Archmere Academy - Patio Yearbook (Claymont, DE)

Page 18 text:

Seated, left to right: Callahan, R. Kaiser, W. Doherty, R. DeFiore, I. Nolan. Standing: R. Eisler, M. Wendel, Leahy, L. Potts, C. Jones, R. LaPenta, R. Schilly, C. Firebaugh, Dugan. Father Vtfagner this year had the distinction of mod' erating the most active class in the school, the juniors- - though some people were disparaging enough to assert that the class was forced to this activity to keep one step ahead of the sheriff. Knowing Father Wagner we doubt this. Still the class did elect Bill Doherty as President, Dick Kaiser as VicefPresident, Bob DeFiore as Secretary, and John R. Callahan as Treasurer, which is enough to excite anyone's suspicions. Five new members were added to the class in September: Bill Crawford, Connie Jones, Bob Eisler, Bob LaPenta and Charles Firebaugh. With this group the class was able to put over a very successful junior Prom on April 21, 1944, to participate decisively in all athletics, and, most im' portant, to be continuously well represented on the honor roll and in all scholastic activities. Two juniors received medals at graduation for placing second and third in the annual spelling contests: james Dugan and Martin Wendelg at the same time Ralph Schilly took the award for scholasf tic achievement, and the awards for second place in the State Essay Contest on Unity for Peace. I 4 HIRNI V REV. C. L. WAGNER, O.PRAEM

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aaaam,gmf1a51mDg1944 We are a Class who marked the change in things. W'ith use sometimes silent, watching, sometimes active, loudffArchmere has grown older, passed its childhood, entered its Second Springfl We came in the Fall of '40 sixteen strong to inaugurate the new classrooms in the IVIanor Hall. Everything was so bright and new: the sky held few, if any, clouds. In '41, as Sophomores, we returned almost gleefully, if such a thing is possible! Archmere was larger now: the lower tract of woodland and the houses had been bought, but we were more inf terested in football, and the rest, for it promf ised to be a gala year-Archmere's tenth annif versary. But with December seventh came Pearl Harbor and the warfour Hrst and Archmere's. It didnit mean too much 'cause we were still too young, but, then, brothers and friends who had gone off rather gaily for a year to train came home to say goodfbye and no one knew when they would be home again, There were airfraid drills and Red Cross nhrstfaidn and activities galore. Now we were Juniorsfjust fourteeniand we tried to tighten up and buckle down, but the current was against us: everything was flux. Change was the motif: in the faculty there were four new faces: Fathers Nolan, Hinkes and Hoffman, and Coach Farmer had been changed for Fathers Wagner, Blecha and Demerath and Coach Cicero: we had commando training, and lots more Math.: at home there was rationf ing and shortages and blackouts: in the papers new names gave way to newer names: Eisenf hower, Doolittle, Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, Stal' ingrad-and a million more. Is it any wonder we were changelings? When we returned Seniors in September, 1943, we knew that we were the hrst of the new age. Father Vanderheiden was gone and in his place came Father Toonen. At the midfyear Mr. O'Brien left to be replaced by Mr. Stuart Degginger, '39, In June two of the early graduf atcs had been ordained priests -- Fathers Feld' man and McLaughlin, and now another alumf nus had returned to teach. Surely Archmcre had come of age. But each day now saw a short visit of one or two or three Archies in uniform fcome home on leave before going over. Why we were only 10 Seniors: Dick Crace had left us for the Navy, Bob Boyle and Bob Murphy for the Army, Bob Wheeler for the Merchalat IVIarine. And then rapidly in sharp succession came three messages to sadden and to impress us all: three Archies had given their lives: Pfc. Wil' liam IVIcDowell, U.S.M.C., was killed in the Gilbert Islands: Lt. Reed DeRouen, U.S.A., at Salerno: Capt. Dan 0'Donnell, U.S.A,A.C., in Australia. May God grant them refreshment, light and peace! May He preserve all others! We are Seniors now. We have this, our Patio, and our Senior Ball. In ten days Charley Brown will deliver the Salutatory, and jim Phillips, the Valedictory at our graduation and commencef ment. And we will have our memories, But we have something moref-esomething which is hard to tell in words. We know what Archmere means. It is a Faith . . . Trust . . . Love. It is why we fight and what we fight for, and if we persevere in its defense, we must be eternally grateful to Archmere. Left to right: W. Craven, Haley, T. Walsh, R. Shiels, J. Phillips, The Very Rev. D. F. Hurley, O.Praem., Tigani, Filliben, Cassidy, W. Dewson, C. Brown.

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Seated, left to right: W. Hutchison, Kelly, T. Nester, F. Filliben, McLaughlin, John- son, R. Pacyna. Standing: R. Walton, Kane, L. Santa Maria, Kiely, P. Sullivan, D. Devine, Daley, G. Crofoot, j. Carney, B. Fagan, Wilson, Remedio, G. Herbert. IURIVI IV REV. H. H. TOONEN, O.PRAEM. Once again a new sophomore class clambered back through the pillars of Archmere with determination and vigor. This ambition was quite fruitful, too, for many prominent Hgures in the field of sports and scholastics came forth from the Sophs. Diligent scholars, such as Donn Devine, John Kelly, and Francis Filliben have represented their class on the honor roll, while Johnny Wilscnn, Tom Nester, Jim johnson, and Bernie Fagan highlighted the Basketball, Football, and Baseball teams. When the new term opened several newcomers were seen. John Daley, Laine Santa Maria, and Robert Pacyna proved valuable additions to their class. The sophomores chose, for their oilicers, Francis Fil' liben as president, Thomas Nester, vicefpresidentg john McLaughlin, secretary, and jimmy johnson, treasurer. All activities were entered into with utmost enthusif asm. Debate Society are John McLaughlin, John Kelly, and Donn Devine, with John Kane and Bill Hutchison in the Orchestra, and several other sophomores filling the draf matics club. The Sophomores' record under Father Toonen's tute- lage so far is certain proof that as upperclassmen they will be even more outstanding. !5