Wilby High School - Wilby Yearbook (Waterbury, CT)

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Michael Joseph Purcaro A Waterbury native, Mr. Purcaro, graduated from Croft High School in 1961 before going on to the University of Connecticut as a pre-med student. While studying at the University, he became interested in the diagnosis and spread of bacterial and viral diseases in man and decided to pursue a career in this area of medicine. During his senior year, he was selected as one of two members of his class to do independent re- search work on bacterial diseases in insects under a grant from the State of Connecti- cut. In addition to his academic achievements, Mr. Purcaro graduated as a second lieutenant and a distinguished military student of the Army ROTC Program at University of Connecticut in 1965. Upon graduation, Mr. Purcaro continued his education at Central Connecticut State College Graduate School until 1967 and at the U.S. Army Medical Service Corp School, San Antonio, Texas. In 1968, he was chosen by the Army to head a viral research pro- ject to find a rapid and reliable method to detect viral infections in children. His re- search was interrupted, however, by the Viet Nam war. During the Viet Offensive, Cap- tain Purcaro was transferred to South Viet Nam where he became Chief of Laboratory Medicine for the Ninth Medical Laboratory Saigon. There he received further training in tropical diseases and thereupon was transferred to the Central Highlands to take change of mobile medical laboratories providing blood and other medical facilities to both Vietnamese and civilians and military units of the Vietnamese and American Army. In 1969, he returned to the United States to take charge of medical laboratory.services at a U.S. Army field hospital in West Hartford during which time he joined the Staff at Wilby High School. Here he began as a physical science instruction and was then trans- ferred to Chemistry. s

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Dedication Michael Joseph Purcaro

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Francis G. Brennan A graduate of Sacred Heart Grammar School and Sacred Heart High School, where he was Captain of the Track Team, Brennan entered Providence College and majored in Political Science, Dur- ing his years at Providence, Brennan was elected President of both his Junior and Senior Classes and was selected as graduation speaker for his class. Brennan received his Masters of Science Degree from Southern Connecticut State College in 1973 and is currently a candidate for his sixth year certificate. After graduation from Providence, Brennan entered the United States Army with the rank of Second Lieutenant. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1960. Brennan spent many years in business before returning to ed- ucation in 1969. He is presently an Instructor of Psychology and Sociology at Wilby High School and was recently nominated for the National Outstanding Secondary School Teacher Award. Brennan has also taught psychology at Post Junior College. Brennan has been married for 17 years to the former Mary Sullivan. They have four children: Nancy, 17, Lisa, 16, Mark 13; and Thomas, 12.