Westerly High School - Westlyan Yearbook (Westerly, RI)

Page 15 text:

The Senior Year Book — 1953 Class History With the sounds of the graduation march ftly fadin. the curtain gracefully des- cends on a sigiuimnt event in the experience of the most nwJ3ym e (yid illustrious class that A ai k ni nijdfSchil hA ver known— the class' ,A symbol of jj£'fight- iviii]y'sun, Uu be-hl i3 school has IWiminated Sr miwith UxmXfWEc and kw shed its to lu nten and guide « 1 myslSnous paths wmich pch member i Ki AK will tread i ®Oturg ears. et us. thj underlie irtl the color to our I at Ward Send ev«|g, i u ' again, of This glorious um , nts whdFli haveWven frorr he time High j itil our dgpa The first bright event was the election of our was elected president o Lees as vice-president, Jack Siswick as treas sopttomoft lear Donald Afmnd ass wdth Mty eyer as secretary, As cooler weaker 5rri l, our sophomore boys were given a Aance to show their athletic ability by participatMg in football, some of the more promising candidates being Joe Quaratella, John Leach, and Roger Tamer. The desire for social activities brought about our Sophomore Hop which gave us a welcome opportunity to become better acquainted with one another and with our upperclassmen, of whom we had stood in breathtaking awe. We greeted the warm, sunny spring days with enthusiasm especially because they brought with them the drama and excitement of baseball —with John Leach, Ed Gordon, and Lou Capalbo contributing immensely to the value of the team. Entering our junior year with more confidence we chose the following to carry the Promethean fire for our class: John Leach wielding the gavel and Irma Olean ready to offer her assistance; Ruth Geyer keeping the books in order and Richard Pignataro supervising our financial affairs. We were well represented in the P. T. A. by Martha Rider. The brilliance of our glory became evident when in our junior year our well-versed chemistry team consisting of Martha Rider, Jean Marriott, Bernie Mindeck, and Charles Schriver won second prize in the annual contest at U. R. I. Two bright rays, Chic Irwin and Joe Quaratella, shone down on our basketball team and played important roles in qualifying it for the state finals. Under the capable direction of Martha Rider, the production “Swept Clean Off Her Feet, was awarded first prize in the competitive plays of 1952. The entire class was filled with pride, having outstarred the upper classmen. The cast which made this possible consisted of Ruth Geyer, Richard Pignataro, Brad Hartford, Richard Sea-grave, D’Ann Frechette, and John Leach. “Prelude to Spring” the appropViate theme for our junior prom wrill linger forever among our memories. The outstanding decorations and the record breaking attendance made a beautiful setting for the crowding of our dazzling queen, Irma Olean. The sun once again cast its rays on two of our junior classmates. Richard Seagrave and John Maxson were awarded prizes in the annual Martha C. Babcock Essay Contest. When we returned in the fall of 1952, we were entering upon that highest golden flight of stairs—the flight which signifies the end of our high school education. Our first step toward making our last year most successful was the election of our officers. John Leach, Irma Olean, and Richard Pignataro were given the second term as president, vice-president, and treasurer respectively, with Margaret Serra as secretary. The Senior Prom added another bright star to our sky of memories. The song “Harvest

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The Senior Year Book — 1953 President’s A ddress Classmates, Teachers, and Friends: We, the Class of 1953, are about to be graduated from high school. We are about to break the bonds that have held us together as classmates for the past three years. For some this graduation climaxes twelve years of friendship. It doesn’t seem possible that time has flown by so quickly; indeed it has passed far too rapidly. Now, however, we are ready to say “Good-by” to high school and “Hello” to college or career. To the members of our faculty we owe a debt of gratitude, for they have helped us realize the great problems we shall face in future years. They have given us a priceless possession — a well-rounded high school education. We must resolve that this heritage shall be assured to those who follow us. One need only think of those who this very year are trying to deprive the world’s youth of democratic training. The years we have spent at Westerly will always linger in our memories, for they have been happy years that have been filled with proms, parties, athletics, and, of course, the fun in the classroom. How can we ever forget our Junior Prom, the first major social event that we sponsored, the informal parties in the homes of our friends, that particular teacher that each singled out as the most enjoyable. Here in our yearbook, then, we give you concrete evidence of our academic achievements, our extra-curricular pleasures, and the good-will of the class of 1953. —JOHN LEACH 4{l2)S - -

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The Senior Year Book — 1953 Moon,” on which our theme was based, shone brightly on our Harvest Queen, Barbara Lloyd. This being our last season of football at Westerly High School, we wanted to make it unforgettable. Since we were an original class, we suggested that for the most important game of the season on Thanksgiving Day, when Westerly opposed Stonington, the Sophomore, Junior, and Senior classes should compete in displays which would be shown on the school lawn. The Seniors were awarded a trophy for the outstanding display. Each year as this trophy is awarded to the class with the most attractive display the group will take with it the joy and happiness which swelled within us when we received it. The sun shone brightly on two members of our class when each received a distinguished honor. D’Ann Frechette, in competing with students from Stonington High, won the “I Speak for Democracy” contest. Barbara Lloyd was awarded the D. A. R. award. With Miss Hanson as its advisor, the “Indigo Bunting Club” was formed. This poetry study-group successfully staged a Valentine Dance at which Bobette Drysdale was crowned Queen of Hearts. Such brilliant performers as Starlyne Piet-rallo, Dianne Button, and Carolyn Anderson along with Barbara Lloyd, Robert Kreyssig, Roberi Ferendo, Virginia Cate, John Leach, Betty James, Richard Seagrave, Ruth Chamberlain, and Roger Tamer made possible “Tish,” our senior play, which was most highly praised and was the very best performance given in a great number of years. The Senior party, Senior banquet, Senior picnic, and Senior Reception followed one another rapidly and brought closer the graduation of the class of 1953 from Ward Senior High. As we reluctantly depart from our beloved school, we are reminded, once again, that its light will continue to illumine our minds with wisdom and our hearts with warmth, thus enabling us to look toward the future, not with dread, but with joyous hope: for we know that the eternal rays of the “sun” will guide us through the uncertain years ahead. SYLVIA MORRONE JEFFREY BENSON Statistics Snaps Identities (See Page 23) 1. John Leach 2. Ann Chiaradio 3. Maitland Crandall 4 Steve Pukas 5. Roger Tamer 6. Margaret Serra 7. Barbara Waite 8. Fred DiPietro 9. Charles Schriver 10. Robert Strawderman 11. Chester Irwin 12. Sylvia Morrone 13. Kay Cellino 14. Lois Beverly 15. Susan Emerson 16. Catherine Schackner 17. Robert Ferendo 18. Joseph Quaratella 19. Ruth Chamberlain 20. Jean Marriott 21. Barbara Lloyd 22. Nancy Barrett 23. Richard Pignataro 24. Martha Rider 25. Irma Olean 26. Robert Kreyssig 14)5