West Essex High School - Milestone Yearbook (North Caldwell, NJ)

Page 33 text:

Tom Albano and Carol Triner were chosen Mister and Miss Sophomore at the Sophomore class dance. Plans were begun for the Junior Prom: theme and committees being chosen at the end of the Sophomore year. Our principal, Dr. Thomas Marshall, left us, and Dr. Piel departed from his Math-Science Coordinator position to be- come principal. The year ended with our Sophomore class dance and a picnic at Forest Hill Park. . . . and into our Junior year Our Junior year began with everyone expecting a great and exciting year. And great and exciting it was! Our rings were ordered in October, and by December 15, we were proudly showing them off. In the Fall of 1963, our football field and bleachers were finally finished, and we received a scoreboard from the National Newark and Essex Bank. This new field helped to generate more spirit and bolster the morale of the student body. October 12 and 13 marked the dates of our Junior Class play, The Night of Mr. Richard Rizzo. Class Adviser Senior Class Council. TOP BOW: Roberta Rich. Tom Albano. Meredith Gash. Rosemary Gambino. BOTTOM ROW: Laura Picetti. Sharon Linton lulie Hendrickson. January 16,” which was performed to standing room only” audiences both nights. Then one early November morning, most Juniors rose to take their PSAT’s and later on the National Merits. Oh joy!” was exclaimed by all. November 22, 1963 marked the date of a great disaster for every citizen of America: President John Fitzgerald Ken- nedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Our school, along with the whole country, mourned his death. Junior Prom plans, which had begun earnestly in September, finally ended on May 22, 1964 when our Prom, 3 Coins in the Fountain,” was held at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, N. J. Anyone who attended the prom will certainly never forget the beautiful night, which was perfect for the promenade hour, the delicious dinner, and the crowning of Jane

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West Essex Seniors Are CSD SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS: Gordon Morris, treasurer; Jane Windolf, secretary; David Berkowitz, vice-president; Craig Van Pelt, president. and constuction began . . . Freshmen at Last!!! Freshmen at Last!!! Everyone was thrilled about finally entering high school, and a new one, too. But new was an understatement! There was no auditorium, no cafeteria, (we ate lunch in the classroom), the halls were littered with wires, and teachers used whistles to change periods. The gyms weren’t finished, so we played archery outside in our street clothes and later square-danced in the cafeteria. Also, we had no fields — all our sports were played away, and the varsity football team caught poison ivy. But within a few months, nearly everything was finished; and in spite of the confusion, we enjoyed ourselves. Our first big project was a dance, The Swinging Sixties,” under the direction of our officers, Mark 7.eek, Jeff Bond, Carol Albano and Vinnie Albergato, and our advisers, Mrs. Theodora Gaetano and Mr. Richard Rizzo. Our other big project was a Theater Benefit at the Park Theater, Blue Hawaii” with Elvis Presley. Then in February, most of the English classes went with the Seniors to see West Side Story.” As the year ended, the base of a unified class was established and many new friendships were formed. As Sophomores As Sophomores, we elected Craig Van Pelt, George Leu, Piffie Gunther-Mohr and Jeff Bond as officers. With the departure of Mrs. Gaetano, Mr. Rizzo became our sole adviser. Our first project of the year, an intro- duction dance with the freshmen, was a huge success. Other projects were a bowl- ing tournament at Belle-Aire Lanes, a Fun Nite with the Seniors that included the movie, No Time for Sergeants,” followed by ping-pong, volley ball, basketball, and dancing in the gym.

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Football Queen and Court: Laura Picetti, John Pullin. Jon Knoop. Pamela Orr, Roger Beach Zonnie Tracy. John Mills. Queen June Falcone. Tom Nelson, Jane Windolf, Mr. Quentin Unger. Windolf as Prom Queen. Thanks go especially to fan Anderson, and Craig Van Pelt who did a great job as Co-Chairmen. Our Junior officers, Gene Gaglione, Paul Crotta, Piffie Gunther-Mohr, and Carol Albano had led the class through a successful year. . . . and finally Seniors West Essex 1965 Seniors CSD’’ (cool, suave, debonair). On the first day of school, every Senior was presented with a button bearing the above inscription. The general feeling was one of intense antici- pation for a great Senior year. The annual Senior Candy Sale, which began on September 28, was a complete sell-out on the second day, and extra candy had to be ordered. No one will really know how much was actually sold or how much was eaten by the Seniors themselves. Major projects were the Senior Play, The Mouse that Roared,’’ shown Decem- ber 11, 12, and the Senior-Faculty Basket- ball game in February. Seniors who met their quota for candy and ticket selling received credit toward some expenses. Fair is foul, and foul is fair.’’ This was the first quote from Macbeth’’ which all Seniors happily” attended in October as part of the English IV assignment. Our varsity football team was limited this year when four members, Gene Gag- lione, Roger Beach, Bill Pharmer and John McCleve injured themselves in various accidents. 1964-65 also introduced unreturnable” report cards on which marks were entered by the respective teachers. During the February vacation, the to- tally new Senior Class trip to Washington, D. C. was planned. Through the efforts of our President, Craig Van Pelt and our other officers, David Berkowitz, Jane Windolf and Gordon Morris, a new Senior week was put into effect. Senior Week began after exams on June 9, 10, 11 and included the annual trip to Culvermere. Every 1965 Senior at WF.HS agreed that the four fun-filled years just gone by were filled with happy memories that will never be forgotten. 30