It was the summer of 1962. Top songs were “The Loco-Motion” by Little Eva, Neil Sedaka’s “Breaking up Is Hard to Do,” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You” from Ray Charles. The Class of 1962 graduated and moved out of the way so that the Class of 1964 could become juniors.

Kathy Modry, left, and Mike Reavey, top, took their place as officers of the Student Council. Ed Ferrarone and Monica Sullivan were senior officers.

Page one of the May 1962 Chronicle reported on graduation and had the picture above. (I wonder how long it took for a girl to become president or vice-president of Student Council.) There was also a report that John Sheehan had been elected secretary and Paul Donahue treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta, the “mathlete” society. In addition, Paul and James Leary were cited as classmates among the school’s winners in the UMass Prize Math Examination.

As juniors, according to an item on page two, we were to read, over the summer: Profiles in Courage, Crucible: Story of Chemistry, Pocket Book of O. Henry, Red Badge of Courage, Bridge of San Luis Rey, Please Don’t Eat the Daisies, Jane Eyre, and Submarine.  (Remember that fantastic finish to Crucible? 🙂 ) Kathleen Ensign wrote a brief article on page three about altar boy capers, and Suzanne Babineau was mentioned in a note about scenery backdrop artists.

Page four was essentially devoted to recollections about Billy Wise, moving from 37 years as coach of football, basketball, and baseball at CHS to the role of director of physical education.

Classmates noted in the sports coverage on page five included Rich Murphy and George Shannon (golf); Gene Ryzewicz, Don Chase, and Tom Nolan (baseball), John Collins, Bill Fleming, and Bill Armstrong (track).

Ryzewicz, when he wasn’t playing shortstop

Bill Fleming, left, and Bill Armstrong

Classmates were starting to take leadership positions in various clubs and organizations. Page six reported that Bill O’Malley (Debating Society), Elaine Gelinas (Nurses Club), and John Dubiel (Radio Club) were to take treasurer posts.

In what approaches something you might see in the contemporary Onion, there is an item on page six with the headline “Senior Loses Cow in Middle of Road.” And it reports exactly that. Check it out.

The June 12, 1962 Cathedral Chronicle

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One of the most scintillating headlines from the Chronicle‘s sports scribe appeared in the February 1964 edition (page five), above an item on John Collins, “the blur.”

Swift Senior Speedster Scores Stunning State Sprint Sweep

Alliteration above all. John had just won the state title indoor 50-yard dash, and had finished sixth in the national championship in Madison Square Garden. The reigning city, Western Mass., State, and New England Catholic champion, John was soon to begin his stellar senior season in outdoor track. (It was a personal pleasure as a student at Boston College later to watch John, representing Holy Cross, in several collegiate track meets, especially in matchups with BC’s Larry Jeffers, a 1964 graduate of Minnechaug.)

The sports page also reported on the basketball team’s superb season, noting that in the process Gene Ryzewicz became the highest scorer in Springfield schoolboy basketball history. Still on the Panthers’ slate was the Western Mass. tournament. The CHS wrestling team finished second to Tech in the city finals, but three classmates were weight-class champions: Ed Crowley, Attilio Cardaropoli, and Tom Murphy. Classmate Eloyce Bujnicki was to represent us in the Western Mass. High School Gymnastics Championship to be held at CHS March 14.

On page one, it was noted that band officers Paul Greeley, Susan Ritchie, and Maureen Levesque were preparing for the annual concert. William Fleming wrote a column for page two on the “plague” that was Communism in the world. As reported in Mike Reavey’s February post, 47 seniors visited Washington, DC, and, among many other special occasions, watched Mike lay a wreath at the grave of JFK (page three).

Barbara Mooney had a feature on page four reporting on the investiture of Rev. Timothy P. Leary as a monsignor. Bracketing that coverage was two features indicative of the contemporary attitudes toward young women. Upper right, an article told how a career in modeling offered “Dream of Glamour, Clothes, Good Pay.” Dream, okay. Reality, pretty iffy. Lower left was the notice that Dianne Dillon had been chosen as Cathedral’s “Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow.” The designation was based on achieving the highest score on a written exam, which more likely presaged her subsequent long career in law and public service.

Page six contained the picture at right, and reported that Elizabeth Francesconi competed in pairs ice skating. The Drama Club was to present a 14th century passion play, on the scale of a pageant. Classmates participating included William Danoff, Richard Joseph, William Liquori, Paul Rieker, Thomas Murphy, Thomas Counos, Roland Chapdelaine, Michael Crowley, Helen Reid, Carol Shtogren, Edmund Crowley, David Rucinski, Vincent Brown, Stephen Sullivan, and Robert McCann.

Here’s the February 28, 1964 Chronicle

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As we headed into the last few months of high school, the January 1964 Chronicle featured the upcoming model US Senate, which was to propose, discuss, and vote on a civil rights act. The photo above shows classmates acting in the roles of Senate leaders.

Other classmates were preparing for CHS hosting the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils on April 3 and 4. Chairing the committee making arrangements was Dianne Dillon, assisted by co-chairman William Danoff. Linda Lorraine was preparing favors and Thomas Counos was in charge of hospitality. Other logistics were to be managed by Martha Axt, Kathleen Modry, Linda Nickerson, and Maureen Pollard.

The editorials and opinion pieces on page two were headed by Ellen Boissonnault‘s column chastising Republicans for even considering nominating Barry Goldwater for US President. “If the delegates to the Republican convention have any sense at all, they will not nominate Barry Goldwater,” she wrote. What did you really think, Ellen? 🙂 (Regina Carestia had assumed duties as page two editor.)

Both the basketball and hockey teams were high in respective standings early in the seasons. While the photo at right describes Dave Wall as dunking the ball, the photo doesn’t quite show it. New to the sports page was a report on the CHS “hooperettes,” i.e., girls’ basketball team, coached by Sr. Martin Patrick. Captained by Kathy Sawicki, the team included classmates Jeanne Twohig, Pat Canning, Kathy Kilbride, Bea Desroches, and Elaine Krepella.

Janice Bushey writes on page six about the CHS cornerstone placed in 1959 at dedication of the then brand new Cathedral High School building. An item reports that Kevin O’Malley won first prize ($100) in the 17th annual “Voice of Democracy” contest sponsored by the local VFW post. A piece on term papers and projects mentioned classmates Mark Rivest, Jacqueline Noel, Joanne Gatti, and Richard Misiaszek.

Twenty classmates received medals for outstanding performance in the National Engineering Aptitude Search test, sponsored by JETS: Ronald Bettini, Robert Boucher, Richard Bowes, Vincent Brown, Robert Cardone, David Collins, William Devlin, Paul Donahue, Robert Green, Thomas Hamyre, Paul Langlois, Joseph McClellan, William O’Malley, John Quill, Thomas Roberts, Thomas Robinson, Robert Romaniak, David Rucinski, John Sheehan, and Mark Sullivan.

In the Literary Supplement, page one, Francis Liro does a take on “Twinkle, twinkle, little star . . .,” adding a cartoon. Edward Callahan and Kathleen Burtt add poems, and Barbara Mooney an essay on how to write a theme by writing about how you can’t write a theme. On the second page, Patricia Pettazzoni has a “meditation,” Ellen LeClair a brief remembrance, Suzanne Babineau a poem and drawing about the courage of Jackie Kennedy, and Paul Donahue pens a passionate “Essay on Peace.”

Here’s the January 31, 1964, Chronicle

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The only photo coverage of classmates in the February 1962 Chronicle was this page four picture of Margaret Morneau and Dyanne (sic) Dillon. (After a few variations over the years, e.g., Diane, Dianne, Dyanne, Ms. Dillon’s name in PantherPix was “Dianne.”) The accompanying article reports on some chicken-raising experiments gone, to various degrees, awry. Other classmates involved were Diane McGuigan, Elizabeth Francesconi, and Kathleen Smith.

Page one did include mention of several classmates, in addition to the report on the honor roll, on which 10 sophomores gained first honors and 55 took second honors. Stephen Sullivan was elected secretary/treasurer of the Amateur Radio Club. Kevin O’Malley, John Moore, Dyanne Dillon, and Paul Donahue were to participate in the State Speech Festival semifinals. Richard Bonneau, Francis Liro, Timothy Holt, Paul Donahue, and  were among the Cathedralites winning prizes at the Western Mass. Math Fair.

The lead editorial on page two was unusual. After editorials criticizing students for lack of enthusiasm and maturity, among other things, this one took a new tack: “We like you.” This one seems disingenuous. The others were just annoying.

Here’s the February 21, 1962, Chronicle

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The April edition of the Chronicle carried sobering news. Kids at CHS, including us, I guess, did not have their priorities straight, according to an unsigned editorial (page two).

The American Government class conducted a poll of students, asking each student 36 questions about national and international politics, news, etc. The average result was an “F” — only 16.6 correct answers to the 36 questions, or less than 47 percent correct. Seniors (Class of 1961) had the highest average of correct answers (show-offs!), but that still amounted to only 19.4 correct answers, just over half. The average fell with the age of the responders, with freshmen (us) answering an average of only 15.5 questions correctly.

Some of the questions covered “pop” topics. Indeed, the editorial reports, 91 percent of students knew that Elizabeth Taylor had had a recent bout with pneumonia, but only 45 percent could identify the US Secretary of State as Dean Rusk.

In happier Chronicle tidings, page seven carried a story of rousing success, and participation by our classmates in it. The CHS Chess Team, with a 7-0-1 record, locked up the Hampden Interschool Chess League crown. Among the freshmen on the team were Paul Donahue, John Quill, and Jerome Webb.

Also on page four is a report on a “courtesy campaign” conducted by two freshmen religion classes. Weren’t we nice? The theme was “Christlikeness through Courtesy.” (Is “Christlikeness” really a word?) Each student in the school wore courtesy badges of different colors specific to each class. Faculty members observing discourtesy confiscated the badge of the perpetrator. Our class had more badges confiscated than any other class! We won! . . . Kinda.

Here’s the April 28, 1961, edition of the Chronicle

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This Christmas poem and illustration appeared in the December 20, 1963, edition of Cathedral Chronicle. As you can see, the poem was written by Charlotte Chartier. Does anyone know the illustrator “Connery”? Don’t you love the classic green ink? The entire edition was green.

Many thanks to Mitchell Ogulewicz, who has provided Purple Panthers ’64 with copies of all the Chronicles published during our years there. They provide a rich trove of memories and we will be making extensive use of the content, especially photos.

Also in the December 1963 edition were:
• a report on the upcoming annual winter concert by the Glee Club, to be held January 20
• announcement of the upcoming trip (February 15-19) to Washington, DC, for government students and senior members of the National Honor Society. Cost was listed as $65-$75.
• a listing of special Christmas programming on WHYN (channel 40) and WWLP (channel 22)
• a description of Christmas projects in the girls’ Foods and Nutrition class (yum). The article also refers to parties planned by the class, usually held on holy days. (?) The writer points out while the parties sound like fun, “strict discipline is maintained at all times.” But of course!
• a preview of the boys’ basketball team, which was to open its season the date of the edition. Led by Gene “Winkle” Ryzewicz, it said, the team had been ranked the #10 team in New England pre-season.

In our freshman year, the Chronicle reported, the Dramatic Society and Glee Club re-enacted the Nativity scene. The only member of our class mentioned was Michael Reavey, who portrayed “Benjamin.”

“‘Look at the Child smile,’ muses Kathleen Modry in the role of Columbine, as Stephen Dreyer and Jeffrey Powers comply.” Original caption.

Sophomore year, the Chronicle of December 22, 1961, contained the photo at right, as well as a report on the one-act Christmas play “Columbine Madonna” to be presented that day. Class members mentioned were Kathleen Modry, playing Columbine; Denis Trelease as Pierrot; Jeffrey Powers as Scaramouche; George Shannon, giving the prologue; Richard McGurk and Daniel Noonan, as shepherds; and Francis Liro, William McDonald, Steven Sullivan, and Paul Vey, as “in charge of lighting.”

The December 21, 1962, edition also reported on the holiday program offered by the Dramatic Club, “The Journey of the Three Kings.” Juniors involved were Jeffrey Powers, as one of the three kings, and Denis Trelease, the “night watchman.”

Merry Christmas to all members of the Class of 1964 and their families! (See, green, just like the Chronicle.)

Three members of Cathedral’s Class of 2016 have posted a petition online urging that the school, heavily damaged by a tornado in 2011, be rebuilt on the Surrey Road site.

The school has been operating at a former elementary school in Wilbraham since the tornado and officials of the Diocese of Springfield have not announced final plans for the school. More than 1,000 persons have already signed the petition.

While this blog is intended to remember the Cathedral High School of 50 years ago and to celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of the graduation of the Class of 1964, we can’t ignore the present state of the school, especially at such a critical time. For those of you close to the situation, what are the issues? Do you think the school should be rebuilt on the Surrey Road property? Or re-imagined and relocated?