Nick Lagos has been in touch about the evening of the infamous Fairlawn water tower. Nick - great to hear from you and your perspective on that night especially since you were one of the lucky 4 to go to the top!
I will add more details here shortly. Nick gave me some info and I will get in touch with Scott Gutting for more.
Bob Haworth I need info from you too since you were there!
Watch for an update in a couple of days!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
RHS Candids!
Some RHS candids - well obviously some are from the yearbook - this is all designed to get you pumped up for the reunion! You never know who you might see! You'll be glad you came!
Above in front l to r: Anita Simos, Elaine Erickson. Back l to r: Beth Daly, Linda Eklof, Ellen Phillips, Cathy O'Neill, Beth Perdue. Photo used courtesy of Cathy O'Neill.
Above Darleen McGrath enjoying a smoke on "campus". Hey smoking was allowed during our senior year!
The bus pass - I think my homeroom was 232 and the bus was 259 - or vice versa.
Above Ridgewood's favorite bar - Espo's!
Above Barbara McCutcheon busy as work!
A great profile shot of Ellen Phillips - can anyone identify the other girl?
Above in front l to r: Anita Simos, Elaine Erickson. Back l to r: Beth Daly, Linda Eklof, Ellen Phillips, Cathy O'Neill, Beth Perdue. Photo used courtesy of Cathy O'Neill.
Above Darleen McGrath enjoying a smoke on "campus". Hey smoking was allowed during our senior year!
The bus pass - I think my homeroom was 232 and the bus was 259 - or vice versa.
Above Ridgewood's favorite bar - Espo's!
Above Barbara McCutcheon busy as work!
A great profile shot of Ellen Phillips - can anyone identify the other girl?
My Sister Ginny with 2 RHS Prom Dates!?
My sister was popular and I do remember guys wanted to date her. I also recall my father chasing one such guy named Pete down our driveway! ("Black Pete" was the name my dad gave him!) Is one of these guys Pete?
Anyway, here's a photo of my sister's senior prom night - who actually took you Gin? Waiting on my sister to supply the guys names!
Anyway, here's a photo of my sister's senior prom night - who actually took you Gin? Waiting on my sister to supply the guys names!
More 1973 Memories!
Leslie Pope, Connie Snow, Kathy Stella and many others put a "Senior Memories" book together right before we graduated. Sometimes WE wrote the "bullet" memories and sometimes others wrote them for us.
Here's another sampling of individual memories:
Jack Wolfstirn - Getting up, One day without the BK, On the case.
Karen Eide - Her smile, School 5 days a week, Coming to school every day, A bear.
Scott Gutting - "Gut", Winning a track meet, A high hurdler, One painted Fairlawn water tower!
Lauren Ladd - Roof jumping, Dark corners, Having lots of real friends, Accepted and One large climbing type tree!
Carmen Maganelli - Burping, Minority groups, Carmen as Mrs. Joe Namath, Waitress at the Turnpike, One pair of farmer jeans.
Silly I know but its still fun finding this stuff! Kinda gives you a little look at what we were like!
Here's another sampling of individual memories:
Jack Wolfstirn - Getting up, One day without the BK, On the case.
Karen Eide - Her smile, School 5 days a week, Coming to school every day, A bear.
Scott Gutting - "Gut", Winning a track meet, A high hurdler, One painted Fairlawn water tower!
Lauren Ladd - Roof jumping, Dark corners, Having lots of real friends, Accepted and One large climbing type tree!
Carmen Maganelli - Burping, Minority groups, Carmen as Mrs. Joe Namath, Waitress at the Turnpike, One pair of farmer jeans.
Silly I know but its still fun finding this stuff! Kinda gives you a little look at what we were like!
5 RHS Girls with the Best Smiles!
Actually I hate picking the "best" but you have to admit these 5 girls easily had (have) the best smiles - if you were hanging out with one of these girls - you were, well....happy! Hey 3 out of the 5 on the list are Glen School girls - we had the best! Hey I know - these girls weren't the only ones with the best smiles!
I didn't pick the guys - I'll leave that to one of the girls - Terri? You wanna take that?
Here are the girls:
Karen Eide
Ann Rimmer
Chickie Lynch
Jan Potdevin
Cathly O'Neill
I didn't pick the guys - I'll leave that to one of the girls - Terri? You wanna take that?
Here are the girls:
Karen Eide
Ann Rimmer
Chickie Lynch
Jan Potdevin
Cathly O'Neill
Earth to RHS: Don't Lose Sight of Your History!
I was recently passing through Ridgewood again and stopped by RHS to see what's been going on. There never seems to be a shortage of construction projects there these days. As I write this they're adding new stands on the visitor side of the football field which is nice but I fear it will obstruct the great view of the field as you walk along the wall on Heermance Place. The turf field looks great - though the heart misses the real grass (but not the drainage problems though!) They have construction fencing all over the place again - obviously I know this is temporary. I will make it there again next Saturday on our way to a family party so Jennie and I will be able to take more pictures!
Above are the new stands going in on the vistors side - needed but will it obstruct a nice view?
But this day - Aug 6, I wanted to show my daughter Jennie "our" courtyard (hey once you've graduated Ridgewood High School you always refer to it as "our this" and "our that"). We walked into the courtyard around back (a courtyard I fondly remember) and I was struck by how terribly different it looks - how wrong it looks. Its so cramped and is a hodge podge of modern tables and seemingly directionless - a mess despite construction. It also appears to be nothing more than a storage area, pass through area, etc. Granted there is construction going on but honestly there is simply no courtyard anymore - gone are the flowers and the reason for the courtyard in the first place. Look at the pictures in 1973 of what the courtyard looked like - it was condusive to meeting with fellow students or class officers about issues, studying outside during a free period and was pleasing to the eye.
Above is a photo of the "new" courtyard and student commons as it appeared in 1962. It was part of a huge expansion that included the new library above the commons, the new industrail art wing, the new gym wing and a renovated older building. Much thought went into what the end result would be and it succeeded.
Below are photos of the courtyard and student center as they appeared in 1973 - whether it was the winter or the fall you could enjoy the view of the courtyard from the student center and the classrooms above and in the good weather you could enjoy this great outdoor space to relax or study.
The landscaping too was a major appeal.
Above is a sunny view of the courtyard from inside the student center.
Above: leaving the student center or the "block" and heading to class.
Above: as many did, here is the Student Congress posing for a picture just outside the student center.
I realize the lack of space and the need to build as much as possible in what space you have but I hope the school doesn't lose sight of its history - an extraordinary history. Its a school in a town that has much to be proud of.
The old crossway to the industrial arts wing and the boys gym - the windows to the cafeteria are on the far left. I used to take auto mechanics in the industrial arts wing - I don't know why but I ended up not going - didn't cancel the class - just didn't go! Kevin Harper told me for weeks and weeks Mr Mitchell would call my name during attendance - "Flannery - Flannery - Flannery....he's not here Mr. Mitchell!" - it was pretty funny because he literally did that for weeks - I think on purpose - I was a mystery guy so he had fun with it - I finally caught up with him when I graduated and we laughed about it!
In August 2010 I made a trek down to meet up with John Wescott, Jim Ranton, Arne Olsen, Dave Burdick, Roger Sweeney, Fern Gomez and Dave Vanderbush. As told previously in this blog, Dave Vanderbush took us on a great tour of RHS before lunch - thanks again Rusty for arranging all of that! One of the things he pointed out was this gorgeous plaque - this huge heavily laquered, wooden plaque that listed the names of those RHS students who served in World War II. Apparently, this incredible piece of school history had made its way to the dumpster. This was all during another construction project last year - you know, out with the old, in with the new without pausing to say "Wait a minute, this is a piece of the school's history!" As with anything - wars, poiltics, local history - one can never forget the past in order to properly move forward to the future - forgetting can have devestating effects.
Well, Dave told us that a teacher actually saw this huge plaque near the dumpster and rescued it and found a place for it just across from the entrance to the cafeteria - allelujah! It is sad though that it takes the second thought or someone passing by the dumpster in order to save it.
Above is the World War II plaque (rightfully HUGE plaque) honoring RHS students who served during World War II. It was thrown away and saved and hung in a place of prominence across from the cafeteria.
Hey I was pro-RHS when I went there but am more so today. Obviously I understand the full-speed ahead-thinking but you can do that and still preserve history AND do new construction all while keeping the old RHS architecture in mind. Take the courtyard clock for instance - it's not in keeping with the look of the school and even if you like the modern look of the clock, there was really no imagination in its construction - not for a school with as rich a history as RHS. Yeah, I know I'm begging comments here I suppose but don't get defensive on me BOE! Hey having said all this you guys did a phenomenal job on the gym wing!
The clock in the courtyard - just doesn't fit.
Hey Board of Ed before I get sent protesting comments - don't take this all the wrong way - probably many of you didn't even grow up in Ridgewood - but no matter where you live the top priority should always be: grow but preserve - and that can mean architecture, a way of life, status as a town with top schools, limiting over-zealous growth, keeping a plaque - you've got a rich history Ridgewood - it doesn't cost any extra really - you don't even need a grant - to protect it!
UPDATE: the visitor football stands are looking nice!
Above are the new stands going in on the vistors side - needed but will it obstruct a nice view?
But this day - Aug 6, I wanted to show my daughter Jennie "our" courtyard (hey once you've graduated Ridgewood High School you always refer to it as "our this" and "our that"). We walked into the courtyard around back (a courtyard I fondly remember) and I was struck by how terribly different it looks - how wrong it looks. Its so cramped and is a hodge podge of modern tables and seemingly directionless - a mess despite construction. It also appears to be nothing more than a storage area, pass through area, etc. Granted there is construction going on but honestly there is simply no courtyard anymore - gone are the flowers and the reason for the courtyard in the first place. Look at the pictures in 1973 of what the courtyard looked like - it was condusive to meeting with fellow students or class officers about issues, studying outside during a free period and was pleasing to the eye.
Above is a photo of the "new" courtyard and student commons as it appeared in 1962. It was part of a huge expansion that included the new library above the commons, the new industrail art wing, the new gym wing and a renovated older building. Much thought went into what the end result would be and it succeeded.
Below are photos of the courtyard and student center as they appeared in 1973 - whether it was the winter or the fall you could enjoy the view of the courtyard from the student center and the classrooms above and in the good weather you could enjoy this great outdoor space to relax or study.
The landscaping too was a major appeal.
Above is a sunny view of the courtyard from inside the student center.
Above: leaving the student center or the "block" and heading to class.
Above: as many did, here is the Student Congress posing for a picture just outside the student center.
I realize the lack of space and the need to build as much as possible in what space you have but I hope the school doesn't lose sight of its history - an extraordinary history. Its a school in a town that has much to be proud of.
The old crossway to the industrial arts wing and the boys gym - the windows to the cafeteria are on the far left. I used to take auto mechanics in the industrial arts wing - I don't know why but I ended up not going - didn't cancel the class - just didn't go! Kevin Harper told me for weeks and weeks Mr Mitchell would call my name during attendance - "Flannery - Flannery - Flannery....he's not here Mr. Mitchell!" - it was pretty funny because he literally did that for weeks - I think on purpose - I was a mystery guy so he had fun with it - I finally caught up with him when I graduated and we laughed about it!
In August 2010 I made a trek down to meet up with John Wescott, Jim Ranton, Arne Olsen, Dave Burdick, Roger Sweeney, Fern Gomez and Dave Vanderbush. As told previously in this blog, Dave Vanderbush took us on a great tour of RHS before lunch - thanks again Rusty for arranging all of that! One of the things he pointed out was this gorgeous plaque - this huge heavily laquered, wooden plaque that listed the names of those RHS students who served in World War II. Apparently, this incredible piece of school history had made its way to the dumpster. This was all during another construction project last year - you know, out with the old, in with the new without pausing to say "Wait a minute, this is a piece of the school's history!" As with anything - wars, poiltics, local history - one can never forget the past in order to properly move forward to the future - forgetting can have devestating effects.
Well, Dave told us that a teacher actually saw this huge plaque near the dumpster and rescued it and found a place for it just across from the entrance to the cafeteria - allelujah! It is sad though that it takes the second thought or someone passing by the dumpster in order to save it.
Above is the World War II plaque (rightfully HUGE plaque) honoring RHS students who served during World War II. It was thrown away and saved and hung in a place of prominence across from the cafeteria.
Hey I was pro-RHS when I went there but am more so today. Obviously I understand the full-speed ahead-thinking but you can do that and still preserve history AND do new construction all while keeping the old RHS architecture in mind. Take the courtyard clock for instance - it's not in keeping with the look of the school and even if you like the modern look of the clock, there was really no imagination in its construction - not for a school with as rich a history as RHS. Yeah, I know I'm begging comments here I suppose but don't get defensive on me BOE! Hey having said all this you guys did a phenomenal job on the gym wing!
The clock in the courtyard - just doesn't fit.
Hey Board of Ed before I get sent protesting comments - don't take this all the wrong way - probably many of you didn't even grow up in Ridgewood - but no matter where you live the top priority should always be: grow but preserve - and that can mean architecture, a way of life, status as a town with top schools, limiting over-zealous growth, keeping a plaque - you've got a rich history Ridgewood - it doesn't cost any extra really - you don't even need a grant - to protect it!
UPDATE: the visitor football stands are looking nice!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
The 1972 Football Banquet - Class of 1973!
Our senior was capped off by a lot of things not the least of which was winning the NNJIL title! Here are some photos for the 1972 football banquet. The girls too!
Thanks Rusty Wescott for supplying these!
Above the committee - made up of all the dedicated dads!
Below, the players.
Nice job you guys!
Thanks Rusty Wescott for supplying these!
Above the committee - made up of all the dedicated dads!
Below, the players.
Nice job you guys!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
First 40th Reunion Meeting Was Held!!
Well we got together back in December for our first 40th reunion meeting - after all the laughs and inevitable memories and a few drinks we finally talked about places.
Attending were John Wescott, Frank Petrucci, Terri Dimodugno, Jack Wolfstirn and Rick Flannery (missing that day was Tom O'Connor). We met at the Village Grill in Waldwick. We will be meeting again in April! Frank is back in New Jersey!! Frank's another one of those ageless classmates - can you age please!
Hey you're not gonna want to miss this one everybody - its gonna be good! Teachers will be there too!
Above l to r front row: Jack Wolfstirn, Terri Dimodugno, Rick Flannery. Back row: John Wescott and Frank Petrucci.
Attending were John Wescott, Frank Petrucci, Terri Dimodugno, Jack Wolfstirn and Rick Flannery (missing that day was Tom O'Connor). We met at the Village Grill in Waldwick. We will be meeting again in April! Frank is back in New Jersey!! Frank's another one of those ageless classmates - can you age please!
Hey you're not gonna want to miss this one everybody - its gonna be good! Teachers will be there too!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sharon Muster Where Are You? and Other Favorite Teachers!
So I get to RHS - Sept 1970 - feeling as I always did with something new - intimidated! In a big school one moves in different ways - I was both nervous and psyched at the same time. Definitely up for it - hoping the food would be better than BF. Knowing we would finally meet up with everybody from GW. Many of those kids you already knew from baseball, church, scouts, etc. Despite my seemingly "wacky" outside appearance - army jacket, beads, etc - I loved being part of the RHS experience. Both friends and teachers would play a huge roll in my final public school years.
Enter Sharon Muster - Spanish teacher 10th grade. Sharon wasn't a hec of a lot older than us - she even at times seemed one of us - understanding and all the rest. Here was a teacher that was extraordinary to me. It didn't take long to realize that she cared about what she was doing - it wasn't a chore. She also cared about students who she thought also cared but struggled for various reasons. Sharon Muster followed my progress throughout high school - ended up watching me graduate on the football field on June 20, 1973 - and what a thrill it was that she was there. I must admit I had a bit of a crush on her!
Other teachers who were standouts for me at RHS were Judith Pinder (History), John McCutcheon (Asst Principal) and Robert Honsinger. These educators took a personal interest in my accomplishments (or lack there of!) and I appreciate it to this day! I was thrilled to find and hook up with Robert Honsinger on Facebook last year - I get a kick out of going back to 1973 in my mind and thinking how amazing it would be to walk into 1973-Honsinger's office and say "Hey, see you on Facebook in 40 years Mr. H!"
Mr. Mac - well he barked loud but what a caring educator! You'd want him for a friend, for a father, a brother - what an awesome man. Sadly Mr. Mac passed away years ago and Miss Pinder - well she must be around somewhere. Sharon Muster where are you? If anyone knows the whereabouts of "Miss" Pinder and Sharon Muster please advise!
Click on the photos to enlarge.
How cool would it be to have Honsinger, Muster and Pinder at the 40th reunion?
Enter Sharon Muster - Spanish teacher 10th grade. Sharon wasn't a hec of a lot older than us - she even at times seemed one of us - understanding and all the rest. Here was a teacher that was extraordinary to me. It didn't take long to realize that she cared about what she was doing - it wasn't a chore. She also cared about students who she thought also cared but struggled for various reasons. Sharon Muster followed my progress throughout high school - ended up watching me graduate on the football field on June 20, 1973 - and what a thrill it was that she was there. I must admit I had a bit of a crush on her!
Other teachers who were standouts for me at RHS were Judith Pinder (History), John McCutcheon (Asst Principal) and Robert Honsinger. These educators took a personal interest in my accomplishments (or lack there of!) and I appreciate it to this day! I was thrilled to find and hook up with Robert Honsinger on Facebook last year - I get a kick out of going back to 1973 in my mind and thinking how amazing it would be to walk into 1973-Honsinger's office and say "Hey, see you on Facebook in 40 years Mr. H!"
Mr. Mac - well he barked loud but what a caring educator! You'd want him for a friend, for a father, a brother - what an awesome man. Sadly Mr. Mac passed away years ago and Miss Pinder - well she must be around somewhere. Sharon Muster where are you? If anyone knows the whereabouts of "Miss" Pinder and Sharon Muster please advise!
Click on the photos to enlarge.
How cool would it be to have Honsinger, Muster and Pinder at the 40th reunion?
Who Said It? #1
Alright guess which classmates said the quotes below. One hint for each. Good luck!
"Everything is funny as long as it happens to somebody else!" Hint: red hair.
"One man's insanity is another man's norm." Hint: a cheerleader.
The reunion will be here before you know it you guys! It's gonna be a whole weekend of fun!
Answers can be found in our yearbook.
"Everything is funny as long as it happens to somebody else!" Hint: red hair.
"One man's insanity is another man's norm." Hint: a cheerleader.
The reunion will be here before you know it you guys! It's gonna be a whole weekend of fun!
Answers can be found in our yearbook.
Dear Graduating Senior................
Among my papers (saved by mom!) - I found a mimeograph from May, 1973 signed "Senior Class Officers". It was the month before graduation - we were busy those last couple of months - another prom, getting our yearbooks, the graduation and the parties. The letter is too light to copy so I will type it here just as it was typed then.
How things change - it cost the guys $8 for their complete tuxedo - everything!
May 22, 1973
Dear Graduating Senior:
This letter is to help answer any questions that you may have concerning apparel for Graduation on Wednesday, June 20.
It has been traditional that girls wear long white dresses and carry a bouquet of red roses. Guys have customarily worn white jackets with white shirts, red carnations, and black ties, pants, and shoes. This tradition will be carried on this year. It is up to the girl to supply herself with her own dress. Both guys and girls will be informed at a later date of arrangements made for the flowers.
The boys, if they'd like to, can rent all they need from Biltmore Tuxedos. Biltmore will supply white jacket, white shirt, black tie, black pants, studs and cufflinks. The complete charge will be $8.00.
For your convenience, the man from Biltmore will be here tomorrow, Wednesday May 23, during tenth period and after school to measure the guys for their outfits. Please have your money ready tomorrow and if you pay by check please make it payable to Biltmore Tuxedos.
If you have any questions please see Mr. Gregg.
Thank You Very Much,
Senior Class Officers
Just a reminder our big 40th reunion is now about 2.5 years away - don't miss it!!!!
How things change - it cost the guys $8 for their complete tuxedo - everything!
May 22, 1973
Dear Graduating Senior:
This letter is to help answer any questions that you may have concerning apparel for Graduation on Wednesday, June 20.
It has been traditional that girls wear long white dresses and carry a bouquet of red roses. Guys have customarily worn white jackets with white shirts, red carnations, and black ties, pants, and shoes. This tradition will be carried on this year. It is up to the girl to supply herself with her own dress. Both guys and girls will be informed at a later date of arrangements made for the flowers.
The boys, if they'd like to, can rent all they need from Biltmore Tuxedos. Biltmore will supply white jacket, white shirt, black tie, black pants, studs and cufflinks. The complete charge will be $8.00.
For your convenience, the man from Biltmore will be here tomorrow, Wednesday May 23, during tenth period and after school to measure the guys for their outfits. Please have your money ready tomorrow and if you pay by check please make it payable to Biltmore Tuxedos.
If you have any questions please see Mr. Gregg.
Thank You Very Much,
Senior Class Officers
Just a reminder our big 40th reunion is now about 2.5 years away - don't miss it!!!!
Extra Extra - The High Times!
The High Times - a great school newsletter and monthly magazine. I'm not sure when it was started but it was always fun to read when we were at RHS! I have a couple of issues in my collection but wasn't smart enough to keep 'em all! If anyone has any issues from 1970-71, 1971-72 or 1972-73 - PLEASE let us know!
The issue highlighted here is our last one - from June, 1973. The staff was made up of Penni Reilly (Editor in Chief), Connie Snow, Dave Goddard, Jan Koper, Chris Muller, Evie Romm, Chris Li, Mary Jo Macchi, Fred Strype, Nancy Sullivan, John Frei, Holly Bogdanffy, Fran Recht, Mary Kiley. The staff was advised by Mrs. Carol Derven.
It was always filled with local ads. Among them of course were Perdue's Sport Shop which was incredibly supportive RHS.
Above is one of the many ads that RHS Hall of Famer Walter Perdue ran in support of our schools and our sports programs.
Above an ad run by our favorite after-games, after-school, after-whatever burger place - The Fireplace!
Featured at this writing is a great article by Managing Editor Connie Snow about William Leach - our longtime principal. Our graduating year - 1972-1973 - would be Mr. Leach's last. Also an article by Chris Muller about the retirement of longtime teacher Newell C. Gillan - he taught at RHS for 46 years! Finally the "Where Will They Be Next Year?" feature - which lists most of our plans for our immediate future.
Please click on the above article to enlarge it.
Above is an article by Chris Muller about longtime RHS teacher Newell C. Gillan. Please click on the above article to enlarge.
Note - if you use any images or writings from this blog please just credit where you got them from - thanks!!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Some Photos I Found!
One feels funny posting pictures of themselves but here's a few I found from the archives! I have a home movie of our graduation too - I have to get it transferred - its great! I will post it when I get it done.
Rick enters high school! I can't believe I still have this card - wow was I a skinny kid then! The card was used for various things including the student store.
Above, Rick Flannery around junior year.
Above, RHS graduation day June, 1973. L to r: Mark Meneghin, Bruce Meneghin and Rick Flannery.
Above, Bruce Menghin and I graduation day June, 1973.
Above me before the graduation procession to the football field. I have always thought that our graduation was unique - to this day the guys still wear white jacket tuxedoes and the girls white gowns and roses - it had to be quite a sight to see 658 seniors make their way down from the ivy-covered walls to their seats.
Above, yours truly getting my RHS diploma from the superintendent, Principal Bill Leach and one of the best - John McCutcheon.
Rick enters high school! I can't believe I still have this card - wow was I a skinny kid then! The card was used for various things including the student store.
Above, RHS graduation day June, 1973. L to r: Mark Meneghin, Bruce Meneghin and Rick Flannery.
Above, Bruce Menghin and I graduation day June, 1973.
Above me before the graduation procession to the football field. I have always thought that our graduation was unique - to this day the guys still wear white jacket tuxedoes and the girls white gowns and roses - it had to be quite a sight to see 658 seniors make their way down from the ivy-covered walls to their seats.
Above, yours truly getting my RHS diploma from the superintendent, Principal Bill Leach and one of the best - John McCutcheon.
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