Web Site Featured at Warde Day Celebration

When I began this Web site nearly 10 years ago, it was specifically designed for the 30-year reunion of the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976. However, during the ensuing years, it has become a Web site celebrating the history of AWHS.

It was an honor and a thrill to participate in the annual Warde Day celebration yesterday morning. I was contacted earlier this year by Pete Shanazu, a current teacher at Fairfield Warde High School and event organizer, and asked to present two classes on the history of the high school to the current juniors and seniors at Fairfield Warde High School.

This Web site was the focus of the two classes, and the students thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the school. The students learned about the opening of the school in 1956, the innovative house plan which was ahead of its time, the memorable sports accomplishments and championships, notable alumni, and how and why the school become Fairfield High School in 1988.

The students watched the video of a 1962 graduate singing the school song, the 1976 classic video of the school, the 1981 state championship baseball game highlights, and the Class of 1962 50-year reunion video presentation. I also showed them copies of the Crimson Crier school newspaper, an old school hat, and various school yearbooks.

I hope to be back next year.

Paul

Crimson Eagles Used Four Pitchers to Defeat McMahon in 'Slugfest' 52 Years Ago Today

Andrew Warde High School's baseball team virtually locked up first place and the FCIAC Eastern Division championship for the second straight year by defeating Brien McMahon High School, 11-9, in eight innings, Thursday, May 23, 1963.

First baseman Gary DuBoys assured the Warde triumph when he smashed a two-run home run with none out in the first extra inning, following a leadoff single by hard-hitting Al Englander, to break open a high-scoring battle which was played under protest by the Senators after a second-inning rhubarb at the Eagles' diamond. The Senators charged that the umpire changed his ruling from a foul to fair ball on a pop up which was turned into an inning-ending double play by Warde catcher Doug Goodfellow.

Coach Bob Jackson used four pitchers for the Eagles. The hosts blew an early 6-0 lead, but they staged a three-run comeback rally in the sixth inning to deadlock the game at 9-9 after McMahon surged ahead by scoring nine runs in the fifth and sixth frames at the expense of Bill Binkiwitz and Pat McDonough. Barry Turlish ended a four-run splurge by the Senators in the sixth, and southpaw Larry Mischik pitched two scoreless innings to gain credit for the hard-fought win.

It was the ninth conference victory in 13 contests for the Eagles, moving them two-and-a-half games ahead of Stamford Catholic (6-6) in the Eastern division standings, with only three games remaining on the regular-season schedule. The defeat dropped Brien McMahon to third place in the division with a 6-7 record.

A walk to Mischik, John Nemeth's single, a two-run triple by Englander, and Pete Jankovsky's sacrifice fly produced the three sixth-inning runs which pulled Warde into a 9-9 tie and sent the twilight game into extra innings.

Paul

St. Emery's Parish Third Annual Guest Artist Day Planned for Sunday, May 31

Saint Emery’s Parish, Fairfield, will hold its Third Annual Guest Artist Day on Sunday, May 31, at the 9:00 AM mass, according to Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 classmate and parish Music Director Anthony Procaccini.

"The day is set aside for all to thank the choir for their season, and to add an outstanding talent to the mix,” Procaccini notes. “This year the honors go to baritone Frank Mastrone."

Choral selections will include, among others, John Stainer’s “God So Loved the World,” while Mastrone will perform “Ave Maria” written by Michael Cooney, Music Director of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Fairfield.

Choir members (pictured above) include (L-R front row) Louise Miller, Barbara Fencil, Veronica Dicso, and Marie Warren; (L-R back row) Bob Rouse, Claudette Apple, and Sandy McCarthy.

The public is cordially invited. A free reception, provided by the parish council volunteers, will follow the Mass. 

The church address is 838 Kings Highway East. Street parking only is available, and arriving early is recommended.

Baritone Frank Mastrone (pictured at the left), a Stamford resident, graduated from Central Connecticut State College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting and directing. He studied acting with William Esper and voice with Carmel Harris. Mastrone was part of the first national cast of “Cats,” and subsequently appeared as Jean Val Jean in “Les Miserables” and in the title role “Jackal and Hyde.” In the original company of “Phantom of the Opera,” he performed over 4,000 times in 25 years.

His concert performances have taken place in the USA and Europe, and he has toured in “Evita” and “Mamma Mia!” He has performed benefits for local Catholic organizations and currently teaches at the Greenwich Performing Arts Studio.

Anthony Procaccini graduated summa cum laude from the University of Bridgeport Music Department, and has been Organist or Music Director in Catholic churches in New York City and Fairfield County. He also plays piano, string bass and bass guitar, is a Frank Sinatra historian, a veteran of ten years with Benny Rae, and also performs Jazz, opera, and classical music.

Longtime Fairfield Warde High School Headmaster James Coyne to Retire This Summer

To the Fairfield Warde Parent Community:

Attached to this message is a letter announcing my retirement this summer. Please be aware that the HR Department of the Fairfield Public Schools is beginning the process of selecting a new headmaster for FWHS.

There will be an open focus group discussion for Warde parents regarding the qualities and qualifications of the new headmaster next Thursday from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM in the FWHS Library. All parents are invited to attend and to participate.

Best wishes,
Jim Coyne
Headmaster FWHS

Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1965 to Hold 50-Year Reunion in June

Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1965 will hold its 50-year reunion next month. That's the word from class member Marcie Seigal.

"As you know, our basketball team won the Eastern division FCIAC championship in 1965 and we are trying to quickly locate any available newspaper articles, photos and memorabilia about our team," she wrote.

The reunion is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Il Palio Restaurant, 5 Corporate Drive, Shelton. The cost is $75 per person, which includes a cash bar and music by Dreamin'.

The class has a Facebook page with information about the reunion. Please click the banner below to visit the page.

The weekend-long event includes a happy hour, Friday, June 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Southport Brewing Company, a tour of Andrew Warde High School, Sunday, June 28, at 11 a.m., and Jennings Beach "playtime" Saturday and Sunday. Please request a free beach sticker when mailing payment for the reunion.

Please send a check made payable to AWHS Class of 1965 by May 15 to Jan Jurgielewicz, 80 Pocahontas Road, Redding, Connecticut 06896.

Donations for a scholarship for the 2015 senior class president of Andrew (Fairfield) Warde High School are welcome by check at the door. Please send your favorite class photo to Jill Soderholm at jsoder7524@gmail.com.

Paul

Andrew Warde High School Class of 1965 Looking for Articles and Game Summaries of 50th Anniversary of School's FCIAC East Division Boys' Basketball Championship

Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1965 will hold its 50-year reunion next month, and the reunion committee is hoping to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the boys' basketball team's FCIAC East Division championship.

Class member Marcie Seigal wrote, "Kudos to you on your Andrew Warde High School blog. I graduated from Warde in 1965 and our 50-year class reunion will be held this June. As you know, our basketball team won the Eastern division FCIAC championship in 1965 and we are trying to quickly locate any available newspaper articles, photos and memorabilia about our team.

"I know that the Bridgeport Library history department has the Bridgeport Post on microfiche but unfortunately it is not indexed. If you have specific dates of the articles, photos and box scores referenced in your blog or any suggestions on how we could access additional related material, I would greatly appreciate your advice."

I have begun searching through my archives for every boys' basketball game article and box score. It may take awhile, but this Web site will make it happen. As for now, let's reminisce about the Crimson Eagles' exciting 1965 FCIAC East Division championship victory. I'm sure the member of the Class of 1965 feel as if it happened yesterday.

Coach J. Donald Feeley's Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team defeated Norwalk, 64-60, to win the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Eastern Division championship February 22, 1965.

Rusty Helgren scored 23 points and Bruce Bernhard added 21 for the winners. Marty Melson grabbed 19 rebounds for the Eagles. Future NBA all-star Calvin Murphy tallied 33 points for the Green Wave.

Bernhard canned 10 points in the first quarter as he riddled the Norwalk zone defense with jumpers from the corner to help his team take a 21-10 advantage. The Crimson Eagles led at the half, 35-24, and after three quarters, 51-42, before withstanding the potented closing rush of the Green Wave.

Murphy tallied 10 points, dished off for a pair of easy baskets, stole the ball twice, and forced two jump balls in the final quarter before fouling out with 22 seconds remaining in a scramble for a rebound with Melson.

While Helgren and Bernhard spearheaded the Warde offensive attack, Melson's performance was the key to the coveted triumph as he tallied 10 points and pulled down a game-high 19 rebounds.

Murphy hit on 14 of 29 field goal attempts and five straight foul shots. His teammates clicked on 13 of 30 shots from the floor for a team shooting average of 46 percent.

Warde converted 27 of 60 shots from the field for a solid 45 percent and made 10 of 18 foul shots. Despite Melson's domination of the boards, Norwalk enjoyed a 37-35 rebounding advantage.

The game was decided in the first period when Murphy missed all six of shots while Bernhard tallied 10 points and Helgren added six for the Fairfield cagers. Warde ran out to a 13-4 cushion before lanky LaSalle Reynolds scored a couple of baskets. Green Wave captain Ab Latoison's basket with 2:18 left in the opening session was the only other Norwalk basket.

Murphy took over in the second quarter, though, netting 12 of Norwalk's 14 points as the Green Wave crept to within five points twice. However, two baskets by Brian Silvestro and single hoops by George Amarant and Helgren over-matched the lone non-Murphy tally, a bucket by Curtis Brown, with 17 seconds left in the first half.

The FCIAC co-champions went on to defeat Fairfield Prep, 66-54, in the opening round of the state tournament as Helgren scored 33 points and Bernhard added 16. Jim Collins tallied 16, Stan Czulewicz 11 and Mark Valentine 10 for the Jesuits.

Paul