St Sebastians School - Arrow Yearbook (Newton, MA)

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A tense moment in the Yale-Columbia over by the priests of the Faculty. After grace had been said, white-coated older students emerged from the kitchen, bearing what proved to be inexhaustible supplies of meat, potatoes and vegetables. When we reported to our ration-plagued parents the varied menus of our Noon meals, they wished at times that they could change places with us. The inner man having been satisfied by generous seconds and thirds of favorite foods, we were free to engage in informal Tag-rush games on the Football field or to take part in bull sessions in the locker rooms of the gym. That gym had always loomed large in our minds ever since we had inspected it in company with our parents, when we first came to inquire about St. Sebastian's. Now, however, as bona fide Sebastianites we were free to explore every nook and cranny of it and to plan mentally how to take full advantage of its facilities. The steam dryers were a novelty to most of us and we eyed the equipment and supply rooms with great interest. Although the after-dinner recess bell sounded all too soon, we returned to the cage when School was dismissed at 3 0'clock to complete our tour of examination. At that time, the turbulent preparations of the Varsity players for practice that afternoon gave the first floor an added charm and, as we threaded our way through the crowd, we were thrilled at being greeted in a friendly, joshing way by Mr. Murphy, Varsity Coach. Upstairs, we probed the resiliency of the peat surface on the floor of the cage and speculated as to its possibilities for all sports. Already, a few Basketball enthusiasts were taking shots at the hoops and from the squash courts there emanated staccato reports that indicated lively competition was already under way. In a day or so, when Fr. Keating called for J.V. Football candidates, practically every one of our 49 stalwarts reported, even though we had heard from the Sopho- mores gruesome stories of the conditioning process that had to be undergone. Wfe could not help but notice that the narrators of the tall tales were among the first to signify their intention of playing. At that time, the need of proper equipment introduced us to a very personable young man, Bucky Warren, who listened sym- pathetically to our clamors about the necessity of having a certain piece of gear by YALE BOWL SCENE Game. -I 571-

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V SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS Seated: john Boyle, President. Standing: William Morrissey, Vice-Presidentg Andrew McAuliffe, Treasurer, james Ryan, Secretary. As the morning progressed, we were introduced to the Faculty members who were to play a very important part in our existence for the next four years. Fr. Clifford was quite re-assuring about the intricacies of Latin, Fr. Cuffe simply shrugged off any intimation that Math could be bothersome, Fr. Keating made us see the Ancient World in graphic, witty style, while Fr. Stocklosa gave us a complacent interest in French. Our acquaintance with Fr. Joseph Desmond, Freshman English teacher, was not destined to last long because, on October 4, 1944, he suffered a stroke in his own home and died that night. Deeply moved by his death, we paid our respects to him as a class. The following week, Fr. Beatty came to replace him and arouse our respect for the complexities of our mother tongue. Twice a week we joined ranks with the Sophomores to hear the truths of our Holy Faith ex- pounded in fascinating fashion by the Headmaster. Although we did not come under their tutelage, we soon became acquainted either -personally or by reputation with Fr. Flanigan, Fr. Cotter, Fr. Hannigan and Fr. Collins who taught the upper classes. While the academic pursuits claimed our attention most insistently, there were other facets of School life that magnetized our interest and enthusiasm. By far the most popular building on the campus, the dining hall opened its doors to us after the fourth period and we took assigned places at the long tables presided -I ss 1-

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tomorrow at the very latest, and through his efforts we soon appeared in jerseys and moleskins that made us feel like All-Americans. When our progress warranted it, an equitable schedule was arranged with the j.V. teams of Belmont Hill, Browne and Nichols, Roxbury Latin and Angel Guardian, and we Freshmen were tremen- dously pleased to have Frank Hennessy and Gene McAuliffe emerge as fine backs who depended upon a frontier that featured Gene Pierotti, Park Hurley, Elmo Freda, Roger Vorce and Joe Deignan. The Angel Guardian game will live long in our memory, because on that occasion Fr. Keating, who was Chaplain at Angel Guardian, had to preserve strict neutrality. In addition to our own personal en- thusiasm for the J.V. program, we followed with avid interest the destinies of four of our classmates who had reported to the Varsity squad: Tony Anzuoni, Andy McAuliffe, Tom Green and Bill Gibbons. We were proud, of course, of the Varsity record of live wins and only one loss to Portsmouth Priory, and we were disappointed at the cancellation of the Cranwell contest because of the premature arrival of snow in the Berkshires. Concurrently with the Football season, the academic program had made progress to the point where we waited anxiously for our first report cards. From the start we had been cautioned repeatedly about the necessity of three hours study each night and the seriousness of the warning was brought home to us when several of our classmates were asked to leave for lack of achievement. Those who heeded the advice earned a glow of satisfaction when the marks were received at home, and two of our number, Roger Vorce and Tom Barrette, made their way into the select Honor Roll circle, receiving their certificates publicly in the dining hall to the plaudits of the entire student body. As the Fall days passed in most pleasant fashion, we soon became acquainted personally with the older members of the student body and began to value their help and friendship. Our neighbors on the first floor were the Juniors and it was not long until we felt particularly intimate with fellows like Myron Bullock, . RATION SEN1 SERIOUS Colicujrild Brine de6P in Joe Deignall AciF15.CIENTISTS , Ma 009 ' ' las, Morley' Nawlfadio research. U1 an after-school Tag iiiiiyflerottx -I 58 I-