Former Crier Editor Recalls Warde's Charter in Prestigious Math Club 43 Years Ago

Andrew Warde High School was awarded a charter in Mu Alpha Theta, an international high school and junior college mathematics club, according to a published story in the Bridgeport Sunday Post on this date in 1967.

"It was a significant honor to be invited into the club because there were only a few of us who qualified," wrote Gino Massafra, one of 26 Warde students who earned membership in the club. "Candidly, I often felt that most of my peers in that group were much brighter than I was," added the former editor-in-chief of the Crimson Crier.

"I was fortunate to have classmates who were remarkably talented young students, some of whom went on to Harvard, MIT, Yale, Cornell, and Columbia. Being considered a part of that group was quite humbling," noted Massafra.

Dr. Harold V. Huneke, the national secretary treasurer who was associate professor of Math at the University of Oklahoma, said only those schools "with excellent math programs earned membership in the club since all courses in math and the qualifications of the mathematics faculty and students are examined in detail by the club's governors and officers."

Miniumum requirements for eligibility for a student were completion with distinction of at least four semesters of college preparatory math and enrollment in the fifth semester. The student must have had an overall grade of at least a B in all of his or her high school work. Leonard Launer was the faculty sponsor for the club.

"I recognize the name Leonard Launder, but I’ve been racking my brain to try to remember the names of my other math teachers during the period from 1994-1998, and I am coming up blank," admitted Massafra by email yesterday. "What I do recall is that one particular new member of the faculty was a good-looking young guy who taught us algebra and who had all the girls swooning, sort of a Richard Chamberlain/Dr. Kildare look. Perhaps someone else can recall his name."

Other students who earned membership into the exclusive club included John Benson, Leonard Bernstein, Merritt Cole, Robert Contolini, Francine Ecsedy, Peter Guarnaccia, Gail Harinstein, Michael Hartenberg, Michael Howard, Gwenn Klein, Karen Kovacs, Sherry Kramer, Iris Mayer, Craig McPherson, Arlene Neuman, Jack Raineault, Philip Schopick, Hilary Shapiro, Michael Shapiro, Emily Sheketoff, Brad Silver, John Simone, Carol Strickman, Sandra Walsh, and Mark Windt.

Massafra moved to Atlanta in 1968 years ago and never left. "Forty-two years later, I consider it the best decision I ever made," he pointed out. "I met my wife here. She’s a transplant from central Illinois, and we now enjoy traveling and spending time with our two grandsons."

Massafra attended Georgia Tech where he majored in Aerospace Engineering. "The aerospace industry took a hit, however, after we landed on the moon in 1969. With that writing on the wall, I redirected my efforts to a BA Degree in Management. Then, I was introduced to the legal profession, and that led me to where I am today as a trial attorney specializing in business litigation."

Massafra and his wife are active volunteers with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. They will be in New York this weekend for an ASO concert at Carnegie Hall. His parents still live in Fairfield, and his three brothers, Robert, Mark, and Carl, who also attended Andrew Warde, still live in the area.

Paul

Gino Massafra, Former Editor-in-Chief of the Crimson Crier, Donated Four Issues of the Newspaper from 1967-68 to My Web Site

Gino Massafra, former editor-in-chief of the Crimson Crier during the 1967-68 school year, graciously sent to me four issues of the newspaper from 43 years ago. You will find the links to each of the newspapers below. They are in pdf format and have been added to the Crimson Crier archive. Please read the cover letter which he sent to me.

I am grateful to Mr. Massafra for his generous donation. Special thanks are also extended to Mr. Todd Gukelberger of Vintage Images in Fairfield for uploading each of the pages and converting them to the pdf format. It took a lot of time and effort.

"The December 1967 issue was of particular significance (and fun), as the Board of Education was caught off guard with our spoof --- complete with architectural drawing of a proposed swimming pool," wrote Massafra, who now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

"My recollection is that a lot of Fairfield residents called the Board inquiring about the funding for the pool. Of course, the Board had no clue what they were talking about! You will also note that we had two faculty members in on the scheme, as they posed for the alleged ground-breaking photo shown on the front page."

Massafra added, "In many respects, it was a tumultuous and rebellious time for young people, and, in retrospect, I believe that a reader gains a sense of that through some of the articles that we published in the Crier. I am happy to make this contribution to the Web site."

Please know that there is a cost involved in converting and publishing each of these issues. If you enjoy reminiscing about your days at Andrew Warde High School, I would appreciate your support. Naturally, if you have any old film, photos, stories, or anything which would be of interest, I would like to hear from you.

One graduate from the school's early years is searching her attic for copies of the Crimson Crier from 1956-60. She will be sending them to me soon, and I will add them to the archive.

You can also help by making a purchase from my Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop. The holidays are just around the corner, and you can shop from the comfort and safety of your own home. Take a look at all the gifts which are available in the gift shop. I'm sure there's something you'd like.

Please click the links below to access each of the newspapers. Enjoy!

December 1967 issue of the Crimson Crier

January 1968 Issue of the Crimson Crier

March 1968 issue of the Crimson Crier

April 1968 issue of the Crimson Crier

The complete Crimson Crier archive is available for download. Simply click the link or access the link in the menu at the upper-right-hand side of the page.

Paul

Second Half Comeback Sparks Warde Gridders Upset of Ludlowe on This Date 37 Years Ago

A bad snap from center and a recovered fumble allowed Andrew Warde High School's football team to score a pair of second half touchdowns and rally for a 16-14 upset victory over cross-town rival Roger Ludlowe High School at the winners' field before a bi-partisan crowd of 4,000 people on this date, Saturday, October 20, 1973.

Reliable halfback Ken Aiello grounded out 180 yards on 30 carries to spark the Crimson Eagles to their first FCIAC victory against five overall losses and left them with a 1-3 mark in the Eastern Division. Ludlowe fell to 1-3 in the East and 2-4 overall.

Aiello, who also tallied on both extra point conversions, received a plaque from the Fairfield Lions Club as Warde's most valuable player in the game, while Bob Haggerty was voted Ludlowe's top performer in post game ceremonies.

The Flying Tigers tallied at 2:52 of the first quarter when quarterback Joe Rietano sneaked across the goal line on a fourth-and-goal sitution. The 10-play scoring drive started when Tom Danielson fumbled on his own 31 yard line. Kevin Klik kicked the extra point to give the guests a 7-0 lead.

Coach Emil Taft's squad added another seven points on the first play of the second quarter when Rietano hit Paul Sullivan with a 21-yard completion and Klik added the extra point to take a seemingly secure 14-0 cushion into intermission.

But the fired-up Eagales of Bill Davis weren't going to be denied and turned opportunistic by using the Ludlowe miscues to pull out the win. The first break came when Ludlowe punter Mark Greenwalt was not able to handle the snap from center and was brought down on hos own 34 yard line.

Later, Aiello's 23-yard carry brought the ball down to the nine yard line, and two plays later Steve Cameron crossed the goal line with 3:23 remainin in the third quarter. Aiello fought his way into the end zone for two additional points.

The deciding touchdown came after tackle Julius Dudics pounced on a Ludlowe fumble at the Tigers' 31. A facemask penalty and a 12-yard run by Aiello put the pigskin on the eight yard line. On third-and-goal, quarterback Jim DelVecchio hit paydirt from one yard away to tie the score at 14-14 with 6:29 left in the game. Aiello again battled his way into the end zone for the deciding two points

Paul

Warde Cheerleaders Featured in Newspaper Article & Photo 44 Years Ago This Morning

"Yeah, rah, rah, Warde! W-A-R-D-E. What does it spell? Victory!"

The Andrew Warde High School cheerleaders were featured in a story and photo which appeared in The Bridgeport Sunday Post, October 16, 1966. The 1966-67 squad included captain Debbie Ciccia, co-captain Cindy Bernhard, Sue Poltrack, Edna Nardozzi, Lynn Wesche, Ellen Sheiman, Pat Thurston, Pat Tomlinson, Gina Zarilli, and Lyse Kalfus.

For the first time in the school's brief history, senior cheerleaders proudly displayed a badge on the arm of their sweaters which read, "Warde Cheerleader, 1966-67. Senior." The uniforms, which displayed a megaphone emblem and culottes for football games, and a vest with a megaphone emblem and culottes for basketball games, were brand new. All the cheerleaders, with the exception of the captain, were new to the squad, too.

After practicing three nights a week during the Summer, the squad quickly learned the traditional cheers in addition to two new cheers: "Go, Fight, Win," and "Battle Cry." Once the school year began, the squad continued to practice twice a week after school for one-and-a-half hours, and one day a week after school in the Winter.

Paul

Warde & Ludlowe Placed Restrictions on Student Smoking 53 Years Ago This Week

Under a new policy adopted at Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe high schools, only juniors and seniors were permitted to smoke and only at the end of lunch period, according to a front-page story which appeared in The Bridgeport Post 53 years ago this week. The general ban on smoking at other times anywhere on school property remained in effect.

Freshmen and sophomore students who were originally permitted to smoke with 11th and 12th graders had to wait until they became upperclassmen to smoke. The story appears in the lower-right hand side of the Saturday, October 12, 1957 publication below.

Daniel B. Fitts, hedamaster at Andrew Warde High School, and Roger L. Warner, Roger Ludlowe High School's headmaster, said the new restrictions were the result of a desire by parents to discourage smoking. In addition, it was illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to purchase cigarettes.

The two administrators pointed out that the smoking ban was eased at Roger Ludlowe High School several years earlier because of the serious policing problem it created.

"Teachers had to be assigned to various school areas to watch against smoking," they pointed out. The previous policy permitted all students to smoke in a certain area at a designated time.

Violators of the ban faced stiff punishment, the headmasters reported. There was an automatic two-week suspenion period after the second offense. A year earlier, eight Warde students and two Ludlowe students were suspended.

Paul