Berlin High School - Lamp Yearbook (Berlin, CT)

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CLASS PROPHECY by Stella Lewandoski and Jean Lanza Memories surge through the minds of the hushed and expectant crowd as Charles Silsby, First Selectman of the Town of Berlin, ascends the platform to make his speech at the formal dedication of the community park for the town of Berlin, on this, the eighteenth day of June, nineteen-hundred and sixty-five. It is being dedicated to the class of 1945. as it has been through their efforts that this excel- lent addition to civic improvement has been made possible. To quote from his speech : “It gives me the greatest pleasure and satisfaction to be the one honored to dedicate a portion of this park — the fine athletic field, to the outstanding ath- letes of my class. They are Michael Bunko, now Governor of this State; Clifton Marieni, District Attorney; Henry Brochetti, Chief of the Fire Department; Jack Cooney, president of the local zipper factory; Roland Rochefort, president of the National Fine Arts Associa- tion; Pete Baccaro, Dog Warden; our able representative to Congress, Senator Robert Benson ; and William Hoppe, athletic coach at the University of Connecticut.” After this introductory speech, we all go on a tour of inspection of the park. When we reach the magnificent music shell we hear a short musical program. First in the order of entertainment we enjoy a thrilling rendition of “Carmen’ sung by Gertrude Hanford, famed star of the Metropolitan Opera House, to whom the music shell has previously been dedicated. In contrast we then hear a universally en- joyed blues number sung by Eileen Holigan, accompanied by Mary Lou Kahms McKeon at the piano. Listening attentively in the very first row, sit two lovers of good music, Ruth Sochrin and Barbara Black, joint operators of the Berlin Dog Biscuit Factory. Everyone remarks that the music shell is very beautiful and none of us are surprised to hear that Charles Meyer has been responsible for drawing up the architectural plans for it. We leave the shell and walk to the- swim- ming pool. On the way everyone notices the flowers and grass which have l)een planted under the supervision of John Radion, Park Commissioner. John has not yet gotten over his bashfulness. He blushes as Jeanette Pratt, a laboratory technician at the Berlin Health Center, tells him that the grass looks like a green velvet carpet. At the swimming pool we see a demonstra- tion of really fine swimming by those two aquatic stars, Jean Werdelin and Margaret Corr. The girls swoon when it is announced that Joe Spring is to lie the life guard. After inspecting the pool and the bath house which has been designed by Danny Pulito and built by Contractor Russell Swanson, we all sit down under the shady trees and talk about our school days. Everyone compliments Ray Mestieri and Richard McCain on the fine con- struction of the park benches and picnic tables. Glancing under one of the many maple trees we see Ernest Berlin. We all remember what a bookworm Ernie was in school. Now we find that books are earning him a living, as he is a well known literary critic. Dorothy Dezzani is the center of attention, giving us a preview of her dramatic radio serial, “My Many Loves”, when Florence Ruszcyk, Socialist Representative to Congress, makes her belated appearance. The more con- servative dressers, Helen Maguda and Gene- vieve Rambis, raise their eyebrows when they see the novel creation which Florence wears. It is now mid-afternoon, and the sun beats down mercilessly as Gloria Black expresses the wish of all of us when she says, “A milkshake, such as only Adele Haman can make, would hit the spot.” Adele now owns her own drug store with Jesse Palmer and Ethel Radune as her able assistants. Betty Griggs, the Powers model, is off in one corner talking alxmt beauty preparations and cosmetics with Dorothy Culver, who is vice-president of Margaret Pipkin’s perfume factory. As soon as Audrey Pollard finishes giving her exclusive recipe for bubble gum to Gloria Achille, Charlotte Pickett excuses herself as she has to leave early to get a train for the Mayo Clinic where she is Supervisor of Nurses. Margaret Tinti leaves also as she too has a nursing position there. This incident starts a discussion on medicine and Roberta Knight mentions the fact that Harriet Kemmerer has received the Nobel [ 17 ]

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STUDENTS Joseph Spring “Joe” Sports Club 4. Russell Swanson “Goch” i vant a beer.’ ' Chorus 1, 2, 3 ; Sports Club 4. Margaret Loretta Tinti “Peggy” All that glitters is not gold. Home Economics Club 1 ; Freshman Frolic; Sophomore Hop; Junior Barndance; Jun- ior Prom; Motif Club 4; Li- brarian 1. 2, 3, 4; Chorus 4. Jean Elaine Werdelin “Jeannie” “Be soeiable to all; friendly with many; familiar with few.” Pallette Club 1 ; Freshman Frolic Committee; Honor Roll 1, 2; Motif Club 4; Dramatic Club 4; Sophomore Benefit 2; Girls’ Basketball 1, 2, 3; Girls’ Tennis 1 ; Senior Barndance Committtee 4; Freshman Re- ception 4; Junior Barndance Committee; Manager Cheer- leaders 2, 3, 4; Home Eco- nomic Club 1. Stanley Gadzik Stanley Gadzik left Berlin High School in 1941 after hav- ing earned twelve credits tow- ard graduation. He entered the Army on April 16, 1943 and received basic training at Camp Edwards, Mass. Since then he has earned four credits in the Army. Two credits were given for each year in service and credits were awarded for spe- cialized training. He is now assigned to the hospital ship, “Republic”. [ 16 ]

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Prize for her outstanding achievements in re- search chemistry. Harriet is still as modest as ever and this makes it hard for us to consider her a celebrity. Shirley Johnson, Marion Munson, and June Bentley, are government girls who live to- gether and are still the same good friends they were in school. They, however, are not the only contribution our class has made to the business world as Doris Hamilton and Gloria Barrett are secretaries. It is apparent that members of the class of ’45 have entered every walk of life, even mar- riage, for Josephine Seddon and Mary Calian- dri are sitting together exchanging recipes and talking about their respective families. Margaret Mayer and Jane Kieffer have just finished telling us about the new high school in Berlin where they teach French and Physi- cal Education respectively, when Lena Marg- nelli and Marjorie Kanupka get up to leave. They own a prosperous restaurant and have to be back for the evening business. Teddy Hrubiec, fruit grower, offers to drive Barbara Gallnot and Clara Godek to their beauty salon which is located near Nellie Gacek and Dorothy Gadzik’s school for pro- fessional ballet dancers. John DiMugno, national demonstrator of the rhumba, leaves shortly after. The sun is now sinking in the west. The day of reunion to which we have so anxiously looked forward is now coming to a close. Many of us came a long way to witness this dedication. We, however, did not come merely to witness a dedication of a park though that was our primary purpose in coming. We came for more than just that. We came to see the old familiar sights of our childhood, to see our friends, some of whom we had not seen since our graduation. We came to momentarily for- get the cares and adversities of adults; we longed to relive the happy, carefree, days of our childhood. These are the thoughts that fill our minds and hearts as we all go home. Jean and I are the last ones to leave. Jean leaves to go to Hollywood where she is a top notch dress designer and I leave for my lodge in the Adirondacks where I am busy writing another novel. As we reluctantly walk through the gate I remark to Jean, “I guess old Virgil was right when he said, ‘Someday it will be pleas- ing to remember this’.” C 18 ]