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.

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?

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.

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!!!!

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.

Above and below is the annual final issue feature "Where Will They Be Next Year?" - at the time, I couldn't believe it was about us - it all went so quick! While I attended Ramapo College, I did not finish college. In addition to Ramapo I also attended Pace University and Western Connecticut University. Please click to enlarge.

Note - if you use any images or writings from this blog please just credit where you got them from - thanks!!