Millbury Memorial High School - Aftermath Yearbook (Millbury, MA)

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CES rophecy On the morning of April 21, 1967, the postman rang my doorbell; when I answered it, he handed me a special delivery letter which I opened immediately and read: “Dear Theresa: “When I heard that you were flying to Europe for a week’s vacation, I wondered if you would do me a favor. I am the chair- man of the committee arranging the twenti- eth reunion of the Class of ’47. I understand that some members of our class are now in Paris and London. Would you be willing to get in touch w ith them and urge them to be in Millbury on June 3 for our big get- together? If you can do this for me, I shall be glad to send you a list of the people to contact. Sincerely yours, Peg Norton” I was thrilled at the idea of the twentieth reunion and of course, I was delighted to help Peggy in rounding up the members of 47. Peg, who was general supervisor of all gym instruction in the Millbury schools, would make a splendid chairman for the big event. I wrote at once and accepted the responsibility of seeing my classmates who were abroad. Two weeks later I went to New York to board the famous new B-37, the largest and fastest airplane in the world, for my trip to Paris. However, since the plane did not leave until the following day, I decided to do a little sightseeing. One of the places I wished to see was the Statue of Liberty. Almost at the very peak of the huge statue, I met a painter who, believe it or not, was John Graves. At last he had achieved his ambition to be the “Tops” in his work; well, he certainly had attained the top, even if the altitude was a bit dangerous. John was surprised and pleased to see me and invited me over to his house for dinner. He mentioned that ‘Carolyn’ would love it; then it was that I discovered he had married Carolyn Kilmer, the best cheer leader of her day. I could not accept his kind invitation, but we agreed to meet at the reunion. On the following day, the excitement of getting aboard the great clipper was tre- mendous; but after I had been comfortably settled in my nylon chair, I began to read a paper which I had bought in New York. The headlines read: ‘Rocket Ship Begins Weekly Service to Mars.” I was interested, So. lereads theurest o1 the articles» “Exactly one week from today at 3.00 p.m. a giant silver and red rocket ship will leave from New York for the first of weekly trips to Mars. At the controls will be Major Robert LeClaire of the United States Army Air Corps. The major will be in charge of a crack crew composed of Captain William Berthiaume, Lt. Laurie Cofske, Lt. Richard Bordeaux and Lt. Donald Mead. The Gallacher Rocket Ship was designed by Mr. George Gallacher of the famous Gal- lacher Rocket Works. The first woman president of the United States, Joan Vayo, and the Governor of New York, William Murphy, will be at the field when the ship takes off.” In the very same paper, amazingly enough, I read about another member of the Class of 47. John C. Hayes, now a famous research scientist, had become the talk of the medical world by at last finding the long-awaited cure for that annoying disease—the common cold. I always knew that John would become a great scientist. My reading was interrupted by the radio operator of the great airship. Was I sur- prised to recognize Frank Bengston! Frank had seen me getting aboard and was eager to talk about old times. In the midst of our conversation, the pilot of the ship sent back an invitation for me to visit him up front. This was a real honor, for passengers are not usually allowed in the cockpit. But I soon discovered the reason for my special

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Apovess of Welcovne PARENTS, TEACHERS, CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS: This afternoon’s program marks the opening of Senior Week activities which climax our four years at Millbury High School. Realizing that for the Class of 1947 high school days have ended, we regret that the time has passed so quickly and that now we must part. It is fitting, therefore, to express publicly our gratitude to our parents who have given to us pleasures-and educational opportunities which many of them could not enjoy. We also thank the members of the faculty who have patiently and wisely guided us in our scholastic endeavors. Today is a day for reminiscing. Marks, tests, homework, and the everyday problems of school life no longer beset us. We recall now the humorous little incidents which made our school days enjoyable, the friendships that have grown stronger with time, and the scholastic, athletic and social achievements of individual members of the class. All these things taken together have made four happy years—perhaps, the happiest years of our lives. It is with pleasure that I bid you to review with us the highlights of our high school days at these, our Class Day exercises. GEORGE GALLACHER Clase as: (Worps AND Music By EvEtyn BEeRGstTROoM) Verse: Verse: Days of study, sports. and play, The future hes before us now, With fellow classmates day after day; Each one of us will face it somehow; These happy past four years have seemed to fly, To college, or perhaps the working world, The time has come for parting and goodbye. A different task awaits each boy and girl. We'll not forget the good times we’ve had, It doesn’t matter how far we’ll go, The fun, the pleasures, and we might add, Each graduate will realize and know, That from our hearts we know that this is true, That, Millbury High, you’ve given us our start, These many happy memories we owe to you. We dedicate these words to you—they’re from our hearts. Chorus: Millbury High, our days are drawing to an end, We're leaving you. To us you’ve been a loving friend; You’ve given us so many mem’ries cherished and dear, Of friendships, joys and laughter, Always to be revered. Oh, Millbury High, with gratitude we’re here today, Alma Mater, listen to us while we say— We, the Class of ’47, pledge our loyalty, To you, dear school, farewell, farewell, to thee.

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privilege—the pilot was Arthur Collette, looking very smart in his uniform. Arthur and I spent some time reminiscing about old times until we stopped at the Azores to pick up some passengers. I was becoming so accustomed to being surprised that I didn’t even gasp when the first person to get aboard was Dot Lambert. She told me that since her retirement as head beautician at Paramount Studios, she had been living quietly in the Azores with her millionaire husband, Stanley Grandone. Dot who was now bound on a shopping trip, had a great deal of Hollywood gossip. She told me that the Academy Award winner of the “Oscar” was Barbara Collette, who had won it for her capable portrayal of “Lorna Doone.” Bill Jensen, his beautiful wife, Shirley Crepeau, Bob Kruger, and lovely Gloria Goulet were all scheduled to arrive in Worcester soon for the premiere of their picture—‘‘Cavalcade of Worcester.” Dot and I chatted on until we arrived at our destination. Paris, city of light and fashion; Paris, the beautiful, was all that I had dreamed it would be. I was staying at one of the fashionable hotels and on the first morning whom should I meet but Louis LaBreck. He told me he had married Irene Maynard, had established a chain of res- taurants throughout Europe, and was living happily. Louis told me to be sure to attend a per- formance to be given that night in the Paris Opera House by the world-famous magician Roy Adams, who was on a world tour. I followed his advice and was amazed at Roy’s uncanny ability to read minds and perform magic. After the show was over, Roy and I had a long chat about by-gone days. He offered to cut short his world tour and be in Millbury in June to perform his magical tricks at our class-get-together. One of the names Peg Norton had given me was that of Norma Mongeon. Roy told me that Norma had become a well- known psychologist and was now lecturing in French at the College of the Sorbonne, on the subject “The Strange Behavior of Teen- agers.” The following day I had tea with Norma in her spacious apartment. I was amazed that this beautiful red-haired woman had not married; but she confided that, al- though she had had many offers of marriage, she was still waiting for Vitte, the idol of her girlhood days, to get up enough courage to propose. I promised that Vitte Chunis would attend the reunion so she agreed to come. I knew Vitte would be on leave from Annapolis. At my hotel I could not help hearing the gossip about a certain charming and im- mensely wealthy American woman who had recently arrived. She came to the dining room one evening, and I almost choked on my caviar when I saw it was Virginia Chevalier. Later on, she told me that she was engaged to an English prince and would be married very soon. I was pleased at the prospect of an old classmate of mine be- coming a princess. From Paris I took a plane to London where I lived in a mist for a couple of days. The famous woman doctor, Joan Shea, happened to be there at the time and I was so pleased to see her again after twenty years. She was much the same as she had been at school—brilliant and competent. There was one more name on my list— that of Angela Mazzeo. It was somewhat difficult to locate Angela, but at last I found her. She had secluded herself in her studio where she was busy designing her world-famous clothes that always bear the label ““Made by Angela.” She promised to be in Millbury in June. All too soon my trip was over. I took one of the new clippers back home, arriving in the United States three hours after leaving London. On my first day home I attended a meeting of the Reunion Committee in Millbury. Nancy Carlson, married to John Reade, was there. While John operated his own steel mill, Nancy served as Office Manager of the New England High Carbon Wire Company. Agnes Callahan, Lorraine Bertrand and Edith Berg, who had formed an insurance company all their own, were also present. The girls told me that the plans for the class reunion were coming along very