New London High School - Whaler Yearbook (New London, CT)

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BULKELEY IN l923 By William J. Ruddy The class of 1923 stands out as unique in the history of Bulkeley School because it has continued alive and active as a unit since graduation day. We of the class of '23 are proud of this achievement. A review of the history of this class reflects the spirit which binds its members in such strong bonds of friendship. Starting our freshman year with an enrollment of seventy-two, we reached our senior year with a membership of forty. Looking back now it is refreshing to relive the happiest days of my life. The world today, struggling to reach a common ground for adjustment of differences between nations, could well take a lesson from this unusual class. Here a group of young men, descendants of various nationalties and creeds, worked together to promote the best interests of school and of each other. It stands forth as an example of democracy functioning at its best. I recall vividly before class and during study periods the ranking members of the class, patiently and with every consideration, helping their more unfortunate brethren prepare for examinations or recitations. These boys shared in the successes and failures of one another. There was no personal envy. It was common to hear them boast and glorify the achievements of their fellow members. A whole- some spirit pervaded each class room as these boys talked man to man with their teachers concerning the facts of life as well as education. The class of '23 was well-balanced mentally, physically and spiritually. These boys had a mature sense of judgment. They played hard and en- joyed themselves to the fullest, yet they never lost sight of the real pur- pose of education. They applied themselves with vigor and completeness of mind to the study of those subjects which would tend to advancement toward their ultimate vocations. Closing my eyes, pictorial flashes of those happy days parade in re- view through the depths of my mind-Milton Phillips, our room master, giving us straight from the shoulder advice-Gippie and Hall going from one desk to another untangling those tough problems in solid geometry or refreshing our minds as to the proper translation of Virgil-Those football games, especially the 33 to 0 beating we gave Norwich. Then there was that three day trip to Leominster, Mass., remember? Our pic- tures on the front page of the town paper, theater and dancing parties, the fun in the hotel rooms, in fact the whole town turned over to Bulkeley- Those baseball games, one of the best teams in the State with Freddie Zepp our leading twirler-The senior prom, what a dance! School auditorium decorated with vari-colored streamers, favors of all kinds for the girls, and dancing until 1 A. M.-The school plays-The school orchestra-Finally graduation night and that sense of loss as though leaving home. However, for most of the Class of '23 the future had been well planned. These boys knew what they wanted to do-they had planned well-and they stepped forward with confidence. The number of doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professional men of this class filling positions of responsibility today is living evidence that these boys held to a straight course and reached their ultimate goal. In humbleness and modesty, I dould not wish better for the boys of Bulkeley today and of the future than that they emulate the records, spirit and tradition of their predecessors in the Class of '23. Page sixteen

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PERICLES HALEFTIRAS PRESIDENT Page fifteen

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, fe 1 , 4: few ff Q 1 Q m z , .1 17 t 5 '-.J 1-.4 x4 1 First Row-Louis Levine, John W. MacMahon, Donald G. Prince, Charles J. Kerridge, Robert L. Brennan, William A. Magowan, Michael J. Hallisey, William J. Ruddy, Leon N. St. Germaine, Hubert A. Downing, Charles I. Suisman, Harold M. Beach, Irwin Setzer, Howard T. Beebe, Avery W. Fitch. Second Row-Emil J. Gagnon, Maurice R. Salo, William G, Spargo, Perry T. Shafner, Clarence F. Hall, Ronald P. Abernethy, Robert T. Henkle, Morris M, Wein, Jack D. Smith, Aaron J. Siegal, Halstead Ayrton, Russell M. Lay, Wallace G. Wilson, Theodore L. Danforth, Edward L. J enssen. Third Row-Donald L. Harwood, Joseph Muscarella, Leon H, Solomon, Frederick Zepp, Alfred Nelson, Wallace MacDonald, Thomas Curtin, Elbert Rathbun, John S. Gray, Harold J. Rutman, Edward Gipstein, Albert Lubchansky, Aaron E. Elfenbein, Bernard C. Peck. T- . ,I A , ,,4.,,- . , , ... ..,,,, .5..-e.,A7?...f-eg---':-frrv-gm-5-M-vi'---gin V M. I T, lf ,- 331-: 'M-' -1.-f Q.. .. -. .- .. 5.3:-1-is 533,275 ,A-----'-H PM 411a:.. uL..,:..:,r.JW... ,. ,eff Na. -- ' Page seventeen