanic. He, Robbins and her son, Aaron McCollum, 14, are enjoying life as a family. The couple will marry May 5.

"I've always wanted a family, and now I have a perfect one," said Robbins. "Now I hope we can have a perfect wedding, too."