Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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OlaAA Uiito-ty I was typing the feature story for the Sun- day edition of the “New York Tribune.” My mind was is far-off New Mexico, the locale of my story, when Slim, the copy hoy, stuck his head around the corner and yelled, “Hey Sal! The old man wants to see you.” An- other assignment. This time it was to inter- view Doctor Ramona Bruno, the famous psychiatrist. I was to see her after her lec- ture at the convention of the National Med- ical Society that same evening. I knew we had been classmates at Stoneham High School years ago, hut I wondered if the fa- mous doctor would care to recall those care- free, happy days. Imagine my surprise and delight when, having been ushered into her presence, she immediately recognized me and cried out in delight. Immediately all thoughts of the as- signment were swept from my head, and the two of us were off reminiscing about our schooldays together at Stoneham High. Mona started, “Remember our freshman year? We were all enthusiastic about foot- ball. The Winchester hike and football game were the great events of that year! We all hiked over in a group led by our ex- uberant cheerleaders. What fun it was!” “It certainly was heartbreaking,” I said, “to lose that game in the last fifteen seconds of play after having outplayed them most of the game.” “That year our English teacher, Miss Al- ger, left us to join the WAGS.” Mona re- minded me. “But we were fortunate to have Mrs. Hines, a former Stoneham teacher, to sub- stitute for her,” 1 replied. “A1 MacHenry was president of the class that year, Sal, wasn’t he?” “Yes, Mona, and Ethel Fullford was vice- president; June Berry, secretary; Baxter Little, treasurer; and Barbara Morin, chair- man of the social committee. We put on a dance called the Freshman Hop. It was quite a success, too. Don’t you remember V” Yes, Sal, I do! The Dramatic Club play that year was called ‘A Yankee in King Ar- thur’s Court,’ wasn’t it? We didn’t have much to do with the play itself, but we were part of an enthusiastic audience.” “The sophomore year was a very exciting one for us, Mona, as it was our first year in the senior high school. We certainly thought we were something pretty special that first day of school as we proudly walked up to the senior high !” “Yes, we were proud, Sal, hut also a little hit frightened. The question in everyone’s mind was, ‘How will we fare in high school ?’ ” “The saddest and probably most remem- bered event of that year, Mona, was the passing of Mr. Watson, our beloved friend and principal.” “Indeed it was, Sal, for he was a true friend to all girls and hoys.” It was the first chance any of the girls had to enter competitive sports and we did enter them with a bang! The field hockey team beat Reading 2-0, and tied our long- standing rival, Melrose 2-2.” “Do you remember the football dance and skit put on by the cheerleaders? It was a riot! The only cheerleader from our class was Alma Werre. Wasn’t it at that dance that Mr. Higgins did the ‘boomps-a-daisy’ with Miss Regis? I thought they were loads of fun!” ‘‘The Dramatic Club was reorganized that year, Mona, and Dot Hastings was an officer from our class. Who were our class offic- ers that year?” “Tony Spadafora was president; Ethel Fullford was vice-president; June Berry, secretary; Louise Poole, treasurer; and Shirley Thompson, chairman of the social committee. The girls must have had pri- ority !” “The basketball team finished thind in the Middlesex League, Mona. The only let- terman from our class was John Winton.” “The annual prize-speaking contest was held in May, and a member of our class, June Berry, won first prize. Quite an honor, Sal, I’d say for a sophomore. Joanne Eng- lish, another sophomore, received honor- able mention!” “Baseball marked the end of the sports season of ’4 1 with Stoneham having won eight games and lost eight games. Even Slieven !” “Say, Sal, do you remember the basket- ball tournament? What fun we had get-

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!£oftAom.oA£. O iceAi Walk with faith, and be sure you’ll get through it; For Where there’s a will there’s a way. Cook President Francis McHugh Vice President Donald Sullivan Secretary Marjorie Ringham Treasurer Robert Swift Chairman of Social Committee William Simkins

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ting ready for it with cheers, costumes, and those rip-roaring songs.” “June! Then the Class of ' ll graduated and we were juniors! What happened of importance that year, Mona?” “When the class election returns were counted, Sal, we found our new executive oflicers were Tony Coletta, president; Gor- don Lister, vice-president; Joanne English, treasurer. You were chairman of the social committee; and June Berry was to serve her third successive year as class secretary.” “It seems to me that as I recall it, Mona, that the football season was a great success that year with Stoneham winning six games out of eight. Lettermen were Baxter Little, Dave Trenholm, A1 MacHenry and Tony Spadafora. The cheerleaders from our class were Alma Werre, Marilyn Jelley and Bar- bara Morin.” “Remember the after-school s essions with Mr. Davis, Sal? Tonic and pop was the or- der of the day. The algebra tests somehow seemed easier with some energy afforded us by refreshments. It was fun!” “Another interesting junior subject was chemistry with the lab periods on Wednes- day. It’s still a miracle to me that we never blew anybody sky high !” “Our class was well represented on the field hockey team with Bea Turner, Laura Livingstone, Ruth Buck, Joanne Cockerille and I all receiving our letters.” “The basketball team was handicapped by the loss of many outstanding players to the service, hut the hoys carried on with a great spirit. I recall Johnnie Winton and Tony Coletta as the outstanding players from our class, Mona.” “And what fun we had going to the hock- ey games in the Boston Garden on the ‘Yel- low Peril.’ We had a wonderful time cele- brating our victories; and victories they were, for that year Stoneham won the G.B.I. Hockey League Championship.” “The next big event was the Winter Car- nival, Mona. It was at the ball that the com- bined Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs first sang together. They were a big hit!” I guess it was just about this time in the year, Sal, that our class started losing hoys to the service. Two I remember were John- ny Melkonian and Boh Dorrie.” “Did we have a prom, Mona?” “I 11 say we did, Sal, and a good one too, with Ken Reeves and his orchestra playing.” “Next came graduation. How lovely and poised were Marilyn Jelley and Gordon Worthcn as the junior marshals. After the evening was finished we realized that we were seniors. “After a wonderful summer vacation, Sal, hack to school we went to start on what was to be the most important of all our school years. We were seniors, the Class of ’46!” “In September we started the year off ' right with the A. A. Dance. The football season came and went, and though our scores weren’t the best, Mona, the games were nevertheless very exciting. The sea- son started with a victory when we beat Ip- swich. Charlie Layman, Dave Trenholm, and Co-Captains A1 MacHenry and Tony Spadafora all did well in the games.” “Remember the football team put on a dance and the cheerleaders led some cheers, Sal! They certainly were snappy in their blue and white uniforms. Cheerleaders from our class were Alma Werre, captain of the squad, Marilyn Jelley, Barbara Morin, Ruth Buck, Shirley Knight and Shirley Thomp- son. They were something to he proud of.” “The girls’ field hockey team tied Win- chester ()-(), beat Malden 6-0, and was beat- en by a new rival, Swampscott 1-0. You were a co-captain, weren’t you, Mona? And Joanne Cockerille was the other. With the help of Miss Hannant, we put on a banquet for ourselves, and it certainly was fun. Our brilliant idea of having paper plates so that we wouldn’t have to do dishes was a brain- storm !” “The senior class elections were held, and Bill Bears became our president; Tony Co- letta, vice-president; Bucky, secretary; Lynn, treasurer; and Alma Werre, chair- man of the social committee.” “The basketball team captained by John- nie Winton and Tony Coletta and coached by Mr. Buono was among the best. Bill Bears, Lefty D’Annolfo, Pat Vacca, George Proodian, Charlie Layman and Tony Spad- afora made up the seniors on the team. “The Winter Carnival was the next event of importance, Sal. The races went off well, hut we were disappointed in the hockey game. Every day we set to play Rindge, the G.B.I. Champions, the weather was bad. We were disappointed, hid the wonderful