Natick High School - Sassamon Yearbook (Natick, MA)

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THE SASSAMON 15 WELCOME-GRADUATION AS WE of the Class of 1944 gather together for the last time before we begin our separate journeys, we realize like Americans everywhere that we have much to thankful for. Many of our number are already serving in the armed forces. Many more will soon be wearing uniforms proudly. Those of us who may not be fortunate enough to serve in the armed forces because we are too young, or because of some other reason, will serve our country to the best of our ability in whatever field we may find ourselves. May we make you proud of us! The youth of America is ready to serve. EDWARD CLASBY FAREWELL ADDRESS JAMID a world of chaos and uncertainty such as we are facing at present it is harder than ever for one to go forward with confidence, high ideals and hopes of a better social and economic world to follow. Each previous graduating class has believed that its problems were the greatest, but at this period in history it must be realized that on the shoulders of our generation these hopes for world trust and cooperation will rest more heavily. We have long realized that nowhere in the world has there been such great opportunity for young people to receive an education as in America, an education which is planned to help each make a living and to maintain and better his standard of living. The background which we have received at Natick High School will help us to realize and appreciate the better things of life whether we further our educa- tion in college or enter the business world. Our educational background has also prepared us to combat the uncertainty that awaits us. We are greatly indebted to our American educational system for providing us with the knowledge to meet and solve these problems with courage and optimism. It is only with an informed and literate people that our democratic way of life may function and improve. Thus, we firmly believe that each succeeding class should have even better opportunities and advantages than we have received at our Alma Mater, in order that they also may have a feeling of preparedness for the time when they shall enter into full citizenship in our great nation.

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I4 THE S.-XSS.-XMON life. lfrom here. we walked across the hall into john Rego's, or, in other words, the principal's office, where we found .-Xnn .-Xhearn, the school nurse, talking to Rose Angelo, the secretary. lfirst we went to the bookkeeping department where we found industrious Barbara .Xlcock head of the department: Theresa Berthiaume was her assistant. Theresa was Mr. Sears' bookkeeper back in '44, Remember? From there we went to the linglish Department where we discovered Ellen Carey talking to Martha Pancho who had just graduated from the Conservatory of Music. The head of the history department, we discovered, was Rita Nichols. Her pupils later informed us that history with her was a pleasure and not just another class. We wonder about her method. Next we talked to Marjorie McHale, the shorthand and general business teacher. She received the position because of her ability to take, accurately, dicta- tion at 500 words a minute. We finished our tour of the school in the art department where we found pretty joanne Wigglesworth surrounded by the boy art admirers in her class. As well as being a good art teacher, she received much recognition from the news- paper in which appeared her regular comic cartoon strip called Life With Sister, a story of two red-blooded American girls struggling through life. .Xs it was near suppertime and we were hungry, we left the school and went downtown to eat at l'rovencal's Restaurant. The restaurant was run by Dorothy Provencal herself, and Mildred Messinger was the cook. Inside, we met Thomas Lydon who ran the biggest pig farm in the world. While talking over old times, he told us that Richard Brady was still station master down here at the railroad station. .Xfter supper we were invited to one of the great string of dance halls owned by Robert Checani. His dance halls featured all of the big-name bands, such as Robert Taylor, his trumpet and orchestra and famous vocalists, Marion McGovern and Ilot Monroe. They were the two members of our class who many times rendered vocal duets at assemblies. Eddie Noyes and his orchestra, which featured the trumpet duo of Stanley Sherman and Paul Shakespeare and vocalist, Roger Casavant, were playing at Checanis nightly. As we entered, we were overjoyed at meeting chief bouncer, john Kirby, after which we were escorted to our tables by the charming hostess, Miriam Ingalls. Who should come in behind us but registered nurses, Joyce Webber, Dorothy Wells, and Ann Sullivan, all escorted by none other than our well-known foot doctor, Frank Wigglesworth. XYe no sooner sat down when who should come up but Bob Mahoney. After graciously entertaining us, he left a card advertising the Parker-Mahoney Dance Studio situated in Natick Square. Janet Barber and Lillian Flynn. assistant teachers, guarantee to teach anyone ballroom dancing in less than four hours. After dancing a few hours, we were entertained during intermission by Bob tiarbutt. the noted concert and swing pianist. We couldn't get to see him after- wards. as he was mobbed by autograph-hunting girls. livery happy time has to have an ending, and, after staving it off as long as possible, we finally had to bid each of our friends goodbye and rush for our plane. thus climaxing a beautiful day back in dear old Natick. tfH,xRLEs Mcsoaava ROBERT BIAHONEY ROGER CASAVANT M.-xRjoR1ic WlCH.AI,P1 BIIRIAM INGALLS HELEN SELLER'

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lo 'l' H li S A S S A M ON .Xlthough we are far removed from the battlefronts, the ideals that many of our classmates are even now fighting for. and that many more of us will soon be fight- ing for, offer an inspiration for all to keep in mind during their daily lives. Selhsh interests. racial prejudices and other weaknesses in American life must be studied with open, clear and intelligent minds in order that they may be removed, and our Democracy may better approach a state of true Democratic idealism. This can be greatly aided by our educational system and may well serve as a world-wide example. As students of Natick High, we have learned to recognize that many of these prejudices are ill-founded, and the fact that people must not be judged as a group race or nation, but only as individuals. ln America it has long been realized that the public schools are the founda- tion of our country's greatness and the cradle of our intellectual freedom. Perhaps we have not been duly appreciative of our intellectual liberties, but certainly we shall realize in later life the importance that they have had in building character and in teaching us the importance of our citizenship. In the post-war world there will be numerous changes in our economic and social lives. Along with these we shall undoubtedly have changes in our educational system. As informed and intelligent citizens it will be our duty to insure better educational facilities for our country and for the whole world, for it is said educa- tion is the most powerful single weapon against greed, crime, hate and prejudice, which are the prime factors causing such upheaval and chaos as we are now expe- riencing in this world. It has been the tendency in more recent years to overemphasize scientific study, but in the future we must also recognize cultural values. It has been said that unless professional accomplishment is a natural product of the people's cul- ture it inevitably becomes a lifeless academism. And academism is bad regardless of whether it is labeled classicism or modernism Here again, knowledge proves itself one of the greatest elements in life which lead to the highest success. Finally. in farewell to our Alma Mater, we earnestly express our deep appre- ciation and sincere gratitude to the townspeople, schoolboard, superintendent, prin- cipals, and faculty of the Natick Public Schools with whom we have come in contact for their patient understanding, kindly cooperation and invaluable guidance during these, the formative years of our lives. And though deriving great joy from the fact that this is the commencement of a new phase in our lives, it is also with a feeling of deep regret that we bid a fond farewell to those honored and respected perceptors who have labored so nobly to guide our lives during these years. ROBERT GARBUTT