vol 2 1996

Hillary Clinton comes to East High

In the closing days of the recent 1996 presidential campaign, the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton gave an inspiring campaign speech at East High. In its 76 year history, East High School has never seen a pep rally like the one on October 11th.

She was met by a roaring crowd of students and community leaders and citizens. She arrive just eleven days prior to the official ground breaking ceremony to create a new communications and media magnet high school that will be built for $22 million on the property off of Atkins Street.

"Here we are in a high school that perhaps more than any that I have been in represents what is at stake — what kind of future we ought to have for all of us."

Two Tom Tom staff reporters, Libbi Johnson and Mitch Dougan were assigned by Mrs. Mary Jane Koenig to cover Mrs. Clinton’s historic visit. They reported, "For several days before she came to East, secret service men wearing dark suits and using cellular phones were everywhere. Throughout the day, excitement flowed through the halls of East High School as faculty and students anticipated the historic visit from the first lady.

The editor of The WARRIOR Newletter’s grandson, Joshua Conley Gaffney chatted with Mrs. Clinton at the noon hour when she ate with members of the East High band. He was impressed that she personally bought 85 Burger King hamburgers for the marching band. He said, "She ate two Whoppers and a large order of fries. I felt she was a real person. She explained that she and her husband Bill both played in band when they were in high school, and how important band was to her."

When my husband Leo said, "An old classmate named Dan Conley wants to talk with you," I searched in my mind—? Neurosurgeon, ? NO!! ? Plastic, ? Yes. It must be about the upcoming 35th medical school reunion. Dr. Conley? Sure sounds familiar somehow.

Hillalry Clinton

As I talked to Dan I, for a change, listened, the events and names were like an opening time capsule or the old TV Show "This is Your Life." He explained that he tracked us down from Arizona to Key West Florida through Phylis Cabelof, Phylis Efimoff, to my brother. We talked about things that seemed long forgotten and caught up on what has happened since we last saw each other 45 years ago. It was wonderful.

After Dan hung up, Leo rummaged through some old boxes hidden away and found all of my old yearbooks. Lots of mold, but good for memories.

I have enclosed two recent photos. After you laugh appropriately, they can be recycled with your garbage. On the phone, I told Dan that my biggest disappointment in life was the absence of grandchildren. (Ed. Pattie is a

pediatrician.)

Moments later the phone rang again. I thought possibly Dan was calling back. We had talked for more than an hour.

After having surgery for a hernia recently, I now have some time to get in touch with the our classmates—some reflections of days gone by. I just want to share some of the great memories of the past. The great highlights while I attended East were the Eastcapades, when I played the piano, sang with the choir and Glee Club and danced with many of my classmates.

In regards to sports, I’ll always remember our 1950 baseball team and our wrestling t team in 1949. One of my most exciting moments was when we had our prom, and much to my surprise my late brother Carl offered to let me use his beautiful yellow Studebaker convertible for that night. After the dance we went for a ride to Westfield, N.Y. with two other couples. On the way back I decided to return the car to my brother’s place. Eddie Abramoski was with me. Eddie and I lived in the same neighborhood, so we were going to walk home, but before doing so, we sat in the car chatting until sunrise. It seems so vivid. We talked about what we would do after leaving East.

As of now, my wife Marlene and I are active in conducting religious tours to various Catholic shrines in North America and Canada. We work throughput the Dioceses of Erie, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. We intend to continue to do this after I retire from Lord Corporation in Erie this summer.

I have enclosed a contribution in memory of Rich (Moose) Passerotti. He was the heaviest and I was the lightest on the wrestling team. As for Fred (Sina) Morris, we were on the East baseball team. Nester Pancerov and I played at The Sportsman Club back in Erie in the 60’s. We were called The Sportsmen's Four. I played bass and Nester played the cordovox. He was our leader. Take care all, and God Bless.

The 1954 reunion committee are tossing around some ideas for our 45th Reunion and need some good ideas as a theme. Please send them my way.

Shall we call it a revival with the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s music? I have a drummer. Do we get a masseur with lavender oil, etc. to limber up the old bones? No toe massagers the—that may run into two hours a piece! Or a belly dancer?

I will run all the suggestions by the committee!

In the newsletter two issues ago I wrote a brief article mentioning heading off to the mideast. It was a different kind of trip. I enjoy visiting new places and seeing different cultures, but I sure would not want to live in those places. The pyramids and Sphinx were great! I did not get a picture of me on a camel. They do not come in 3X sizes!

The best part of that trip came on a bus between Gatwick and Heathrow airports outside of London. Two guys across the isle were talking and I heard them mention Erie, so I asked if they were from there, because it was my home town. One wanted to know where I had lived and when I mentioned Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, he stared at me of about thirty seconds and said, "Jackie Mauer". I didn’t recognize him until he told me his name...Norm Stark, who grew up around the corner of 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenue. He is now a lawyer. He was on his way to Northern Ireland and to act as a mediator in that troubled area. We had many, many friends in common and it was great to catch up on some of them who were not "51. Norm went to Prep and was two yars behind us. I probably havent seen him in 45 years. What a tiny world this has gotten to be.

I am really glad that the newsletter was expanded to include other classes.

On guy I haven’t seen in all those years is Bob Adair ‘51, who’s name seems to appear on all the lost lists. Since his sister, Jean, was listed in the last Warrior issue, perhaps she can tell us where he is. Radar Adair and I would pal around a little during classes.

I enjoyed the 1951 Class Reunion. The idea of having a brunch, a boat ride on the bay, and picnic was gread. It was nice to have time to connect with classmates again.

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Jan Sonney Roberts ‘51

120 King Road

Elma, NY 14059

Jan

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Marilyn Horak Greenman (‘51)

4012 Hoyt Street

Erie, PA `166510

Marilyn

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Barb Rilling Schall ‘53

394 Edgebrpl Way

Erie, PA 16506

Barb

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Ron Somerville ‘53

6304 Martin Road

Columbia, MD 21044

Ron

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John Raica ‘54

6218 A Old Telegraph Road

Alexandria, VA 22310

John Raica ‘54

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After many years of living in Europe, we will be returning to the US. Here is our new address

LTC Anibal and Janet (Scrbner ‘54) Medina

5205 Elm Grove Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89130

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Elenore Bitzer Uglow ‘53

330 Pelham Road

Erie, PA 16511

Ron and Elenore

Elenore,

Thanks so much for the offer, Elenore. Dee Juno ‘52 and and Lee Sittinger ‘53 both sent me yearbooks.

Thanks.

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Donna Hahn Gettig ‘53

2829 Pinon

Lake Isabella, CA 93240

If you ever get to Calif and see George, let me know, I’d love to see you.

Donna,

So nice to hear from you and to connect, if only through a newsletter. Write and let us know some of the highlights of your life in sunny California.

Dan

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New Address:

Art Liocano ‘53

11709 Colt Way

Hudson, FL 34669-2912

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Jean Stolarski Walkiewicz ‘51

3408 South 261st Place

Kent, WA 98032

Jean

Dear Jean, I heard from Carl Pietrzak recency. He too reflected back on his earlier days on 9th and Wayne with Artie, Nelson, Chuck, Jack Domowicz and your brother. Seems that Ding Bartos was also a part of The 9th Street Gang. B.G. (Before Girls.)

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Ina Ring (‘51)

1045 E 3rd Street

Erie, PA 16507

Ina Ring

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Joan Bujnowski (‘51)

235 Pansy Street

Davenport, FL 33837

Ph: 941 421-4469

Joan

Joan,

I am getting so old, Joan, that most of my "DO" is "done".

I forgot if we are having a "do" this summer or not. Maybe we had a "do" already this summer and we forgot we "done" it.

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Barbara Brewer Shaffer ‘52

9543 El Rey Avenue, Apt 29

fountain Valley, CA 92708-4643

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Mary Szymecki Hamill ‘52

5946 Calamie Drive

Parma Heights, OH 44129

Mary

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Jerry Prylinski ‘54

1118 East 10th Street

Erie, PA 16503

My daughter is getting her MS degree in psychology this year. They are just starting biofeedback in Erie these days. I may be asking you some questions about this in the near future.

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Pat Trudy Stephenson ‘51

409 Thimblebarry Drive

Vass, NC 28394

Pat

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Noreen Wood Powell ‘54

4114 Mc Clelland Avenue

Erie, PA 16510

Noreen

Noreen,

Thank you. I enjoy writing The Warrior. It’s a great hobby!!!

Dan Conley

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Enjoy reading about old friends. Here is our new address:

Millie McCaslin Mizanowski ‘53

2617 Westwind Lane

Erie, PA 16506

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Frank Kubicki ‘52

St. Petersburg, FL

Today, January 9, 1996, is 20 years in my business. Penellas Tire and Service.

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Carol Brinig Badowski ‘53

6247 Veit Drive

Erie, PA 16509

I just got back from Fiji Islands, New Zealand,, Australia and Hawaii. It took 48 days. Wonderful trip!

John Lebert ‘53

5404 Riverbend Drive

Knoxville, TN 37919

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Bob and Myrt (Butler) Trott ‘52

205 Navaho Drive

Keokuk, IA 52632

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Thad Droast ‘51

1212 Woods Edge Way

Bloomington, IN 47401-6401

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Helen Leto Bevilacqua

3240 West 41st Street

Erie, PA 16506

New Address

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Harold Adams ‘53

556 Mere Point Road

Brunswick, ME 04011

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Leland Sittinger

487 Bulgarmarsh Road

Tiverton, RI 02878

Lee

Dear Lee,

By now you have received a half a dozen back issues. Enjoy.

Dan

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Class of 1953

PO Box 1162

Wrightville Beach, N.C. 28480

Sal,

Nice to hear from you. Your name is on the mailing list for The WARRIOR Newsletter. We would like to know what you are doing these days.

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Stanley Konopka ‘51

3318 Berklely Road

Erie, PA 16506-3556

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Florence Goranflo Buchanan ‘53

68 North Gay Road

Northeast, PA 16428

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Patricia Dronfield Schwarz ‘51

14146 Hilldale Drive

Houston, TX 77077

New Address:

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Don Demchak

1207 Pleasant Valley Drive

Baltimore, MD 21228-2647

Don

Dear Don,

I’m glad we have finally connected after all of these years. How about an UPDATE? Are you still funny? While you were doing the Master of Ceremony for Eastcapades in 1953, I was freezing my tush off in Pusan, Korea waiting for the police action to finish and that was NOT funny.

Best regards,

Chooch

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Fran Nielson Miller ‘53

Maywood Rive

Newark, NJ 19713-2607

Fran

Fran,

Sedona is indeed one of the most scenic towns in the US. The Red Rock country is magnificent and spectacular. I encourage any visitor to visit Sedona on their way to the Grand Canyon.

Dan

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Clara Bukala Jacquel ‘52

5213 Wolf Run Village Lane

Erie, PA 16505

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Jean Adair Gdanetz ‘53

2246 New Road

Waterford, PA 16441

Here is my Brother Bob’s address

Robert Adair ‘51

HC 51 Box 60A

Henrietta, TX 76365

(Bill Schuler: please note)

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Richard Pohl ‘51

15050 North Thompson Peak Parkway

Unit 2049

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Donna and I have bought a condo in Scottsdale, AZ, so our winter address for December through April each year will be as listed above. The phone is (602) 614-0648. Summers we will be back in Geneva, Ohio.

Dick and Donna,

Welcome to Arizona—Snowbirds!

Dan

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T. Kaus ‘53

Nancy Brebner has not yet responded to her E-mail?

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New Address:

Edward Buchanan ‘54

323 Hess Avenue

Erie, PA 16507

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Jo Ann Hanson

9502 South 1335 E.

Sandy, UT 84092

Moved back to Erie. Address unknown. Jo Ann, please contact The Warrior. Thanks.

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Virginia (Flak) and Ralph Erickson

4013 Myrtle Street

Erie, PA 16508

Ginny

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Carl Alacce ‘53

2014 Andover Land

Erie, PA 16509

Carl

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Rosalie Blasco Gothard ‘51

611 Tyndall Avenue

Erie, PA 16511-2136

After thought: Do you have anyhone helping you?

Rosalie,

Primarily my wife L.J., who was the Arizona Spelling Bee Champion when she was in the third grade. She checks the spelling. The typos are mine.

Lost and Found:

Class of 1952

Jim Diffinbacher

15 Pleasant Avenue

RFD#1 Box 15

New Port VT 05855

Class of 1953

Sal Cianella

PO Box 1162

Wrightville Beach, NC 28480

Donna Hahn Gettig

2829 Pinon

Lake Isabella, CA 93240

Fran Nielsen Miller ‘53

John (‘56) and I married and we have three children. I graduated from Penn State in 1957. I taught social studies in high school, and I am now retired. I enjoy gardening, sailing, travelling, camping, and most recently took a trip to the Grand Canyon. One of my high lights was sailing on the BrasD’or lakes in Nova scotia. Our goal is to keept travelling and see as much of the world as we can."

"After high school have worked for Erie Insurance Group. I married John Ott and we have two boys and one girl. John is retired from Hammermill.

I enjoy reading and traveling and recently went to New Jersey and New York City. Plans for retirement include steamboating down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

In high school my best friends included Karen Haglund (Miller), Gert Spronatti (Myers), and Pat McKinley. Karen and I were friends way back in grade school.

I loved just hanging around with friends in high school. Mr. Raymond Gardner and Ms. Blair were my favorite teachers. They made their class so interesting.

I always did think that our Warriors were special people and it’s good to know that we are not letting the spirit wither away."

Joseph Buczynski ‘53

"It is nice to have The Class of 1953 get The Warrior Newsletter.

My wife Marie and I have two sons and three daughters. We now have three grandchildren. After high school I went to Behrend Center with majoring in mechanical drafting, along with being an electronic technician. I have worked as a steam generator cost estimator. My wife, Marie, is a retired Homemaker.

I enjoy wood carving and getting lost in the woods. We recently went to Las Vegas. I have been caught in the popular national practice of down-sizing so Zurn Energy Division is retiring me after 42 years as of March 1, 1996.

Back at East, my best friends were Walt Czerwinski, Ron Johnson, Jim Yurkovic, and Ron Wisneiwski.

Favorite activities? Yes, being the 1953 City Wrestling Champions. Enjoyed friends. Best Teacher: Cecilia Rybinski, Louise Grill, Mrs. Shevick, because they taught that "respect is the greatest aspect." They always were teaching the moral part of life. Some of my old EHS friends still call me "Jumpin Joe."

Dave is a widower. He and Rita Penna Brooks (‘52) had two sons and one daughter. Dave still enjoys bowling, hunting, sailing and keeping his correspondence brief. He has no plans for retirement.

"I am now a widow. My husband and I had two sons and now have three grandchildren. One son is a talent agent in New York City. My other son is a firefighter and with Funeral (Erie) Escort business.After high school I joined the Erie Insurance Group.

In high school, Myrt Butler (Trott), Nancy Patterson (Anderson), Lois Harrington, and Nancy Ring were my best friends. Really loved those noon day dances, Eastcapades, and choir. I think it is sad that they plan to tear East High down and build a new school. Sad, huh?"

Nancy is a widow and has worked as a claims handler for the Erie Insurance group. She has four children and ten grandchildren. She recently went to Florida and Arizona. She has no current plans for retirement. She enjoyed cheerleading and choir. Her life long friend is Pattie Walter Wilhelm.

"I think it is great to hear about past acquaintances. I am presently teach junior and senior English Honors and Creative Writing at Central High School in Erie.

M. Kathleen Cooper Hunter ‘52

"I just got our Frequent Flyer Free Trip! This is Joe’s (Hunter ‘51) and my first. This is thrilling—just to ponder about where to go!

I worked for the Erie School District as a primary grade teacher for 29 years.

(For Dan Conley.) I knew about the pictures in the recent Warrior of Gus Halupczinski’s car. I never saw the one with Abie (Abramoski) and Janie Herrington. That’s a nice picture. It is great to look back and remember. We can be proud of the Class of ‘52. Lots of worthwhile contributors to the lives of many people. I also enjoy news about ‘51 etc, too!"

I came to Florida to live 25 years ago with my husband Jim and my son Mark. Jim died five years ago on December 5th. My son is 36 years old and I have a granddaughter Ashley Marie Roberson who is two years old and lives in North Carolina.

Right now I am a care-taker in a private home, taking care of a paraplegic over the past three years. I hope to retire in June, if everything goes alight.

My husband Kirk and I are both in good health and still working. I have been with Zurn Industries for 25 years. We have three children and they are all living and employed in the Erie Area.

I have continued working as an RN for the past 40+ years. For the past ten years I have worked in Psychiatry at Lowell General Hospital. I live in Dunstable, Maine. I recently visited with my youger sister in Michigan during the summer. Cruise to Bermuda with friends—also mystery weekend in a lake in Maine. I also attended a class reunion fome the School of Nursing in Cleveland.

I have a special interest and active in Greyhound rescue. I attended the National reunion in Vermont. I remain busy training my greyhound Margaret Rose in agility and lure coursing. My daughter is president of the New England Agility Lean and I have helped at their events in New Hampshire and Mass.

I would like to find out what Marily Horak, Bernie Johnson, June Pappas, and Dot Bindeman are doing.

After high school I attended and graduated from Allegheny College. My wife Linda and I have four children, two boys and two girls.

I am the National Sales Manager for Times Publishing Company, and also President of my own company: Inland Research Company. I enjoy golfing and skiing. I really do not need to go on vacations—my work takes me all over the United States and Canada. I plan on an early retirement to run my own business.

Back at East Carl Feick was my best friends. I enjoyed sports/girls or was it girls/sports?

After graduating from East, I worked at the Boston Store, clerk, assistant buyer, then buyer of Sportswear, Coats, Dresses. When I married I moved to Pittsburgh. I have three children and seven grandchildren. Four years ago I lost my husband to cancer. I then moved back to Erie.

(Editorial Note: I have heard from one of our 400 + classmates that Boston Store may be reopened after being closed all these years. It will open as Boston Store or the building will be repaired and opened as a Nursing Facility for seniors. Is this true?)

Our family had a great time last June in Estes Park, Colorado We rented a house in a woods at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Our two boy’s wives and children were all together for a week. It was great. We hiked and saw so much all around the area. We had a great time. It is so exciting to still see areas that "man" has not ruined. There is still a God’s country if we look for it. By the way, Jack Mauerer (‘51) is Mel’s cousin. We enjoyed reading a couple of Jack’s articles in the WARRIOR.

Some close friends of ours are here for a while visiting in Florida and will be leaving in a few days. Mel and I both come from large families so that in itself makes for lots of company here at Boynton Beach, Florida.

by Rita Glace Palmer

I finally retired this year at the end of June, so I hope to go on a cruise this year. Went camping on Labor Day weekend and loved it as usual. We have a new granddaughter (Emily) born in July.

I received the Subscription Time letter last week. Even though we had 17 1/2 inches of snow on the ground and another 6" coming that day, water leaking in the kitchen, bathroom, and in through the windows, I still had a smile when I saw the mail from The Warrior Newsletter. It continues to brighten my day.

A number of our alumni have asked me to write an article, giving a prospective about that time in our lives when we were teenagers back in high school. It might be interesting to find out why the friends we had back in high school are so important to us.

Howard Mischler, our counselor in high school addressed a recent reunion. He explained that as time goes on, reunions become even more important. Mr. Mischler and other fellow students in a five year span, all in their 80's, meet each summer to share memories about teachers, friends, and classmates.

I work with five other Ph. D. psychologists, and we from time to time have academic discussions while we sit around a large oval table. Like like mondern day Knights of King Arthur's table, we sit and discuss academic issues about adolescence and the search for identity that all teens, including ourselves, go through to reach adulthood. I have caught more than one of them reading The Warrior. They laugh, shake their head in disbelief, and nod as they read it. I call them voyeurs of our East High School days set to print. When asked why they read the newsletter, they offer little insight, except that they too have a need to vicariously reflect back to a time of their own paralelled adolescence.

Why are high school friendships so important? Perhaps it is because at the early stages of our teenage years there was a certain innocence (inexperience) we all had. Is it our need to bond with each other, sharing not so much what our parents taught us, but what we were discovering through our own experiences, sharing them with a close friend? Finding out what was "cool" and what was not was a part of life then.

Our uncertainties about what to do when you go to the TRI Formal Dance seemed to melt as a close friend would reasure us that our fears were okay. "Just order what I order at Lawrence Park's Sudan's Restaurant." We made mistakes and others laughed, but it was not the laughter of ridicule. The purpose was not for us to be perfect but just keep making progress through those trying years. Conflicting values was a part of life, and we at times became confused. We used others as bench marks and were willing to try new ways of behaving. "Come on. You can do it!"

Maybe to better understand what we went through during adolescence, we need to review the years prior to adolescence. Then we were somebody's big or little brother or sister. Now and then our parents reassured us that we were bright, good looking, talented, and special. But to our siblings we were the brother or sister who was the clumsy, silly, shy, sissy, or stupid one in the family. High school would allow us the freedom from sibling tryany, because there were fellow students who were more clumsy, silly, shy, or stupid than ourselves. It gave us grea relief to find others who would take the brunt of sarcasm that each generation of teens use to place peer pressure on others who were different. If we did not shaped up to the encouragements or pleads of our parents to behave differently, the peer pressure most certanly got us their very quicklly.

There seems to be an unspoken promise of gratitude we have toward others who "suffered" that uphill climb with us during adolescence to eventual adulthood a few years later. Without each other, where would we be? Maybe that is what going to a class reunion is all about. It is a way of saying to others, "Thank you for the support you gave me way back then. You told me I could do it, and I can do it, and do it damn well, now. Remember how confused and innocent we were then? Thank goodness you were there. I just came back 3000 miles to see you once more. Once more just to say thanks. And I'll keep coming back as long as there is one classmate alive to touch their hand and say, "Is'nt wonderful what we had then. It was a special time. Our teacher's were special. We had special friends who mean so much to us. We had each other then, and we have each other now. Isn't it wonderful ?"

I for one, really enjoyed the’51 Reunion. I think they gett better with time. Three days of activities was a nice touch. I think the idea of video interviews with some of the classmates was a great idea. I am looking forward to seeing the final version.

The Avenue Theater was of one of our favorite spots, particularly on Sunday afternoons when they had a double feature (alwasy a western), a cartoon, and one of the serial chapters. Sometimes the second feature included a love scene (ugh — and by that you guess our ages). Jack was always upset andbegan to carry a cap pistol with him and would fire at the screen when things gottoo amourous and dull. We were forcefully ejected on a number of occasions with the warning not to return. Pleading our cases andwith the price of th 15 cent admission in our outstreteched handds, usually got us back in the following week.

What a team! What a coach we had in Pat Hart. The thing we all liked about Pat, is that he was able to be a coach, friend, and counselor all rolled into one. His inspiring leadership motivated us to excell beyond our earthly potential to a championship undefeated season in 1951.

I remember Micky Lekpkowski’s scraming backhand. That waqs confidence building in itself. Dimitri Bobrow’s speed always got the tip; I used to try and imitate his straight-arm freestyle stroke, and I still do today, but Dimitri had the speed that surpassed us all. I think these guys still have an exhibition water polo team today, similar to Eddie Feigner’s (The King and his court) famous softball team.

Cal and Kermit knew just where the ball was going, blocking just about everthing that came their way. Seems like yesterday... Of course Fieck and Hultburg each as individuals were massive enough to block off most of the net opening anyhow. Hulk Hogan, eat your hart out!

Dic Kohler, Floyd Lawrence, and Al (Trapezius) Sherman were the guards I remember the most. I think those guy’s arms were XXXXL length. I mean they not only stopped many shots at their point of origin, but the resounding wack on tsheir oppontnt’s had gave cause to carefully consider each following attempt to get one by. I think these guys work at the Penna RR today as RR crossing gates.

The Borrks brothers were intimidating by their voices alone. I mean these guys could get the opponents nervous just by the cajoling and heckling aone. I think Dave probably turned out to be a hcocky coach or something.... Carl Whte, cool, fast, calculating Carl made it llok easy. He was a great swimmer, with a great kick, and never got flustred. What a great teammate to have anywhere! He was an expert in the science of fflatulence ignition protechnics. I think he swam the full length of the Mississippi River about 25 years ago.

Bugsy. Well, Grabowski was a heavyweight at about 120 pounds, but what a champion! Everyone remembers when he won the State divinng championship in 1952! Wow! Bugsy had his arms straightened, and as a aresult, he can’t dive anymore.

George Hahn was the guy that got me interested in swimming and waterpolo instead of getting beat up out on the football field by way of Damico’s center plunges. George and I were very close buddies, and still today I send him regular cash payments in gratitude for introducing me to the game of waterpolo. Remember Len Pamula? He was so good at the game, he actually did Waterpolo whenhe wasn’t doing something else. Talk about a natural.... he was it.

Petroff, as I recall, did some of the goalie work too. He was not of the Kermit and Carl Stature, but he was quick, quick... Tom, was a true team player. I think he has a full timejob today as photographer of the 1996 Olymic water polo balls.

Of course, the "Whiz kids" underclassmen were there in the form of too tall Bill Greene, "bad" Bud (the super Russian) Satkoff, John "dunk em" Daniels, Stash the "Slash" Domkowski, with the formidable Bayhurst, Brown and "Radar" Mallory.

It was a pleasant surprise to have the Class of 1953 included in The WARRIOR Newsletter. After receiving the first newsletter, I huffed and puffed to the attic and rratically emptied boxes to fin my high school yearbook. Looking at those alert, smiling faces in the Sunrise and recalling some of the devil-may=care adventures we shared, made me feel very young again. O

One incident tht still makes me giggle is that after walking to school, with a dozen girls, from a slumber party at Babs Rilling’s house, and looking into that concave mirror in the girls’ lav, I discovered I stilll had green slime (from a facial mask) all around my hairline.

I also remember that while still wearingm y flannel nightgow under my coat, I helped to push-start a car out East Tenth Street so that a few of the girls who attended my slumbber party could get to mass at St. Ann’s one early Sunday winter morning.

Elinor Bitzer, Mary Bixby, and Judy Wieczorek were always ready for any kind of escapade, and we had quite a few! Nancy Brebner and her parents were most hospitable and kind with invitations to sleep over and to visit their cottage on Chautauqua Lake. Bea Ertl, Marie Karr, Rinda Leo, Mary Jane Macosko, Janet Naylor, Babs Rilling, Joan Yurovich, and Barb Mihalik were the instigators of many, many noisy parties. Pat Simon and Jane Ann Ennis were always wits who shared secrets and laughs.

I never orget the shy quietness of Larry Hunter, Carl White, Dom Cipriani, Jim Hill, Grant LaMaye, Keith Montgomery, Joe Wodarski, and Don Essigman. They always had a smile and a "hi" as we dawdled or scrambled from one class to another in the crowded East High hallways.

Mary Ann Bbugenhagen, Nancy Dale, Florence Goranflo, Joan Lamb, Jeanne Adair, Ann Gauthier, John Romesburg, Harold Peterson, Tom Feeney, and Bob Hultberg were classmates from back in sixth grade at Edison school until we all graduated from East High.

I remember riding my bicycle to Gene Bojarski’s twelfth birthday party. And, oh those crushes I had on Dave Brroks and Jim Rudd in the seventh grade. Jim Rudd and Ilaughed at Mr. Grignol’s incessant lectures on smoking. (He was correct!) Dave Brooks, Don Demchak, and Judy Ross tortured Miss Behan in English class with their talking. (Miss Behan was my favorite English teacher.) Bob Karney’s creative work hung in the art room, and how I envied his talent while I tried so hrd to draw or paint. I still love art, and I still can’t draw orpaint.

Nancy Peterson and I were work buddies at the conession stand on the public dock for a couple of summers. On dreary days we wouldn’t have amany customers, so we would eat the hotdogs and feed the popcorn to the sea gulls. Bernice Jeska and I attended summer school for severl years so we could schedule all those extra courses we wanted to take during the regular school year.

I remember on ight eight of us were crusehed into a car, and the girls were warned not to giggle or to make any noise. The car lights wer turned out so we could drive behing the police barracks, in the snow at the peninsula, to check on either Dave Brown’s or Ron Somerville’s sail boat called The Pagan.

I remember eating lunch in the cafeteria with Luella Myers, Gertie Spronatti, Franncine Nielsen, Mildren MCaslin, Helen Schrode, Dorothy Kaliszewski, and Judy Coyne at various times. In our senior year some of usslipped out the side door to eat at Harry’s Diner on East Lake Road. We never got caught! Perhaps it was always permissable to leave the building; however, it was more exciting to thihk we were getting away with leaving.

Barb Shreve, Mary Lou Breyley, Carol Van Buren, Donna Stromenger, Margie and Mary Lou Cochran were my first new friends in seventh grade at East High. As I recall, I didn’t have "best" briends, but I had many good friends.

Louie Lutsch, Bugs Grabowski, Carl Feick, Art Liocano, John Preisler, Jerry Szorek, Dan Wisniewski, Bony Emling, Sal Cianella, and Nick Markopoulis were always pushing, tripping, punching, wisecracking, and plotting new pranks to pull on classmates and teachers. We never had to wait for the next episode of their comedy show — it wa ongoing.

When I was just learning to drive, Ted Loader let me drive his car, and I almost ruined it, mistaking the brake for the clutch. Rinda Leo and Marie Karr used to get so mad at me when I messed up in twirlig class. (I tried out for twirling to avoid gym and pool classes.) I was so clumsy and uncoordinated I don’t know how I ever survived in that group, but I had a lot of fun at the performances. Tom Kaus stood tall in front of the band; we waited for the whistle, and I was always amazed at how he couled keep us all mvoving in time as one unit! My parents always declared we were the best band and marching group in the city. (My parents were vever wrong!)

then there wre the boyfriends. Dick Henderson, from an earlier graduating class, kept my father muttering, "Doesn’t that kid have a home?" Jerry Mahon, also from an earlier class was my first love. His other and brothers and sister were very special to me. Chuck Hall, whom I adored, "dumped" me on my seventeeth birtday because I bought him a stupid Christmas present. Chuck really was a good dancer and the only boyfreind who let me sing "Laura" and "Stardust" as we slow danced at all those record hops inth gym. Then thre was Emil Kelly whom I loved dearly, and who was my husband and the father of my only precious child, Gregory. When we were still in school, Emil let me drive his car while he played baseball. He really got puple-mad at me the time Rinda, Mary Jane, Bea, and I ranout of gas and were late to pick im up at Ainsworth Field. He got mad at me a lot of times after that, too. We were so oung! the memories keep crowding from every page of my yearbook, but Ihave more time to write them.

I hve always attributed my love of learningto many of East High’s teachers, and to the long line of teachers in my family. Every female on my father’s side of the family up to my generation, was a teacher. My great grandmother, grandmother, and my aunts gegan their teaching careers in one or two—room schoolhouses in rural Pennsylvaia. I am the only teacher from my genertion of our family.

I am still teaching (Advanced Placment English and Composition, Creative Writing I and II, and eleventh grade EnglishHonors) at Centrl High School. Although I have had Administrator’s Certification for many years, the classroom is where I want to be. I love my professiona dand the student. In spiite of all the horror stories youmay hear about today’shighschools, there are man y wonderfully gifted and talented high schools, thre are man woderfully gited and talented young students who take their future responsbibilities very ou serously. Retirement isnot in my plans for a few mor eyars.

My only grandchild, Erie, isalso a teacher and will continue the family tradition. She is a beautiful young woman and a prcioussource of joy to me.

And, I remeber Dan Conley, as a happy, energetic, young man who liked to keep busy. Thank you for the giggles and reminiscences you sealed inside the envelope with your newsletter.

The Tighe’s are still living in Erie. They were married in 1955 and have six children. She said, "Pop Warren was my favorite teacher in high school." Mary is remembered for her graceful style on the dance floor and her very infectious laugh. At the recent 40th Reunion she displayed her grace on the dance floor and popular opinion was she was the person least changed from high school.

Clara moved to Yuma, Arizona in October, 1993 from Ann Arbor, Michigan. She worked as a medical receptionist for 15 years of a group of physicians in Michigan City, Indiana.

In 1981 Shirley married Bob Potthoff and have two children. Before she finally retired, Shirley worked for 18 years at Erie Ceramic Arts. ‘What I remembered most about the "old" high school days is football games, home economics, and my association with Bernadette Baginski, Kay Enas, and Joan Chaffee. Several years ago I won the golf championship in my field at the Lawrence Park Golf Club.

Lois said, "My husband Sam is a wood cutter and I am an artist. I continue to paint wood ornaments for the house and lawn. I continue to remain very, very busy.

The LaRocks were married on Valentine’s Day in 1959. Donna said, "I have five children and I have worked in food service for the Edison Elementary Schools."

Pat and her husband Bob have lived in California for the past 21 years. Bob is an engineer and they have three children. Pat has worked for a number of years as a florist.

She explained that they plan to move California when they retire. "California just isn’t wonderful anymore. We have survived earthquakes, floods, drive by shootings, and car jackings."

"About my dancing? Well... I married a man who loves to dance, and we still dance the night away—only at a slower pace."

"I now have time for golfing, gardening, and just sitting in the sunshine."

After working for General Electric for 39 years, Bill Oatman ‘50 and Pat moved back to Erie several years ago.

Jean is now retired from Mercyhurst College where she worked for more than 20 years as the mail room supervisor. Jean has spent most of her life collecting stamps. As a philatelist, she has a unique collection of stamps from all over the world. When she finds the time, she is busy with her gardening.

When Dorothy isn’t franticly searching for "lost" 1952 class members, she finds time to volunteer at the Hamot Wellness Center, and the Mom’s Club at St. Stanislaus School. She and Gene (‘52) enjoy traveling and dining at East Erie Turners.

She and other members of the 1952 Reunion members (Tom Petroff, Toni Marinelli Oldach, Ruthie Staynoff DiMichael, and Gene Rachocki) are busy finalizing plans for the 45th Reunion to be held in the summer of 1997.

A special thanks to the following classmates who contributed $25 or more to support The WARRIOR Newsletter:

1951

Ed Abromoski, Dick Pohl, Charlette Chase, Pat Orzechowski, Carol Dietz, Rosalie Blasco, Mary Ann Osiecki, Bill and Harriet Schuler, Gladys Lesko, Janet Sonney, *Norb Figurski, Stan Konopka, Bette Kune, Thad Droast, Jean Stolarski, and Ina Ring.

1952

Dick Petit, Jean McClane, Fank Kubicki, Rita Glance, Doris Clouser, Donna Dembaugh, Dan Conley, Tom Fischer, Mary Lill Gardener, Sam Quinn, Jeanette Flowers, Joanne Gowetski, Jerry Hopkins, Carl Fetzner, Bob Miller, Toots Cooper, Mike Lepkowski, Marion Fabin, John Matlock, Bob and Myrt Butler, and Rev. Bill Osterlin.

1953

Barbara Rilling, Carl Feick, *Pat Simon,Dan Wisniewski, Rita Silman, John Lebert, *Dot Ciotoli, Bernice Jeska, Dorothy Orzechowski, and Grace Kisilewski.

1954

Frank Zamierowski, John Lynch, Shirley Collins, *John Mallory, Lou Porreco, Virginia Flak, Jas & Mary Speice, Linda Tillman, Jerry Bednaro, *Phylis Cabelof, *John Raica, and Jerry Prylinski.

*denotes a Memorial Contribution to a classmate or sibling given by

Ted Zimmerman ‘52

Melvin Laskoff ‘54

Ted passed away after a long debilitaring illness. Ted married Mary Ann (Izzy) Izbicki (‘52). She is now deceased. They are survived by three children and four grand children. Ted was an active member of the NRA and a certified pistol and rifle instructor. He worked as an engineer at Zurns before having to retire for health reasons two years ago.