Blake School - Reflections / Call O Pan Yearbook (Hopkins, MN)

Page 29 text:

John Steven Bergerson Entered Blake 1955 Hockey V — manager; Wrestling VI; Track VI; Glee Club V; B Club V, VI. “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads.” Bible For six years Steve has been an asset to the class as an athlete and a friend. He was a conscientious team player and one of the “good ’uns” — especially to those on his side in a “Senior Room brawl.” Steve’s activities both at school and at home arc varied. He has been a member of the Glee Club and Dramatics; one year he managed the hockey team. As a senior “Bcrgic” participated in wrestling and golf. Indeed, Steve is active in almost all of the summer and winter sports, for he water-skis, swims, golfs, bowls, skis, and plays hockey. Steve is also an avid sportsman. In the fall he hunts ducks and pheasants; throughout the rest of the year he is a “dear” hunter. Steve’s excellent sense of humor makes him a success at any social gathering, yet it was his sense of responsibility when he wrestled first-string heavyweight which brought him much respect. Steve’s career choices include law and diplomatic service. The entire class wishes him continuing success in cither field. STEEL 25

Page 28 text:

Nicholas Konstantinos Barbatsis Entered Blake 1949 Football VI — manager; Basketball V, VI — all-conference V, VI; Baseball V, VI; Glee Club III; Union V, VI — recording secretary VI; Publications V, VI—Torch associate editor VI; Athletic Association V, VI — secretary VI; B Club V, VI; Class officer — president III, vice president V. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Keats “Twelve years of Blake activity” is a good summation of Nick’s school life. Since the first grade, Nick excelled in academics, extra-curricular activities, sports, and social life. In the Junior School he set an honor roll record of thirty-six consecutive first honor report cards. At this time basketball became the best sport of the Tall Thin One. The only significant step Nick took on being promoted to the Upper School was his discovery of girls. No one else at Blake can equal his number of “steadies” — twelve. Among his other extracurricular activities were Publications and athletics. Nick’s selection as Associate Editor of the Torch showed his organizational ability. At all Torch meetings Nick sat next to “H.B.”, organizing and worrying about his pages. Naturally he worked in a fantastic number of television games between pages. In basketball Nick was the nonpareil of the Blake netmen. High scorer in his junior year on the varsity, Nick averaged fourteen points per game to earn a spot on the M.I.S.L. All-Conference Team. But basketball was not Nick’s only contribution to Blake athletics. As varsity football manager Nick contributed to a successful year with his spirit and constant willingness to help. Although he carried a heavy load at Blake, Nick still participated in his church fellowship. He served as a counselor and an Athletic Director for his church camp. Nick’s activities arc only part of his contribution to Blake. His sense of humor and wide, ready grin are essential in any portrait of his personality, yet Nick stood up for what he believed in. Although some called him outspoken, “honest” better described him. All these facets of Nick’s personality made up an individual in the true sense of the word. 24 NITCH, GREEK, SYLVIA

Page 30 text:

Eric Paul Canton Entered Blake 1955 Track VI; Dramatics III, IV, V, VI—co-president VI, student director VI; Union V, VI — secretary VI; Publications V, VI—Call O’Pan associate editor VI; B Club VI; Waiter III, IV, V, VI; Dance Chairman VI. “No man was ever great by imitation ’ Johnson A phrase heard many times in chapel is, “Eric Canton has an announcement.” A murmur of expectation would run through the chapel, for Eric’s announcements were either very serious or extremely funny. One day Eric would express the feelings of the senior class on school spirit and on their desire to help any interested underclassmen attend school functions. The next he put on his squashed black hat and became Gordon Hathaway. The interest in this year's school dances was caused in no small part by Eric’s leaping out of his seat and running to the stage. A dance would seem unprepared for without Eric to tell the student body that it was coming. Eric’s interest in dances was not entirely organizational. A frequent scene about the middle of the week was a tall boy in a blazer talking to a classmate concerning a week-end date. Varied looks would come over the former’s face until the right girl was specified. Then a contented expression would assure the class- mate that Eric had found his “one-and-only” for the week-end. The organization which has benefited the most from Eric’s talents is Dramatics. Acting is his greatest love and a calling which he hopes to pursue after graduation. His performance as Sky Mastcrson in “Guys and Dolls’’ helped make this most ambitious production the greatest success of the Dramatics Association. Eric’s role in “Finian’s Rainbow” was just as effective, but otherwise completely different: his task was to make the six-foot one leprechaun Og look one-foot six. Eric was not only successful; he stole the show with his “Which witch is which line and “When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love.” Such effort for a pursuit or a cause which he believed in made Eric the personification of Blake School for scores of boys. When he made an announcement concerning an athletic contest, his school spirit was so apparent to all that the teams were inspired with the spectators. This enthusiasm was characteristic of Eric. 26 ERWICK. SKY, LEP