Somerset High School - Raider / Memoirs Yearbook (Somerset, MA)

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SCHOOL LIFE

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his artistic career. Just as we were saying farewell, Gildanna Wallace and Beverly Singleton, fashion designers for Vogue Magazine, came into the studio, weighted down with designs of the latest fall fashions. Our next encounter was with Richard Worton who was putting the finishing touches on his multi-million dollar tropical fishery. He suggested that we stop at the R. C. A. building. William Whalen and Adrien Bienvenue were conducting their Know Your Sport quiz program. Joyce Maggiacomo, station manager, took us on a tour of the building. Having a little spending money and feeling lucky, I asked to be taken to the Roosevelt Raceway. Anne Ormerod, champion sulky driver, was racing a horse owned by Charles Lacerda and Richard Mello. We found Marion Greeley working as publicity director of the track and Genevieve Pachurek as secretary-treasurer. We decided to visit the American Nurses Convention, for many Somerset graduates had entered this worthy profession. Joan Murphy, head nurse of the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, presided at the meeting. Kathleen Perry, world-renowned criminal lawyer, was guest speaker. Others in attendance were Carolese Burbage of the Leahy Clinic, Barbara Ann Cronan and Margaret Murphy of the Boston City Hospital, and Joyce Harrison and Anne Ormston of the Baker Memorial. Also present was Nancy George, director of public health in Alaska. En route to Wall Street, we passed the taxidermist shop of Al Laliberte, who had gained fame stuffing animals for the Smithsonian Institute. Arriving at Wall Street, we went to the brokerage firm of Armand Guillemette and Company. Josephine Lopes was office manager and Mae Kiley and Muriel Harrison were employed as chief accountants. It was getting late, so I bade my genial host goodbye and started for the New Yorker. However, I could not pass the Beauty Salon of Dot Lee, world-famous hair stylist, without a word of greeting. Since Fred Barlow, public accountant, held an office next door, he was included in the conversation. As I entered the lobby of the hotel, I saw Marilyn Jackson, who was now head of New York ' s elementary school system. Hermina Correia, desk clerk, showed me to Acacio ' s room. The television set was already in operation, and Dennis Pereira and his chief engineer, Joe Tavares, were busily puttering around with the various knobs. The game between the New York Knickerbockers and the Boston Celtics was in progress. Jake Lee, coach of the Celtics, had just sent Jim Mello into the contest to put the game on ice. Following the game, we watched movies of the past baseball season. Chet Lynch, now with the Yankees, was shown hitting a home run in a critical game with the Red Sox. After seeing many more color T. V. programs, I decided that I should be leaving for Somerset. Thanking Dennis and Acacio for the demonstration, I left for the airport. I suddenly realized as I settled myself in the plane that I had seen every member of the graduating class of 1951 in my abbreviated visit to New York. Back in Somerset once again, I stopped at Somerset High School to visit the Alma Mater once more. To my amazement, I found not one, but four buildings dotting the lot where Somerset High had once proudly stood. There were now two high schools and a junior high. Completing the plant were a Memorial Gym and a gigantic stadium. The enrollment had soared to 3,650. I couldn ' t help but wonder, as I stared at the most modern school system in Massachusetts, if the students possessed the same loyalty and school spirit that the class of ' 51 had had. If they did, they would certainly be a credit to the school — and to themselves. 27

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ACTIVITIES