Watervliet High School - Spectator Yearbook (Watervliet, NY)

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llISTOBY 0F CLASS 01? 1946 September, 1942, was a memorable month in the history of Watervliet High School. It marked the advent of a remarkable freshman class in the school-the Class of 1946. That first day we reported to the auditorium and were greeted there by Miss Roth, among others. She helped us to arrange our schedules and then assigned us to our various homerooms. The study hall and rooms on the third tioor were not quite befitting our place in the sun, but as lowly freshmen we were forced to make the concession. Once we had learned our way around, we had little trouble until we encountered the five-weeks' tests. However, we tried to squeeze by , and surprised most of our teachers by doing it. We had just begun to breathe easily after the third tive-weeks' test , when the mid-year exams arose like a spectre before us. Once again we baftied the faculty by a majority of us passing. We were truly a remarkable class. Closely following that we proceeded to organize ourselves as a class. Mrs. Quinn was chosen as our class adviser, and she aided us in electing our class officers. These were: president, Donald Jacques, vice-president, Charles Assini, treasurer, Richard Rochester, secretary, Vivian Smith. Looking forward to future expenses we set our class dues at five cents a week. We had no large expenditures that year, so we were well situated at the beginning of the following term. One of the first freshman participants in a school activity was David Morrison, who appeared in the Annual Oratorical Contest. Our official debut in school history was Moving-Up Day, on which we climbed the first step on the ladder to success. Our class song was written by Pat Harlo. When we left the auditorium, it was with the realization that we were at last upper- classmen. No longer could others look disdainfully down on us and say with a sneer, Freshmen! Looking back over the year, we realized that W. H. S. had had a banner year in sports, and that some from our class had participated in this banner year. We won the championship in the class A-B basketball league that year. Our jayvee team was very successful with the help of Tudor Valoze, Al Dean and Bill Butler. We also took the Principals' League Cham- pionship in baseball, and our freshman representative was Jim Weldon. After the happy glow over these facts had faded, we were faced with the stern truths that we had the June finals to contend with and that we had little, time to spare. Because of last minute cramming and study the time fiew and soon we' had taken the tests, and to the surprise of the majority of us, had passed. Our sophomore year began in the conventional fashion. We renewed old acquaintances and made new ones, and struggled, with the aid of experience to guide us, through the problem of arranging our schedules. However, for us it was an exceptional year, in that we were at last treated as upper-classmen, and when Miss Lettis was not looking, we reclined luxuriously on the couch in the library. One of the first improvements made that year touched only a few of us. Some of us had our homerooms moved from the third to the second tioor. The few that did not receive that favor, are still trudging wearily up the three tiights of stairs to Room 305. As an organized and practical body of young men and women, we proceeded to prepare for the coming school functions which included us. The class officers chosen to lead us through the year were: president, Philip Schoonmaker, vice-president, Thelma Van Heuseng treasurer, Barbara Dunbarg secretary, Eleanor Litchfield. The basketball season was soon under way and under cover of it our tests came and went with alarming regularity. Once again W. H. S. had a good team, and came in second in the Principals' League. Now came the first social event attempted by our class, the Sophomore-Senior party. Under the counsel of Mrs. Quinn, the committee heads-Pat Harlo, Joe Bagnardi, Thelma Van Heusen, Dick Clemens and Marge Halpin-did a grand job, and the party was an acknowledged success. The music was provided by the inimitable Don Wilson and his Rhythmeers . The Senior Class Classification was read by Betty Birkby, and the Senior Roll-Call by Barbara Dunbar and Charles Assini. Following that, came another, more personal, success for us. Moving-Up Day had again arrived and we stepped ahead and became jolly juniors . Watervliet proved itself to be in high gear as far as baseball was concerned. We won the championship again, ending the season in a thrilling play-off game with Cohoes High, in which Duke Keough played. September, 1944, found us ,back in school, prepared, in that year, to step even further toward our goal-graduation. We also felt that we were gaining stature in our relations with the faculty. We were beginning to be accepted as more than students, as young men and women. This was gratifying in the extreme. Those elected to represent us this year were: president, Philip Schoonmakerg vice-president, Donald Edmansg treasurer, Barbara Dunbarg secretary, Ruth Ellen Miller. Because of coming expenses, we were urged to pay our dues. Some must have taken it to heart, for we managed to pay our bills. Our first chance to display our versatility came with the advent of the Christmas play, Guest House-Very Exclusive . This theatrical production, under the direction of Miss Gabriels, was a success, featured by the acting of Eleanor Litchfield, Eleanor Mori, Marion Kania, Marie Adams, Dick Carson and Dave Morrison. Page Twent y- five

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Jean Wiseman- Bennie Connnereial The mirror ot' all courtesy. Catherine Wunclerlich- Cathy College lintrance Leaders' Club 2. .43 Latin Club 23 Thalian Society 2. 3, 41 Senior Play Staff 4. She has made steadfastness rt virtue. Carmen Fruscio- Frush Academic Student Council 1. Treasurer .45 junior Varsity Basketball Z, .ig Varsitv 4: Varsity Club 4. I Better to give than to receive. John Gronau- Jack Academic What's the use of worrying? William Haskell- Heinie Commercial A crooner if there ever was one. Pugr Tuwzly-frmr Maxem Krause- Maxy Commercial lie doesn't live, but lingers. George Pariricige- Whitey .-Xezuleniic He is armed without that's innocent within. Anthony Peleslti- Pei College lintrance Silence is more eloquent than Alex Reniz- Lefty College lintranee words. .-'tlex is quiet but is always there it we need him. Dorothy Zacharino- Zack Academic Cheerleader Z, 3: Leaulers' Club 2, .lg Latin Club .lg Senior Play Cast -lg SP1-1t mToR Staff 4. She will never wear out her welcome. Joseph Zawisiowslii- Joe Commercial Possessed with the ambition of polite- ness. Loretta Zeglen-- Queenie Commercial Sophomore-Senior Party J, Student Council Play .43 junior Service Club .lg junior Play Staff .lg Thalian Society 3, 4: Charm Club Secretary 4: Senior Play Staff 45 Student Council 4. Elegant as simplicityg warm as ecstasy. John Tetrault- Tiny Academic Contentcd with little, yet merry all the day. Salvatore Valoze- Tudor Academic , junior Varsity l, Z, Student Council lg Varsity Basketball 3, 4: Varsity Soccer 45 Varsity Club 45 Ring Committee 4. Happy is the man who has his flivvcr full. James Weldon- Jimmy Academic Ott has good nature been his companion.

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After returning from the holidays, we faced the enjoyable task of choosing our class ring. This problem was admirably handled by committee heads and those connected with it. The campaign for Student Council president was a memorable one. The race was marked by excellent campaign speeches and friendliness between the two rivals, Donald Edmans and Bob Meyer. When the returns came in and Don Edmans was known to have won, Port Schuyler felt justly proud. Under the committee heads for the Junior Prom, Phil Schoonmaker, Donald Edmans, Varkas Minoogian, Harlan Lape and Robert Meyer, the dance was a huge success. It was held in the Annex Restaurant in Trov, and everyone reported a grand time. Watervliet High was on the crest in sports, mainly as a result of the material furnished by our class. We won the Class B basketball championship and the finals in the play-offs at Saratoga. In baseball and soccer, we took the pennants also. Seniors at last! Three years of hard work and fun had passed during which we had all had our ups and downs. Mr. Sanders is best acquainted with the downs, During the preceding years our ranks had been thinned. Although the war had ended before we graduated, we had still lost a number from our class to the armed forces. Our last elections were held and the ofiicers chosen were: president, David Morrison, vice-president, Philip Schoonmaker, treasurer, James Wing, secretary, Roslyn Bleau. The junior-Senior party was given by us in the gym, during the Halloween season. There were p-l-e-n-t-y of doughnuts. Under the direction of Miss Gabriels we presented the senior play, The Doctor Has a Daughter. It was a successful production because of the hard work of the cast and the production staff. Dorothy Zacharino, Eleanor Mori, jean Gardner, Doc Hayner, and all the others will long be remembered and appreciated by our class. The Senior Ball this year was a success, but is remembered as being the last social event of our high school years. The Class of 1946 would like to extend its deepest appreciation and gratitude to our principal, Mr. Sanders, our teachers, and our class adviser, Mrs. Quinn. Their assistance, when we needed it, was equaled only by their patience, during these last four years. PAUL BRADLEY CLASS WILL 0F 1946 We, the Senior Class, on this june day, one thousand nine hundred and forty-six A.D., sound in body and mind and having passed the required subjects, do declare this to be our final will and do dispose of our property, personal or otherwise, in the manner stated hereafter. Ed Buhrmaster and Dick Garling leave their daily duty of pushing the Toonerville Trolley up the hill to school to Doug Williams and Elmer Washburn. Betty Birkby and Roslyn Bleau, Bob Meyer and Fred Alber contribute their envied dancing ability to janet Ferro and Marilyn Iloust, Bob Roberts and jim Wiseman, respectively. Carmon Fruscio and Carol McMann bestow their remarkable wit upon an up-and-coming comedian and comedienne in the junior Class. Marge Halpin, Marilyn Vorce and Eleanor Litchfield, those smart dressers and heavy daters, leave their techniques to Shirley jallon, Doris Hopson and Eleanor Paley. james Wing would like to leave his amazing appetite to some equally hungry junior, but he realizes he must take it with him. Helen Kelly leaves her pep and refreshing happy-go-lucky attitude to some 'tsad sack. Page Twenty-six