Academy of Our Lady of Mercy - Lauralton Yearbook (Milford, CT)

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penned Peggy I learned that La Dailey is hap- pily married to . . . She just couldn't remember his name! This.little stall of memory didn't stop us and we continued to talk. I wasn't at all sur- prised to hear from Peg that Rosemarie Chap- delaine is now the gym instructor at Lauralton, specializing in a new game of her own invention, Hockey-at-your-own-risk. They use croquet mal- lets instead of the conventional and relatively safe sticks. That led me to the discovery that Madeline Leahy is teaching Latin at our Alma Mater and is working for her Masters Degree on the side. Getting back to the subject of the show, which was an overwhelming success, Peggy said she and Rose had gone to see it and afterwards stopped in for coffee at the PIGEON NEST, a lovely dining establishment owned and operated by Loretta Pellegrino, and while there she had noticed Marge Petek sitting with a group of friends from the Opera House. Naturally there was a jubilant reunion of Lauralton's 5lers, but Peg amusedly related that it was a short-lived reconciliation as they were interrupted by enthu- siastic applause which heralded the entrance of the PIGEON NEST'S versatile singing Emcee, Joan Flynn. Peggy hnally ran out of breath, which gave stewardess Kernick a chance to politely take her leave of us to go about her job. I realized as we plummeted onto the field at San Francisco, that we had talked for three thousand miles. I almost wished for the old-fashioned planes that took at least half a day 'to cover the country. I stepped off the plane and stood looking around the crowded airport. This was the mid- point of my trip to Hawaii. After bidding a sincerely fond adieu to Peg, I experienced a sud- den feeling of loneliness. I had been advised by dependable friends that Hawaii is the place to take a vacation but I must confess to a change of heart at that moment. As I walked about the San Francisco airport, waiting for the Hawaiian Express to refuel, I noticed a familiar face. There standing at the information desk, conversing vigorously with the traveling agent, I saw the famous Kay Fleming. The agent, Ann Dougiello, was trying to explain that the collective family rate does not apply to groups the size of the Fleming tribe. I felt somewhat like an auto- graph hound as I approached the famous singing comedienne. But soon, oblivious of time, Ann, Kay and I were sitting discussing the news, past and present. Among other things, I picked up these tasty tidbits: 62 Ann Jenemann, whom we all know as the author of many of our Catholic best-selling novels, is working on a new one entitled, Then came Charley! . . . Nancy Relihan, who has already proved her merit as a great actress, fthe renowned Miss Tarrymorelj is going to make her debut as Juliet in September! . . . King Features has just purchased the copyright to Mary Jane Quick's newest cartoon creation, The Imps . . . Doris Pulie has become a French-English interpreter at the United Nations' Headquarters. Our conversation ended only when they an- nounced that the plane for Hawaii was to leave in a few minutes. Once again winging away across the miles, I began to read a copy of the Bridgeport Post which Ann thoughtfully had slipped to me, knowing I would be interested. I noticed immediately from front-page headlines that Thomasina Frouge was running for Congress on the Republican ticket opposed on the Demo- cratic ticket by the 'good-humored candidate , Denise O'Connor. From the society page two familiar faces smiled up at me, Marilyn Hill portrayed in the traditional lace and veil of a June bride while Helen Whelan's picture was captioned with the familiar phrase, Announces her engagement. On the next page, there was a stimulating editorial by the new editor Jban Kleinknecht, a masterpiece entitled Dependa- bility-a key to success. A few pages further on, there was a full-sized ad announcing the opening of a new drugstore. Beneath the two lovely pictures, I read, Head Beauty Consult- ant . . . Lorraine Baduini, Head Pharmacist . . . Irene Gemzal In another picture on the back page, I recog- nized Sue Shay, who, the paper informed me, had just received a key position at the Yale School of Music - doing research work on scales. Seen congratulating Sue in the picture was the country's outstanding criminal lawyer, Barbara Hammond! Lauralton's influence in the world is certainly far-reaching! The paper fell from my grasp as the plane touched the ground. As I tripped down the gang- plank the beautiful spirit of peaceful, balmy Hawaii was soon soaked up by my weary bones. Even the fact that Hawaii is another state of the Union does not detract from its exotic fascina- tion. As I left the airport a taxicab occupied by a sophisticated dark-eyed young lady stopped in front of me. In a moment, I recognized her to be Kay Barrett. Soon I was in the cab talking about everything from beans to bones. Kay told me that she was in Hawaii only for a short vaca-

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9 Q 9 Yr' aimud Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. My thoughts were a strange confusion of adventurous discontent and peaceful satisfaction as I pushed through a bustling crowd at the LaGuardia airport. I had a few minutes to spend yet before the San Francisco Express take-off, so I was extremely delighted to discover standing before me, the famed equestrian, Mary Alice Daley. What would have been an eternity of time till take-off was consumed in a minute as old friends bridged the ten year gap since their grad- uation from Lauralton. In strictest confidence she informed me that Maureen Regan, whom she had just seen off on the plane for Texas, had left to confer with the directors of the C.j.P.C. lCactus jet Plane Companyj about the price at which she would buy them out. I was surprised to hear that Maureen had become a mathe- matical wizard and business tycoon. O Both whirring, impetuous motors of the plane roared as Nancy Kernick, the stewardess, in her typically gentle fashion informed me that I was holding things up! lMaybe DOWN is more like itlj Once on the plane, Nancy asked me if I had seen Nancy Morganroth's newest Musical, I Don't Care, which had recently opened. Of course everyone knows both music and lyrics were written by our own Mary Foley. We've already read the reviews in the Times by Mary Lou Reardon. Nancy was surprised to hear that the review was written before the Show. But, of course, Mary Lou was able to do it because Nancy made her sit through all the rehearsals. I would never have known the oflicious woman journalist who sat next to me to be Peggy Rooney, had she not exclaimed Sweet Motherl While talking about old times with fiery-

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tiong she had to get back to Bridgeport in time for her partner, Margaret Relihan, to take her vacation. 'l'hey are the joint owners of the coun- try's outstanding hat designing shop. Kay said that among their best customers are Sally Plumb, now famous for her radio portrayal of X'Vhen a Girl Marries and Barabara Speer who has her own quarter hour broadcast of Music for the tired heart. The perplexed driver inter- rupted our chattering to inquire about the hotel we wanted to be driven to. In a few minutes we were being ushered into the fashionable Leilani Hotel by the proprietress herself, Fran- cine Queenth. I saw Francine just a few years ago at Mar- garet Carroll's wedding. QStrange . . . again I find I can't remember the groom's IILIIIICJ Francine, beside herself with excitement because Arthur Godfrey was doing his first trans-oceanic- television broadcast from her hotel, invited us up to the studio. just as we came in, Arthur's girl Friday , Pat Williams, was introducing to the television screens of the world their guest of honor, Littoria Beltrone. I found myself so engrossed in I,ittoria's playing that I didn't notice another great Television star, sittings next to me . . . Mara DeGroffl She waited patiently, until I was de-fascinated from Littoria's concerto fan opus of her own, incidentlyj and it was with a tearful eye and joyful heart that I shook her hand. I noticed the propitious frown on Pat's brow and hy way of explanation I said, I always cry when I'm happy. And who wouldn't be happy! In one day, at tl1e four corners of the earth I have felt the smile, the handshake and the embrace of so many old friends: a smile that relates all the Lauralton friendliness, a handshake that expresses its won- derful spirit of co-operation, and an embrace that gathers and brings together the fond memories of the past. I suddenly realized that Lauralton is not just a building or a group of peopleg Lauralton is a spirit embedded in our hearts, a spirit which neither time nor tide can take from us. Maureen Reidy Cllaracterislically speaking. And now, our frst exclusive. Smile, 'sclmoozlesf Jn L1 Mmm 63 Senior-junior Class Night banquet.