Woodrow Wilson High School - Saga Yearbook (Middletown, CT)

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to be our leaders: President, Bill Crusberg; Vice President, Elaine Wilson; Secretary, Pat Defranee; Treasurer, Stephen Gunter; Student Council Rep- resentative, Joseph Lorn astro. We received our class rings, which we wore with pride, shortly before Christmas. Dave Conroy and Pat Annino were elected co-chairmen of the Junior Prom, which was held February 8. The gym was decorated in a rainbow of colors with red, pink and white predominating, for St. Valentines Day was the theme. With the assistance of hard-working committees, the dance was the most successful in several years. Many of us took advantage of Wilson's extensive extracurricular program by participating in student government, sports, various clubs, music and dra- matics. We started to learn the full meaning of leadership and responsibility. We elected the following students into the National Honor Society in recognition of their outstanding achievements: Pat Annino, Diane Daniels, Pat Defrance, Steve Gunter, Phyllis Levin, Joe Lomastro, Elaine Wilson, Ruth Wrubel. Returning for our final year at Wilson we faced our most active year. Many members of our class held key positions in various activities. Dave Conroy was elected president of the senior class; Pat Defrance, vice president; Pat Annino, secretary; Steve Gunter, treasurer, and Joan Calhoun, student council representative. Richard Seagrave and Irwin Zagoren displayed their outstanding sales ability by coming out on top in the Christmas cards sales. The money raised by this drive went toward paying for our caps and gowns for graduation. Highly honored by being chosen king and queen of the annual Mardi Gras were Hank Solek and Pat Kowal. We worked and played our way through our last year. The beautiful Senior Ball was an immense success with many couples attending the big event. Our senior year had passed quickly—much too quickly; and finally there came that Big Day to which each and every one of us had looked forward— graduation. As each of us starts out on our own road of life, we take with us many happy and cherished memories of Wilson. We know that we have greatly benefited from attending Wilson. We learned by trail and error the intan- gible traits of leadership, responsibility, development of character and per- sonality, and service. We hope that in turn Wilson is a better school as a result of our attendance. And so, with sincere and humble thanks to the teachers who guided us through these unforgettable years, we say, Farewell. 27 Dave Conroy

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CLASS HISTORY Because we found Wilson huge when compared to our respective gram- mar schools, we wandered about aimlessly for the first few weeks in this vast maze of rooms. After a while, however, we settled down and began to show evidence of the leadership that has been the outstanding characteristic of our class during our stay here. The following students were elected officers of the Freshman Class: President, Dave Conroy; Vice President, Nancy Byerly; Secretary, Marry Ellen Coleman; Treasurer, Don Pehota; and Student Council Representative, Joan Calhoun. We held the annual Freshman Frolic on October 27 with Dave Conroy and Dee Dee” Daniels acting as co-chairman. The dance, with the help of Miss Alice Dempsey, Miss Gregg, and Mrs. Gaffney, our faculty advisors, was a huge success. We elected the following people to the National Junior Honor Society: Bennie Patten, Camille Salonia, Stan Czuba, Bill Daley, Dee Dee Daniels, Gladys Kelsey, Phyllis Levin, Joseph Lomastro, Caroline Kutzner and Betty Milardo. These students were in addition to Pat Defrance, Dave Conroy, Steve Gunter, Joan Calhoun, Nancy Byerly and Richard Kimball who had been elected while in the eighth grade. The class of '53 made a major contribution to the school assembly pro- gram by the presentation of the Nativity Play a few days before Christmas. We enjoyed many good dances, games, assemblies and plays during the remainder of the school year. After returning from a pleasant summer vacation, we prepared to em- bark on a very eventful sophomore year. We elected the folowing students as our officers. President, Bill Crusberg; Vice President, Pat Annino; Secretary, Pat Defrance; Treasurer, Bill Daley; and Student Council Representative, Joan Calhoun. Many of us were actively engaged in the school tableau observing the Middletown Tercentenary and we received much enjoyment from our efforts. Early in December the gym was gaily decorated with a wild west theme for the annual Sophomore Hop. Every sophomore attending was given the privilege of being a sheriff for the evening, each being presented with a gold sheriff's badge. During this year we branched out in our activities and joined various clubs and organizations. Also, many of our boys showed great promise in sports. This was the year (1950-51) that we captured third place in the C. C. I. L. Basketball Tournament. The following were elected to the National Junior Honor Society: Pat Annino, Carolyn Bielefield, Anna Mrozowski, Richard Seagrave, Elaine Wilson and Ruth Wrubel. As we began our Junior year, we at last enjoyed the privilege of being upper classmen. We chose the following students, in a very close election. 26

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CLASS PROPHECY THE WILSON FOLLIES As the taxicab winds its way through the traffic jammed streets to the Hippodrome Theatre, the First Nighter impatiently leans forward and tries to hurry the cab driver, Big Ben Patten, who listens with an air of indifference, which he acquired through ten strenuous years of contending with the idiosyncracies of New York drivers. The cab comes to a screeching stop and the doorman, Old Joe Wojtowicz, opens the door with a flourish and the First Nighter hastily enters the crowded lobby of the Hippodrome. Head usher, Ray Sienkiewicz takes his ticket and gives it to pert Ona Gustafson, who in turn leads him to the third row center. There is a scintillating array of stars here tonight. As he glances around the fast filling theatre, he sees the Marilyn Monroe of '63 , Dot Kowal, escorted by the debonair Joe Lomastro, the men’s millinery mogul. Elbowing his way through the crowd is Witty Wiliam Daley editor of the Daley Daily. He is accompanied by his ace photographer, Steve G'Burr Jecusco, who has recently become famous for the photos of underwater life, including the most exotic mermaid of all times, Betty Treat. The house lights dim—there is a tapping of baton and nonchalantly Stan Czuba the musical maestro, rises to conduct his orchestra. An expectant hush comes over the audience as the triple-tongued trumpeteers, Joe Petrus and Dick Magnano, begin the overture. The saxophone section, led by Pete Mascaro, rises and harmoniously joins in with the piccolos, played by those versatile Roberts boys, Ray and Roily. The roar of the drums swells and the First Nighter finds Mel Wickham laboriously beating away. The curtain parts and the M. C. Doc Unger, is greeted by a burst of applause. The most severe critics of the world, Marianne Carbo of the London Daily ; Steve Gunter of the Moscow Mule ; and Betty Milardo of the Singapore Sun ; poise their pens. The script was written by that feminine fury, Claire Sherry; music was composed by talented Don Wilson. The Wilson Follies is now ready to begin the first act. The chorus daintily trips out led by Amiable A1 Mancarella and Vivacious Vin Munno. Following them are the dynamic red head from Wyoming, Jane Story; Sinuous Sue Hecker from Kalamazoo; that blond bombshell, Hclge Burke; Jumping Joe Beneszewski; Rockin' Mary Ann Robinson; Bouncing Bob Baisslait; Beaming Bea Lattrell; Elite Elaine Mergel, Happy Harold Plum; Galloping Gerry Russell; Gorgeous Glad Etheridge, Fun- lovin' Frannie Edwards; Kute Kay Mayer, Ever-lovin' Ed Levitsky; Wild Bill Kaczenski; Terrific Terry Skarb; Irresistable Irene Sajek; and Darling Dave Thrall. The chorus line, having aroused the interest of everyone, then trips off the stage. The first scene opens as twilight casts its magic spell over the two young lovers, Chris Manning and Don Stokes, sitting on a park bench. In the background Richard Caruso Seagrave sings Hello, Young Lovers. Next a beautiful ballet is done by captivating Camille Salonia. Flashbulbs pop and Ron Burleson with his 4800xxx speed camera steps forth to snap the prima ballerina’s photo. As this scene fades the First Nighter finds himself captured by the strains of the Barber Shop Quartet of Ron Feitel, Bernie Dudek, Joe Kaliz and John Lesse. Jugglin' Joe Jay then performs with his forty-eight baseballs. The lights now soften and the mixed chorus conducted by Mary Ann Ogorzalek and including Joan Bernstein, Roy Kreiger, Vernon Burr, Janet Lis, Jean Macala, Bill Szewczyk, Frances Maleszewski, Lois Weber, Gene Tuttle and Rosemarie Wickham rise and sing the beauti- ful ballad, Remember Me. INTERMISSION The First Nighter mingles with the enthused theater goers and enters the lobby to purchase cigarettes from the cigarette girl, Anna Mae Siecienski. He starts back for his seat, but is jostled by Texas Rancher, Tall Tom Markoski. Tom's brother, George, now a professional football player for the Georgia Peaches, is there with the Marvelous Marcia Hofher, whose recent novel, Love Affairs on the Moon was published by the Millard Collins' Book Company. Finally he reaches his seat and finds Lorraine Parmelee sitting there, reading a book on How To Control Your Appetite . 28