Sr. Mary of the Sacred Heart, OP, known to us in school as Kathy Sawicki, recently came across a couple of photos from our graduation day in 1964 and sent them on. Here they are.
Sr. Richard Francis and Kathy Sawicki
Sr. Margaret Brendan (librarian) , Kathy Sawicki, Sr. Henry Mary, and Marcia Souvigney Jones.
Still fun to share memories of years past. If you have photos, send them!
Classmate Nancy Thompson sent these photos around months ago, and I apologize for being so tardy in posting them here. I will try to do better. If you have similar photos, ones not published in PantherPix or the Cathedral Chronicle, please send them. They are treasures that deserve to be shared.
The first is members of the cast of our class play senior year, Father of the Bride, taken November 2, 1963.
From left: Kathy Harvey, Nancy Thompson, Carol Horr, Francie Veale, Diane Dillon, Donna Roy, and Betty Malcolm.
Offstage was this trio.
Fr. Lyons, Bob Cardone, and Bob Pilon.
Below are a group of classmates visiting the World’s Fair in New York, May 8, 1964.
(L-R) Tessie Tourville, Joann Lyons, Peggy DeMontigny, Maureen Pollard, Nancy Thompson, Rita Arsenault, and Charlotte Chartier.
(Note: This completes the presentation of Cathedral Chronicles published during our years at CHS. There are many previous posts providing Chronicle issues, and all of the issues are available on the “Chronicles” page.)
The annual “purple issue” was the conclusion to the Chronicles of our junior year. Now, as seniors, we were going to be in charge, as much as a class of students could be in a rather, shall we say, top-down administrative structure.
Notice of our new status was this photo on page one of the new Student Council officers for 1963-64. “Climaxing a week of spirited campaigning,” the Chronicle said, Mike Reavey (top, right) was elected major-domo . . . president . . . and Kathy Modry (top, left) took the post of secretary.
Page three led off with coverage of the second annual communion supper, May 8, sponsored by the National Honor Society, featuring a Mass conducted in the Eastern Byzantine rite and its “strange English.” Toastmaster at the supper was Mike Reavey, who was also general chairman of the event. Marilyn Stowe was chair of the Mass committee and other directors were Jim Montanari (decorations), Cornelia Spring (invitations), and Bill Danoff (entertainment).
A page three article featured four new YLs of the Radio Club. “YL” in radio jargon, the article said, referred to “young ladies,” atypical members of such clubs. Indeed, Barbara Mooney (photo right), Patricia Manning, Patricia Matthews, and Lynn Lacivita broke the gender barrier at CHS, though Sr. Loretta Thomas was club moderator. The article also mentions Steve Sullivan, president of the club, and Ed Callahan.
Establishment of a new anthology and poetry, headed by classmates, was announced on page three. Carole Organek and Patricia Pettazzoni were co-editors of the project, to use work from three of Sr. Mary Magdalen’s English classes. Kathleen Burtt, Robert Lavoie, and Thomas Hebert were to serve as editorial board directors of the three classes, and Roland Chapdelaine, Thomas Kenney, and Peter Downs as corresponding business managers.
Page four mentioned summer activities anticipated for Kathy Modry (“filing meter slips in the large vault of the Springfield Gas Light Co.”) and Peter Mulvagh (visiting Toronto and Montreal), as well as Gene Ryzewicz and John Moore, who were to spend the summer doing maintenance work at CHS.
The Panthers took the city championship in track and just missed in baseball, according to coverage on page five. John Collins ran a 9.6 in the 100-yard dash and 23.1 in the 220, winning and setting records in both. Paul Rieker also won and set records in the low hurdles and javelin. Returning baseball players cited in an article were Tom Dunn, Gene Ryzewicz, Tom Nolan, John Stocks, and Bob Fitzgerald. Our “linksmen” (golfers), co-leaders in the city league at press time, included classmates Tim Swearingen, Roger Kasmer, Rich Murphy, Mike Bannon, and George Shannon. Reid Oslin wrote an article featuring five track team members graduating that month.
Page six reported that Rosemary Lavinski (photo) had recently been chosen president of the CHS Red Cross chapter. She was also president of the council representing all the Junior Red Cross chapters at high schools in Greater Springfield.
In Student Council election results other than the top positions, reported on page six, Brendan Montano, John Sheehan, and Bob Stroshine were elected judges while Bill McDonald was chosen sheriff and George Shannon, bailiff. (I mean, can there be a more bizarre title in high school than sheriff?)
The June 12, 1963, Cathedral Chronicle
Page one
Page two
Page three
Page four
Page five
Page six
Our class made its mark in the Chronicle‘s last Literary Supplement of junior year.
There must have been a poetry project in class, because nine classmates had poems on the front page of the supplement: Carol Horr, Robert Zielinski, Christine Lukas, Martha Noonan, Kathleen Morin, Gale Lemanski, Carol Carriere, Laurena Fielding, and Joanne Chmura.
Ellen Boissonneault, Judith Cignoni, Karen LaRiviere, Nancy Thompson, and Alma Allard continued with additional poetry on page two of the LS. Reid Oslin and Barbara Mooney changed pace with two essays, and Susan Benoit added a drawing (left).
Most of the May 1963 issue focused on the outgoing senior class. Nevertheless, page one reported on activities and successes of several classmates.
A contingent from Sr. Marie de Lourdes’s history/government classes attended a simulated UN Security Council meeting at Amherst College. Kevin O’Malley, representing the Soviet Union, presided over the mock Security Council during its morning session. Also attending were Claire Pratte, Bill Fleming, George Shannon, and John Moore.
Staying a little closer to home, 10 classmates went to the Massachusetts Youth Citizenship Conference held at Westfield State Teachers College. They were Paul Bueker, Joe Fallon, Patricia Manning, Patricia Matthews, Barbara Mooney, Reid Oslin, Paul Rieker, Mark Rivest, Bob Stroshine, and Kathy Williams.
Anne Nadeau was among the members of the CHS Better Business Club to visit Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, according to a page one item. The group learned about the company’s “R.P.A. 501 electronic computers.”
It was noted, too, that Richard Bonneau and Paul Donahue would be attending a summer math program at Assumption College, Worcester, on grants from the National Science Foundation. John Sheehan was an alternate for the program.
Not surprisingly, Paul, John, and Richard also made the honor roll, Paul and John with first honors. Other classmates on the top rung were Ray Brassard, Eileen Carmell, Judy Cross, Dianne Dillon, Susan Hartley, Karen LaRiviere, Bill O’Malley, Claire Pratte, Gene Ryzewicz, and Barbara Shean.
The Panthers had an unbeaten stretch in baseball, page three reported. Hoping to grab the city title, CHS “bases its chances” on infielders such as Gene Ryzewicz, Tom Nolan, and Tom Dunn, and pitchers like Bob Fitzgerald. The JV team roster included Larry Maziarz, Reid Oslin, Bob Winship, and Louis Grondalski.
A page three article about a senior photographer for the Chronicle included a photo (right) of him taking a photo (unknown) of classmate Paul “Fuzzy” Dufresne practicing on the low hurdles. Another item, on the tennis “netmen” referred to Fran Liro and Gaetan Pelletier as “strong reserves.” Classmates on the golf team were Rich Murphy, Mike Bannon, Harry Dennison, James O’Connell, and Roger Kasmer, with George Shannon, Tim Swearingen, Robert Booth, and Tom Kenney on JV.
Page four included a feature on more behind-the-scenes personnel in the CHS stage scene. Gary Moran was pictured (left) applying make-up to a thespian and other classmates mentioned as make-up artistes were Bill Fleming, George Shannon, Bob Stroshine, Angelina Cardaropoli, Jacqueline Artiano, Joanne Gatti, Carol Kwasny, Elizabeth Malcolm, and Patricia Canning. Suzanne Babineau was cited for designing backdrops, and Paul Vey, Steve Sullivan, Fran Liro, Bill McDonald, and Bill O’Malley for amazing lighting.
Fr. Riendeau called out the following classmates for their participation in the Holy Week passion play: Peter Poitras, Patricia Ryba, Dennis Trelease, Bob McCann, Dave Guyer, Matthew Geboskie, John Auth, Bob Stroshine, Robert Menard, Karen McKeon, and David Rucinski.
Nine classmates were cited on page four for their success in the competition of the Eastern Division of the Junior Engineering Technological Society (JETS): John Trudeau, Bill Devlin, John Dubiel, Richard Bonneau, Fran Liro, George Shannon, Mark Sullivan, and Mark Roberts.
The May 20, 1963, Cathedral Chronicle
Page one
Page two
Literary Supplement, page one
Literary Supplement, page two
Page three
Page four
It’s the Chattanooga Choo-Choo crowd getting ready for Minstrel Show! Phil Dube, Elaine Ambrose, Jeff Powers, and Jane Buckley.
The April 1962 edition of the Cathedral Chronicle led with a promo for the Minstrel Revue of 1962, to take place May 8-11, and featuring several members of our class.
Soloists on the marquee included Rita Arsenault, Dyanne (sic) Dillon, Frances Hull, and Mary Lou Lattinville. Featured dancers included Peggy Morneau and Dan Cotter, while 14 group performances helped fill out the bill.
The only other page one mention for a classmate was the report that Dan Noonan had received a silver medal in the recent state speech finals.
A small article on page three spurred an amusing recollection. The headline reads “Sophs Name Byron to ‘Hall of Fame,'” but the article never says that. It only includes Byron among those being considered for the honor in Sister Agnes Bernard‘s second and fourth period English classes. As I recall, we were to write essays extolling the virtues of our candidates. Some or all were read out loud, and the class was to select the Hall of Famers. Paul Donahue nominated Lord Byron, a flamboyant and notorious Romantic poet who lived fast and died young in 1824. (That’s from Wikipedia; it’s not like I remember those details.) But I do remember being impressed with Paul’s willingness to challenge the usual cast of characters for such things, e.g., heroes, saints, presidents, ball players. I also recall thinking Sr. Agnes Bernard may have been bemused more than scandalized by the choice, as well as Paul’s energetic nomination. I believe Lord Byron made the Hall of Fame.
If we need another reminder of how much time has passed, page four announces the upcoming appearance at CHS of the choral group from the St. Francis de Sales School “for Negro girls in Powhatan, Virginia.” The choral “directress” was a CHS alumna, class of 1933.
Page five has a picture of budding track star John Collins as the Purple Panthers opened their season. Also cited as participating were Dennis Trelease and Dick Grogan. Tom Counos and Bill Wood were on a tennis team that was, according to the report, “Coachless, but not hopeless.”
The April 18, 1962, Cathedral Chronicle
Page one
Page two
Page three
Page four
Page five
Page six
Wishing you all a merry Christmas and wonderful new year.
Here are the December editions of the Chronicle while we were at CHS.
December 1960
Page one
Page two
Page three
Page four
December 1961
Page one
Page two
Page three
Page four
December 1962
Page one
Page two
Page three
Page four
Page five
Page six
December 1963
Page one
Page two
Page three
Page four
Page five
Page six
The Springfield Republican published an article on December 9 entitled “Do you remember when Springfield’s Cathedral High School was new?” Well, yeah. 🙂
Carolyn Robbins, the author, says the current uncertainty about the future of the school has spurred controversy and nostalgia. We, of course, had our 50th reunion to spur all the nostalgia we could muster.
The December 1963 issue of the Chronicle was the last Christmas-time edition in our time at Cathedral. It was printed with green ink, repeating the “tradition” set the year before. (I’ve darkened the pages to make them easier to read.)
Lead story and photo (above) was about the Glee Club’s Winter Concert, set for January 17. There was an amusing item about the first driving class for Ann Cavanaugh, Ruth Camyre, and Patricia Raimondi (photo below). Seems the Ford Falcon in which the trio was receiving instruction from Francis Connery had a weak battery. It stalled on Plumtree Road and would not restart. With the girls out behind the car pushing, Connery was able to jump start the vehicle and bring all back to school.
Page two acknowledged the assassination of President Kennedy with an editorial, a collection of some his most famous statements, and a sketch by Suzanne Babineau. Kevin O’Malley had an essay about the value of a tax cut on investment income for both the national and international economies.
A page three feature on the student receptionists at the Guidance Office included photos of (l-r, below) Patricia Manning, Maureen Pollard, and Mary Perrin (washing the inside of the glass in the office door). Other receptionists included Ellen Boissoneault, Donna Roy, Virginia Iwaniec, Margaret DeMontigny, Diane Benoit, and Sylvia Sekac.
Classmate Patricia Matthews wrote a page four feature on Christmas traditions. Another item on the same page about the pantomime presentation of the Puccini opera “Gianni Schicchi” highlighted the resilience and deftness of some of the performers. (Apparently the presentation took place as scheduled on November 27, despite the altered school schedule for the funeral of President Kennedy.) Mentioned were Jo Anne Moore, Linda Lourraine, Robert Winship, and William O’Malley.
While the caption for the photo at left says our senior basketball players are “getting into harness,” it looks more like they’re heading out for a good time after a hard-won victory. The basketball team, which had an excellent season overall, finishing just short of a Western Mass championship, opened its season the night this edition of the Chronicle came out. The sports page shows its creative terms for various sports: “keglers,” “basketeers,” “mermen,” and “grapplers.” Grantland Rice would have been proud.
The keglers, also known as the bowling team, were led by captain Jim Gastone. Classmates among the mermen, the swim team, were Dan Kelley, Tom Counos, Mike Bannon, Greg Beauvais, and Bill Wood. And the grapplers, the wrestling team, included John Cardano, Attilio Cardaropoli, Ben Aleks, Joe DeCaro, Tom “Turk” Murphy, Paul Rieker, Dan Cotter, Jerry Couture, and Walt Reardon.
Below is a photo from that season’s football closer, against Tech, showing “ramblin’ Dave Guyer.”
Janice Bushey had a nice page six feature on impresario Fr. Richard Riendeau, director of the opera presentation mentioned above, also teacher to three junior and two sophomore religion classes and a class in logic.
Here’s the December 20, 1963, Chronicle
Page one
Page two
Page three
Page four
Page five
Page six
Classmates finishing their CHS football careers were the focus of photos (above and right) and an article on page five of the November 1963 Chronicle. Regrettably, after opening our senior season with a 1-1-1 record, the Purple Panthers dropped five straight games. They were to meet Westfield in the season finale the day after this issue came out. (Other seniors on the team — Gene Ryzewicz, Dave Wall, and “Dee” LaCasse — were still to play basketball, so there was no farewell to CHS sports from them.)
(This was also the Wednesday following the assassination of President Kennedy, but as the deadline had passed prior to that, there was no mention of that iconic event in this edition.)
Page one featured the honor roll and induction into the National Honor Society of new members, including 22 seniors (photo above). NHS officers were: George Shannon, president; Mark Sullivan, vice-president; Nancy Thompson, secretary; and June Morini, treasurer. Also noted was the upcoming Dramatic Club performance of “Nativity at the Crossroads,” to be presented December 20. Among cast members were classmates Jan Perry, Robert Menard, and Pam Alifano. Assisting director Michael Gelinas as student director was Robert McCann.
The lead editorial on page two lauded the appearance of a “new entertainment” coming into the “teenage world.” Described as “clean, wholesome entertainment,” the new thing was . . . folk music! And it was replacing “jazz.” Yup, the music we danced to in the Holy Name Social Center on Friday nights was . . . jazz. 🙂
Sixteen classmates had received early college acceptances, according to the article on page three. They were: William O’Malley, Kevin O’Malley, Reid Oslin, Edward Callahan, Paul Donahue, William McDonald, Vincent Brown, Josette Bouchie, Leonie Cormier, Philip Dube, Dianne Dillon, Anne Murphy, June Morini, Kathleen Williams, Edward Chwalek, and John Moore. Page four reported that the Chess Club — led by officers Alan Sponburgh, president; Daniel Noonan, vice-president; James Peterson, secretary; and John Quill, treasurer — was looking for newcomers.
Also continuing his athletic career at CHS after football was Don Chase, who was listed as a returning starter for the hockey team on page five, which included classmates Tom Nolan, Tom Webber, Ed Chwalek, and Timmy Wright. The sports page reported that Tom Nolan led the city soccer league in scoring and noted the potential for this year’s basketball team. In addition to Ryzewicz, Wall, and LaCasse, classmates on the team included Rich Murphy, Jack Lawler, Bill Cosgriff, and Larry Masiarz.
There was also an uncommon mention of girls’ sports. CHS hosted a clinic for girls’ basketball that drew more than 100 coaches and players. Frontier Regional coach Vi Goodnow, who led her team to a 77-5 record over three years, led the sessions and summed up the importance of good sportsmanship by saying, “A girl can be a lady on a gymnasium floor.”
Kathleen Martin wrote an article on page six about the extracurricular activities of some of our lay teachers. Also on page four was a photo (below) and article about a new “IBM 402 Accounting Machine” course offered to 20 students and two teachers.
Here’s the November 27, 1963, Chronicle
Page one
Page two
Page three
Page four
Page five
Page six
Stage performances were the feature of the October 1963 Chronicle, with the photo above on page one. “Father of the Bride,” according to the accompanying article, was to be presented by the Dramatic Club November 13-15. In addition to the principals in the photo, the play featured classmates Donna Roy, Denis Trelease, John Sheehan, Carol Horr, Frances Veale, Nancy Thompson, Helen Reid, Elizabeth Macolm, and Robert Cardoni (sic) (Cardone). Tickets were $1.
On page six, the photo above appeared with an article announcing the presentation of “Gianni Schicchi,” an opera by Puccini to be performed in pantomime (kind of a combination of acting and karaoke). It was scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, but that was the week following the assassination of President Kennedy, which may have forced its postponement. (Anyone in the cast recall? Paul Donahue? Rita Arsenault? Tom Murphy? Bob McCann?) The opera was directed by Fr. Richard Riendeau and the cast included additional classmates John Collins, William Fleming, Linda Lorraine, Tim McManus, Jo Ann Moore, William O’Malley, and Maureen Pollard.
Page one also reported that Chronicle co-editors Kathleen Ensign and Robert Stroshine, as well as page one editor Jeffrey Powers, were going to tell, in a skit, a freshman assembly that day how the Chronicle was put together. Due to compete in a diocesan speech festival that weekend were 12 classmates: Jim Montanari, Brendan Montano, Daniel Noonan, Susan Barrett, William O’Malley, Reid Oslin, Kathleen Burtt, Jane Curto, Barbara Mooney, Paul Donahue, Kevin O’Malley, and George Shannon.
Michael Reavey was prescient with a page two essay on the troubles facing the Ngo Dinh Diem regime in South Vietnam. His conclusion: “Mr. Diem’s future is very dim.” And short. A week after Mike’s essay appeared, Diem was arrested and assassinated in a coup. The coup was supported by the Kennedy administration, though it is likely Diem’s killing was not.
Page three reports on the Pen and Pallette publication (photo above) and includes the photo of several classmates (below) interviewing mayoral candidate John Pierce Lynch.
Page four includes coverage of Frosh Day, in which very benevolent dictators among the Class of 1964 ordered members of the Class of 1967 about, with kissing of rings, etc.
The sports page (five) led with the football game against Holyoke the next day. It also reported that the 4-1 soccer team was eyeing the cry championship. Classmates among the “booters” were Tom Nolan, Paul Rieker, goalie Bob Fitzgerald, Tom Webber, Ray Siwinski, Lou Valley, and Charlie Parsons.
Also noted on page six was that Robert Menard and Lynn Albano had been elected officers of Le Cercle Francais.
Here’s the October 25, 1963, Chronicle
Page one
Page two
Page three
Page four
Page five
Page six