Greenwich High School - Compass Yearbook (Greenwich, CT)

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Seniati

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GEORGE VAHSEN President GEORGE BARBER Vice President CLAIRE MITCHELL Secretary-Treasurer HOWARD BOOTH G.O. Representative CLASS HISTORY Chapter LXXVI f Being a history of the peoples, times, and action: of the great Clan of F arty yin during its four year: of existence. Most historians agree that the great Class of Fortylive had its inception in the merger of the Nine Clans one hot june day on the 'vast Havemeyer Plain. The year was 1941. From the northeast had come the North Mianiansg from the west, the New Lebanonites, the Byramians, and those of Hamilton Avenue, from the east came the Coscobians, the Riversidians, and the Old Greenwichersg from the Central Regions, the natives of Havemeyer and Mason Street. After a brief ceremony under a sweltering June sky, they returned to their homelands. The following September, however, saw the hordes sweep down again, and this time for a more permanent settlement. They elected as their chief a talented accordionist, Andrew Ponticello. Their vice-president was Douglas Allan, tribal drummer, who, three years later, was also to become chief. Other notables in this early period, who were later to hold more important administrative positions, were Al Crockett, Joe Morgan, and Claire Mitchell. That first year was rather quiet for the Fortyfivians. They were busy acclimating themselves in this new land of regular schedules and endless halls. But in the second year, as Sophomores in the great Class System, their smould- ering genius began to blaze. That was the year that Albert Crockett rose to chiefdom. It was the year of the Commando Course, the Victory Corps, and the Jeep Campaign. We have records of a great plague of measles in April, and a contemporary historian berated the community paper as being 'a Sophomore organization. The cultural achievements of the era were augmented through the his- trionic ability of Bob Henklein, Mary Lou Ruddock, Ann Crosby, Gilbert jordan, and Dave Isbell, and the musical efforts of the times profited no less by Betty Murphy, Harland DeWitt, Ralph Moraio, Donald Slater, Albert Renna, Bill Pape, Leo Nolan, Johnny Twine, Barbara Muller, and Florence Johnston. But not alone in the arts did they excel, for they fwere a race of many talents, and soon they had stepped to the front in politics as well. In March of that same year, began a turmoil which was to have far-reaching effects. The Fortylivians had seen the need for a more representative rule in their domain. Under the statesmanship of David Shapleigh, Dave Isbell, Herbert Decker, and George Robinson they struck out boldly in their demands for reform. The result was the formation of a tribal forum, or Student Council, as it was called. Even at this early date, some historians consider it necessary to mention the athletic prowess of this tribe, for already the field of contest was bright with such names as Bella, Craig, Barber, Stuckel, Richardson, Quinlan, and Jennings. At the end of that second year, there were not a few of those hardy Fortylivians who stepped proudly forward to receive their honors on the great ceremonial day of Recognition. The following autumn, the Fortyfivians succeeded to the next level in the great Class System. They were now juniors, and as has been mentioned, Douglas Allan became chief. Daniel Costaregni became vice-president, and Howard Booth assumed the dual responsibilities of Secretary and Treasurer. Sally Tiebout and Al Crockett were G.O. Representatives. Though this third year lacked, perhaps, a little of the spirit that charac- terized the preceding one, yet its achievements were numerous. Bob Henk- lein and Willard Jackson were received into the society of Thespians for their 22