Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

Page 24 text:

Special ’Delivery Dear Joan, I can ' t seem to realize it was ten years ago that all of us from the Class of ' 51 received good old S. H. S. diplomas. My butler just brought to the terrace where I was dining your letter about the reunion. I shall certainly be glad to do whatever I can on our first reunion committee. As for writing a sketch of our high school years, I ' m afraid you ' ll have to give me some help. I do remember that, back in our freshman year, we felt important running around with nomination papers, and thinking up clever slo- gans for our first class elections. Richard Shurt- leff was elected president; Fred Nickerson, vice president; and you and Janet Sprott began the first of your four successful terms as secretary and treasurer. Annette Rotondi became chair- man of the social committee, and Miss Risi was our adviser. Our two freshman socials were fun, even if they were in the very early P. M.! We called them the ' ' Gay Green Hop and the Fresh- man Frolic. I seem to be remembering more than I thought I could, but who were our sophomore class officers? For the present I ' ll be thinking about them and shall write again soon. Sincerely, Bob Dear Bob, Thanks so much for taking the time to write me about the reunion! We ' ve contacted almost everyone from the Class of ' 51 now, and the response is just wonderful. I realize how busy you must be, and for you to try to remember all that happened in four years of high school would probably be an all-day job — so, I thought maybe if I gave you just the highlights of the years, it might make the whole task much easier for you. The events of the fresh- man year you recalled were letter perfect — you even remembered the names of the two freshman socials we had! First of all, the activities of the sophomore year (1948-49) began with class elections. You surely remember solid citizen David White as president! Jean Bresnahan was vice-president; and, as you said, the secretary and the treas- urer were the same as those of the previous year. We elected as co-chairmen of the social committee Carolyn Collins and Robert DiGiova- ni. Remember Digi ? He joined our class when he was a freshman, and scarcely two years had passed when we lost him to Mal- den High School. That year Mr. Ortman was our class adviser. Even now, I can see Ronnie Wanamaker skating on to the ice at the Boston Garden for the first time — if he wasn ' t thrilled! Hockey was always his first love, and he deserved the honor of captain, - — but here I am rushing things. Dickie Shurtleff played basketball that year. The fact that he and Sonny Carbone made second team impressed us girls consid- erably. Sonny became basketball captain, too, didn ' t he? I ' m sure of it because I still re- member Coach Elerin, at one of the letter as- semblies, telling about the time that the players suddenly realized their captain was missing at one of the away-from-home games! Our first grown-up dance, the Sno-BaU was the most successful dance, financially at least, that we had. The Fiesta was the sec- ond one of the year. Just the other day Jean Larange and I were talking about the gym clothes we lost stuffing the Mexican doll which we put in the center of the gym floor! Oh, my goodness, I ' ll be late for P. T. A. I will write very soon to tell you about the other years. Thanks again for your letter. ' Bye for now, Joan Dear Joan, After some deep thinking I ' ve managed to recall some facts about our junior year and decided to write to you in order to save you the trouble. Richard Berry was class president; David Barney, vice-president; and Annette Ro- tondi and Bobbie Buckley, co-chairmen of the social committee. Of course, you and Janet were still secretary and treasurer. Mr. Herrick was our new adviser. Dick Crowe and Dick Shurtleff were the only regulars on the football team from our class; but Dave Barney, Bob Dixon, and John McLaughlin were with the varsity. Our rep- resentatives on the cheering squad were Jane Perry, Carole Ross, and, of course, Janet. Ronnie Wanamaker, Bill Donovan, and Frank Whiston saw service on the hockey team. The only junior on the high scoring basketball team was Sonny Carbone. The baseball team won the Middlesex League Championship that year. Sonny Car- bone and Dickie Shurtleff were the only juniors on the squad. The girl ' s basketball team broke even in the tournament by defeating the soph- omores and losing to the seniors. Joan Scott still captained the team! The Winter Carnival Ball was a big event as always. Jean Bresnahan, Mary Brown, and Janet Sprott were attendants to the king and queen while juniors also appeared in the acts on the stage. Our junior dances were Santa ' s Jambor- ee and April Showers. Also there was the Junior-Senior Prom at the Bear Hill Country Club in May. We started something new that year by having a Junior Party. Remember Dave White and Leo doing their famed soft shoe num- ber and John Burr singing Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy in his inimitable manner? We really had a good time that night! I remember you and Dickie Shurtleff as

Page 23 text:

GERTRUDE TRAVERSE Look, in her eyes, see a little angel. look longer, see a little imp. Oh, that giggle . . . confused sum- mer romance . . . always happy. Basketball i, 2, 3; Field Hockey 1, 2, 3; Blue and White 1, 2, 3; A. A. 1, 2, 3; Glee Club 1, 2, 3; Yearbook Staff 3. RICHARD VAYO He is the happy k}nd whose nature never worries. Military bearing . • ■ fast talker . . . good-natured . . • regular customer of the Emporium. Baseball 1, 2, 3; Blue and White 2, 3; A. A. 2, 3; Glee Club 3. WILLIAM WAGG Our first impression was favorable, and it has continued to last. Clean cut ... likeable . . . Pon- tiac Delux . . . tall and hand- some . . . Somerville’s loss, our gain. Glee Club 3; Blue and White 3: A. A. 3- RONALD WAN AM AKER This gentleman is always seen with a senior of seventeen. Infectious smile . . . another goal for Schmidt! . . . sharped-up Ford. Hockey 1, 2, 3: Capt. 3; Base- ball 1,23; Traffic Squad 3; Blue and White 1, 2, 3; A. A. 1, 2, 3; Yearbook Staff 3; Usher at Gradu- ation 2; Glee Club 1, 2, 3; Social Committee 1. FRANK WHISTON He has a smile for every friend, and a friend for every smile. Capable . . . the people’s choice . . .conservatively handsome. Hockey 1, 2; Traffic Squad 1: Blue and White 1, 2, 3; Student Council 3; A. A. 1, 2, 3; Home- room Officer 1, 2 3; Usher at Graduation 2; Glee Club 1, 2, 3; Class Statistician 3. JOAN WHISTON Sailing she goes through the sea of life. Collegiate clothes . . . Skipper Joan ... 12 C’s prize typist . . . clever conversationalist. Basketball 1, 2, 3; Field Hockey 2, 3: Traffic Squad 3; Blue and White 2, 3. Student Council 3: A. A. 2, 3; Usher at Graduation 2: Glee Club 1, 2, 3; Senior Play Committee 3. DAVID WHITE The life of Riley is the life for me. The instigator . . . “D. Will s White, the Grand Duke” . . . song and dance man . . . kinky curls. Football 1; Traffic Squad 1, 2: Blue and White 1, 2, 3; Student Coucil 1, 2; A. A. 1, 2 3; C President 1 : Homeroom Officer 1 . 2: Class Plays C 2; Glee Club 2, 3: Senior Play Committee 3. JAMES WILKINS So quiet, so unassuming is he. Strike up the band . . . sen r hoepster ... St. Pat’s play ground . . . smiling, rangy Jim. Glee Club 1, 3: Band 2, 3: Basketball 3. VIRGINIA WILSON Pretty to walk with, witty to talk with, and pleasant to think of- Ginny . . . full of fun . . . plea- ant ways ... so in love with Bob. Basketball 1, 2, 3; Field Hockey 1; Blue and White 1, 2, 3; A. A. 1, 2, 3; Homeroom Officer 1 2; Glee Club 1, 2, 3: Senior Play Commit- tee 3: Social Committee 1. LILLIAN ZACCONI Here abideith good looks, good nature, and a good friend. Sweetheart of 12 B ... cuts fi- gures on skates . . . exotic beauty. Basketball 1, 2, 3; Field Hockey 1, 2: Blue and White 1 2, 3; A. A. 1 2, 3; Yearbook Staff 3; Usher at Senior Play 3; Usher at Gradu- ation 2; Glee Club 1, 2, 3. MARY GRAHAM To keep happy is all I try to do. Willowy . . . coal black hair . . . good things always return . . . “Mickey” . . . peppy. Blue and White 3; A. A. 3; Glee Club 3.

Page 25 text:

marshalls at graduation. Jeanie Bresnahan and Nicky were head ushers, weren ' t they? The final event of the year was class day at Crane ' s Beach in Ipswich. Everyone had a wonderful time, for the effects of the sunburns weren ' t felt until the next day. Well, now all I have to think about is our last high school year, and that was so filled with activities that I think I ' ll write about that later. Sincerely, Bob Dear Bob, After receiving your very welcome letter about our junior year, I just couldn ' t resist sit- ting right down to reminisce with you about aur senior year. Seniors — we were finally the society of S. H. S.! Class elections came before we realized it, and A1 LaLiberte was chosen president; Car- olyn Henderson, V. P. ; and the new co-chair- men of the social committee were Dolly Han- cox and John McLaughlin. That year both Mr. Herrick and Mr. Thibodeau were advisers. Remember football in ' 50? Under Coach DeTeso, the team finished with the best record in ten years — six wins and only four losses. Remember when they knocked Cambridge Latin out of first place — the upset of the year! Co-captains Dave Barney and John McLaugh- lin were proud of their boys that day. Bob Dixon, Stoneham High ' s T. D. King, scored nearly 80 points during the season, didn ' t he? John Burr, Dick Crowe, and Dick Shurtleff were the other regulars. You, John O Melia, Bob Powers, and Paul Tague were right in there too. Remember the picture of Leo Coughlin and John Devlin, the managers, in the Stone- ham Independent ? You missed the hike to Winchester the cheerleaders sponsored, didn ' t you? Janet Sprott was a terrific cheering captain. In fact, the whole squad was pretty terrific. Jane Per- ry and Carole Ross were still cheerleaders, and Dolly Hancox and Barbara McGrath joined the group. (( And then came the senior play — ' the best one ever so we heard for days and days afterwards and liked to believe. Skidding, an Andy Hardy play, was really a hit though. Jim Morrison, who played Andy, couldn ' t have looked and acted more like Mickey Rooney, and Annette, the heroine of the play, was won- derful, to say nothing of Nicky! Fan clubs be- gan over night! Carole Ross, Norma Swift, Leith Jones, Carolyn Henderson, Lois Maskell, Norman Allison — they were all good — weren ' t they! Mrs. Dewar deserved many thanks for her excellent directing. You know, Bob, I sadly fear I ' ve been ne- glecting the field hockey girls. Dottie Meuse and Annette Rotondi captained the team, I re- member; and for the first time the girls had a hockey party at the end of the season. The Christmas month was jammed full of events. First was the annual senior tea given by the teachers in honor of the girls of the graduating class. The afternoon was delight- ful, but how our backs and feet ached the next day from sitting up so straight and walking up all those stairs in our new high heels! Just a few days before Christmas was our first dance, the Kandy Kane with an orches- tra and all, and just a few days after the holi- day we all went to the Bob Clayton Record Hop . Bob Clayton ' s coming to Stoneham? we gasped and raced down to the town hall to see him. Basketball provided us with many an ex- citing Friday night. Sonny Carbone was cap- tain and lone senior on the first five. Jimmy Wilkins and Roland Chaput also helped us win the Small School Tournament. That real- ly called for celebration. Dick Simpson man- aged the team. Doc ' s hockey boys didn ' t have a spectac- ular record, but there was surely plenty of fight in every game. They seemed to beat the top teams, but would drop games to the second division clubs. Captain Ron and Bill Donovan both made the all star teams, didn ' t they? Har- old Jackson, Laurie O ' Toole, and Dave Barney were the other senior stick-handlers; and Tom- mie Hindes and Dick Stevens were the man- agers. I ' ll never forget the Winter Carnival cli- maxed by the Carnival Ball. Nothing during the whole senior year was more beautiful or more impressive than King Richard Shurtleff s and Queen Ann MacLean ' s march to their stately thrones. Mary Brown, Jean Bresnahan, Dolly Hancox, Carolyn Henderson, Jane Perry, Janet Sprott, Barbara Surette, and I were all se- nior members of the royal court. Then came our last girls ' basketball tour- nament. At last they were able to sing For Seniors, For Seniors. We beat the juniors 25 to 15. Carolyn Collins scored ten of those points! Ruthie, of course, came through again, and little Lorraine Aucella surprised herself, even, when the ball went through the hoop. After the splash party at the Somerville Y , we had our last dance, The Final Fling. Baseball was soon under way with Sonny Car- bone and Dickie Shurtleff as captains. Then the senior honors were announced. We were all happy when Jean Bresnahan and David Barney were awarded the MacDonald Medals, and Leith Jones was chosen to give the gradu- ation address. The spring concert came and went. From then on, Bob, it was one thing after another — events we had anticipated for years — Class Day, Last Chapel, Baccalaureate, the Senior Banquet, and then Graduation. Now we have our first reunion to look for- ward to and it will be so good to see everyone again. Thanks again for everything and — See you soon, Joan