Westerly High School - Westlyan Yearbook (Westerly, RI)

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The Senior Year Book — 1941 OJlasB Sjiatonj Under the guidance of Miss Sturte-vant, we, as Sophomores, commenced our three years as high school students. Nor-mand Andrews was elected president, a position which he held for all three years. Many showed interest and ability in athletics by their participation in varsity sports. The Leaders’ Club was formed during our Sophomore year, and we were the first class to enjoy its privileges throughout our high school career. Dorothy Stoppello won the girls’ prize speaking contest. In our Junior year several members of the class served on the board of the “Senior.” Under the persuasive tongue of Douglas Graham we, as Juniors, managed to gather enough class dues to swing a successful Junior Prom. The gymnasium was quaintly decorated as a Dutch Garden. The Juniors played an important role in the athletic successes of the year. Those on the varsity football team were John Stellitano, Joseph Capalbo, Frank Gencarelli, Benjamin Servideo, Isaac Smith, and Stanley Russell. On the Class B championship basketball team there were Harold Miner, Walter Bressette, and John Stellitano. On the Class B championship cross-country team were Robert Schilke, Douglas Graham, and Paul Algiere. In baseball our Class B champions included Walter Bressette, John Stellitano, Stanley Russell, Joseph Capalbo. Bernard Barber, and Arthur Han-nuksela. On the track team were Edward Burdick, Robert Schilke, Isaac Smith, Michael Spezzano, Patsy Cap-puccio, Frank Gencarelli, Nicholas Vu-ono, and Herbert Strong. The Juniors were also outstanding in the Prize-Speaking Contest, Robert Young winning first prize and James Pig-nataro, second. The Hi-Y Cup was awarded to Douglas Graham. Louis Rosso won the Italian award. Our classmates proved their outstand- ing ability in chemistry by returning from the state chemistry contest with the highest award. Kenneth Astill won first prize for the boys and Phyllis Brown first prize for the girls. Herbert Strong, Eugene Ferraro, and Stanley Gould are the other members who were congratulated on the fine showing made at this contest. In June, we honored the departing Seniors with a grand reception in the Ward gymnasium. In September of 1940, the erstwhile Juniors returned as Seniors, fully realizing the responsibilities which their age and dignity incurred. Our football team, under the captainship of John Stellitano, managed to defeat Stonington for the first time in several years. For our Senior Prom we manifested the traditional Halloween spirit in a ghostly setting of skeletons, pumpkins, and cornstalks. The Leaders' Club was ably headed by Constance Harvey, with Helen Coy as chairman of the Social Committee and Ethel Fulford as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. For the second year in succession, our team, captained by Miner and Bressette, won the Class B championship in basketball. Enthusiastic supporters of the team honored them with a trip to the New England tournament at Manchester, New Hampshire. In April of this year, the most popular event of the school’s theatrical calendar, the Senior Play, was presented. “You Can’t Take It With You” proved to be the most successful play ever given by the high school. The Broadway show is the story of an unconventional family: the Sycamores. Alice, ably portrayed by Constance Harvey, the only sensible member of the family, falls in love with her boss’s son, Tony Kirby, who is played by Dick Donati. Havoc runs wild in Alice’s home when Tony arrives unex- -«5( 8

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The Senior Year Book — 1941 ftrmfrttt’a AiiiircHB Parents, teachers, townspeople, and fellow classmates of Westerly High School: the Class of 1941 welcomes you to this, our last evening of entertainment and mirth, as a body. For three all-too-short years, this class has trodden up and down the stairs of this wonderful building, drinking in its abundance of ready knowledge and forming companionships which will be cherished for life. When, later on in the week, each of us receives his certificate which signifies twelve years of patient learning, he will be more regretful than joyful that his schooldays are terminated. All of us have an opportunity to accomplish something worthwhile in the years to come. Some undoubtedly have reservations in institutions of higher learning, others will be obliged to seek governmental or private employment, and still others may enlist in the various military organizations made necessary by our country’s great system of National Defense. The members of this class will march through those auditorium doors on Thursday, out into a strife-torn world, not knowing what the next few months or even days may bring. We have completed one chapter of our book of life and are engrossed in the rising action, eagerly await- ing the climax. Whatever may come, the Class of 1941 will support, together with millions of other true Americans, our share of the burden and sacrifice to the utmost of our ability in order to cause the downfall of these existing evils. But now for something a little more pleasant! We truly have enjoyed receiving our education in Westerly and are deeply grateful to its citizens for providing the buildings, equipment, and facilities which go to make studying not only interesting but entertaining. We also wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the townspeople and underclassmen for their genuine cooperation in supporting our activities, including the sell-out Senior Play, “You Can’t Take It With You,” athletics, prize-speaking, and the concert. Any successes attained by us will be in no small part due to our patient and understanding faculty who have inspired us to greater heights, and to whom we take this opportunity of extending our earnest thanks and praise. Do you wish to hear more concerning the accomplishments of our class and become better acquainted with it? Then let us immediately proceed with the collected data. NORMAND ANDREWS, Class 1941.

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The Senior Year Book — 1941 pectedly with his mother and father, Priscilla Holman and Edward Burdick. The haughty Kirbys realize—due to Grandpa, Robert Young — that money isn’t the only thing in the world and that “You Can’t Take It With You.” Penny Sycamore, played by Hope Smith, writes plays because of the fact that a typewriter was delivered to the house by mistake eight years before. Her husband, Paul, played by Kenneth Astill, is a producer of fireworks, and is assisted by Mr. DePinna, played by Eugene Ferraro. Amusement is derived from Essie, Harriet Babcock, who is supposed to be a ballet dancer, but is really more of a farce than an artist. She interprets her art to her husband, Ed, played by Patsy Cappuccio, who in turn is an interpreter of Beethoven on the xylophone. Boris Kolenkhov, Stanley Gould, who is a typical Russian in opinion and speech, is Essie’s instructor. He is adept at wrestling as Mr. Kirby finds to his sorrow. Royalty is introduced when Olga Katrina, Duchess of Russia, played by Barbara Lownds, comes to dinner and surprises the family when she asks to be permitted to cook Russian blintzes. The two colored servants, Jane Robinson and Michael Spezzano, contribute additional hilarity. The three G-men, Ralph Nardone, Lome MacLean, and Herbert Strong, interpret their comical measures of the long arm of the law when they appear in the second act. Altogether, the play was as much enjoyed by the audience as it was by the actors who took great pains to follow the directions of David Crockett, our director. The business management class certainly proved their mastery of the course—witn Ralph Nardone as General Manager, assisted by William Borsay and Margaret Turco; thomas Reilly as Sales Manager, Lome MacLean as Publicity Manager, Walter Palmer and Clinton Lanphere as Accountants. These people made this play a financial success. Applause is also due the two super-sales students, Marion Anderson and Robert Hyde, who sold a combined total of over 170 tickets. The Senior Class of 1941 has a larger percentage of members in the Rhode Island Honor Society than has been attained by any preceding class. The following Seniors made the roll: Normand Andrews, Kenneth Astill, Mary Baird, Walter Bres-sette, Phyllis Brown, Edward Burdick, Hannah Clapham, Helen Coy, Rebecca Curtis, Edith Dinwoodie, Richard Donati, Fred Ennis, Angeline Falcone, Eugene Ferraro, Stanley Gould, Douglas Graham, Anastasia Grossomanides, Adolph Jursa, Anne Murano, Eleanor Neville, Roma Palmer, Marion Pendleton, James Pignataro, Doris Rathbone. Louis Rosso, Hope Smith, Herbert Strong, Margaret Turco, Josephine Vuono, and James Wilson. We have received both profit and enjoyment from our three years in Westerly High, and it is with regret that we bring to a close our last year as students here. Historians HELEN COY HARRIET BABCOCK RALPH NARDONE 49 - THE LIBRARY