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.

****************
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

Memories of Years Gone By

One photo can evoke pleasant memories from over a generation ago. I received a few comments about the Sunday photos I took, especially the image of the Fairfield First Baptist Church high atop the hill off Stratfield Road.

Tony Procaccini wrote, "The first photo, of the Baptist church, is next door to my grandparents' former house, 1034 Stratfield Road, a big white house on the hill, hidden from view for the most part from all directions.

"I went there by foot every Friday night in third grade (approx. 1968) to sleep over. (At the time my widowed grandmother and two unmarried sons lived there.) Same routine: dinner at around 6:00, CBS News w/Walter Cronkite at 7:00, "The Wild, Wild West" from 7:30 to 8:30, then bedtime. Remember the freeze frames at the end of each of the 4 segments? James West? Artemus Gordon?

"Saturdays, I snuck through the bushes to either the Tadduni's house or the church grounds many, many times. That photo brings back memories."

Mark Waxman added, "Walter Cronkite; brings back memories. We watched him while we were sitting in the kitchen eating dinner. Remember watching the Vietnam war on TV?

"Billie Jean King and Bobbie Riggs? Yes, I watched the Wild Wild West too. Fairfield was were we got our first color TV. That was parked in my parents' bedroom. I don't remember what size, but I remember it wasn't huge. Going from black and white, to color and now HDTV, what changes in that medium over the past 30 plus years."

I distinctly remember watching Walter Cronkite on CBS every evening and watching the vivid images of the Vietnam War, too. I have strong memories of watching it in my grandmother's room upstairs, and envying her for not having to get up for work or school every morning. Of course, we watched black-and-white television, adorned with rabbit ears, and a worn out knob to turn the channels. There weren't any remotes back then. There was a light behind the knob to show what channel was on, but I distinctly remember it was always broken.

I hope you enjoy the blog as much as I enjoy producing it.

Paul

Fairfield Fall Photos

Sunday was such a perfect Autumn day it was good to get outside and enjoy the sights of Fairfield. For those of you who have moved out of town, I hope you enjoy these images. They may even evoke pleasant memories. Click each image to enlarge.

I spent a good deal of time on the eastern side of town with my digital camera, and I'm sure you'll agree the photos capture the beauty of the day.



This is a front view of the Fairfield First Baptist Church atop the hill off Stratfield Road. The sky was clear and blue all day long.



Fairfield Woods Middle School still looks great after all these years. The school first opened in the mid 1950s as Fairfield Woods Elementary School. Later it became a junior high school for many classmates.



Sunday is usually a slow day at area businesses, and that was the case at the Stratfield shopping center on the corner of Stratfield Road and Fairfield Woods Road.



Sacred Heart University continues to attract students nationwide. The Park Avenue school is building a solid reputation in town.



Many of us played in the Fairfield National Little League at Melville Field. It's still home to little league games after all these years.



The entrance to the Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course is colorful as plants adorn the welcome sign off Route 59.



Autumn colors were in abundance at The Plant Factory on Black Rock Turnpike near the Merritt Parkway. Naturally, I purchased a few mums while I was there.



Some classmates attended Jennings School on Palm Drive in Fairfield. The school opened in 1967, and today it houses the smallest elementary school population in Fairfield.

You may view the entire photo album online as a slideshow or individually.

Paul

"Where Are They Now?" Floyd Scholz

This is the second weekly installment of Where Are They Now? The series profiles classmates and teachers 30 years after our graduation from Andrew Warde High School. If you have a profile you'd like to see featured, please send it to me at pppiorek@news12.com, and I'll publish it.

Floyd Scholz is universally recognized as one of the preeminent woodcarvers and painters in the world. Now in his 38th year of carving, it has been during the past 25 years that he has enjoyed tremendous success as a professional artist, author, teacher and musician.

His portrayals of eagles, hawks, owls and other large birds have won him a large, enthusiastic international following. As the author of five award-winning books on the art form, his in-depth knowledge of birds, especially raptors, and bird carving and painting techniques combined with an easy going and engaging teaching style have enabled Floyd to influence a whole generation of wildfowl carvers and artists.

He shares his love of birds and passion for art with students from around the world through his wildly successful carving and painting seminars at the Vermont Raptor Academy located in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont. Floyd’s incredibly realistic sculptures are consistent top award winners at major shows throughout the United States and Canada and are in great demand, commanding prices up to $300,000.00 from discerning collectors worldwide.

Scholz and his formidable bird carvings have been featured in a number of prestigious publications including Smithsonian, Forbes, Yankee, People, Guitar Player, Vermont Life and many others to numerous to mention. As the result of his many national television appearances, he is one of the select few artists alive today to have attained celebrity status.

His highly prized works can be found in many museums and the collections of many famous and powerful people throughout the world. Floyd and his wife, Beatriz, divide their time between homes in Vermont, Florida and South America.

Next week: Mr. John Honey

A Dozen Facts from 1976

Here are some facts and figures from 1976 as we eagerly await the second installment of Bi-Weekly Warde Trivia this Friday morning.

I'm sure you recall that Gerald Ford was our president in 1976 until he was defeated in the November election. The adjacent map (click to enlarge) shows the national results of the 1976 presidential election in which Jimmy Carter defeated Ford. Can you name Ford's vice president? The answer is below.

1. The population of the United States was 218,035,164

2. The average life expectancy was 72.9 years

3. The Dow Jones industrial average topped out at 1004

4. Federal spending reached $371.79 billion

5. Inflation was at 8.7%

6. Unemployment reached 8.5%

7. The average cost of a new home was $48,000

8. The median household income was $12,686

9. The cost of a first-class stamp was 13 cents

10. The cost of a regular gallon of gas was 59 cents

11. The cost of a dozen eggs was 84 cents

12. The cost of a gallon of milk was $1.65

Gerald Ford's vice president was none other than Nelson A. Rockefeller.

Paul