Boston Latin School - Liber Actorum Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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CLASS CHRONICLE April brought a great boost to American prestige. Colonel John Glenn orbited the earth three times and re- turned safely to earth after five hours in space. On tele- vision and in interviews with newspapers and magazines, the astronaut showed himself to be a simple. God-fearing man, and altogether very likeable. The ordinary spring processions of Registration Day, Prize Declamation, Prize Reading, and final exams passed in a dreary, hazy style. Bob Sabbag, the school ' s only Arab Legionnaire, had wisely reserved himself a pair of crutches engraved with his initials, and was consequently well pre- pared for his annual stroll on the last day of school — in his annual cast. CLASS II 1962-1963 Now we were beginning our last two years at Latin, the two most important of our high school careers. We also added, to the extreme annoyance of the pacifists among us, drill and military science (Platoons Column Left . . . Haarch— No, No! Left, I said!). Soon, we were introduced to the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, merely a harbinger of later brain-torturing exams, which always seemed to be identified by mysterious and ominous initials: CEEB. SAT, NMSQT. Class II, therefore, was probably our biggest year at Latin School heralding our first actual confrontations with the monumental problem of getting into college. It was a very big year in sports, also. The football team had a 2-3-1 record, very understandable in view of the lack of experience among the players. English rolled up a 32-6 score on Thanksgiving Day to give the season a particularly bad taste. Our hockey team was one of the best in recent years with an 1 1-2-1 record and the City Championship. The team qualified for the State Tourna- ment but lost to Arlington High in a disputed four over- time game. The hoop squad after losing five out of their first six games, hustled over the last part of the season to finish with a 6-8 slate. Bonavita, McCarthy, Gordon, and Murphy were senior standouts, while juniors Jim Kulbacki, Bob Nierman, Bill Timpson showed much promise. In swimming, Latin had its most successful year, with the second best high school record in Eastern Massachusetts, and a 10-7 record in mixed competition. The track squad did fairly well with a third place in the City Meet, but only a fifth place in the Reggies. Our soccer team had a fine 4-2 record, but lost to Roxbury Latin for the fourth consecutive year. Crisis suceeded crisis in the way that has become custo- mary during the Cold War. In October, the situation in Cuba nearly brought us to war. Offensive missiles were found pointed at the continental United States. President Kennedy issued an ultimatum to Russia and Cuba de- manding the removal of the missiles and put a naval block- ade around the coast of Cuba to prohibit further weapons shipments. After a hair-raising two days. Premier Khrush- chev swallowed his considerable pride in the face of such determined American opposition, and gave orders for the return of Russian ships then en route to Cuba with wea- pons. World peace had been narrowly preserved. This retreat of Khrushchev ' s led in turn to a disagree- ment with China over the most fitting way to further world Communism. The Chinese held that the Leninist Marxist theory of violent revolution was the only way that socialist doctrine could be spread, while Khrushchev held the hope that if the Soviet bloc merely co-existed peacefully with the West, capitalism itself would eventually wither and die. Through it all, the war in Vietnam, very costly in both money and lives, dragged on and on. The arrogant ways of Premier Diem ' s ruling family made the war more and Max Levine

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last time the Class of ' 64 would enjoy a winning cause on the Turkey Day. The Latin hockey squad, highest scorers in the city, took second place with a strong 9-4-1 record. Pete Treska and Mike McLaughlin made the all-city squad, while young Bobby Walsh was an outstanding freshman skater. As the only team to beat Trade, the hoopsters took a respectable tie for second place with seven wins and five losses. Butch Chardavoyne, playing as if he had springs in his feet, bounced his way into the all-city team. Our indoor track team placed third in the city meet. The soccer team was 4-2 for the season. Under Mr. Fielding ' s guidance, the strong-backed crew stole the city championship. Mr. Powers ' swimmers, with their standard finesse, won six meets in high school competition, while losing one. All in all, it was a very successful year in sports. The usual spring sights were in evidence as the school year drew to a close: the trees in the Fenway covered with new green buds, Gardiners Palace choked with bright blossoms . . . Bob Sabbag on crutches again. We underwent the usual spring experiences, too. Prize Declamation, the freedom of Registration Day and last obstacle — final exams. Then is was real freedom — freedom from the cares that go with school, freedom until Sep- tember. CLASS III 1961-1962 We had seen half our Latin School career go by, the carefree half it seems. Health took the place of civics on our report cards. It also created embarrassing situations at times. Also in this year, we began the elective study we had chosen at the end of Class IV. Whether we had chosen Greek, another modern language, history, or physical science, we had made our individual decisions, and as individuals we would have to stand behind them. Berlin was in the autumn news — a bad situation which might erupt into war. American and Russian troops glared at each other over the makeshift wall. The President called up thousands of reservists and put our draft-shy seniors in a quandary. Another Russian cosmonaut, Gherman Titov by name, orbited the earth for a full day. Eating a meal, and having a good sleep while in flight, Titov returned uneventfully to earth. Dag Hammerskjold, who had done more for peace than any other world leader, died in an airplane crash in the Congo while investigating the situation there. Led by Russia, the Communist members of the United Nations took the opportunity to place in jeopardy the effectiveness of the world body by attempting to substitute the so-called troika plan for the present office of secretary-general. This concept, which would have assured the Soviet bloc an opportunity to step around the decisions of the General Assembly, was fortunately defeated. In major league sports. New York ' s Roger Maris had little public sympathy as he overtook Babe Ruth ' s record by hitting sixty-one home runs over the new extended 162-game schedule. The rest of the Yankee team ground out regular-season and World Series victories with their usual workman-like attitude. The Patriots put out every- thing they had to place second in the Eastern division of the American Football League, a mere half-game behind the first place Houston Oilers. The incomparable Celtics with Bill Russell and Bob Cousy leading the way, dribbled their way to the NBA championship for the fourth year in a row. In school sports, the football season started off with a bang that unfortunately died to an echo by Thanksgiving. After overwhelming Charlestown (19-0) and Dorchester (26-0), the team suffered seven injuries to the first-line in a game with Trade, while the game officials put their telescopes over their blind eyes. This utterly ruined what might have been a favorable season and led to a subsequent 39-0 loss to English. We fared poorly in basketball. The team ' s 1-1 1 record was caused mainly by the large number of inexperienced youngsters on the squad in this year of rebuilding. Hockey was a much happier story, as the squad glided to a first place with B.C. High. Pete Treska took scoring honors in the entire city with a high of forty-four points. Furthermore, the sextet beat the Maroon and Gold 3-2 in the season ' s crucial rubber game. The traditional school functions kept the assembly hall filled all year. The National Honor Society and the Fashion Show packed the house. The school play. The Man Who Came to Dinner, was exceptionally humorous and very well received considering its previous exposure as a Broad- way play and a motion picture. Time Limit— 1961 Latin-English Rally. November 1962

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more unpopular and alienated his own Vietnamese people. The National Honor Society Revue had only a fair crowd, due to a new policy of allowing only members of the Society take part in the various skits and routines. The first annual Music Festival helped to compensate for this with the audience it attracted. Soon Spring was upon us and for the first time, as juniors, we participated in the activity of Prize Drill. Company G took first place. At about the same time, we were the invited guests of the seniors at their Class Day exercises. This year we had an additional obstacle at year ' s end, the dreaded May college boards. However, after our months of preparation, the exams were almost anti-cli- mactic. Prize Declamation went by, and the best day of school arrived. We are happy to say Bob Sabbag did not leave on crutches this year — he had taken care of his crutch commitments during the Fall. Thus we departed, to take a well-earned rest before our final assault on the colleges in Class I. CLASS I 1963-1964 Summer 1963 left the Latin School juniors with mixed emotions, curious as to what the senior year would bring from the tough early months down to the coveted senior slump. Just as curious as an anticipating gang of sixies, we entered the period every Latin School boy dreams of — Class I. But the work was staggering. Assignment after assign- ment mounted until everyone thought he could do no more; but still there was more to do. College applications, the all-important Christmas averages, term papers, and the Boards all seemed to come on the same day. Somehow we all staggered through it and went home for Christmas to regroup our forces. No sooner did we get back than the ominous Boards stared us in the face once more. No one ' s transcript seemed to have gone out; Mr. Hopkinson appeared to be working twenty-four hours a day. Finally, the pressure slackened and marks began to fall. We didn ' t care. We had survived the last big test. In current affairs, the news of the assassination of President Kennedy dominated the headlines. We at B.L.S. felt a special loss because many of us had been privileged to march in his inaugural parade. For four days radio and television stations cancelled all their shows out of respect for the late President. The entire nation was shocked and saddened deeply. Lyndon Baines Johnson became the thirty-sixth Presi- dent of the United States. A long time Senate leader, Johnson took over the helm, and life prepared to continue where it had left off. In the midst of all this, we seniors at Latin School gathered to elect our officers. Brian McGunigle emerged as our President; Tony Palermo as Vice President; Bill Potter as Secretary; and Dan Needham as our Treasurer. Tom Branca was elected chairman of the Class Committee with Joe Getman, Ed Murphy. Charlie Elboim. and Dave Stanhewicz as Committeemen. On the school sports scene. Latin again lost to English, only this time a victim of some unlucky breaks. In hockey once again we captured the City ' s Crown with a 12-2-0 record. Once again we made the state tourney, and once again a referee ' s call expelled us from it. The basketball team completed its 69th consecutive year. In baseball, BLS was vying for a third straight City Championship with essentially the same team that won it last year. In professional sports, the Bruins (HO-HUM) ended up in the cellar, and the Celtics (HO-HUM) again won the World ' s Championship. The Red Sox after being high in the first division for most of the season slumped and finished way down in seventh place. The Patriots, after finishing second three years in a row, finally won the Eastern Division, but were hopelessly demolished by San Diego 51-10 in the playoff game. Mired deep in senior slump, we all watched our last days in high school fall away. The Class Day, the Ban- quet, the Prom, and Graduation Night came and went. Wherever we go and whatever we do, we shall bear the mark of our Latin School education. Some of us will hardly admit it. but in our hearts, we acknowledge our debt to the school and its able teachers. It is our fervent hope that in other times, the members of the Class of 1964 will read this chronicle, and recall the events that made us Latin School men. $$m± Lloyd Hechinger Pep McCarthy Coach Fred Gumbs IMrl sr • ■- I - 1 a Swimming team visits Coast Guard Academy — 1962. 27