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

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' PrafeJlecty I left the patent office and proceeded to Somerset’s pioneer television station. On television, Jim Doonan portrayed an invincible private eye who was the terror of the underworld. I walked into Studio A and saw stars, Rusty Cadorette and Joanne Hadal- ski, rehearsing the nation’s favorite television program, I Love Odette.” Since I had left Somerset, a college had been added, and this was to be my next stop. I was j ust climbing into my car when I heard a loud droning overhead. I looked up and saw a stunt plane doing barrel-rolls. A passer-by muttered, It’s those two again!” In answer to my question, the passer-by explained that Phil Cuttle and Tom Jackson put on such an exhibition daily. As I continued on, I passed through a beautiful residential section, and my map noted that the lovliest mansion of all belonged to the mayor, Mr. Paul Ginalski. A short distance beyond was the University of Somerset. I stopped at the main office and picked up a bulletin which listed among the faculty some of my old classmates: Dean Jim Sousa, Women’s Gym Instructor, Brenda Douthwright, and Coaches Jim Medeiros and Larry O’Toole. Also listed was an extremely popular Charm Course taught by the poised Marjorie Dube. I drove on to the Somerset Public Library. I had heard that Louise King was head librarian so I went in to see her. She showed me a secretarial handbook co-authored by Judy Medeiros and Barbara Smith, and a Fashion Guide edited by Elaine Simons. After browsing around for a while, I continued on my way to the City Hospital. The first staff member I knew was Tommy Dorgan. At the switchboard was Eve Betten¬ court, who was talking to Carolyn Smith, instructor at the hospital’s nursing school. They told me that Dr. Joan Benevides, an eminent brain surgeon, was at present performing another one of her remarkable feats of surgery, assisted by Ann Weeden, head nurse of the operating room. As I was leaving, I encountered Audrey Slade, who was the hospital’s outstanding physical therapist. Since I had heard that Marilee Archambault was starring at the Somerset Metro¬ politan Theatre, I decided to go there. I arrived at the end of a rehearsal, and Marilee was talking with Beverly Moniz, chorus director, and Jim Balaguer, concert master of the orchestra. We talked for a while about old times and then I continued on, to a statue erected in honor of Joe Borge, the brilliant chemical engineer, who had finally taken the curse of pollution from the Taunton River! Finally, the last stop and the most cherished one, my alma mater, Somerset High School! It was a magnificent, modernized plant, and its football team, coached by Bill Burgess, had carried on the glorious tradition begun by the class of ’54. Glancing at my watch, I saw that I had only a half hour to catch my plane. I hurried to the airport, and seeing a newsstand, I decided to buy the latest edition of Moniz’s Every-Other-Weekly,” edited by George Moniz, since I was following the exciting reports of Admiral Paul Anderson’s safari to darkest Africa, of which Captain George Boulay and Captain Royal Chace were members. The glaring headlines of Somerset’s most-read newspaper caught my eye. It was edited by Elaine Rosenthal, who had been a member of Somerset High s Breeze and was now editor of the Typhoon-Times.” An article written by Tommy O Connell, sports editor of the paper, was featured on the front page. As I was paying for these things, I heard my flight number being called, and I hurried to the main gate to board the plane. We prepared for the takeoff, and a few minutes later, we were airborne. The storm had cleared the air, and, looking out the window, I beheld the panorama of Somerset City stretched below. I meditated on my pleasant trip, the places I had been, and the people I had seen. It was obvious that Somerset City had become so great because of the advances made by my friends who had been quick to seize and make the most of every opportunity which they had encountered.

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A crack of lightning; a crash of thunder; a torrent of rain. The storm raged in all its fury! I was excited and tense as were all the passengers on the plane. Fasten your seat belts,” our stewardess, Barbara Bertolini, instructed, and remember that two of our best pilots, Robert Burns and Philip Bibeau, are doing their utmost to bring the plane in safely.” We were now circling Somerset Airport, slowly descending. As we taxied along the runway, I breathed a sigh of relief to my seatmate, Eleanor Rice, as an inter¬ preter at the U.N., who was returning to Somerset with Barbara Maynard, a fas hion designer working in New York. I had always been so busy with psychiatry that I had never returned to Somerset. Now I decided to seize this opportunity to see the many advances that had been made in Somerset City by my old friends. Due to the inclement weather, I stopped for the night at The Somerset Hotel, owned by John Cordeiro, and managed by Gilbert Gabriel. I checked in at the desk and immediately recognized the clerk, Eleanor Baldaia. I hadn’t been in my room for five minutes when I heard a terrible racket. I investigated, and found that Beth Kilgrew was running her famous Dictatype machine—a contrivance which typed thought waves! After conversing with her about old times, we both retired for a good night’s sleep. The next morning I ate at Theresa Botelho’s restaurant, Le Repas.” I was shown to my seat by Joan Foulds, a most charming hostess. I spied June Kadlec, in a nurse’s uniform, sitting a few tables away. I joined her, and she told me of Claudette Levesque’s success in the modeling field. I walked back through the lobby and went to the information booth in order to get a tourist guide of the city. I was pleasantly surprised to discover Judy Manchester working there. With all her general knowledge, it was fitting that she should head an information booth. Around the corner from the hotel I spied Alan Elsbree’s Car Rental Agency. Realiz¬ ing that it would be easier to make my tour by car, I rented one from Alan for the day. En route to St. Pierre’s Shoppers’ World, the first point of interest, I saw a huge sign with the words Stein Tunnel, next right.” The tunnel had been constructed by David Grime, a now famous engineer. A few blocks north lay Sue St. Pierre’s fabulous Shoppers’ World. In the main window, as a feature attraction, was a display of Casey- tested” mattresses. Obviously enjoying his work, Ray Casey was soundly sleeping on the mattress he was then testing. Once inside the store I noticed a glowing sign with the smiling face of Marilyn France, advertising White ’n’ Brite” Toothpaste. Mari¬ lyn ' s winning smile had made the toothpaste literally sell itself. Another nationally known product on display was Barbara Boyle’s Bubbling Bubble Bath.” This product claimed to have the sparkle and effervescence of Miss Boyle herself. As I headed for, the door, having finished my shopping, I saw two old friends of mine, Mary Kenney, and Ann Fitzsimmons, coming toward me. They told me that Gail Cahill, a buyer for the women’s department, was attending a Fashion Convention in Paris. Since Mary and Ann were secretaries at the Art Gallery, they suggested that I go to t he Gallery to see the exhibits of some local artists, Clifton Hadfield, Maureen O’Brien, and Shirley Rondeau. My tour now took me through the business section of the city, and I drove up Stock and Bond Boulevard, the Wall Street of Somerset. I entered the City Bank to cash a check and recognized two tellers, Lillian Cross and Dotty Lynch. They told me that the President of the bank was Norman Chace and the Vice President, Gilbert DeCosta. As I was leaving, I saw the wealthy financier, David Walmsley, puffing on a gold-tipped cigar. He told me excitedly, Eddie Arruda has just inherited a vast fortune, and is moving into a mansion near mine!” I next stopped at the Somerset Branch of the United States Patent Office. I was greeted by a surprised Margaret Burgess, who exclaimed, Why, Jane Parrott, I haven ' t seen you since we graduated from S.H.S. fifteen years ago!” She led me into the inner office where Theresa Affonso, the secretary, was working. They showed me some newly patented inventions which included: Jeanne Gough’s crashproof Goughmobile,” which would spring back into shape if it were dented; John Fleck’s Sta-full Refrigerator,” which, upon being emptied, would replenish its contents; Tony Sardinha’s marvelous invention of 3-D TV!

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COOKS BEAUTY PARLOR TRIO BUS DRIVERS SCHOOL NURSE -.‘K BARBER SHOP QUARTET