Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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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

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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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Winter Carnival Ball fully made up for our disappointment. Remember the pageant the officers of the dramatic club helped plan with Miss Cross? King Gordon Worthen and Queen Marilyn Jelley presided over the carnival court with a regal air as the court entertainers performed. Remember Dave Trenholm’s and my singing of Must a Little Fond Affection, Sal ’ The ceremony was climaxed by the grand march led hv Fred- die Austin as old King Winter.” “In February we found our class pres- ident, Rill Rears, was to leave us to join the Navy. The night before he left a party was held for him in the gym, and he was pre- sented with a silver identification bracelet from the class.” “Didn’t we have a swell senior play, Sal ‘? The title ‘Out of the Frying Pan’ — and into the lire — was typical of our class. After see- ing the play we realized that we had some real talent in our class. Wasn’t Jo English a panic as the landlady? And Frannie Leary was a riot ! Nobody could have been as dumb as Dumb Dottie; the way Alma Wer- re played that part was amazing!” “I’ll bet Dwight Crow liked his part! And how could Smitty have been so cruel to poor little Alma? Gracie Tauro should get a medal for her tine performance under the handicap she had.” SAaduatian AdcfoeAl “Let us reckon upon the future. A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which nullifies our powers which creates new products — which diffuses comfort and happiness among the great mass of people shall occupy in the general estimation of mankind that rank which rea- son and common sense now assign to it.” So reads a well-known quotation. We, the graduating class of 1!)1(5, are stepping out into a world strengthened by the past and disrupted by the present a world look- ing forward to a future which will offer something better than has been offered by either the past or the present. The fate of the world is the problem facing us today. In our hands are placed the weapons of de- struction and the instruments of peace. Our use of them will determine our route, down- ward to despair and destruction or upward to prosperity and peace. “In April the class assembly was held to announce the class honors. None of us was surprised when Mr. Nadeau announced the winners of the MacDonald Medals as Ken- neth Sanford, Ruth Gile, and Mary Valente, and Ruth Ruck as the one to give the grad- uation address. It was at this class meeting that we realized we were almost at the end of our high school years.” “Our class, I remember, Mona, was the first to have a spring concert. It was held in April and featured the junior high band, (lie orchestra, and the combined Roys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs.” “Remember, Sal, how we waited and planned for the prom, the class banquet, and the many other class events that ended only too soon before June 13, 1946, that night of nights graduation! We were to be separated and each go his different way. Some were to go on to college; others, out into the business world. We all wondered if we would fulfill tbe ambitions we had on that night.” “Mona, we’ve been talking a long time, and I haven’t any information about your career for the paper. Well, never mind! I’ll come tomorrow and interview you. It’s been wonderful recalling our high school years. They certainly were great!” SALLY LAWSON Where do we, as graduates, stand in re- lation to the world and the problems con- fronting it? The second great war of this century has just been brought to an end. World War I was fought “to make the world safe for democracy.” World War II was to be tbe war “to end all wars.” Are we going to let the peace for which our fathers and brothers yes, even some of our schoolmates -fought, be lost? If not, we must start building now towards the one world of the future. Our country has felt, to some extent, the disastrous effects of war; but this country was not invaded, not conquered, not subju- gated. Because of that, we are in a position to set the pace for the peaceful progress of tbe world. Our natural resources and eco- nomic stability put our country in a position of international leadership in this period of reconversion and reconstruction. Already we have taken the preliminary steps by OFR RESPONSIBILITIES TODAY