Three Corners & a Table for Five

Leave it to Tony Procaccini to organize another get-together. This time, five Andrew Warde graduates, including four from our Class of 1976, met for pizza and libations at Three Corners Restaurant in Fairfield on Sunday evening, February 18.

It was a relaxing, comfortable, and pleasant evening for all of us. Our gathering included Kim Nagy, Steve Schempp, Paul Liptak, Tony, and me.

"I must admit I had a great time at Three Corners," wrote Kim. "Steve, it was really nice meeting you and I enjoyed hearing about Afghanistan. I'll never complain about 95 degree weather again."

"Thanks, Tony, for arranging the get-together at Three Corners," added Paul Liptak. "It was good to see you again. Steve, it was also good to see you again after all these years, and to see you are alive and well. Best wishes on your trip back to Afghanistan."

This typist had a wonderful time. Old friendships were rekindled, and new friendships were born. I'm looking forward to another get-together very soon.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.

It's Not Whether You Win or Lose ...

I've been following the Warde boys' basketball team's fortunes (or misfortunes) somewhat casually this season. I knew the Mustangs were winless and suffered a pair of setbacks to arch-rival Ludlowe.

So, after reading an editorial in The Fairfield Citizen-News this morning about the spirit and never-say-die attitude of the squad, I decided to travel to Melville Avenue to watch the team play its final game of the season. After all, I have the week off, and a trip down Memory Lane seemed like a good idea.

The first thing I noticed when I walked into the school was the trophy case and displays. There are photos of the basketball teams of the early and mid 1970s, and I couldn't help but spend time reminiscing about the good old days. However, as noted in earlier blog entries, the one glaring omission in the gymnasium is any reference to Andrew Warde High School.

There are countless banners listing championship teams and All-FCIAC and All-State athletes at Fairfield High School and Fairfield Warde dating back to 1987, but it's as if anything prior to FHS never existed. There is not one single acknowledgement of Andrew Warde High School.

As for the crowd, it was sparse. In fact, there may have been more fans from Ridgefield than from Fairfield. I could have counted the number of people at the game without any problem. Other than athletic director Chris Manfredonia introducing the two seniors and their parents before the game, there wasn't any public address announcer. Also, there weren't any programs on sale. These two errors are inexcusable.

The Mustangs got off to a slow start and trailed by 12 points, 17-5, early in the game. They scored the next 13 points, somewhat surprisingly, to take an 18-17 lead, and the game was tied at 25-25 at the halftime intermission. Warde outscored the Tigers, 10-7, in the third quarter to take a three-point lead into the final frame. There was plenty of optimism that the Mustangs could possibly avoid a winless campaign. Unfortunately, for this alum, Ridgefield took control of the game in the last stanza, though, and won going away.

Despite the final score and the last-place finish, I was impressed with the squad's perseverance. The team never gave up, even when it became apparent Warde was not going to win. The coach, Walt Fitzgerald, is a veteran, having coached at Roger Ludlowe High School for many years. He kept pushing the troops, and I was impressed with his positive attitude and good sportsmanship, which have rubbed off on his charges.

I chatted briefly with Dave Schultz, a '73 Warde grad who is now the athletic director at Ludlowe High School. His Falcons' cagers finished their season Monday night with a home defeat to Darien, and he was there to support Warde. I saw him clapping for the Mustangs throughout the game.

The bottom line is that the evening didn't have the same feel or "atmosphere" as when we went to Warde. Sure, many of the students recognized me, and a few even broke into a chant of "What's the Weather?" during the game. I guess since it's been 31 years since we were seniors at Warde, too much has changed. I still can't bring myself to call the players the Mustangs. They will always be the Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles to me.

But the one lesson Walt Fitzgerald and his Mustangs' cagers taught all of us at the game is that it's not whether you win or lose that counts, but how you play the game. They were competitive, inspired, and classy. You can't ask for much more than that.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.

A Homecoming for a True Hero

Not a day goes by when I don't think of our valiant men and women overseas protecting our way of life at home. They are sacrificing far too much, and they are the true heroes of our country. This weekend, we have an opportunity to thank one of our heroes. Classmate Steve Schempp, who has been stationed in Afghanistan, arrives in Connecticut today to visit with some of his family and friends.

This Sunday evening, a small get-together is being planned at Three Corners Restaurant in Fairfield to salute Steve and reminisce about our days at Andrew Warde High School. The gathering gets underway at 6 o'clock. Reunion committee chairman Tony Procaccini organized the get-together.

"As luck would have it, my life has turned out far better than I could have ever hoped," Schempp wrote. "My job has sent me to my current assignment in Afghanistan, though I've had short stays in Iraq, Kuwait, and Dubai. Dubai is a paradise on Earth, but very pricey. Iraq and Kuwait both, well, let me put it this way: you really wouldn't want to vacation there. I can't state that emphatically enough.

"I am currently working for the infamous Halliburton Company; however, the division I work for has split from Halliburton and is now KBR, Inc., a publicly traded company that just had an IPO listed on the NYSE."

I've been corresponding with Steve on and off for a few months, and I'm impressed by his positive attitude and courage. Each day we read about and see the events in Afghanistan and Iraq. I'm sure many of you have friends and relatives in one of those areas of the world. In fact, a former student of mine was killed in Iraq over a year ago. Our valiant men and women need our support.

So, this Sunday and every day, salute the true heroes of our nation. Classmate Steve Schempp deserves our thanks and support.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.

A "Happy 50th Birthday" Reunion for Class of '75

Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1975 has come up with a unique celebration later this year. The class is touting its 32nd reunion, which usually isn't sufficient cause for a grand affair. However, the reunion committee is calling it a "50th birthday celebration!"

What a great idea! Members of the Class of 1975 will be turning 50 years old this year, and what better reason to get together and celebrate the milestone than with their high school class?

The reunion announcement appeared in Sunday's Connecticut Post, and naturally it caught my eye. I know we just had our 30th reunion this past August, but what about a 50th birthday party next year? It certainly doesn't have to be on the scale of our 30th reunion, but it would afford us a wonderful opportunity to stay in touch.

We were born during a special time in history. Locally, Fairfield was experiencing tremendous growth in the mid- to late-1950s. Over the last two years, there have been 50th anniversary celebrations for Andrew Warde High School, Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, Osborn Hill School (where I attended kindergarten), and my parish, St. Pius X.

The Class of 1975 is holding its 50th birthday bash September 29 at the Trumbull Marriott. Classmates are invited to contact Rick Norell, Mike Farkas, or Mary Ann Colihan for more information.

A 50th birthday celebration sounds like a great idea. Let me know what you think.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.