Above is the infamous chapel entrance and one of several classic and very recognizable images of our school as it looked in the summer of 2012.
Our high school graduation was on Wednesday June 20, 1973 - it sure seems like yesterday to me! I remember a lot of things about my high school years. I entered high school in the fall of 1970 an unsure, terrible student wearing an army jacket. But I was liked by my teachers, my friends and even Mr. McCutcheon who tried desperately to keep me - mostly unsuccessfully - from cutting classes! I'll never forget one of several office "meetings" with Mr. Mac - he would slam the big thick rule book down and give me the definition and consequences of truancy - looking back its funny but man I could have been a little bit better at the school thing......
I had always wanted to be a "smoker" - can you imagine this insecurity? I thought it was cool in BF that the "cooler" crowd smoked - and frankly they WERE pretty cool (wow used "cool" 3 times in one sentence?) By the time I was a freshman at Ridgewood High, I too started to smoke in the boy's room and everywhere but the boy's room was where I would meet guys like Steve Florence, Joe DiPaolo and Tim Campbell among others. Joe was cool in another way - he always had his cigarettes folded up in the sleeve of his white t-shirt. The great thing is I remained friends - at least at RHS - with Steve and Tim - Tim would later provide me with an RHS football jersey that "fell off the truck" when I got so caught up in the excitement of the football season and wanted to share in a piece of that great championship team! Still have the jersey - it was Groat's home jersey - #44! I'm proud to say I was friends with everyone - I enjoyed it all! I've often wondered what became of Steve and Tim - does anyone know?
Of course there were other "things" going on in the boys room and elsewhere - you know, funny "smoky" smells - all new to me as a freshman but I was learning fast - I was kinda going all in - the word is acceptance I guess. Everyone needs to be accepted and I was certainly there trying in my own silly ways. I'll never forget how good I got between classes smoking upstairs and downstairs. We'd open the windows to air it out and smoke probably half a cigarette while always being on our toes for the likes of Mr. Palmisano to storm in - always yelling "Caught ya!" - yet he never caught us. I was awfully good at flicking the butt quickly behind the urinal or in the toilet - the smoke would permiate, the smell obvious but we'd say - "...they're not ours Mr. P...." He'd look us over and walk out feeling like there would be another day to catch us! Believe it or not I gained a lot of confidence doing this.
Before they stopped them because of fights and drinking - (drinking? who would do that?!), we used to have some fun dances in the gym from freshman year through part of my junior year when they were stopped. We had great live bands - I forget the name of this one band but I remember they played songs off of Grand Funk's LP's and they were phenomenal. Hate to admit it, but I would meet up with friends at the brook and drink what we could scrounge up and then head into the dance. Fall of my junior year it was drinking Boone's Farm wine with my girlfriend actually in the gym! Guess we took too much advantage and the dances were no more but they were fun while they lasted.
Well from those days there was no where to go but up. I had been dating a girl from from Paramus (the Spartans) - in the Fall of 1971 - my sophomore year. I was working - still not driving yet though. Things actually were going well academically and I was having even more fun - dropping in on some parties, having a party or 2 myself when the folks were out. Gone were the days of my classmates in 9th grade advising me to get my act together!
I remember hitching to The Fireplace one of many Friday nights with friends after basketball or what have you (still no car!) and we got picked up by several RHS cheerleaders - I sat on Jan Potdevin's lap (or was it the other way around?) - anyway the memories of Jan and Karen Eide were always there for me from the days at Glen School! Jan would later make my night when we had our Glen School reunion in the fall of 2009 when she arrived unexpectedly at Glen School (where we had the reunion!) - hard to explain the feelings, not everyone would understand - but they're all good ya know - very sentimental.
Well fast forward to 1972-73 and what a great time! So much was going on. The drawback of dating someone from another town - drawback being from the standpoint of missing out on some cool school-related things. I was there at the bus garage when Andy Rodman dropped the paint on the cops pants and the cops came out of the woodwork - fun, innocent school stuff which helped to make it a memorable year! To win the football championship that year was icing on the cake for a pretty great group of kids - 650+ that graduated that June.
Above is our graduation program - the big day was June 20, 1973 - it was a long day, a fun day and bittersweet.
Above is the program of our graduation events - note the chapel - the chapel was the perfect image for just about everything related to RHS.
There were 128 honor students among us! Too many to name I'm afraid but wow that's a pretty good showing!
There would be 53 high honor students - including Diane Coleman, Erica d'Elia, Jean Driscoll, Susan Gould, Mary Humrich, Bill Lauerman, Tom Matte, John McCubbin, Elise Morrison, Ed Nalbantian, John Oshin, Jan Potdevin, Penni Reilly, Eve Romm, Heidi & Sheri Siegelbaum, Melanie Teasley and so many others.
Highest honors went to those who were obvious and more than deserving - they included: George Barnes, Cara Worthington, Margaret Bayer, Michael Broom, Elizabeth Daniel, Carol Larned, Jonathan Leiner, Tom Lyon, Carolyn Schott, Nancy Witherill and Jean Woodcock.
Incredibly our graduation dinner, transportation, BF Party and breakfast cost - are you ready - $19 per graduate - your guest or date was an additional $21! The only stipulation about guests were that they could not be RHS underclassmen. Among the many parents on the graduation committee were Mrs. Rickenberg, Mr. Coleman, Ruth Potdevin (God bless her.....) and Mrs. Harbison.
Above are the discount tickets the guys would have used depending which store you went to for your tuxedo.
Special donations and sponsorships came from the usual familiar Ridgewood businesses: Perdue's Sport Shop, Bobby Knapp's Ski Shop. Marcus Jeweler's, Mac Hugh's, Agel's, Jenny Banta, Ridgewood Camera, Biltmore Tuxedo, Zabriskie Chevrolet, Victors House of Music among others.
The last monthly issue of "High Times" came out that June (there were weekly newsletters too that would keep us up to date on sports and events too). Nancy Sullivan wrote a story called "Twelve Wonder Bread Years: Another Transition - What's Next?" The story speaks to all our school years and how it was coming to a close. Regarding our case-histories she writes:
Above, the very last issue for us of "High Times" - June, 1973.
"Some of us will be remembered for the Fair Lawn water tower, the Telephone Booth Urinal Scandal, the Smoking Policy....." (which by the way became liberal - by the end of September 1972 the new smoking policy was passed and we were now allowed to smoke - gone were the cat and mouse games with teachers in the boy's room - just wasn't the same as trying to get away with something!)
She goes on: "Others will be remembered for their academic achievement, student politics, Alternate Program, sports of all kinds, or class clown. To some, these activities have been the heart of their experience at RHS. To others these experiences have been hassles and insults. Whatever, with people are now focusing on plans for their summer and next year..........."
She writes about the scandals of the day Watergate, abortion and how sex had become so casual. And she writes:
"Yet we have partied, complained and worked together these last 3 years. ........SEA, DX, the choir, the football team and the Pink Haters Ltd."
I suppose some will argue whether times were good at RHS but don't forget we were all young kids - some more mature than others, some more thoughtless than others but hopefully we all grew up and hopefully we'll see a lot of familiar faces at our 40th high school reunion this year - October 18-20, 2013.
Other articles in "High Times" included one by Chris Muller on the retiring teacher Newell C. Gillan who was an RHS english teacher for 46 years! An article on Language by Penni Reilly, a Where They Will be Next Year? centerfold, 2 entertainment articles by Evie Romm, National League baseball predictions by Jan Koper and the infamous Classified section which included mostly funny ads like the following:
HIGH TIMES CLASSIFIED ADS:
"To the juniors at a lunch table period 8 - potatoes are for eating and rubber bands should not fly through the air! Grow up!"
"Hey Eileen we sure are gonna miss you and your "lightning quick" wit next year. Be sure and keep the student store warm for us when we come back! With Undying Love - Your Secret Admirers"
"Attention Miss K - This is what you've been waiting for. Too bad I can't think of anything to say for the school to read. Sorry. Love Mr. J"
"Summer jobs for retired editor and associates of High Times. Must be highly controversial and unrewarding work. High salary and retirement benefits required."
"One used, very large building that has been serving no purpose for nearly a decade. Contact Bored of Education."
"Lost: One yellow slide rule & leather case. If found, please return to Holly Bogdanffy in HR library B - desperately needed!"
GRADUATION DAY JUNE 20, 1973
Graduation - the 78th commencement of Ridgewood High seniors - would be like so many before us - white, flowing gowns and bouquets of roses for the girls and simple white tuxedoes for the guys. We would proceed past our ivy-covered walls to our seats on the football field where we would one by one receive our diplomas from our beloved principal Mr. Leach.
Above, yours truly on the night of graduation - June 20, 1973! in front of the chapel entrance. I must admit we looked great and it was almost like a college graduation.
Above, the day of graduation at RHS 1967 - looking from the porch of the front entrance to our school. The picture belongs to Marilyn Lally RHS Class of 1967.
Above, the graduation ceremony of Donna Van Dyk - year unknown. Picture belongs to Donna Van Dyk.
Above, almost the same view as above this photo - circa 2012.
After graduation, we immediately boarded the buses. The girls were asked to leave their roses with their parents. We were reminded to be sure and have our grad party tickets as - we were told: "There's no time for a trip home!"
Our party and graduation dinner was held at The Fountainhead in New Rochelle NY. We were served a roast beef dinner in the Grand Ballroom and music was supplied by Tony Sheldon until 1am! I remember it as a hec of a lot of fun - the evening went fast and I recall how I wanted it to go on! But wait there was the "BF Rock Party"! The theme was "Movin' On '73".
I took the photos below at The Fountainhead at our graduation dinner and dance - 8pm - 1am!
The photos below were taken by Betsy Lerner (forgive the reposting of these but they belong in this post) - taken at The Fountainhead which was where our graduation party was held.
The buses returned to the high school where we were allowed time to change clothes and then head over to the Ben Franklin (my junior high school) where the party began at 2am! Our parents ran the party, the decorations and food. We were entertained by the live band "Pegasus". We were told everyone needed to be there by 3am! Raffle prizes were awarded during the music breaks and included such things as: 3-speed bikes, mini bike, sewing machine, typewriters, tv's, water skis, cassette players, raft boat, bean bag chair, clock radio, guitar and ski equipment - not bad! What no 8-track players?!
Above is Ben Franklin Junior High - where our after party was - 2am-6am following our graduation dinner party - it was a blast!
There was always food and then breakfast served in the BF cafeteria. As tradition dictated, Graydon Pool was open especially for Ridgewood High Graduates at 6am the morning of June 21 for a swim and at 7am our grad party was officially over - wow - I have to admit our parents took pretty good care of us all and allowed us to celebrate the way high school graduates should.
Above is Graydon Pool as it looks today - we so enjoyed our summers there and we would conclude our graduation night with a dip at Graydon at 6am the next morning before heading to the Jersey Shore to continue the fun!
Please if you're on the fence about the reunion - you have to come - its unlike other reunions - it truly will be fun and you will be amazed how fast it will go and how much you'll want it to continue!
