Kudos from the Chair on Reunion Blog

The following was sent to me by Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 Reunion President Tony Procaccini. This typist is appreciative of the comments. The above photo shows Tony appearing on News 12 Connecticut's Education Notebook with host Eric Greene on June 6, 2006.

Paul,

I just read your reunion blog for the first time in quite a while. First of all, you're a great writer and your enthusiasm for the class is outstanding! No question about it. Secondly, I think all the Warde 1976 class members owe a big debt of gratitude to you for all the work and promoting you did for us.

Though it's not possible to quantify the results of your work mathematically, I am sure you helped bring classmates to the reunion. More importantly, like the great classmate you are, you kept the news of the reunion in the public's eyes and ears since late April.

Excellent photos, by the way. I'm glad you took them.

Tony Procaccini

"Behind the Scenes" at Our Reunion

Reunion committee president Tony Procaccini worked tirelessly to promote our 30th high school reunion. He pointed out that several people were responsible for the wonderful video we saw at Testo's Restaurant on Saturday, August 19.

According to Tony, "Classmate Tracy Yung gave us a CD with dozens of photos from 1976, which were included on the video display at our reunion. Thus, (Joe) Malgioglo provided previously unseen film, Yung provided previously unseen photos, and we added slides converted by Doug Coventry from the original medium to one DVD.

"So, what we saw was a Malgioglo/Yung/Coventry contribution, put together by the committee's "Technical Wizard" Leslie Allen-Downey. The slides Doug worked on (many of which have deteriorated) were the only footage we used at reunions before this year, so we suddenly became very fortunate to have so much material (old and new) for viewing in 2006.

"In May 2006 (within two days of each other), both Malgioglo and Yung contacted me and stated they had film and photos we could use, "out of the blue," so to speak, completely unsolicited. They had either seen the Web site or had heard of the reunion, and both offered to send me copies of what they had. Quite a story in and of itself.

"Another irony: both graduated after commencement, so their names are not on the graduation exercise program."

Now you know how the video came to be. The photo above shows Jeff Thornton and Vicki Marx (back) and Donna Provolo and Kathy Oneto sharing good times and memories at our high school reunion.

Paul

Remembering Our First Jobs

The IGA supermarket on the corner of Fairfield Woods Road and Stratfield Road closed its doors for the last time today. The market, formerly known as Gran Central, and a staple in the community for 56 years, was where noted singer and songwriter John Mayer got his start.

"My first job ever was at Gran Central," admitted one of the more famous graduates of our high school. Mayer worked at the market as a bagger, shelf-stocker, and cart-jockey at the age of 17. "They should probably fight to make it a historic site," added Mayer, who is preparing to tour with Sheryl Crow and wrapped up a photo shoot with Rolling Stone recently.

Mayer waxed nostalgic about the market, and offered an opinion as to what a marker might read several years down the road. "Here on this site, a young John Mayer, all of 17 years, collected carts and wrote songs in his head in the snow."

Do you remember your first job? I worked as a 16-year-old at Jimmie's of Savin Rock on Black Rock Turnpike while attending Andrew Warde High School. Thirty years later, I bring my son to Duchess, which used to be Jimmie's, and many of the young cashiers and cooks recognize me from television. Several of them are now attending Warde or Ludlowe high schools. I've told them many times that I used to work in the very same building as a junior and senior at Andrew Warde High School. They find it hard to believe. "You worked here?" they always ask.

Tim Kelly and Sue Hart were quick to point out that their first jobs were at Kentucky Fried Chicken on Black Rock Turnpike. Sue didn't care much for the manager and made it plainly clear during our conversation Sunday afternoon at Lake Hills during the Family Reunion Social at the beach. Tim offered that he made $1.85 an hour, the exact same amount I did while at Jimmie's. He told me it was the worst job he's ever experienced. Sue echoed those words, too.

The hours were long, the pay wasn't good, and the work was hard. However, the jobs we held in high school taught us valuable lessons, and we acquired a strong work ethic along the way. I distictly remember walking home from Warde Friday afternoon, washing up and having a quick snack, and then walking up to Jimmie's for a seven-hour shift from 3 to 10 p.m. My hours Saturday and Sunday were from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I didn't enjoy much of a weekend, aside fom "cutting fries," cutting the heads off live crabs, and washing the floors.

I don't see many kids walking to and from school or to and from their jobs today. That's why our generation worked for everything we got and learned the value of hard work.

Kentucky Fried Chicken, Jimmie's of Savin Rock, and Gran Central/IGA market are no longer with us, but the memories of those stores will remain forever.

I'd like to know where you worked when you attended Andrew Warde High School. Did you make more than $1.85 an hour? Were the hours long? Was the work hard? Feel free to post a comment below. I'm sure others would enjoy reading all about it.

Paul

Post-Reunion Feedback

I've received some nice feedback from fellow graduates of Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1976. Although the reunion gathering is over, the wonderful night will not soon be forgotten.

Mark Waxman wrote, "Paul, it was so good to see you at the reunion. My wife and I had a fantastic time. It was so much fun to see Fairfield again and catch up with old friends. I just wish it had started earlier and gone later....still so many people to catch up with. Please keep up with the blog!!!"

Jim Dolan, another classmate, added, "Hi Paul. I wanted to tell you I enjoyed your blogs. I'm already looking forward to the next reunion!"



Classmate Bob Berman sent the following note. "I just want to say thanks to all who made this happen. I put this night among the best in my life. It was so wonderful to see everyone. I may not have recognized everyone, but I have never forgotten anyone.

"I did have some very emotional feelings about those who are no longer with us. It was a shock to see so many pictures on the memorial board. Some I knew had passed, but others I thought I would see at the reunion. I hope that 10 years will not pass by before the next reunion. Again, THANKS to all who made this great event happen."

The photographs of the evening are starting to come in via emails. I'm on vacation the rest of this week, so I'll begin posting photos and adding to the blog when I return to work next week.

I hope those who traveled had a safe trip home. Enjoy the remainder of the Summer, and the reunion blog will resume next week.

Paul

Family Reunion a Nice Touch

The Family Reunion Social at Lake Hills Beach 4 was a splendid way to cap the reunion weekend. Roughly 20 members of the 1976 graduating class of Andrew Warde High School and some of their immediate family attended the event.



The weather was certainly warm and humid, but that didn't matter. Attendees enjoyed a swim in the lake, a small picnic lunch on the beach, baseball on the field, or pleasant conversation.

Debbie Russo Goff attended with her son. "Going to beach 4 yesterday was absolutely great! I have not been there in 20 plus years and have to say that lake is truly the 'hidden gem' of Fairfield. My son had the best time. I had to literally drag him out of the water yesterday. So a special thanks to Joanne and Paul for making that happen."

Thank you, Bob Henry, for spending time with my son, Billy, and helping him improve his baseball swing. He had a couple of nice hits, thanks to you. You are a fine gentleman, and I was glad to play some baseball with you and your son.



Sue Hart, it was great seeing you at the beach. You remind me so much of your Mom. I admire you and your family. I sincerely enjoyed chatting with you and reminiscing about the gold old days. And, Tim Kelly, we did only make $1.85 an hour when we got our first jobs during high school. We shared the stories of your days working at Kentucky Fried Chicken and my days at Jimmie's of Savin Rock on Black Rock Turnpike.



Stephen Grabowski, thanks for spending the time with me at the reunion Saturday and the social Sunday. We spent more time reminiscing about our elementary school days than our high school days. I'm very impressed with your family and the accomplishments of your three children. You should be very proud of them. It was a pleasure meeting your wife Sunday afternoon. We will be in touch very soon, I'm sure. We need to start working on next year's elementary school reunion!

As my son and I were getting in the car and shaking hands with Bob, it suddenly hit me that it was over. The meetings, the emails, the reunion, and the family social. Yes, even the Summer was drawing to a close. School starts next week. I go back to work next Monday. And we'll continue to cherish great memories of an outstanding reunion.

Debbie added, "It went by so fast. Paul, you are right. It was like 10 minutes and it was over. All that work and time. It was all worth it. So many people thanked the committee for taking this task on. So, in case no one said it directly to everyone on this list, "Thank you for having this reunion and doing all the work." It was well worth the party in the end. I'm still trying to catch up on the lost sleep though. Let's not make it another 10 years. Who's to say where and what will we will all be doing by then. So, farewell to all for now."

I ran into Ed Bengermino on Black Rock Turnpike earlier this morning. He shook my hand and thanked everyone again. "I had a great time," he said. "Thanks for inviting me."

Thanks for being a part of the reunion, Mr. Bengermino.

Enjoy the final days of Summer.

Paul

Andrew Warde High School's 30-Year Reunion Successful & Enjoyable

Our reunion was a tremendous success. Thirty years after our graduation from Andrew Warde High School, 160 classmates from the Class of 1976 and 220 people attended the gala event at Testo's Restaurant in Bridgeport. It was an exceptional evening.

Reunion committee member Donna Palenchar summed up the night by offering her thoughts to the committee. "Was that the best reunion ever? I think, by God, we did it. The largest turnout ever. The night went by so fast."

Yes, it did go by fast. It seemed every time I turned around I ran into someone I haven't seen in ages. I think most of us spent the night chatting with our high school buddies and catching up. The relaxed atmosphere and smiles on everybody's faces made the night enjoyable for everyone.

Judy Gadacy wrote, "Truly, you should still be in a euphoric state, simply from all the positive feedback that continues to come your way. Such a memorable event! I have received numerous phone calls and emails from classmates who simply said, "They had a blast," and are wondering when the next event will take place. They cannot wait! I wonder if an annual event might be something to think about; not of the same magnitude as Saturday, but just a D.J., food, conversation?"

And, another from Vicki (Marx) Drisdelle, echoed the feelings. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, committee, for a wonderful reunion last evening. It was great! The time flew by. I think everyone had a great time - hope you were able to enjoy it and not just work all night. The turnout was wonderful and it was so nice to see everyone. I can't wait for the book - another great idea. And having some teachers attend was genius too! The website was phenomenal. All in all a tremendous job."

Special thanks must be extended to Tony Procaccini, who orchestrated and organized the planning of the reunion. It was a huge undertaking, but Tony is a veteran at spearheading reunions, and he is to be commended for an outstanding job. He is detail-oriented, and everything ran smoothly. Tony, thanks for volunteering to be committee president.

"Everyone, without exception, said they had a great time. Many complimented us on having teachers there, the Memorial tribute, the "Jam session," the picnic and other new and previously used methods," Tony wrote. "Let's gloat in the good feeling we helped rekindle for the proud Bicentennial Warde Class of 1976!!!"

The reunion committee worked tirelessly from the date of our first meeting, April 29, through the day of the reunion. Imagine starting from scratch. That's exactly what we did. Decisions had to be made regarding the reunion date, Web site, location of the event, budget, and contacting as many classmates as possible. It seemed daunting and overwhelming at the start. But, committee "phone blitzes," constant emails, and diligence at taking care of even the most minute of details ensured a successful evening.

Special thanks to Mike from Celebration Entertainment in Stratford for providing the music for our reunion. Mike's selection was upbeat and encouraged us to hit the dance floor. He provided enjoyable background music during the course of the early evening socializing.

I'd be remiss if I didn't send out special thanks to Joe Malgioglio for providing us with the video of our days at Andrew Warde High School. Many classmates expressed my sentiments. It was eerie watching the video. It seemed archaic, and it felt as if we were watching film from the 1920s. The unsteady black-and-white footage without sound provided a stark contrast of the "technology" back then with what we have today.

Joe's video played on a screen during the reunion, and everybody seemed to enjoy it. I was shocked when I saw myself in the video with two of my closest friends from high school. Joe made it a point to see me and inform me that I was on the video. He even gave a DVD of the film to me and Joanne Amelung, who was also on the film. Joe, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And how about a special thanks to Mr. Bob Genualdi, our headmaster, for accepting an invitation? It was also great to see Ed Bengermino, John Honey, and other teachers from our days at Warde. That was a nice touch.

Mark Waxman, thanks for reading my blog. It was a pleasure to meet your wife, Sherri, and I enjoyed our conversation at the reunion. It was heartwarming to hear your story about visiting your childhood home again. You're not the only one who drove around Andrew Warde High School, either. In fact, I did it again today, just for "old times' sake." I sincerely hope you had the opportunity to drive to Osborn Hill School, too. Believe me, it still looks the same. There weren't too many of us who went to Osborn Hill, but those memories will never fade, either.

I look forward to our next reunion, although the passage of time can wait, I'm sure. Time has been good to many of us. Thank you to all who helped make the reunion a memorable and rewarding evening.

Paul

Age is Only a Number

While relaxing and enjoying a light breakfast at Doughnut Inn on the Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield this morning, I came across a story in the newspaper about Mets' first baseman Julio Franco. It seems the major league veteran has been a valuable acquisition for the National League frontrunners this year.

But, what struck me most about Franco is his age. You see, he is the exact same age as the members of our graduating class from Andrew Warde High School!

Franco turns 48 in a little more than a week. I'll turn 48 in a little more than two months. Most of you reading this turned 48 this year. And he's still playing major league baseball!

Franco is a 22-year major league veteran who signed his first contract in 1978, just two years after we graduated from high school. He still has a "bodybuilder's physique," according to the article. He's six-feet-one and 210 pounds.

Sure, we may be middle-aged, but that shouldn't stop us from being physically fit and active. Franco has proven that. His current Mets' contract runs through the 2007 season, at which point he'll be 49. "After I turn 50," he said, "I think I might hang it up."

Many people subscribe to the adage that "life begins at 40." For Franco, as well as all of us, we're in the prime of our lives right now! For those who have good health and strong families, I always say that life will never get any better than it is right now.

I'll be cheering for Julio Franco this year. All of us should applaud his stamina, energy, and enthusiasm. After all, he's still just a kid at heart!

Paul

What Will Our 30th Reunion Be Like?

It's been 10 years since our last reunion and 30 years since we graduated from Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield. What will the reunion be like? What will our classmates be like? Read on!

The following is from an article which appeared in The Chicago Tribune, August 3, 2006.

"A slow breeze, which feels like it came from some sub-Saharan place, crawls across parched fairways and empty greens, reaching the small-town country club before dying for lack of cool inertia. Inside the clubhouse, a rock 'n' roll band, my band, breaks into "Play that funky music, white boy, play that funky music right!" We're performing at a 30-year high school class reunion in a small Iowa town on a heatstroke Saturday night. The 1976 hit "Play that Funky Music" by a group called Wild Cherry is a natural. A cliche certainly, but natural nonetheless.

It seems to be a night for women. Dresses are glitzy. Slacks are tight. The women not only outnumber their male classmates, they have more sparkle. I imagine motel rooms all over town smelling of fingernail polish, rooms with bathroom mirrors designed for Dorian Gray. Mirrors that, regardless of the passage of time, reflect one's image as an 18-year-old. Mirrors that echo how we see ourselves, not how we really are. Never old, never sick, never unhappy. As we break into Sly Stone's "Dance to the Music," women pull men onto the dance floor.

Women not only have more sparkle than men, they also dance much better. These women seem to inhabit rhythm, unconsciously moving easily to the beat, bodies conjuring up old memories of a soft touch, childbirth, love. The men had some difficulty with rhythm, searching for it, counting it out, keeping score, killing spontaneity, gyrating self-consciously into what I call "the catfish," a human version of flopping around in the bottom of a Mississippi River fishing boat.

Not yet 50 years old, most of the dancers look terrific. Only a few of the really sweaty ones look as if portable defibrillators might be in order. One certainly doesn't attend class reunions looking for great truths or answers to anything beyond "I wonder what so-and-so looks like?" If one is looking for depth or serious meaning, a better bet might be church the following morning. Class reunions are small slices out of time, unattached to reality, not dependent on anything but good will, a few grins and perhaps a little alcohol.

The dance floor fills up and I start singing Neil Young's "Harvest Moon." Anne and Kim add angelic harmonies and Dave plays a tasteful rhythm guitar. "Come a little bit closer, hear what I have to say; just like children sleeping, we could dream the night away." Couples snuggle up, swaying without speaking.

Aaron takes over a microphone and dives into Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild." I smile at the notion of that particular song being popular out here in small-town Iowa, towns where crime usually involves smashing mailboxes, writing bad checks or stealing flowers from gravesites. By graduation day in 1976, the U.S. had been officially out of Vietnam for a year. Consequently, these kids were among the first to face a future without their nation being at war with someone. Any anxiety they harbored was probably personal, not global. It would be many years before the U.S. entered another war.

The room warms as dancers come and go, opening doors to the summer furnace outside. Danelle on sax and Felicia on trombone power us through Buddy Miles' "Them Changes," while Curt sings "Well my mind is going through them changes ... everything goin' to be all right." Gotta believe that.The night ends as it began; we reprise "Play that Funky Music." Pat rips into a soaring guitar solo. We all sing full voice, including the dancers, "Lay down that boogie, and play that funky music 'til you die." Couldn't have said it better myself. Sage advice on a hot summer night."

Our 30th reunion is only 12 days away!

Paul

Happy Golden Anniversary to Our High School

As we celebrate and commemorate the 30th anniversary of our graduation at Andrew Warde High School, this year is significant for another reason. It was 50 years ago this September that Fairfield opened a second public high school. This year marks the golden anniversary of Warde High School!

Roger Ludlowe High School, the town's charter secondary school, was originally located in what is now Tomlinson Middle School on Unquowa Road. According to the school's Web site, "In 1952 due to crowded conditions, it was necessary to hold two sessions of school. This arrangement continued until June, 1956. In September of that same year, a second high school, Andrew Warde Senior High, was opened."

Four years later, 1962, marked the last year Roger Ludlowe High School existed as a high school on the old Brown property. Mill Plain School, down the road, was converted to a senior high school retaining the name of Roger Ludlowe High School. In 1986, the school was closed when the town consolidated both Warde and Ludlowe into Fairfield High School at the Warde site. The RLHS building eventually became Roger Ludlowe Middle School in 1998 when the town opened a third public middle school but still had only one public high school at the Warde site.

The first high school in Fairfield became Tomlinson Junior High School, named after Gideon Tomlinson, one of the most prominent residents of Fairfield. He served as a member of Congress, Governor of Connecticut, and a U.S. Senator. He graduated from Yale in 1802 and settled in Greenfield Hill to practice law.

Now, 50 years after opening the town's second public secondary school on Melville Avenue, Warde High School is still going strong. The campus and facilities have undergone renovations, and it looks better than ever. Fellow 1976 alum Jeff Roseman is proud of the school and the work he and others did to design and renovate the campus. He wrote the following on our class reunion Web site:

"One of my most rewarding accomplishments has been my work for the Town of Fairfield and the Board of Education. Along with some very talented people, our team helped design and manage the renovation and construction of four schools. Obviously, the Warde project was very special to me, and at times it seemed like I spent more time there during its renovation than I did as a student. I hope everyone will have a chance to see the new Fairfield Warde High School. A brand new synthetic playing field, a spectacular music wing, media center and a new look for each house. Take the time and stop by for a visit."

My son and I will be at the school this weekend to take in a performance of Seussical: the Musical, presented by the Fairfield Teen Players, in the school auditorium. Performances are Friday and Saturday, August 4, 5, 11, and 12, at 8 p.m. and a matinee this Sunday, August 6, at 2 p.m. If you're in the area, take in the show and enjoy the beautiful campus and auditorium.



I spent an entire afternoon at the school in May taking photographs inside and outside for the class reunion Web site. I'm proud to say I'm a graduate of Andrew Warde High School.

Happy anniversary!

Paul