Stonington High School - Pawmystonian Yearbook (Pawcatuck, CT)

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Patricia Donahue, Elinor O'Brien, Heather Anderson, Gretchen Miller, Mary Lou Foley, Beverly Kasper, or Agnes Kessler would be crowned queen of the Prom. Tensely, we waited to see who it would be. It was Agnes. I am sure all of us felt a little of the joy that was in her heart as she mounted the stairs to the Queen's throne. Do you remember? OUR SENIOR YEAR x 1 Probably the most cherished of all the years at Stonington High School was our last year. We elected the following class officers: president, Robert Schack- ner, vice president, William Lazarek, secretary, Nils Carlssong treasurer, Robert Barnes. Last year's Stu- dent Council representatives were re-elected. Walter Savage received the honor of being elected president of the Student Council and Agnes Kessler became the secretary-treasurer. Again as usual we had a wonderful,,talent show, conducted so vividly that it made you feel that you were in Mexico, which was the setting for the theme. This began the completion of the many things that were to be done. We planned our Washington Trip, the Senior Prom and our Yearbook. In football we were outstanding. And won the Eastem Connecti- cut Conference Football award by winning eight out of nine games. What about the years that will follow? Whether they be happy or sad, long or short, we will always have our memories, memories of the things that made boys, men, girls, women, memories of the faculty and the contributions they made to each one of us in preparing us for the world outside the tender walls of our school. We will re-live the four years over and over in our minds many times. With the help of God and self-assurance, we will be happy in what we are doing, be it mother or father, nurse or doctor, teacher or President, we will be proud to say we graduated from Stonington High School. May God always be at our side to see us through the rough spots of life. And, may we always be wlll- ing to accept His help. Jack Macione Class Ode FAREWELL T0 STONINGTON fTune: Moments to Remember! At last we stand before the door Of Life and Hope and Destiny fFarewell to you, our dearest S.H.S.i This new door opens wider more As we turn 'round and say softly. H Farewell to you, our dearest S.H.S. CLASS PROPHECY After living on Mars for ten years, we decided to return to earth to see the latest inventions and to visit our former classmates. Arriving in California, we climbed out of our rocket-ship, hopped on our pogo sticks, the latest mode of travel on Mars, and started on our way. Passing a movie theatre, we noticed that several members of Stonington High School class of 56 had become great stars. Betty Mae Curran was co-starring in a musical comedy with Bill Lazarek and Marion Tillinghast. At the Pasadena Playhouse we enjoyed several numbers by that famous dance team, Eleanor O'Brien and .lack Morton. Having been told that color-vision had become very common, we stopped to watch the Carlson Comedies, produced by Nils Carlson and directed by John Choquette. Appearing on the show as guest stars were actress Majorie Darling, actor Walter Savage, and the great concert pianist, Juanita Lewis. Nevada was the next stop on our journey. At the experimental laboratory in Yucca Flats we found the great scientists Robert Schackner, Eugene Smith, and Walter Brown at work on a new experiment. We were amazed to see the number of secretaries work- ing there. Among them were Marjorie Balestracci, flarolyn Harper, Louise Labuda, and Bernadette Sul- ivan. We had heard about the giant photography firm in Utah owned by Robert Staplin and Stanley Bennet, and as we wanted some pictures taken we stopped to visit them. Gladys Miner was working there as a secretary. While in Arizona, we saw the United Nations del- egate to Russia, Peter Latham, and the United States diplomat, John DaSilva, along with Elace Dart, fashion editor for McCall's Magazine. In Colorado, we visited an art exhibit and saw a beautiful painting of the Grand Canyon done by .loan Rafuse. Joan also told us that Janet Ball was working as secretary at a big resort in Sun Valley, Idaho. Also working there were Phyllis Anderson and Roberta Bailey. Ever since landing we had been hearing about the famous .lohn Alexander taxicabs in New Mexico. Arriving there, we went for a ride in one and found that they were the latest models equipped with atomic engines. Our first visit in Texas was to the King Ranch run by its new owner, Joe King. While cruising around Texas, we had noticed several oil wells bear- ing the title Ronald Johns, owner. Upon inquiring we were told that he was the world's oil tycoon. Also while there we purchased a book written by Robert Moniz and noticed that it had been published by the Frank Allen Typewriter Corporation of Oklahoma. At a Nebraska airport we met the owner of' the American Airlines, David Marchand, who introduced us to three of his stewardesses, Elaine Howard, Ann Holdridge and Norma Brainard. Three of his pilots wereuArnold Lema, Dennis Keegan and Robert Tat- tersa . In Wisconsin we visited the largest dairy in the state and found that it was owned by Curt Brown and Nelson Whipple. So large was the farm that they employed their own private veterinarian, Daniel

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CLASS HI TORY Someday in our future years, whether they be happy or sad. I am sure we will all want to look back and remember the most wonderful years of our life, the years that changed us from growing chil- dren to great men and women, the years that molded our lives to come, and the four years we spent at unequaled Stonington High School. Someday, while reminiscing, pick up this yearbook and while reading it, try to remember the faces and places that were part of your life, from the hectic freshman year to the great senior year. OUR FRESHMAN YEAR After we stopped floundering around the halls of Stonington High School, asking the usual questions of a freshman, and eating the wrong lunch block, we elected class officers that would carry us through our first year. Robert Schackner was elected to the president's seat, David Fontanella was elected vice president, Barbara Burdick became the secretary, and Kenneth Buck was treasurer. To the Student Council were elected Beverly Kasper and William Edgar. With this foundation, we started our fresh- man year. Our first big social event was held in the gym- nasium. This was the Freshman Party. Ah! Yes! Boy met girl and they danced the whole night through. As the year progressed, we came to the point that would really make us veterans of the school. This event was the Freshman Talent Show. Here we in- troduced our best performers, who did a wonderful job to make the show a spectacular hit. Thus we completed our first wonderful year at Stonington High School. OUR SOPHOMORE YEAR Again, we got on those yellow busses that would take us up that long hill of Mayflower Avenue. Again we walked into the big brick building that would nurse us through another year, but the dif- ference this year was that we were veterans of the school. We knew the do's and don'ts and it was just like home again. There was no fumbling with locker combinations or getting lost between blocks. We wer snug as a bug in a rug. As people who knew what was to be done, we proceeded to elect our class officers and Student Body Council mem- bers. Do you remember who they were? Think-You forgot? Well I will tell you who they were. The class officers were president, Robert Schackner, vice president, William Lazarekg secretary, Mary Lou Foley, and treasurer, Curtis Brown, The Student Council members were Beverly Kasper, Dorothy Rob- inson. Walter Savage, and Robert Barnes. Eventually we put on the attractions of the year, the Sophomore Talent Show, the theme of which was a Dress Rehearsal. and the Sophomore Hop. l am sure seven of the girls certainly remember the year 1954, the year that seven were to represent the school in two years of cheering. So, after weeks of training, Patricia Donahue, Elinor O'Brien, Bev- erly Kasper, Dorothy Robinson, Elace Dart, and Gretchen Miller, and Captain Heather Anderson were chosen as the future cheerleaders. OUR JUNIOR YEAR With Robert Schackner again elected president of the class, William Lazarek, vice presidentg Gretchen Miller, secretary, Robert Barnes, as treasurer, and Agnes Kessler, Mary Lou Foley, Beverly Kasper, Walter Savage, David Fontanella, and Peter Arnold, elected to the Student Council, we started on a school year that was one of our best. We were prominent in sports and other activities. The stars of the basket- ball team were James Cavanaugh, Wayne Lawrence, Victor Rebello, and Ralph Ballato. Under the direc- tion of co-chairmen Agnes Kessler and John Macione and supervised by class advisor, Miss Doris Reponen, our Junior Talent Show, which was said to be the best in fifteen yt as selected as an exchange assembly with We3tfa'ily!High School. Following came one of the highlights of the year, our trip to the United Nations in New York City, Remember, friends, the days we had Of laughter, fun, and tearsg The work we did and didn't do, The sports and rousing cheers. Ah, now, we leave with glist'ning eye, Glancing back with a wistful sigh, Farewell to you, our dearest S.H.S.! James T. Smith which was supervised by Mr. Foley. Do you remem- ber the fun we had in New York? Who could forget such attractions as The Rockettes' at Radio City or the Ted Mack Show? 1. March, 1955. This was the time that'the Honor So- ciety held its initiation for the new junior members. Proudly the elected Juniors took their places in the annals of the National Honor Society. They were: Walter Brown, Robert Barnes, Elizabeth Barnes, Janet Ball, Anne Bailey, Heather Anderson, Robert Schack- ner, Beverly Kasper, Carol Walsh, Elace Dart. Bar- bara Costa, and Joseph DeFrias. Then came .June and eventually Cupid, with an itchy trigger finger. The night of Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White, he shot many an arrow into unsuspecting junior hearts-yes, the night of the Junior Prom, the night that would decide whether

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Burleigh. At the local school Jim Cavanaugh and Henry Rescigno were teaching. Walking into one of the classrooms, we listened to a lecture by the pres- ident of the Illinois Commercial College, Joseph DeFrias. When we arrived in Michigan, we noticed the sign, Michigan Car Manufacturers owned by David Fon- tanella and Charles Roessler. We were told that they were working on a new racing car, although we could not discover the secret. From there we took a plane to Arkansas. The trip was made pleasant by the hostesses, Sally Jones, Gail Steele and Catherine Lenihan. They told us that the pilot of the plane was Thomas Kiddy with Victor Saddow as co-pilot. In Alabama, Jean Sommer and Mary Lou Foley had opened a school for dental hygienists which was a great success. Stopping to eat, we saw Stephen Cushman, the atomic television inventor, having din- ner with the famous criminal lawyer, Ralph Ballato. Also there were his secretaries, Faith Keegan and Thelma Larkin. In Florida, the Miami boat races were taking place with those two great dare-devils of the water Richard Brustolon, and Richard Gaynor. We saw Anthony Cravinho, teacher of English at a Florida school, admiring their daring exploits. On leave from the Officers Training School in Georgia were Peter Bales- tracci, Robert McDonough, Ronald Gibson, and Charles Rafuse. In South Carolina, Dorothy Robinson's twirling school was putting on a championship twirling exhi- bition. Making the awards was Patricia Donahue, leading dress designer. Two of the best teachers at this school were Josephine Gandolfi and Barbara Costa. Also attending the exhibition were William Clay, Hector Choquette, Donald LoPresto, and Don- ald Smith, who were stationed at the army camp nearby. Christopher Creamer, a teacher and philosopher, made his home in Maryland near the John Hopkins Hospital at which Frances Viana and Barbara Burdick were nurses. We realized there was great excitement at our Nation's capitol. Robert Bames, the Supreme Court judge, had just pronounced a communist spy guilty as charged. The conviction was possible because of the able work done by David Brennan, and Robert Johns of the F.B.I. As we approached the old home town we saw that Patricia Lord, Beverly Santos and Carol Walsh have made their careers as nurses at the DuPont Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Also in Wilmington was .Ioan McMahon, medical secretary for a famous doctor. Holding down the position of football coach at Pennsylvania State was Peter Arnold. Also employed there was Heather Anderson, girls' athletic instructor. Richard Main, Walter Sicard, and Richard Massey were stationed in this vicinity. My next stop was in New York City where the Dress Designers' Institute of America claims as their top designer, Susan DeMoura. Visiting the famous Dinty Moore's restaurant, at which Peter Larke is the head chef, we saw Bernard Andrews, mayor of New York, dining with his secretary. Mickey Mon- sam. Also dining there was Dimity Graichen, a lead- ing columnist for the New York Times. Saks Fifth Avenue was putting on a fashion show, so we went in to see all the new fashions. We were surprised to recognize several of the models as Marilyn Brown, Sandra Banks, Judy Sullivan, and Anne Bai- ley. An extra feature of the show was the performance of Alden Main, world famous magician. As soon as we reached Rhode Island, I decided to drive by the George C. Moore Company and noticed Elizabeth Kenyon directing the Moore Girls. We learned from Elizabeth that Lewis Brant, Alfred Grills, and William Pray were stationed at the Quon- set Navy Base. Several Stonington High School graduates remained in the home town. In fact, the high school faculty consisted of many of them. While walking through the familiar halls we noticed Beverly Kasper and Gretchen Miller teaching cooking on the new atomic stoves. The new mechanical drawing teacher was Robert Doughty. We also noticed George Dyer teach- ing history and Stephen Godomsky teaching trigonom- etry. The language teachers were Josephine Perrone and Marilyn Stebbings. The business department also had some new teachers. Mary Keegan was teaching English, and Brenda Riley was teaching typing and shorthand. Our next stop was at the Stonington Harbor where Victor Rebello's fishing fleet was just returning from a long day's run. Passing the Cabinet Corporation, we saw that Thomas Costa, the owner, has been very successful. Stopping at the post office for some stamps, we were greeted by Miriam Smith, one of the clerks. On my way to Massachusetts, we stopped at the University of Connecticut where Betty Barnes made her headquarters as New London County Home Ex- tension Agent, and she told me that Mary Lou Coffey taught athletics at Connecticut College for Women. Then we went to Boston where we enjoyed a bas- ketball game played by the Celtics. The star of this team was Wayne Lawrence. Several nurses from the Massachusetts General Hospital were there. Among them were Joan Wheeler, Agnes Kessler, Alice Bur- dick, and Harriet McNeil. In New Hampshire, we attempted to ski, but Joseph Quattromani, our instructor, soon realized that we were poor athletes. My next stop was at Nuno Rendeiro's maple sugar farm in Vermont, where we tasted some of his de- licious sugar and syrup and then were guests at James Smith's hunting lodge. It was rumored that at the Macione and Joseph Laboratories in Maine plans were in the making for a new outer world trip so we hopped over. Profes- sor Joseph Joseph and Professor Jack Macione were not there, but on their experimental table was a row of test tubes and a flask filled with a green solution. A noise startled us and we bumped against the test tubes. There was a bright flash of light and a rush of wind and all of a sudden we found ourselves back on Mars again. Betty Barnes Joan Wheeler