Sheffield High School - Sentinel Pines Yearbook (Sheffield, MA)

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Class History In September of 1950 the following twenty-eight crew members of the USS Fifty Four, with their commanding officers, began their voyage across the Sea of Knowl- edge: Wendell Bartholomew, Donald Bentley, Joyce Buckingham, Charles Cane, Richard Cartinelli, JoAnn Clark, Kenneth Coon, Herbert Eichstedt, Jacquelyn Flynn, Joanne Golden, Barbara Huggins, Richard LeGeyt, Laura Malnati, John Martin, Robert Meyer, Lois Mintz, Carol Ann Olsen, Donald Percy, Wesley Petersen, Margaret Preiss, William Rice, Frank Smith, Alice Straleau, Horace Tatspaugh, Dora Warren, James Welch, Sara Woodbeck, and Francis Zucco. There to see the crew off was Mrs. Gladys Ror aback giving her best wishes for a successful four years at sea. Those commanding the ship were Captain Howard Hennigar, and his commanding off icers, Laurence Healey, Theodore Williams, Miss Ann Provencher, and Nicholas Morace. Also aboard was our Chief Cook, Mrs. Robert Smith. Shortly after we set sail, one of our crew members, William Rice was called to duty elsewhere. In March of the following year, Miss Ann Provencher received notice from Captain Hennigar that she was needed on another ship, and Albert Trocchi then came aboard to replace her, adapting himself quickly to our life on the USS Fifty Four. A few months later the crew was deeply grieved at the loss of our dear commanding officer Theodore Williams. Mrs. Marie Walker then joined us to help with our voyage. June found us well out to sea and progressing rapidly, when our ship docked at Summer Island for repairs and two months rest. When we resumed our voyage in September of 1951 we found that Jacquelyn Flynn, and Robert Meyer had transferred to other ships, and Miss Marie Walker and Thomas Norton had taken positions aboard ship that Laurence Healey and Mrs. Marie Walker had formerly occupied. When we again began our voyage we found that Lois Mintz, Joanne Golden, Don- ald Bendy, James Welch, and John Martin had remained on Leisure Island. There were also some changes made in our commanding officers: Miss Jayne Ryan replaced Nicholas Morace and Miss Mary Harrahy took the former position held by Miss Marie Walker. With only twenty crew members aboard we had to work even harder to continue our journey.

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M. P. That sign across the street says Kenny ' s Auto Repair Service. Could that be our classmate, Kenneth Coon? J. B. Not could be, it is. M. P. Say, did anyone in our class join the armed services? J. B. Herbie Eichstedt did, right after graduation. He is a civilian now, though, and he owns a sugar plantation in the Philippines. M. P. Imagine that! Remember how Horace Tatspaugh always said he wanted to be a bum? You should see him now. He is an electrical engineer in Detroit. He lives there with the home town girl he married, and their four children. Richard LeGeyt lives in New York. He went there to go to an agricultural school, but I guess he changed his mind about being a farmer. J. B. I know. He is president of the ASPCA. M. P. I always thought he would be a farmer. J. B. I did, too. Wesley Petersen is a farmer, though. He married a local girl and is raising quite a family. Up to date he has three girls and two boys. M. P. Joyce, do you know the whereabouts of Donald Percy? J. B. Well, Donny is a landscape r. He lives in Virginia with his wife and two little girls. M. P. The class of ' 54 traveled far and wide, didn ' t it? J. B. I ' ll say. Well, I ' ve got to be traveling, too. M. P. It was nice seeing you again and having this little chat. J. B. Sure was! I ' ll see you again, Margaret. M. P. O. K. Good-bye and good luck.

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At last June came and we again docked for a well needed rest at Vacation Island. When the original twenty crew members reported back for duty, we were surprised to find our fine Captain, Howard Hennigar, had been transferred to another ship and Clayton Friis is now Captain of the USS Fifty Four. We also had a new commanding officer, Miss Vernice Poulos; who took the berth left vacant by Miss Mary Harrahy. She proved to be a great help to us. The last quarter of our voyage was even more difficult, but the crew, anxious to reach their goal, worked even harder. After a successful four years journey across the Sea of Knowledge, the USS Fifty Four docked at Graduation Island. Those of the crew who successfully completed the trip were: Joyce Buckingham, Wendell Bartholomew, Charles Cane, Richard Cartinelli, JoAnn Clark, Kenneth Coon, Herbert Eichs ted t, Barbara Huggins, Richard LeGeyt, Laura Malnati, Carol Ann Olsen, Donald Percy, Wesley Peterson, Margaret Preiss, Frank Smith, Alice Straleau, Horace Tatspaugh, Dora Warren, Sara Woodbeck, and Francis Zucco. Despite the long, hard voyage, the knowledge and friendship acquired will help us to become better citizens and leaders. The experience of this voyage is sure to ben- efit us on future voyages and the Motto of the Class of ' 54, Today we follow, tomor- row we lead. , will forever be in our minds and hearts. MOTTO - Today We Follow, Tomorrow We Lead. CLASS COLORS - Maroon and White CLASS FLOWER - Yellow Rose CLASS SONG - May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You FAVORITE SPORT - Basketball USS FIFTY FOUR