| The RHS Class of 1953 had its inaugural Annual Luncheon on October 11, 2006 at the Copper Hill CC. Info and pics. A special thanks to Kim Tice for taking the pictures. Go to the WEBPAGE (s) to see a few pics. |
Joe Cygler, Ted Boyer, Walt Rodgers, Marty Kellish and Mario DiBenedetto visited Walt on Nov 15, 2006. Walt, as you can see from the pics below was in fine spirits. He has color and his wits. He has gained a few pounds (haven't we all). We met Jessie, Walt's grandson, for the first time. Big fellow, reminds you of Walt in his 20's.
 |
 |
| Nov 2005: Two Walt's - Punke and Rodgers | April 2006: Marty Kellish, Ron Wood & Al Roesch with Walt & Flo. |
 |
 |
| Nov 2006: Two great people. | Nov 2006: Flo, Walt, daughter Susan and Susan's son, Jessie. |
| In May, 2005 Joyce Koch McLean assembled a group of lady classmates to complete the action of selecting the two seats at the UCAC in Rahway the RHS class of 1953 had agreed, through donations at the 50th Reunion, to sponsor. Joyce then hosted a luncheon at her home to celebrate the occasion. |
 |
| If you look closely, you can see the medallions on the back of the two center seats. Taking part were: Jean Dalton Deissler, Harriet Wier Caulfield, Jean Boharcsik Moceikis, Mary Ann Mazur Kochan, Joan Spencer Papen, Joyce Koch McLean, Nancy Schaefer Kenney, Lois Dedecius Gunderson, Doris Post Valenti and Irene Boris Luden. |
 |
|
Lunch hosted by Joyce Koch McLean. Doris, Irene, Jean, Mary Ann, Joyce and Nancy. |
| Well, the girls and boys finally got together for lunch. For several years the ladies, Joyce Koch McLean and Barbara Vanderminde Gunn, to name a few, wanted an invite to the guys luncheon held periodically in NJ. Leo Santowasso was appointed to "make it happen." And it did, on relatively short notice. He had the able assistance of Gloria Brooksbank, Harriet Weir Caulfield, Barbara Vanderminde Gunn and Joyce Koch McLean.. On relatively short notice nineteen classmates met for lunch at the Copper Hill CC in Flemington, NJ in late June, 2006. Several of which we had not seen in a long time: Barbara and Allyn. |
 |
l to r: Dorothy Bilarczyk Foulks, Barbara Harko Raftery, Leo Santowasso, Walt Rodgers, Allyn Schaeffer, Joyce Koch McLean, Doris Post Valenti, John Foulks and Barbara Vanderminde.
That's Gloria Brooksbank with her back in view.
| Recently I had an opportunity to share emails with John Cooper, our Principal 1n 1953. Thought I would share his email with you. Enjoy. |
|
Dear Mario,
What a pleasure it was to receive your Email
which opened the door to www.rahway1953.net!
It is an excellently designed website! My wife Doris, had
thoughtfully printed it out so I could read it as I enjoyed my morning
coffee and bowl of cheesy grits. Yes, Mario, at age 93 my
appetite is still good!
Without too much delay I was seated at our PC
and thoroughly engrossed in memories of Rahway and grand, old RHS.
So many persons shown, especially on the "Remember When"
segment, returned vividly to my mind as individuals whose lives had
intertwined with my life more than fifty years ago! What a
wonderful reunion!
In 1953 I was a neophyte High School Principal
who still had much to learn about being an administrator although I
had some break in time as teaching principal at Washington School and
full time principal at Roosevelt School. Some of the class I taught in
5th and 6th grades at Washington and it was great to meet them again.
Quickly, names, that I read at graduation
time, became familiar ones once again and it was good! After
1953 I remained at RHS. for 12 more years and then pulled up stakes to
become a Professor at California Lutheran College in 1000 Oaks, Cal. ,
where for 23 years or more I taught teachers what it is to be
teachers. I ended my career at C.L.C. as Dean of Graduate
Studies. In 1984 I retired for the third time and now live on
Harstine Island in South Puget Sound in Washington State. For
the past 8 years I have been and still am, a news correspondent for
the Shelton Mason County Journal. I also keep busy with the arts
by producing note cards and calendars etc. which I sell at our
Harstine Island Farmers Market during the summer months.
Not only names of students but names of
Faculty members, on your website, were so familiar to me. They
became my good friends and helpers at RHS.
Thank you, Mario, for a delightful stroll down
memory lane.
Appreciatively,
John Cooper
P.S. At my age I just might be the only
faculty member left who shares the memories of the Class of 1953, RHS.!
JC
or as I used to sign passes, etc. JHC
|
|
Fran Larate Shannon, Class of 1955, was a twirler in 1952/53. She attended the Football reunion last October. Fran dug deep into her photo album to find some 1952/53 black and white photos. I think you will enjoy them. Txs Fran . Take a look at them. |
| Irene pics were removed from the site when we were having size issues. Now that those issues are behind us we have restored those pics from the '50s. Follow this link to enjoy them. |
| October
19, 2002: A Reunion of the 1952 RHS
Undefeated Football Team, Cheerleaders
and Twirlers. A GREAT day for renewing
Friendships. Before the day was over 10%
of the class of 1953 made an appearance.
A day of unexpectedly meeting RHS
graduates from the class of 1952. Many
pleasant surprises!! THANKS CYG for
putting it together and providing
a memento. WELL DONE. Thanks also to Joe
Hunt , Pat Martin's hubby, for being the
photographer for a day. WELL DONE,
Joe. Check out the happenings - Before the Game, At The Game and After the Game below. |
| October
19, 2002 : Before the Game everyone met
behind RHS. The beginning of a GREAT
Day. For starters , Ron Cherubini and
his daughter Beth, George Vansco and
Lois Dedecius Gunderson were there. It was
there first time back for them in quite
awhile. Ron talked about taking a drive
to Maurice Ave. and showing his daughter
where he lived (also where we spent many
an afternoon playing poker and eating
Mrs. Cherubini's spaghetti). 1953
Classmates Katherine Gray Drisko, Pat
Martin Hunt, Jimmy Wilson, Joyce Koch
McLean, Dorothy Bilarczyk Foulks, Jack
Foulks, Al Roesch, Ron Wood and his
daughter Lisa and Joe Cygler. An added treat was meeting so may graduates from the 1952 class who were holding their reunion in the evening at the Crown Plaza in Clark and were at RHS to kickoff their day. George Doty, Conrad Monahan, Billy Marsh, Garfield Lewis, George Lewis, Albert Smith and Donald Scout were there. Joan Cables, Joyce Miller , Joy Golodner, and Bob Alden were also there. No doubt I have not mentioned everyone, but .... you know how that is. And then there were the 1954 & 1955 guys/gals: Buzzy Robinson and his wife, Sonia, Dougie Lewis, Fran Larate Shannon, Ernie Paulini and his wife, Janet Gagnon Jordon and Warren Jordon were there. Well, this crowd were greeted by Ed Yergalonis, a graduate of RHS, a former teacher and current Principal. He provided a comprehensive review of RHS today - with some reflections on yesteryear. After a Q & A, we toured the building with emphasis on the new parts. We ended up in the cafeteria, which today is about half the size it was in the 50's, and were treated to a lunch of fried chicken +. Several people were overheard asking for chow mien. Check out the pics. |
| October 19, 2002: The Game. Oh yes, the Game. It was the first game played at Veteran's Field in two years. It has been totally renovated - paint, scoreboard, sod - really looked good. Unfortunately , the bad news is Clark blew away Rahway. I do not even remember the score. I quit counting when it was 30+ - 0. But this day was about people - to me: Fred & Peggy Schultz came to the game from PA. Danny Martin ('54) and his wife, Cheryl ; Jeff Riddlestorffer and his son ; Gloria Brooksbank, Harriet Weir Caulfield and Bob Graney were there. Besides George Vansco's brother , I reconnected with numerous other people from my post RHS time in Rahway. Here are the pics. |
| October 19, 2002: After the Game the McLean's' invited members of the Team, Cheerleaders and the Twirlers to their home in Westfield for refreshments. Also attending were several members of the Reunion committee, Jean Dalton Deissler, Joe Cygler's wife, Joyce, Billy Tombs and Pat Chappell Tombs also attended. Joyce and Vince were very gracious hosts. Thanks for the MEMORIES. Check out the PICS. |