From the 1975 Archives

Here's a real find! Stacey Marden found her copy of the program from the Thanksgiving Day football game between Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe high schools in 1975. If you recall, that season, during our senior year, the Crimson Eagles defeated the rival Flying Tigers twice on the gridiron, marking the only time either school accomplished the feat.

The program is a classic, including the rosters of both teams, team photos, and a color photo of the Andrew Warde cheerleaders, too. Many of the sponsors listed in the program are no longer in business.

Were you at the game? The Eagles won the contest, which was played at Ludlowe, 28-6. Warde defeated Ludlowe earlier in the 1975 season, too, 27-6.

The program also features a list of the Parent's Club members from Roger Ludlowe High School, which includes Mr. and Mrs. Fern Tetreau. A cover letter welcomes supporters of our Fairfield teams from School Superintendent Joseph Zapytowski. Do you remember him?

Clampett's Sports Center, 1530 Post Road, purchased a full-page ad with the slogan, "It is better to build boys than to mend men." Other advertisers included Loh Ford of Bridgeport, Citizen's National Bank of Fairfield, Parrott Real Estate Associates, Connecticut National Bank, Varsity Sports, Arthur's of Southport, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Greenfield Pharmacy, and the Chase Driving School.

This year, the Fairfield Warde field was dedicated in the names of Fern Tetreau, the school's first coach, and the late Bill Davis, who skippered the Eagles' gridders in the fall of 1975. Warde won the game, 21-12, last Thursday.


Thanks, Stacey. This sure brings back a lot of memories.

Paul

Tribute to Fern Tetreau

I wrote and delivered the following tribute to Fern Tetreau at halftime of the game against Ludlowe. The Warde field was named in honor of Tetreau, Andrew Warde High School's first football coach, Thanksgiving morning.

When Andrew Warde High School opened in 1956, the Crimson Eagles needed a football coach. They didn't have to look very far, however. Fern Tetreau was the head coach at Roger Ludlowe High School, on the other side of town, and he accepted the challenge to start a brand new program.

Although the first two years delivered growing pains and only two victories, Tetreau was building a solid program at the Melville Avenue high school. As hard as it may seem to believe, just three years after Andrew Warde High School opened, the Crimson Eagles won a state football championship! The 1959 team went undefeated in nine games, and even produced a future National Football League star.

One year later, Tetreau's gridders went 8-1. Their two-year cumulative record was 17-1. And this for a program which was just starting.

Fern Tetreau is seated in the dark raincoat and hood holding his plaque and proclamation at the field dedication ceremonies at Warde High School Thanksgiving morning.

Bob Anderson, a former housemaster at Warde who passed away a few years ago, played at Ludlowe and then at Warde. He wrote about Tetreau's 1959 team.

"Many Fairfield citizens recall the success of that team, with its tricky single wing T formation, using an unbalanced line, and a side-saddle blocking quarterback. The tailback had to be able to do everything. That threw off the defense through Fern's effective use of the draw, screen, and third down-11 quick kick." Six of the nine games that year Warde held the opponent scoreless.

Fern's move to Warde created quite a rivalry in his own family. His son, Mike, was the quarterback at Roger Ludlowe. Playing football was a family tradition. Fern once said, "We both wanted to win the big game, but we were pulling for each other, too."

Fern was the innovator on the gridiron. His love for the game has never waned. To him, football represents the belief that when you work together as a team, and stay focused, any dream is within reach. To Fern, football was learning about life --- dealing with victory and defeat, getting knocked down, and getting up again.

At Ludlowe, his 1954 team was ranked number three in the state. On his state championship team of 1959, 15 players went on to play college football, and Dave Graham played tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles. Tetreau always preferred the unexpected on the football field. He liked to run the Statue of Liberty play, where the quarterback fades back to pass, and the running back grabs the ball. He ran draw plays and screen passes. And, he taught his players to think on the field.

Tetreau is a native of Maine, speaks fluent French, and when he left Warde in 1970, he became an administrator at Fairfield Woods Junior High School. For two years, he took in a Cuban refugee foster child who spent time in an orphanage. Today, Roberto "Chico" Rodriguez is a business executive.

Bob Anderson also wrote the following about Fern Tetreau: "Every now and then when players call me 'coach,' I am touched that they might use that term with me, because it conveys my relationship with them, beyond what I taught or failed to teach them about football. Far more, it conveys what my coach and mentor taught me about life, ethics, the treatment of others, and the value of human relationships. Thanks, Fern, from the many of us who continue to call you 'Coach.'"

Without further ado, "Coach" Fern Tetreau, a state champion, and the very first football coach at Andrew Warde High School. Warde athletic director Chris Manfredonia will present a plaque to the man known as "Coach."

Photos courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com.

Paul

Warde Wins Thanksgiving Game, 21-12

The following story appeared in The Connecticut Post on Friday morning, November 23, 2006. Here is the Thanksgiving Day game summary of the Warde victory over Ludlowe at Tetreau-Davis Field, 21-12.

With the wind whipping and a cold rain falling, the walk from Tetreau-Davis Field back to the Fairfield Warde locker room could have been a pretty miserable one for the Mustang players.

But with the Gallagher-Banyas trophy safely secured in their mitts following a 21-12 win over cross-town rival Fairfield Ludlowe on Thursday morning, seniors Michael Primsky and Jamie Kristy nearly skipped the 200-or-so yards to the warmth of indoors.

"Our seniors have persevered through a lot," Warde coach Tony Catapano said. "It's good for them to get rewarded."

It was another senior — tailback Silus Shelly — that enabled the Mustangs to even the newly revived Fairfield rivalry at one game apiece.

Shelly ran for 71 yards on 14 carries, scoring three times to lift Warde to a second-half comeback in front of roughly 250 water-logged fans.

"Oh man, I'm almost in tears," said Shelly, who earned MVP honors for Warde. "I just go out there trying to help my team however I can." Warde also forced five turnovers and held Ludlowe to minus-14 yards in the second half.

Using a bruising, three-back offense, Warde (2-8) jumped out to an early 8-0 in the first quarter with Shelly scampering in from 13 yards out on the Mustangs' first drive.

Later Warde picked up a safety when Ludlowe senior quarterback Matt Deliberti was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone.

But after the miscue Deliberti — teamed with his younger brother, Mike — led the Falcons (1-9) to a 12-8 halftime lead. Ludlowe got on the board midway through the second quarter on a drive aided by a pair of 15-yard penalties. Matt Deliberti hooked up with his brother Mike from 18 yards out to make it 8-6.

Matt Deliberti then put his team ahead with a 1-yard plunge on a 10-play drive, highlighted by a 28-yard pass to Mike Deliberti on a ball that was tipped by a pair of Warde defenders.

However the second half was a different story for Ludlowe, which couldn't get anything going as the Falcons had trouble holding onto the ball throughout the half.

A muffed snap by Ludlowe on a punt from midfield, recoverd by Kristy, set up the eventual winning score midway through the third. Taking over at the Ludlowe 33, Warde quarterback Ralph Fidaleo hit Primsky for 19 yards to convert a third down, which set up Shelly's second score of the game.

From there the teams traded punts with Shelly going in from four yards shortly into the fourth quarter to end the scoring. Ludlowe turned it over three times in the fourth, including Genero Montefuscoli's recovery of a fumbled snap, and an interception by Kristy that ended the game.

"Once I saw it pop out I got on top of it, like a pig rolling in the dirt," Montefuscoli said. Matt Tierno added an interception for Ludlowe late in the fourth.

"Our mistakes killed us," said Matt Deliberti, who finished 7 for 17 for 85 yards passing and 52 rushing, earning Ludlowe MVP honors. "Obviously it's not the way you want to go out."

Photos courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com.

Tribute to Bill Davis

I wrote and delivered the following tribute to the late Bill Davis at halftime of the game against Ludlowe. The Warde field was named in honor of Davis and Fern Tetreau, Andrew Warde High School's first two football coaches, Thanksgiving morning.

Tom Davis, brother of the late Bill Davis, accepts a plaque and proclamation during the field dedication ceremonies.

For nearly two decades, Bill Davis represented Andrew Warde High School as a student, teacher, assistant coach, and coach. Although he was born in Milford, he grew up in Fairfield, where he played Little League, Babe Ruth, and American Legion baseball.

At Andrew Warde, he played varsity baseball, basketball, and football. He was the captain of Bob Jackson's varsity baseball team in 1965. He played football under Fern Tetreau from 1963 to 1965, and he was captain of the gridiron squad his senior year.

After graduation, he played football at Springfield College. He returned to Warde in the Fall of 1969 when he served as an assistant to Tetreau on the football coaching staff. One year later, Davis became only the second head football coach at Andrew Warde, where he led the Crimson Eagles for a decade.

Bill Davis legacy became well-established over those ten years. Harry Caston played for him in the early 70s, and he said Davis' influence and impact helped him along the way.

Coston said, "To me, it's the lessons that we learn along the way that give our life direction, meaning, and value, that we remember. It was Coach Davis and the things that he did which have provided me with many of the core values and lessons that I treasure. I gratefully acknowledge that I would not have the life that I have enjoyed if not for his belief in me and the chances that he gave me."

Younger brother Tom Davis, who was instrumental in getting the field named after his brother and Fern Tetreau, was influenced by Bill. In fact, Tom played for Bill for three years. And the Davis brothers --- Bill, Tom, Jon, and Bob --- all played for Fern. The Davis and Tetreau families remain close. Fern served as Bill's "best man" at his wedding.

One of Bill's most memorable years was 1975, when his Crimson Eagles defeated Roger Ludlowe twice on the gridiron in the same year, marking the only time that feat has ever been accomplished in Fairfield.

Bill Davis' resume is impressive. He gave much of his life to Andrew Warde High School. He was the Eagles' boys and girls track and field coach, wrestling coach, where he started the program, and lacrosse coach.

In addition to his legacy at Warde, Bill was assistant principal at Tomlinson Middle School, Assistant to the Superintendent for the Fairfield Public Schools, administrator for curriculum in Wilton, Superintendent of Schools in Narragansett, Rhode Island, and Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer for four other schoool districts. And, believe me, I can go on and on.

Sadly, Bill Davis passed away in June of this year. His memory, though, will live on at Warde. In fact, his niece, Allie, plays soccer here, and she'll be playing on her uncle's field.

Warde athletic director Chris Manfredonia would like to present Bill's brother, Tom, with a plaque. Let's have a warm, hearty Fairfield Warde welcome for Tom Davis and the Davis family.

Paul

Random Thoughts

I applaud the players, coaching staffs, officials, parents, and fans for battling the elements during the football game at Warde Thanksgiving morning. The conditions were simply awful. A driving rain fell throughout just about all of the game, and the winds were howling as well.

The halftime dedication ceremony was a nice touch. Unfortunately, although I was able to read the biographies of Fern Tetreau and Bill Davis without much incident, the rain and wind made it almost impossible to turn the pages. In fact, the pages began sticking together and falling apart. I wasn't able to read the best part of the tribute to Fern. That's been bothering me all day and night. Trying to hold the microphone, umbrella, and script in pouring rain and wind is not easy.

Thankfully, the ceremony ended just before the start of the second half. If anything, perhaps it's a good thing my tribute didn't go on much longer. We were soaked in the middle of the field. The highlight of the day --- the unveling of the sign over the scoreboard while the school fight song was being played --- was emotional and gratifying.

Following the halftime field dedication, Tom Davis, brother of the late Coach Bill, joined me, and we spent the second half reminiscing.

From our perch atop the grandstands, the view of the high school, baseball field, softball field, and gym looks exactly like it did over 40 years ago. We chatted about the team's original uniforms, which sported two stripes across each of the shoulders. Tom told me he wore those uniforms as a freshman, and the team changed jerseys for his sophomore season.

The entire Davis family was on hand for the field dedication. His Mom was seated not far from Fern Tetreau, Andrew Warde's original coach. Tetreau is now 85 years young, and the photo of him with his players which appeared in this week's Fairfield Citizen-News is classic. Fern will always be known as "Coach" at Warde and throughout Fairfield.

Tom told me the family is gathering for Thanksgiving dinner at his brother's home in Easton. He and his family are grateful for the support from the Fairfield Warde High School athletic department and the Board of Education.

Both of us clapped whenever Warde made a good play on the field. He was thrilled that the hosts won the game on the day the school forever remembered his brother.

Thanks, Tom, for being such a kind and decent human being. Your brother, Bill, is smiling today. The Davis family has much to be thankful for on this special day.

Watch the News 12 Connecticut feature story on the Thanksgiving Day festivities at Warde High School by clicking here.

Paul

Larsen & Knuth Cop Most Memorable Sports Honors

Andy Larsen and Tom Knuth won the Connecticut Class LL tennis doubles championship during our senior year at Andrew Warde High School. That accomplishment was voted the most memorable athletic achievement during the 1975-76 school year in our latest online poll.

Larsen and Knuth garnered 45% of the votes, well ahead of three other sports achievements. The baseball team's dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Ludlowe, the girls' basketball team's FCIAC championship, and Floyd Scholz new high jump record each received 18% of the votes.

The poll was taken over a two-week period. Congratulations to Tom and Andy for an outstanding accomplishment.

Paul

Blog Prediction: Warde 24, Ludlowe 14

Fairfield Warde is the only team not to have a player on the All-FCIAC football first team. The Mustangs' only victory this season came against winless Bassick. Warde lost last year's renewal of the rivalry against the Falcons at Fairfield Ludlowe, 20-14.

It would seem that the odds are stacked against our high school football team when it plays Ludlowe Thanksgiving morning at 10:30. However, I'm fairly certain Warde will emerge from the contest victorious.

There will be too much emotion on the Warde sideline Thursday morning. The school is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the field will be dedicated and renamed in honor of its first two coaches. Many former players are returning to Warde for the festivities. And, I think Warde has the better football team.

My prediction: The Mustangs will beat Ludlowe, 24-14, in the first meeting between the two schools at Warde in nearly a quarter century.

Tony Procaccini, Class of 1976 reunion chairman: Warde 21, Ludlowe 6. "Keep them (Ludlowe) under double-digits, I say."

Mark Waxman, Class of 1976 (from Ohio): "I think the Ohio State vs. Michigan game was tempered a bit by the Browns vs. Pittsburgh game, and it's hard for me to pick a favorite between Ohio and Michigan when I'm from out of state, and I have relatives in Michigan who are big Michigan fans. It's kind of like the Falklands war back in the 80s. Having relatives in England and Argentina who would I hope would win?

"As far as Warde vs. Ludlowe....Warde all the way!"

Who do you think will win, and what will be the final score? Please email me at pppiorek@news12.com, and I'll publish your prediction.

Fairfield Warde Mustang and Fairfield Ludlowe Falcon football photos from this season are courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com.

Paul

... and now, the Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons!

The school is no longer known as Roger Ludlowe. The nickname is no longer the Flying Tigers. But the rivalry and emotions are sure to be charged when the "other" public high school in Fairfield travels to Melville Avenue to play Warde on Thanksgiving Day.

Memories are sure to be stirred for the alumni of both schools when they gather to renew acquaintances before the 10:30 kickoff. A number of tailgate get-togethers have been planned, and former football players from Andrew Warde, Fairfield, and Roger Ludlowe high schools have been invited to a pre-game breakfast in the cafeteria beginning at 9 o'clock.

There are several reasons why this game has drawn so much attention. First, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Andrew Warde High School. Many former gridders from Warde will be on hand for the contest.

In addition, this is the first meeting between Warde and Ludlowe at our high school in nearly a quarter of a century. The last time these two schools played at Melville Avenue, it marked the final varsity football game ever for the Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles.

Finally, the field will be dedicated and renamed in honor of two legendary football coaches at Andrew Warde High School, Fern Tetreau and Bill Davis. Tetreau's Crimson Eagles won the state championship in 1959 by posting an undefeated 9-0 record, just three years after the school opened. The next year, his charges went 8-1 for a 17-1 cumulative record over two years. Davis succeeded Tetreau and coached from 1970 to 1979, with one of his most notable achievements being the two-game sweep over Ludlowe during our senior year.

As far as the Falcons are concered, this has been an especially tough year on the gridiron. Ludlowe enters the game with a 1-8 record with its only victory coming against winless Bassick. The visitors are sure to be somewhat intimidated by the pomp and circumstance surrounding the events at Warde. Even though Ludlowe won the first renewal of the rivalry last year on its home turf, 20-14, they're sure to be underdogs this time around.

Now that the game is only two days away, let's take a look at the rivalry between the two schools during our senior year at Andrew Warde High School:

Football: Coach Bill Davis' Crimson Eagles defeated Ludlowe twice on the gridiron. Warde won the regular season meeting, 27-13, and the Thanksgiving Day affair, 28-6.

Soccer: Although Warde tied Ludlowe twice by identical 1-1 scores, the Tigers won the coveted Swedish Cup over Constantine "Dino" Vanghele's squad by virtue of their better overall record.

Baseball: The Crimson Eagles, coached by Bob Jackson, posted a dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind victory at Ludlowe by scoring all their runs in the final inning.

Volleyball: Coach Ed Bengermino's FCIAC runner-up Eagles beat Ludlowe two games to one.

Field Hockey: Coach Pat Jennings squad lost a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to the Lady Tigers.

Basketball: Bengermino's cagers dropped a one-sided affair to the Tigers, 80-47.

Ice Hockey: The skaters tied Ludlowe, but the highlight of the season was defeating Wilbur Cross at the New Haven Coliseum.

Wrestling: Although Coach Frank Bent's grapplers finished with a winless record in 13 matches, they lost a narrow decision to Ludlowe, 32-24.

Boys' Track: The team defeated Ludlowe, 84-61, and placed seventh out of 16 teams at the FCIAC championships.

Editor's Note: The information provided on this Web site is courtesy of the Flame yearbook. Unfortunately, some sports summaries didn't include complete information, so I wasn't able to list a few of the sports results.

Fairfield Warde Mustang and Fairfield Ludlowe Falcon football photos from this season are courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com.

Paul

Thanksgiving Game Primer

Are you ready for some football? I hope so. It looks like we'll have a decent turnout for the first Thanksgiving Day football game between Warde and Ludlowe at Melville Avenue since 1984. However, a couple of things have changed since then.

First of all, the Crimson Eagles haven't existed since Andrew Warde became Fairfield High School in 1986. That's when the school adopted the nickname "Mustangs." When Ludlowe reopened a few years ago, Fairfield High School was renamed Fairfield Warde and kept the Mustangs logo and nickname.

Fairfield Ludlowe, which is located in what used to be Roger Ludlowe High School on Unquowa Road, is now known as the home of the Falcons.

I know it will be tempting to cheer for the Crimson Eagles, or to even chant "Eagles Eat Tiger Meat." But that doesn't mean anything anymore.

The football field now has synthetic turf and all new aluminum bleachers. It was completely remodeled a few years ago, and it looks better than ever. I think you'll be impressed with the field. Parent and student volunteers even operate a souvenir shop completely stocked with Mustangs gear. The refreshment stand is located nearby, too.

Both the Mustangs and Falcons are at the bottom of the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference standings. The teams still play in the FCIAC, but since the split, they've had a tough time competing against the high-calibre competition from the likes of Greenwich, which won the league title Friday night, New Canaan, and Bridgeport Central.

The Mustangs and Falcons are both 1-8 and tied with Harding for next-to-last in the conference. Both teams defeated the Bassick Tigers (0-9) this year. Bassick hasn't won a game in over five years.

The Falcons won the first renewal of the Thanksgiving Day rivalry last year, 20-14. The hosts from Unquowa Road jumped out to a quick 20-0 lead at the half, but Warde stormed back with a pair of touchdowns in the second-half to make it a close game. As an eyewitness to the game, it appeared as though 90 percent of the crowd was rooting for Ludlowe. We'll have to change that this year.

Game time is slated for 10:30, and the halftime festivities will be memorable. I'll have an update on our tailgate plans and the history of the Warde/Ludlowe football rivalry tomorrow.

Please visit the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 gift shop. Click on the shirt in the right-hand margin. Help support the reunion blog.

Please sign the Guest Book if you enjoy reading the reunion blog. I'd like to know if you enjoy this Web site. As always, your contributions, photos, and articles are always welcome. Thank you.

Take part in our latest poll. We welcome your vote as to what you think was the most memorable athletic achievement at Andrew Warde High School during our senior year. The survey is in the right-hand margin.

Fairfield Warde Mustang football photos from this season are courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com. The above photos are from Warde's home victory against Bassick High School.

Paul

Sophomore Music Memories

Thirty-three years ago this week, we were well into our sophomore year at Andrew Warde High School. Here are the top ten songs in the nation for the week of November 17, 1973:

1. Heartbeat - It's a Love Beat by The DeFranco Family
2. Top of the World by The Carpenters
3. Photograph - by Ringo Starr
4. Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight & the Pips
5. Space Race by Billy Preston
6. Paper Roses by Marie Osmond
7. The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
8. Keep on Truckin' by Eddie Kendricks
9. Angie by The Rolling Stones
10. Just You 'n' Me by Chicago

Do any of these songs bring back memories? The DeFranco Family? Marie Osmond? What are the chances those songs would have made the top ten today?

Have a good weekend.

Paul

Recollections of Mr. Genualdi

The following was written by 30th reunion committee president Tony Procaccini in response to the entry on former Andrew Warde High School headmaster Robert Genualdi.

When we started our senior year, back in the fall of 1975, I told my father that a person named Robert Genualdi was our new school headmaster. Well, lo and behold, my dad told me that Genualdi was a long-time client of his.

My father, Joseph Procaccini, who still lives in Fairfield with my mother, was Genualdi's piano tuner. He clued me in on his prowess as a string bassist and Genualdi's son's career as a concert violinist. (Ironically, I played string bass in Band my first two years at Warde,
so we had that idiosynchrasy in common.)

While making the end-of-day announcements for the PAC our senior year ("Tony Pro with the afternoon announcements..."), I had frequent contact with Genualdi and all the others in the Main Office, so he got to know me pretty well at that time.

Now, we fast-forward 5 years into the future... In the 1980-81 season, Mr. Genualdi began his first year with the Bridgeport Youth Orchestra, and I was his manager for that year. It was a good experience working for him, and the high school connection plus the orchestra stint (only one year for me) cemented a friendship that has lasted to this day. Mr. Genualdi would eventually stay with the organization for 25 years, and built a one-orchestra program into a
program of four, from entry level to advanced. To my advantage, he was also one of several music professionals who gave me referrals for music teaching positions upon my graduation from the University of Bridgeport.

When I contacted him this year to ask for his attendance at our thirty year reunion, he remembered me instantly, was glad to hear from me after a significant interval without contact and accepted our offer immediately. I think we're lucky that he and other teachers were
willing to attend and they enjoyed seeing us and re-connecting with so many former students.

Robert Genualdi a True Renaissance Man

Robert Genualdi, who became headmaster at Andrew Warde High School during our senior year and served in the same capacity at Fairfield High School, recently retired as music director of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras in Bridgeport. He was also the conductor of their principal orchestra. He is a musician, educator, arranger, and composer.

As a student, he trained at the University of Miami and Northwestern University, where he received a Bachelor of Music Education degree and Master of Music Performance on String Bass. He received a Sixth Year Diploma in Education Administration from the University of Bridgeport. Later he played under the batons of Thor Johnson, Arthur Fiedler, Jonel Perlea and John Nelson.

Mr. Genualdi has been a member of the GBYO, the Greenwich Symphony, and several chamber music ensembles. He previously taught music in public schools in Illinois and Connecticut as well as at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Bridgeport. He has served as an adjudicator in musical competitions in a number of states and has conducted at numerous musical festivals.

Mr. Genualdi has composed several chamber music compositions and two works for full orchestra. Two of his original compositions are included in the Carl Fischer Inc. publication, "Melody Book for Strings." He is co-arranger of this collection as well as the "Masterworks Melody Book for Strings" also published by Carl Fischer Inc. He began his professional music studies at the University of Miami.

According to the 1976 Flame yearbook, "Mr. Genualdi, the new headmaster here at Warde, is a truly sincere, honest, and open human being who has a real concern for others. He is very much impressed by the friendliness of those at Warde, staff as well as students.

"Ben Franklin is the object of his admiration because, Mr. Genualdi feels, he was as close as we can come to the Renaissance man. His interests include boating and fishing as well as music. Mr. Genualdi also plays the string bass. He feels that 'In order to gain from life, one must take prudent risks.'"

It was a pleasure to speak with him at our 30th reunion. He is to be admired for his lifelong commitment to education and the arts. Good luck in your retirement, Mr. Genualdi.

Paul

The Fairfield & Hungary Connection

The following was written by Tony Procaccini, president of the AWHS 30th reunion committee.

With the recent anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the eyes of the world were focused again on this monumental event, which had repercussions decades later, and left a scar on Hungarians who escaped the country as well as those who remained. The state of Connecticut has a strong connection with the country, especially in Fairfield County.

Hungarians comprised one of the USA’s major immigrant groups in the early and middle parts of the twentieth century. In 1894, a Hungarian Reformed Church was founded in Bridgeport, and in the 1930s the Park City had the second largest Hungarian community in the country.

Unfortunately, all remnants of a once-thriving neighborhood, bordered by Worden Avenue, Pine Street and Cherry Street, no longer exist. Hungarian dance halls, churches of various denominations and native language newspapers were some of the characteristics of the area. Redevelopment in the 1950s and 1960s put the proverbial final nail in the coffin, but the Hungarians’ displacement became a positive event for Fairfield.

Saint Emery’s Church on Kings Highway became the new Saint Stephen’s Church, at least for the local Hungarian population. (Ironically, Saint Emery was the son of Saint Stephen.) Streets in the area near Saint Emery’s took on Hungarian names: Andrassy, Hunyadi and others stare at us as we wind along Jennings Road.

Jozsef Cardinal Mindszenty, a staunch anti-Communist who took refuge (starting in 1956) for 15 years in a Budapest embassy, visited the tri-state area twice. His first visit, in 1974, is remembered by a plaque outside the Fairfield church, and a street adjacent to the church is named Mindszenty Square. He also visited Saint Ladislaus Church in Norwalk and Saint Stephen of Hungary Church in Manhattan.

Many Warde 1976 classmates are of Hungarian ancestry. Frank Fekete’s parents are Hungarian-born, and he now lives in Budapest with his Hungarian wife and their child. On our class roster we find the following Magyar surnames: Bakonyi, Bodak, Dudas, Dudics, Foyto, Gadacy, Hajna, Keltos, Kentos, Kiraly (2), Lakatos, Nagy (2), Oros, Pekar, Szabo, Takacs (2), and Toth. There may be others, too, but name spellings may have occurred, obscuring the original names. Toth, Nagy, Kiraly and Szabo are among the most common Hungarian surnames.

Driving along Black Rock Turnpike, one passes Katona Drive, which was named for former Fairfield Town Clerk and native Hungarian, Maria Katona. This is just another example of the strong connection between Fairfield and Hungary.

Classmate Tony Procaccini was organist at two Hungarian Catholic churches, Saint Ladislaus in Norwalk, CT (1978-1982), and Saint Stephen in Manhattan (1998-2002). He has interviewed many prominent Hungarians, including soprano Eva Marton, and written numerous articles on Hungarian culture and music for “Magyar News.” His January 1997 sojourn to Hungary (one of three) included time spent with classmate and former fellow baseball player Frank Fekete.

Go, Eagles, Go!

Remember the good old days, when we'd gather at Andrew Warde High School every Saturday afternoon to cheer the football team when the Crimson Eagles played rival schools from the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference?

Well, one of our classmates has the photos to go along with those wonderful memories.

"I hope I won't be sorry for doing this, but here are some photos my brother-in-law took that fateful football game," wrote Stacey Marden in a letter sent to reunion committee chairman Tony Procaccini. The photos show several classmates "back in the day" during a Crimson Eagles' football game at Warde.

The first photo above shows Stacey leading the cheers while Jerry Vigorito, in the Warde sweater, plays backup.

Janet Criscione and Matt Bell, in the second photo, played the role of mascots, apparently wearing protective rain gear. "Maybe they were disguised," pointed out Procaccini.

"I remember that game with such fond memories like it was yesterday," admitted Janet, who is married to Ed Szymansky. They constitute one of twelve married couples from among AWHS classmates. "My kids always look at me with weird looks on their faces when I recall how I dressed up as the Warde mascot at a few of the football games. Wasn't it yesterday that we were their age?"

"We look so young!" emphasized Stacey. Yeah, it's hard to believe that we were still teenagers over 30 years ago. We were young.

Special thanks to reunion committee chairman Tony Procaccini for staying in touch with our classmates before and after the reunion. Through his efforts, we were able to get the photos posted to the blog and the class reunion Web site.

Alumni are encouraged to send in their photos and stories to be published on the blog. Please email me at pppiorek@news12.com if you have anything you'd like to contribute and share with our fellow classmates.

Please visit the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 gift shop. Click on the shirt in the right-hand margin. Help support the reunion blog.

Please sign the Guest Book if you enjoy reading the reunion blog. I'd like to know if you enjoy this Web site. As always, your contributions, photos, and articles are always welcome. Thank you.

Take part in our latest poll. We welcome your vote as to what you think was the most memorable athletic achievement at Andrew Warde High School during our senior year. The survey is in the right-hand margin.

Paul

A Request for The Crimson Crier

One of the most sought-after "relics" from our days at Andrew Warde High School are copies of The Crimson Crier. Just about everybody with whom I spoke laments the fact that there aren't any copies to be found. If you have any issues of our school newspaper, please let me know. I'd like to scan them and include them on the reunion blog.

Much like the yearbook staff, the students who wrote, typed, and printed the newpaper used equipment which is archaic by today's standards. We're so accustomed to modern technology and the ease of using word processors and computers that it's hard to imagine what it must have been like for our classmates over 30 years ago. Royal typewriters, white-out, erasers, carbon paper, and the printing press were staples of newspaper publishers back then.

Today's staff of The Focus on the Web, Fairfield Warde's school newspaper, has it much easier. The students can use the computer, email, and even publish their newspaper on the Web. Imagine, not even using the printing press and reading the school news on the computer screen! That was unheard of 30-plus years ago. Prior issues of the FWHS newspaper can be found online at http://www.fwhsfocus.com/.

According to the 1976 Flame school yearbook, The Crimson Crier, Andrew Warde High School's newspaper, informs the student body of current news and events throughout the school and community. Each month, the paper comes "fresh off the press" containing news reports, features, sporting events, and other added attractions. The Crier enables students to develop leadership, responsibilities, and help them become more self-sufficient. All of these qualities are justly needed to ensure a successful paper.

Wouldn't it be great if copies of The Crimson Crier were still available online? If you happen to come across any copies of our school newspaper from our days at Andrew Warde High School, please email me at pppiorek@news12.com. I'll enlist our graphics department to scan and edit the newspapers. They'd be accessible on the blog instantly.

Ah, the wonders of modern technology.

Please visit the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 gift shop. Click on the shirt in the right-hand margin. Help support the reunion blog.

Please sign the Guest Book if you enjoy reading the reunion blog. I'd like to know if you enjoy this Web site. As always, your contributions, photos, and articles are always welcome. Thank you.

Paul

From the Reunion Mailbag

The following letter was received by reunion chairman Tony Procaccini from fellow classmate Stacey Marden, who now lives in Wilmington, Delaware:

Hi, Tony!

Before we reach our next reunion milestone, I want to write and thank you for hosting such a great event. It was wonderful to see you and all our classmates. Probably the best part was how friendly everyone was; it seems as if the clique partitions that marked us in high school are
now a distant memory. Phew!

The Sunday after the big "R", I ended up spending the whole day with Bob Smith (Class of 1975). It was great to see him but I'm sorry we didn't make the picnic. Here's a picture of Robin Goodall and me. I think the photographer thought we were a couple. He kept telling us to get closer until our faces were smashed together. I just read that I need to send the proof back to be included in the reunion book. Oops!

Anyway, thanks again. It's been great chatting with you through e-mails and reconnecting with other friends. Can't wait for the next one.

Stacey

P.S. I was trying to think of a token of my appreciation for you, and one thing you probably don't have is the CD I included, from some local Philly musicians. So local, in fact, that my boss, Alan Kirschner, is one of the musicians.

Note: Tony and Stacey were in Band together, thus the music CD is most appropriate. The cover of her card has a scanned photo from a Warde football game, with Jerry Vigorito, Stacey, Matt Bell and Janet Criscione cheering on the team, as cheerleaders or mascots. We'll try to get it on the Warde 1976 Website.

Fellow Alum Lauded for Charity Work

John Prevelige (Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976) and his wife, Maria, raised over $1,200 for an orphanage in Illinois. The raffle they conducted put quite a scare into the winner, but it was all for a good cause.

Their story appeared in The Connecticut Post last week and this morning.

The full text of the story can be found at connpost.com.

I applaud John and Maria. I think you'll enjoy the story.

Please visit the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 gift shop. Click on the shirt in the right-hand margin. Help support the reunion blog.

Please sign the Guest Book if you enjoy reading the reunion blog. I'd like to know if you enjoy this Web site. As always, your contributions, photos, and articles are always welcome. Thank you.

Paul

The Blog as a Resource

I received the following letter from Holly Pullano at The Fairfield Citizen-News:

I am a reporter with The Fairfield Citizen-News and am currently putting together a story on the upcoming field dedication at FWHS. In browsing the Internet I came across your blog and read with great interest your posts regarding Coach Tetreau and Coach Davis.

I hope you don't mind that I mention the blog in my article. If you would like to speak further on this or if you have any helpful information to relay, please feel free to contact me at any time. Thank you.

I appreciate your taking the time to create this blog -- it will be very helpful as I am putting together this story.

Best regards,
Holly M. Pullano
Staff Reporter
The Fairfield Citizen~News

A Look Back --- Girls' Cagers Cop FCIAC Crown

They were known as the "comeback kids." And they completed an impossible dream. The 1975-76 version of the Andrew Warde High School girls' basketball team will always be remembered for its shocking come-from-behind victory over Stamford to claim the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship. But, they'll probably be remembered more for their heart and spirit.

With a new head coach, Miss Mary Beth McGirr, the girls got off to a slow start early in the season, but they staged a remarkable comeback to end up winning the league title.

One of the reasons for the team's mid-season surge was the play of sophomore sensation Kathy Anderson. Anderson's phenomenal improvement from the beginning of the season paralleled the improved play of the team as a whole. By the end of the campaign, Anderson was habitually leading the team in points and rebounds every game. She earned All-FCIAC first-team honors, and she was named the MVP of the league tournament.

But, Anderson wasn't the only reason the team won the coveted FCIAC championship, which it did by defeating Stamford, 48-44, in dramatic come-from-behind fashion, and by trouncing powerhouse Westhill by a 62-49 margin. The many other players who contributed much to the team's achievements included seniors Diane Dionis, Debbie Mendell, who earned All-FCIAC second-team recognition, Gayle Johnson, and Marti Causey. The juniors included Kris Ness and Betsy Niesyn.

With their 16-5 regular-season record, the team also qualified for the state tournament. They easily defeated Bunnell of Stratford, 74-46, but bowed to R. C. Lee of New Haven, 63-39.

The FCIAC championship was the highlight of the season. For that reason, the 1975-76 Andrew Warde High School girls' basketball team earned my vote for the most memorable athletic achievement during our senior year at Andrew Warde High School.

I welcome your vote in our latest poll in the right-hand margin. There are seven items from which to choose, including the girls' basketball team's FCIAC championship, the volleyball team's state finalist squad, the football team's two victories over Roger Ludlowe High School, and the baseball team's dramatic come-from-behind triumph over Ludlowe. There are several individual achievements as well.

Please visit the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 gift shop. Click on the shirt in the right-hand margin. Help support the reunion blog.

Please sign the Guest Book if you enjoy reading the reunion blog. I'd like to know if you enjoy this Web site. As always, your contributions, photos, and articles are always welcome. Thank you.

Paul

New Poll to Decide Most Memorable Athletic Achievement

A new poll was added this morning. I've asked you to decide what was the most memorable athletic accomplishment at Andrew Warde High School during our senior year.

There are several impressive achievements from which to choose, including the girls' basketball squad's FCIAC championship, the volleyball team's state final appearance, and the football team's two victories over arch-rival Roger Ludlowe High School.

Please take a moment to consider your choice. The poll will remain active for two weeks.

Paul

50th Anniversary Approaches

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Andrew Warde High School. A celebration has been planned for Thanksgiving Day to commemorate the golden anniversary. Several events will take place during the football game against arch-rival Ludlowe High School.

Members of the first football team from Andrew Warde High School in 1956 will be introduced on the field, as well as legendary coach Fern Tetreau. Two statues will be unveiled by the flagpole to honor Tetreau and the late Bill Davis, his successor from 1970 to 1979. The field will be renamed in honor of both distinguished coaches. And, there will be special festivities and ceremonies to observe the 50th anniversary of Andrew Warde High School.

I welcome any stories, photographs, anecdotes, or comments from you as we approach the big day. Our 30th high school reunion took place this year, and it was a tremendous success. I've tried to build on the momentum of that August night and the upcoming 50th anniversary of our high school by having weekly polls, bi-weekly Warde trivia contests, opening an AWHS reunion gift shop, and hosting a message board. It's been a labor of love. However, I can't do it without your help. Please help me keep the blog going by offering articles, photos, and messages.

I am honored to be the Master of Ceremonies for this year's gala celebration. Thanks for your support and kind words as the blog celebrates our 30th reunion and 50th birthday for our fine high school.

Paul

A Tribute to the "Coach" and the '59 State Champions

The following was written by Bob Anderson, a former housemaster at Fairfield High School, in 1998 as a tribute to Fern Tetreau, who guided the Andrew Warde High School Crimson Eagles football team to a 9-0 record and state championship in 1959 and an 8-1 record in 1960. Tetreau coached at Warde from 1956 to 1969.

Tetreau and the late Bill Davis, his successor at Andrew Warde from 1970 to 1979, will be honored by Warde High School during the Thanksgiving Day football game by having the field named in their honor. Two statues will be unveiled by the flagpole. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Andrew Warde High School.

Bob Anderson, the author of this tribute, passed away a few years ago.

I played for Fern both at Ludlowe and Warde in the mid to late fifties. We had .500+ teams at Ludlowe under Fern; however, right after the enrollment split into two high schools, the new school, Warde, also under Fern, won only two games in its first two years. Yet, it took only two years more for Fern to build the undefeated state power house Warde team of 1959.

Many Fairfield citizens recall the success of that team, with its "tricky" single-wing T-formation, using an unbalanced line, and a side-saddle blocking quarterback. The tailback in this formation had to be able to do everything which is what threw off defenses through Fern's effective use of the draw, screen and "the third down 11 quick kick." In addition, in six of its nine victories, this team held its opponents scoreless!

I returned to my alma mater in 1963 to teach English and assist Fern in coaching Warde football teams for about 10 years. It was during this time that I truly learned what the term "Coach" means, especially when it is associated with a fine man such as Fern Tetreau: One day before practice we learned that a player's father had died suddenly. His mother had asked Fern to "break the news" of this tragedy to him. I can vividly remember Fern doing this so caringly, as if he were himself an older brother of this young man. My respect for Fern that day and since has grown well beyond one who taught me trap blocking and planning a game strategy with x's and o's!

I am now well beyond my last coaching days with Fern; yet, every now and then, when former players call me "Coach," I am touched that they might use that term with me, because it conveys my relationship with them beyond what I taught or failed to teach them about football; far more, it conveys what my coach and mentor taught me about life, ethics, the treatment of others and, most importantly, the value of human relationships.

Thanks, Fern, from the many of us who continue to be able to call you "Coach."

A Special Thanksgiving Day

This Thanksgiving will be a special one for Tom Davis, his wife, Celeste, and the entire Davis family. The Fairfield Board of Education unanimously voted Tuesday evening to rename the Warde High School field after the late Bill Davis and Fern Tetreau, the first two football coaches at Andrew Warde High School.

"Everybody was very, very happy," admitted Tom, Bill's brother, after the meeting. "We were just overwhelmed."

Bill Davis, the head football coach at Warde from 1970 to 1979, passed away June 2 of this year from Creutzfeldt-Jackob disease, an extremely rare degenerative brain disease. Tom admitted that it has been an especially difficult year for him and the Davis family. He said that his brother first began feeling ill in April, and he was diagnosed with the condition in May.

The dedication of the football field on Thanksgiving Day will have added significance because it occurs on the 50th anniversary of the opening of Andrew Warde High School, and the Mustangs are hosting Ludlowe for the first time at Warde since 1984. The Falcons prevailed, 20-14, in the inaugural renewal last year at Ludlowe.

"It will be a great honor to go up there and see his name up there," acknowledged Tom Davis, who played for his brother for three years. "It's a great honor for the family." Tom was coached by Fern Tetreau during his freshman year, and he said the link between the Tetreau and Davis family is a strong one.

"The relationship between my brother and Fern goes way beyond a coach and a player or a coach and an assistant coach," Tom said. His brother, Bill, who played for Tetreau from 1963 to 1965 and was a varsity captain his senior year, started as an assistant under Tetreau in 1969, and he assumed the head coaching role the following year.

As for the Davis family, which also includes brothers John, a dentist in Fairfield, and Bob, who lives in Windham, NH, the connection with Tetreau is solid. "We all played football for Fern," Tom smiled. Later, Tom became an assistant for his brother for three years, from 1977 to 1979.

Tetreau came over from Roger Ludlowe High School and became Andrew Warde's first football coach when the school opened in 1956. He immediately built the squad into a powerhouse. His 1959 undefeated Crimson Eagles won a state championship.

Davis holds the distinction of being the only Warde football coach to defeat Ludlowe twice in the same season, 31 years ago in 1975. The Eagles beat the Tigers during the regular season, 27-13, and then Thanksgiving morning, 28-6. The team also played well against perennial powerhouses Fairfield Prep and Staples that season.

Obviously, the Davis family will recall a great football tradition this Thanksgiving.

"Thanksgiving Day was always a football day," mentioned Tom Davis. "It was an enjoyable day. We were thankful that we won every Thanksgiving we played." He pointed out that during his playing days, Warde took on Kolbe in the annual Turkey Day rivalry. Davis said the Eagles never lost a Thanksgiving Day contest against Kolbe when he attended Andrew Warde.

Also in attendance at the Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening were Mike Tetreau, Fern's son and the coordinator of the Fairfield Pop Warner football program, John Davis, who lives in Easton, Dave and Mike Abraham, whom Tom Davis considers extended "family," James Coyne, Warde's current headmaster, and Chris Manfredia, the Mustangs' athletic director.

When Fern Tetreau decided to move to Warde from Ludlowe in 1956, it created quite a rivalry within his family. His son, Mike, was the signal-caller for the Tigers. According to the Tetreau Web site, the first snap of the game (between Warde and Ludlowe) was a little bit uneasy for Roger Ludlowe High School’s starting quarterback, Mike Tetreau. His team was in the middle of a great season and there was nothing more they wanted to do than beat the cross-town rival, Andrew Warde High School. However, the game had much more at stake for Mike, as well as the rest of the family. You see, his father, Fern, was the head coach of the other team.

Dubbed “Family Day” by the local newspapers, the game was the first of several head-to-head match-ups for the Tetreaus. “Those were certainly interesting Saturdays,” Fern said, looking back. “We both wanted our teams to win the big game, but we were pulling for each other, too.”

If you’re wondering, Mike’s team won the game, but what really mattered to both father and son was that they were playing football—a Tetreau tradition in itself. Fern had grown up with a deep affection for the sport, and much of his values today reflect the teamwork and dedication it takes to be a good football player.

From playing in college to coaching and teaching physical education at various high schools, including leading Andrew Warde High to a state championship in 1959, his love of the game has never waned. In fact, the nickname “Coach” is still with him today because of his reputation in the Fairfield football community. To Fern, football has always been a perfect representation of his belief that when you work together as a team and stay focused, any dream is within reach.

Today, the Davis name is still active in Warde athletics. Tom's daughter, Allie, is a sophomore sweeper on the Mustangs' girls' soccer team. She is a key player on defense since switching from forward, and has helped the team in its quest for a spot in the league and state playoffs. She was featured in an article in The Fairfield Citizen-News Friday, October 20.

"The thing I'm most proud of," said Tom Davis, his voice cracking with emotion, "is having my daughter play there for the next three years. She'll be playing on her uncle's field."

Read more about Fern Tetreau in this 1998 article published by The Fairfield Minuteman.

Please visit the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 gift shop. Click on the shirt in the right-hand margin. Help support the reunion blog.

Please sign the Guest Book if you enjoy reading the reunion blog. I'd like to know if you enjoy this Web site. As always, your contributions, photos, and articles are always welcome. Thank you.

Paul

Poll Results and New Survey

A new weekly poll has been added to the Web site. Simply scroll down the right-hand margin to the red rectangle and participate in this week's survey. I'm always looking for good questions, so feel free to email me with a poll question for next week.

Here are the results from each of the polls thus far:

Which "house" at Andrew Warde High School had the most memorable teachers?
Wolcott 36%
Barlow 36%
Fitts 28%

Would you be interested in attending an informal reunion breakfast the day after Thanksgiving?
Yes 76%
No 12%
Maybe 12%

When should our next high school reunion take place?
One year 10%
Two years 20%
Five years 60%
Ten years 10%

Are you pleased the Board of Education decided to rename our high school Fairfield Warde High School?
Yes 38%
No 62%

Should Fairfield Warde High School celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Thanksgiving Day football game?
Yes 100%
No 0%

As always, thanks for participtaing.

Paul

The Flame Yearbook Revisited

Ever since the idea of having a 30th high school reunion surfaced earlier this year, I've had the Flame yearbook close at hand. The publication has been invaluable for me and many others prior to and ever since our gala event in August.

I scanned countless photos from the yearbook and created a number of albums on the official reunion Web site. It was a great trip back in time while reviewing and writing the captions for each scan. Several classmates asked me to scan their senior photos and use them for the "classmates" page. I've also been able to write articles on various sports teams and use the photos and information provided by the Flame.

Do you still have your copy of our high school yearbook? Better yet, prior to the reunion, how long had it been since you even looked at it? I'm sure our reunion afforded all of us an opportunity to wax nostalgic about our high school days. Obviously, I still enjoy publishing the blog.

I applaud those who took the time to create and publish the yearbook over 30 years ago. It was, without question, a labor of love for all those students who were involved in its production.

Remember, too, that the technology of 30 years ago was archaic compared to today. Now, we have digital cameras, word processors, and personal computers. Back then, I'm sure the students who worked on the yearbook needed Royal typewriters to write their summaries, and black-and-white pictures were developed at the film shop. They didn't have the convenience of email, photoshop, or the ability to work on the yearbook at home.

"The one activity at Warde requiring the greatest amount of dedication, cooperation, and hard work from its members is the yearbook," according to the Flame. "The 1976 Flame was published as a result of the efforts of just such a hardworking editorial board and the guidance of Mr. Bormann, Flame advisor. The members of the staff sacrificed many of their previous obligations and almost all of their spare time in order to insure that the yearbook would be of high quality.

"Working on the yearbook staff can be a very rewarding experience. As true in most endeavors, one gets from it what he puts into it."

The hard work of the yearbook staff over 30 years ago continues to pay dividends today. It took a 30th high school reunion for me to dust off the Flame and slowly peruse all the pages once again. Thankfully, I still have my yearbook. Needless to say, it's a cherished treasure from a long time ago.

Paul

Remembering Coach Bill Davis

I had breakfast with Tom Davis, the brother of long-time Andrew Warde High School football coach Bill Davis, this morning at Doughnut Inn on Black Rock Turnpike. Tom told me the heartwrenching story of Bill's passing earlier this year. Bill was diagnosed with a rare degenerative brain disease in May after feeling ill in April. Sadly, he passed away June 2 of this year.

Tom also told me that the Fairfield Board of Education is meeting this Tuesday evening to finalize plans and give the "official" approval to rename the Warde football field in honor of Bill Davis and Fern Tetreau, the first two football coaches at Andrew Warde High School. Ceremonies are being planned for Thanksgiving Day to dedicate the field, unveil two statues, introduce members of the first Warde football team from 1956, and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Andrew Warde High School.

Tetreau piloted the first gridiron squad in 1956, won a state championship three years later, and then retired from the sidelines after the 1969 campaign. Davis, who served as an assistant to Tetreau and was a graduate of Warde, assumed control of the program the following year, in 1970, and coached the squad until 1979. For nearly a quarter of a century, Tetreau and Davis were the only football coaches Warde had ever known.

I'll have an article on the life of former Crimson Eagles' football coach Bill Davis in an upcoming feature. Tom is sending me a biography of his brother, and we'll sit down for a formal interview soon. Tom also told me his wife reads the blog faithfully.

Paul

Odds and Ends

Brian Pander of Fitts House is our latest winner in the Bi-Weekly Warde Trivia game. Brian knew that the Andrew Warde High School Crimson Eagles' soccer coach in 1975-76 was Dino Vanghele.

"His favorite quote in my freshman French class was 'You chew like an Albanian goat!'" wrote Brian. He wins a "classic" Andrew Warde High School Crimson Eagles 1976 mouse pad. We'll have another question in two weeks.

Andrew Warde High School products Jerry Vigorito and Rob Fried were featured in a lengthy "Profile" article in yesterday's Fairfield Minuteman. The article highlighted the work of Vigorito and Fried and the recent Band Together concert held in Fairfield. Once the newspaper updates its Web site, I'll provide a link to the feature story. It's a good read on two outstanding individuals.

The latest poll on our Web site will run through the end of the weekend. Please take part in the survey. The results will be published Monday morning. Don't forget to sign the Guest Book, too. I'd sincerely appreciate it.

Paul

Warde's Football Tradition Continues

As the Fairfield Warde High School football team prepares to travel to Ridgefield to battle the Tigers this evening, there are many similarities between this team and its gridiron ancestor from 31 years ago. The 1975-76 Andrew Warde High School Crimson Eagles, like this year's Warde team, had trouble winning games, but gave a solid effort every week.

The Mustangs have only won one game this year, a 47-16 decision over Bassick, the Lions' 49th straight game without a win. The Eagles posted only two victories 31 Autumns ago. But both teams share a determination and spirit which links them even though they're more than a generation apart.

Although the 1975-76 Eagles finished the campaign with a disappointing 2-9-0 ledger, it was not a true indication of the kind of season the team really had. Coach Bill Davis' charges faced some of the toughest teams in the state. They played particularly well against town rival Fairfield Prep (28-10) and eventual state champion Staples (21-7).



The squad showed significant improvement from a year earlier. The Eagles defeated arch-rival Roger Ludlowe High School an unprecedented two times during our senior year, including a 27-13 regular-season game and a 28-6 Thanksgiving Day affair. Those two wins will never be forgotten by the senior players and graduating class.

Senior members of the team included co-captains Steve Cameron and Glen Brown, linemen John Hey, Kevin Shay, and Mike McKernan, receivers Tom Skultety, Ted Plummer, Tom Fairfield, and Steve Trifone, and barefoot kicker Steve Lang.

Four players gained individual honors for their fine play during the season. Tom Skultety was awarded honorable mention acclaim from the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference and was also rated second-team Class AA by The Bridgeport Post. Glen Brown achieved honorable mention status in both the FCIAC and the Post ratings. Steve Cameron and Steve Baxter also earned honorable mention in The Bridgeport Post ratings.

The junior varsity Eagles, led by sophomore John Tortora and George Swift and juniors Steve Cerrone and Pete Hajna, held Ludlowe to a 0-0 deadlock. The freshman team enjoyed a fine season, compiling an impressive 5-2-1 record, which is rivaled only by the 1973 frosh (7-0) as the best in recent history.

This Thanksgiving Day, Warde hosts Ludlowe in the second renewal of the town rivalry. Last year, the Falcons defeated the Mustangs, 20-14, at the Unquowa Road School. This year's contest, at our Melville Avenue home, will be a memorable one, to be sure.

The football field will be dedicated and renamed in honor of Coach Bill Davis and Andrew Warde High School's first football coach, Fern Tetreau, in special pre-game ceremonies. Statues will be unveiled by the flagpole.

In addition, members of the very first Warde football team from 1956 will be introduced, and there will be 50th anniversary festivities commemorating the opening of Andrew Warde High School a half-century ago.

If you're in town this Thanksgiving Day, you'll enjoy the trip down memory lane by applauding and honoring our gridiron heroes from the past and supporting our current "descendants" from Fairfield Warde High School. I hope to see you there.

Paul

Where Are They Now? Mr. John Honey (Part II)

By Paul Piorek
Andrew Warde High School
Class of 1976

This is the second of a two-part "Where Are They Now?" feature series highlighting the career of Mr. John Honey

Forty-one years ago, a career in education may have been the last thing on Mr. John Honey's mind. After all, he was preparing to join the Air Force, and his father was a well-respected veteran fireman.

However, as Honey pointed out, there was a general feeling that Americans were lagging behind the Russians in Science and technology. Americans hadn't yet landed on the Moon, and the success of the Soviet Sputnik program was cause for concern.

Science teachers were in demand, especially at the secondary level. So, in 1965, Honey, a Danbury High School product, subbed at Andrew Warde High School for a teacher who left for a one-year sabbatical. The rest, as they say, is history.

"Things worked out," Honey understated. "If you asked me in 1965 if I was going to teach for the next 40 years I would have been very surprised."

The following year, Honey became a full-time teacher at Andrew Warde High School, and he stayed at the Melville Avenue campus until 2004 when he moved to Ludlowe High School.

"I fell in love with teaching," he said. Honey had attended Western Connecticut State Teacher's College in Danbury, and a class advisor suggested he pursue a career in teaching.

As far as his starting salary was concerned? "It was $5,200," he admitted.

Honey is passionate about his profession, adding, "I've never gotten up in the morning not liking what I do. It's really more than a job. It's a career," he explained. "School has been my niche. It's who I am, and not so much what I do."

He said many teachers prefer to live in a different town or city than the one in which they teach. Not so for him, though. "I've enjoyed living in the community in which I teach. It's more than just a job."

In addition to his classroom career, Honey has been a successful tennis coach, too. His most noteworthy student on the tennis court was James Blake. This past May the tennis courts at Warde were dedicated in Blake's honor, and Honey was thrilled to be back at the school with Blake.



"Teaching is my first love," mentioned Honey. "Tennis is not that different from teaching. It's just different."

Honey said the goal of any good educator is to instill a love of learning while fostering a positive educational experience for the students.

"Having the kids have a good experience and really enjoying it," he said, alluding to his teaching philosophy. "We're here to help kids be successful. We're not here to do things to kids, but for kids."

As far as the teachers he has admired through the years? "There have been some great role models as teachers," Honey said. "Charlie Abraham was a great teacher. Ken Tavares, who retired a few years ago (was another educator I respected)."

Mr. Honey knows the end of his career is fast-approaching. His wife, Judy, teaches fourth-grade in Redding. "I still hope I bring something to the table," he said. "I don't see myself here in five years. Maybe one or two more years."

Mr. Honey is one of the most well-respected educators in Fairfield. He's seen it all during his 41 years in front of a classroom, and his dedication to his profession is second to none.

"It's been a great run," he admitted. "One of the hard things is leaving something you enjoy."

We've enjoyed having you as a teacher, Mr. Honey. Keep up the great work, and good luck.

Paul

"Where Are They Now?" Mr. John Honey (Part I)

By Paul Piorek
Andrew Warde High School
Class of 1976

This is the first of a two-part "Where Are They Now?" feature series highlighting the career of Mr. John Honey.

Ask Mr. John Honey about his most vivid memory during his 37-year teaching career at Andrew Warde High School, and his ever-present smile widens. It was, without question, an embarrassing moment for him and the school.

"I was teaching a class on probability, back when Connecticut first had a lottery," explained Honey, recalling the 29-year-old event as if it happened yesterday. "I decided that we would get lottery tickets for every kid in class. I figured, if anything, we'd probably have a five dollar winner.



"The Friday before Memorial Day, I'm passing these tickets out knowing they (the students) can't purchase these because they're too young. I started thinking, 'What am I doing?'"

Science and Mathematics say the "probability" of hitting it big isn't very good, right?

Think again.

"Doesn't one kid ask, 'What does three in a diagonal mean?' He won $1,000!"



Caption: Mr. Honey is right at home in his classroom at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. After teaching 37 years at Andrew Warde High School, he moved cross-town in 2004.

Honey was just getting started. It was clear he enjoyed retelling the story as much as I enjoyed listening to him. We could hear the sounds of the Ludlowe football team practicing on the gridiron outside his classroom. They were preparing for a game against Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk Friday night. He poured a cup of coffee, asked me if I wanted one, then proceeded with the story.

"It was (headmaster) Bob Genualdi's first year at the school. The following Tuesday I walked into his office. I explained we were doing a lesson on probability and told him what happened. He said, 'Oh, shit!'"

Honey told me that the Fairfield superintendent of schools caught wind of what happened and immediately turned the story over to the press. The Bridgeport Post sent a reporter to the school to interview him. "Front page headline," Honey deadpanned. "Teacher loses, kids win!"

However, that's not the end of the story. The Associated Press also picked up the story. "They were all over it," he admitted. "My Dad was watching the channel 4 news, and all of a sudden he hears about a human interest story from Fairfield, Connecticut." By this time, both of us were laughing and enjoying the reminiscing.

So, what happened?

"We donated the money to the school," Honey stated. "We (the students and I) went to Boston, chartered a bus, and had lobster dinner. I think it came to $980."

Thirty-seven years worth of memories just can't be told in one afternoon. We were both enjoying our stroll down memory lane. Mr. Honey, also known for having coached tennis star James Blake, is still going strong after all these years.

After 37 years teaching at Andrew Warde High School, Mr. Honey is now on the other side of town, educating young minds at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Honey admitted he has a soft spot for Warde, but it was time to move on.

"Every time I go to Warde I get nostalgic about it," he said. "When I go over there now, there are very few people who know me. The kids (today) at Warde have no idea who John Honey is."

So, how and why did he end up at Ludlowe?

When the high school re-opened in the Fall of 2004, it needed a staff, and many teachers who were at Warde requested a transfer to Ludlowe. For Honey, the change came by way of a request from Ludlowe's new headmaster.

"Nancy Larsen is the reason I'm here," Honey stated. "I had torn my achilles, and she stopped over the house. She brought me flowers and said, 'I'd really like you to be a part of my staff. I think you could help establish the school.' She's just a wonderful educator."

There were other factors which made the decision to move to Ludlowe an easy one for Honey.

"It doesn't matter what building you're in," he pointed out rather matter-of-factly. "The facilities at Warde (prior to the renovation project) were shabby. I had the same room for 25 years." It was time for a change.

He's thoroughly enjoying the last few years of his storied career. One staple which remains from his days at Warde is his collection of pennants. His classroom is decorated with college pennants given as gifts from former students through the years.



Caption: College banners decorate the walls in Mr. Honey's classroom. They're gifts from former students. The tradition started when he taught at Andrew Warde High School.

"Every teacher decorates their room in a different way," Honey said. "Every Thanksgiving kids come in with different banners. It's neat to look at the banners and think of the kids. Those are kids I had."

The colorful pennants adorn the classroom walls and feature colleges from across the nation. Honey said he lost several pennants in the move from Warde, but the flags are special to him.

Mr. John Honey started at Andrew Warde High School as a student teacher in 1965. He became a full-time teacher the following year, somewhat by accident. He never envisioned a career in education, but here he is 41 years later still enjoying every minute in the classroom.

Which teachers did he respect? What does he think of his profession? Why has he lasted this long? We'll take a closer look at one of the most well-respected educators in Fairfield this coming Monday. Stay tuned for the second part of our visit with Mr. John Honey.

In the next installment, Mr. Honey shares his thoughts on his longevity, his teaching career, and his philosophy. Share your thoughts by adding a comment below.

Please visit the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 gift shop. Click on the shirt in the right-hand margin. Help support the reunion blog.

Please sign the Guest Book if you enjoy reading the reunion blog. I'd like to know if you enjoy this Web site. As always, your contributions, photos, and articles are always welcome. Thank you.

Paul

The New Rivalry: Mustangs vs. Falcons

For over a generation, public high school students in Fairfield were identified as either Crimson Eagles or Flying Tigers. However, when the Board of Education decided to consolidate Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe high schools into Fairfield High School at the Warde site in the mid 80s, the rivalry was dead --- for the time being.

Two decades later, Warde and Ludlowe are at it again. This time, it's the Mustangs and the Falcons battling each other for bragging rights. The following article appeared in the Fairfield Warde High School Focus magazine in September of 2005 prior to the first-ever athletic meeting between the two schools since the mid 1980s. It sounds like the rivalry will become just as heated as when we attended high school over 30 years ago.

Back in the day, a favorite chant of Warde students and graduates was "Eagles Eat Tiger Meat." Today, the slogan is more along the lines of "Splat Goes the Falcon." Here is the text of the article:



The town of Fairfield has recently joined the list of towns in southwestern Connecticut with two or more public high schools. After 18 years with one high school, Fairfield has taken a blast to the past by re-opening a second high school. Fairfield Warde High School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School, names quite reminiscent of the previous two high schools (Andrew Warde High School and Roger Ludlowe High School) that were here before the combined Fairfield High School opened in 1987, officially became two separate schools in the fall of 2004.

Last year, the two teams were not able to compete against each other. This year they can. Let the rivalry begin. On Friday, September 30th at five o’clock in the afternoon, the first athletic event between two high schools in Fairfield in a little under two decades kicked off between the two male varsity soccer teams. This would be the first of seven match-ups between the Fairfield schools for the fall season, not including potential post-season match-ups in conference and state tournaments.

A sea of blue and white filled one side of the bleachers, while red, black, and white inundated the other side. While the former cheered for the Falcons, the latter voiced their support for the Mustangs. Despite a few negative chants, the rivalry appeared quite friendly. At two different times, boys from each high school ran across the bleachers in front of the opposing school’s crowd, waving their shirts and cheering on their own school, but all was harmless fun.

Old classmates from each school hugged and laughed together, but ultimately Warde fans were disappointed as our boys’ soccer team was shut out by the home team by a score of 4-0. At the end of the game, Warde fans chanted “Wait ‘till Wednesday!” in hopes of avenging this loss at another Warde and Ludlowe sporting event.

Five days later, the Warde and Ludlowe girls’ varsity soccer teams faced off. This time the game was played at Warde under the lights. Warde lost again, but by a smaller deficit than that of the boys’ game. The score was 2-1. Warde’s lone goal was off the foot of freshman Sabrina Siciliano.

The next week, both the girls’ and boys’ cross country teams defeated Ludlowe’s cross country teams. Warde’s field hockey team defeated Ludlowe by a score of 1-0, while the swimming and diving team lost to Ludlowe. Although the newspapers and administration are certainly not keeping score of this Warde and Ludlowe series, the students are definitely tallying the wins and losses. Right now, the series is tied at 3-3.

Between the two soccer games, during the weekend, a few juveniles from Ludlowe High School came to Warde and vandalized some of Warde’s athletic property with blue spray paint. The athletic shed that proudly displays “Home of the Mustangs” was crossed out and replaced by “Home of the Falcons.” The pavement was filled with “Warde Sucks” and the fields reiterated the score of the boys’ soccer game that Warde had lost.

Although nothing worse than vandalism has occurred, the rivalry appears to be intense and growing by the minute. Healthy rivalry? Only time will tell.

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I'm very much looking forward to the Thanksgiving Day football game between Warde and Ludlowe at the Mustangs field this year. I'll be the emcee for special 50th aniversary celebration festivities, the renaming and dedication of the football field in honor of legendary gridiron coaches Fern Tetreau and Bill Davis, and an introduction of the first-ever Andrew Warde High School football team from 1956. I hope you can make it to the game and the reunion breakfast the following day.

Paul

An Acronym for Success in Football & In Life

I saw this yesterday while glancing at the Fairfield Warde Mustangs football home page. This was submitted by head coach Tony Catapano. Although it is directed at the football team, it can apply to all of us in life as well.

The acronym below is meant to establish a formula for success:

W: Stands for WORK. Learning to work hard toward our goals is the basis upon which everything that we achieve is built.

A: Stands for ACHIEVEMENT. How well do we play this game? Can we block, tackle and execute our assignments with superior technique?

R: Stands for RESPECT. Respect begins with learning to be considerate of others. First, we must learn to make choices based upon what is best for the team. Then, we will earn the respect of our teammates and coaches. This element of respect is what the other aspects of this acronym are anchored to. Without the other four elements, we will never gain the respect of others or know any self-respect.

D: Stands for DETERMINATION. Perseverance is the key to being successful in any aspect of life. There is no such thing as an "overnight" success. All successful people or organizations have great focus, initiative and desire.

E: Stands for ENTHUSIASM. Not being shy about letting everyone around you know that you love what you're doing and that you love whom you're doing it with.

Remember, all of us went to WARDE. Maybe that's why we've become the people we are today!

Paul