Kingswood Oxford High School - Retrospect Yearbook (West Hartford, CT)

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Robert Henry Vandestadt “Van” One bright September morning in the Fall of 1951 a tall, slim fellow ambled down Outlook Avc. in the direction of his newly adopted school. He was clad in a shiny pair of shoes, a new pair of pants, a white shirt, open at the neck, and a snazzy new Hall High sweater. He was com- fortable! Van obviously didn’t realize it at the time, but he was in for a surprise. When he walked through the gate, he was given a warm welcome by Mr. Hewett who was greeting all the new boys on this first day. Five minutes later, Van was still with Mr. Hewett. You see, Mr. Hewett thought Van would look a great deal better if he were wearing a tie and coat. The following morning it was apparent that he had taken the hint, for he came with his own tic and coat. During his three years at Kingswood, Van has taken an active part in the various exercise programs. He worked hardest at the Winter program, especially during his Junior year. At that time he conveniently dropped an automobile generator on his left foot the very day the program started. Every Spring, as a loyal member of Mr. Eblcn’s great team of aggressive, blood- thirsty, mud-men, a group who fancy themselves as lacrosse players, Van could be seen daily batting Schroder over the head (the poor little guy) with his lacrosse stick. Due to his animal instincts, Van spent his summers climbing trees for a local tree service company. We all must have our fun! While at Kingswood, Van played many sports. He was a very good athlete. That is to say until Schroder finally hit him back. During the three seasons he played, Van won Junior Varsity numerals and two letters in Soccer. He also won three letters in lacrosse. He was an active member of the Dramatic Club. The school loses a great guy as Van starts off for college. We all wish him well and know that he will be a great success. 27

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Robert Charles Thompson “Pinky” Robert Thompson entered Kingswood in 1950 as a Third Form member. In this eventful first year he acquired two new additions to his name: the nickname Pinky” dreamed up by Steve Horton, and an impressive “W” added to his initials, through a typographical error in the school office. In this form, he nailed down a position on the Honor Roll while doing yeoman duty on Lancaster football, basketball and baseball teams. Fourth Form again saw him on the Honor Roll for the year plus Jayvee football and basketball squads where he won his numerals. The prized Williams Scholarship for excellence in studies was awarded to Pinky this year. In a lighter vein, this was also the year in which he developed his famous Johnnie Ray singing style, and in some quarters “Mr. Emotion was considered a poor second to our Pink. Naturally, after that, Mr. Waterman's choir enrolled him and so did the Dance Committee and Dramatic Club. In our startlingly successful You Cunt Tu!{c It With You, his portrayal of Mr. Depinna was one of the highlights of the show. Also in the Fifth Form, he won his Varsity letter in football and lacrosse, playing tackle and goalie. He wintered with Mr. Knapp’s wrestlers. Sixth Form saw Pink a bright spot in Bob Barrows’ defensive line during the fall, busy as a beaver in the winter with the Classbook business, and larruping around with lacrosse in the spring. A stalwart pillar in the choir, he was also elected to two responsible positions, senior class committee member and vice-president of the ('lass of ’54. His bright smile and ready sense of humor will always Ik remembered and wherever he goes from here, we wish him the best of luck and know he will do well. 26

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Sidney Scott “Sid” Sid slid enigmatically into the class in our Fourth Form year. In spite of Ap Scavcrn’s and Ed Knapp’s interest in him he remained more or less anonymous until spring. Then, due to his father's white college reunion coat, he was just about to be awarded the concession for red- hots and rootbeer when the coach recalled his ability on the football and basketball jayvee squads and gave him a chance at bat. This worked out so well he was elected captain of I. V. baseball the next year. The Kingswood News had to share his sports column with the West Hartford News but consoled themselves by figuring they had, therefore, a real pro on their staff. Sid had come alive musically during the fall by taking up the drums and joining Tony Dominick, Ted Dufficld, and Steve Jones in Steve’s basement. Sid was lucky to have parents with such resilient cars as his practise sessions really rocked the rafters. In his senior year, Sid’s sport column helped spark up the up-and-coming Kingswood News. He joined Sam Jones in the jazz connoisseur department, and in this capacity wrote an article on Hirdland for the Wyvern. Being adept at percussion by this time, he ground out the rhythm for the “Beat Taft” rally the night before the game. Thus inspired, Sid went out on the field the next afternoon prepared to die for old Kingswood, and the hemorrhage he got in his leg as a result kept him out of athletics from that first game of the season till January. His drumming survived, however, and more laurels landed on him for his background music in the oriental style for the Kings wood-Oxford Dramatic Club production of the play Iuidy Precious Stream. His rhythm was also heard in various dance bands around town. Every now and then in the years to come, we confidently expect to pick up Metronome magazine, or some sports periodical, and there will Ik another of his famous letters to the editors, bringing back fond memories of his cffcrvcrscent Sportswisc days. 28