From the 1975 Archives

Here's a real find! Stacey Marden found her copy of the program from the Thanksgiving Day football game between Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe high schools in 1975. If you recall, that season, during our senior year, the Crimson Eagles defeated the rival Flying Tigers twice on the gridiron, marking the only time either school accomplished the feat.

The program is a classic, including the rosters of both teams, team photos, and a color photo of the Andrew Warde cheerleaders, too. Many of the sponsors listed in the program are no longer in business.

Were you at the game? The Eagles won the contest, which was played at Ludlowe, 28-6. Warde defeated Ludlowe earlier in the 1975 season, too, 27-6.

The program also features a list of the Parent's Club members from Roger Ludlowe High School, which includes Mr. and Mrs. Fern Tetreau. A cover letter welcomes supporters of our Fairfield teams from School Superintendent Joseph Zapytowski. Do you remember him?

Clampett's Sports Center, 1530 Post Road, purchased a full-page ad with the slogan, "It is better to build boys than to mend men." Other advertisers included Loh Ford of Bridgeport, Citizen's National Bank of Fairfield, Parrott Real Estate Associates, Connecticut National Bank, Varsity Sports, Arthur's of Southport, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Greenfield Pharmacy, and the Chase Driving School.

This year, the Fairfield Warde field was dedicated in the names of Fern Tetreau, the school's first coach, and the late Bill Davis, who skippered the Eagles' gridders in the fall of 1975. Warde won the game, 21-12, last Thursday.


Thanks, Stacey. This sure brings back a lot of memories.

Paul

Tribute to Fern Tetreau

I wrote and delivered the following tribute to Fern Tetreau at halftime of the game against Ludlowe. The Warde field was named in honor of Tetreau, Andrew Warde High School's first football coach, Thanksgiving morning.

When Andrew Warde High School opened in 1956, the Crimson Eagles needed a football coach. They didn't have to look very far, however. Fern Tetreau was the head coach at Roger Ludlowe High School, on the other side of town, and he accepted the challenge to start a brand new program.

Although the first two years delivered growing pains and only two victories, Tetreau was building a solid program at the Melville Avenue high school. As hard as it may seem to believe, just three years after Andrew Warde High School opened, the Crimson Eagles won a state football championship! The 1959 team went undefeated in nine games, and even produced a future National Football League star.

One year later, Tetreau's gridders went 8-1. Their two-year cumulative record was 17-1. And this for a program which was just starting.

Fern Tetreau is seated in the dark raincoat and hood holding his plaque and proclamation at the field dedication ceremonies at Warde High School Thanksgiving morning.

Bob Anderson, a former housemaster at Warde who passed away a few years ago, played at Ludlowe and then at Warde. He wrote about Tetreau's 1959 team.

"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 had to be able to do everything. That threw off the defense through Fern's effective use of the draw, screen, and third down-11 quick kick." Six of the nine games that year Warde held the opponent scoreless.

Fern's move to Warde created quite a rivalry in his own family. His son, Mike, was the quarterback at Roger Ludlowe. Playing football was a family tradition. Fern once said, "We both wanted to win the big game, but we were pulling for each other, too."

Fern was the innovator on the gridiron. His love for the game has never waned. To him, football represents the belief that when you work together as a team, and stay focused, any dream is within reach. To Fern, football was learning about life --- dealing with victory and defeat, getting knocked down, and getting up again.

At Ludlowe, his 1954 team was ranked number three in the state. On his state championship team of 1959, 15 players went on to play college football, and Dave Graham played tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles. Tetreau always preferred the unexpected on the football field. He liked to run the Statue of Liberty play, where the quarterback fades back to pass, and the running back grabs the ball. He ran draw plays and screen passes. And, he taught his players to think on the field.

Tetreau is a native of Maine, speaks fluent French, and when he left Warde in 1970, he became an administrator at Fairfield Woods Junior High School. For two years, he took in a Cuban refugee foster child who spent time in an orphanage. Today, Roberto "Chico" Rodriguez is a business executive.

Bob Anderson also wrote the following about Fern Tetreau: "Every now and then when 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 the value of human relationships. Thanks, Fern, from the many of us who continue to call you 'Coach.'"

Without further ado, "Coach" Fern Tetreau, a state champion, and the very first football coach at Andrew Warde High School. Warde athletic director Chris Manfredonia will present a plaque to the man known as "Coach."

Photos courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com.

Paul

Warde Wins Thanksgiving Game, 21-12

The following story appeared in The Connecticut Post on Friday morning, November 23, 2006. Here is the Thanksgiving Day game summary of the Warde victory over Ludlowe at Tetreau-Davis Field, 21-12.

With the wind whipping and a cold rain falling, the walk from Tetreau-Davis Field back to the Fairfield Warde locker room could have been a pretty miserable one for the Mustang players.

But with the Gallagher-Banyas trophy safely secured in their mitts following a 21-12 win over cross-town rival Fairfield Ludlowe on Thursday morning, seniors Michael Primsky and Jamie Kristy nearly skipped the 200-or-so yards to the warmth of indoors.

"Our seniors have persevered through a lot," Warde coach Tony Catapano said. "It's good for them to get rewarded."

It was another senior — tailback Silus Shelly — that enabled the Mustangs to even the newly revived Fairfield rivalry at one game apiece.

Shelly ran for 71 yards on 14 carries, scoring three times to lift Warde to a second-half comeback in front of roughly 250 water-logged fans.

"Oh man, I'm almost in tears," said Shelly, who earned MVP honors for Warde. "I just go out there trying to help my team however I can." Warde also forced five turnovers and held Ludlowe to minus-14 yards in the second half.

Using a bruising, three-back offense, Warde (2-8) jumped out to an early 8-0 in the first quarter with Shelly scampering in from 13 yards out on the Mustangs' first drive.

Later Warde picked up a safety when Ludlowe senior quarterback Matt Deliberti was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone.

But after the miscue Deliberti — teamed with his younger brother, Mike — led the Falcons (1-9) to a 12-8 halftime lead. Ludlowe got on the board midway through the second quarter on a drive aided by a pair of 15-yard penalties. Matt Deliberti hooked up with his brother Mike from 18 yards out to make it 8-6.

Matt Deliberti then put his team ahead with a 1-yard plunge on a 10-play drive, highlighted by a 28-yard pass to Mike Deliberti on a ball that was tipped by a pair of Warde defenders.

However the second half was a different story for Ludlowe, which couldn't get anything going as the Falcons had trouble holding onto the ball throughout the half.

A muffed snap by Ludlowe on a punt from midfield, recoverd by Kristy, set up the eventual winning score midway through the third. Taking over at the Ludlowe 33, Warde quarterback Ralph Fidaleo hit Primsky for 19 yards to convert a third down, which set up Shelly's second score of the game.

From there the teams traded punts with Shelly going in from four yards shortly into the fourth quarter to end the scoring. Ludlowe turned it over three times in the fourth, including Genero Montefuscoli's recovery of a fumbled snap, and an interception by Kristy that ended the game.

"Once I saw it pop out I got on top of it, like a pig rolling in the dirt," Montefuscoli said. Matt Tierno added an interception for Ludlowe late in the fourth.

"Our mistakes killed us," said Matt Deliberti, who finished 7 for 17 for 85 yards passing and 52 rushing, earning Ludlowe MVP honors. "Obviously it's not the way you want to go out."

Photos courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com.

Tribute to Bill Davis

I wrote and delivered the following tribute to the late Bill Davis at halftime of the game against Ludlowe. The Warde field was named in honor of Davis and Fern Tetreau, Andrew Warde High School's first two football coaches, Thanksgiving morning.

Tom Davis, brother of the late Bill Davis, accepts a plaque and proclamation during the field dedication ceremonies.

For nearly two decades, Bill Davis represented Andrew Warde High School as a student, teacher, assistant coach, and coach. Although he was born in Milford, he grew up in Fairfield, where he played Little League, Babe Ruth, and American Legion baseball.

At Andrew Warde, he played varsity baseball, basketball, and football. He was the captain of Bob Jackson's varsity baseball team in 1965. He played football under Fern Tetreau from 1963 to 1965, and he was captain of the gridiron squad his senior year.

After graduation, he played football at Springfield College. He returned to Warde in the Fall of 1969 when he served as an assistant to Tetreau on the football coaching staff. One year later, Davis became only the second head football coach at Andrew Warde, where he led the Crimson Eagles for a decade.

Bill Davis legacy became well-established over those ten years. Harry Caston played for him in the early 70s, and he said Davis' influence and impact helped him along the way.

Coston said, "To me, it's the lessons that we learn along the way that give our life direction, meaning, and value, that we remember. It was Coach Davis and the things that he did which have provided me with many of the core values and lessons that I treasure. I gratefully acknowledge that I would not have the life that I have enjoyed if not for his belief in me and the chances that he gave me."

Younger brother Tom Davis, who was instrumental in getting the field named after his brother and Fern Tetreau, was influenced by Bill. In fact, Tom played for Bill for three years. And the Davis brothers --- Bill, Tom, Jon, and Bob --- all played for Fern. The Davis and Tetreau families remain close. Fern served as Bill's "best man" at his wedding.

One of Bill's most memorable years was 1975, when his Crimson Eagles defeated Roger Ludlowe twice on the gridiron in the same year, marking the only time that feat has ever been accomplished in Fairfield.

Bill Davis' resume is impressive. He gave much of his life to Andrew Warde High School. He was the Eagles' boys and girls track and field coach, wrestling coach, where he started the program, and lacrosse coach.

In addition to his legacy at Warde, Bill was assistant principal at Tomlinson Middle School, Assistant to the Superintendent for the Fairfield Public Schools, administrator for curriculum in Wilton, Superintendent of Schools in Narragansett, Rhode Island, and Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer for four other schoool districts. And, believe me, I can go on and on.

Sadly, Bill Davis passed away in June of this year. His memory, though, will live on at Warde. In fact, his niece, Allie, plays soccer here, and she'll be playing on her uncle's field.

Warde athletic director Chris Manfredonia would like to present Bill's brother, Tom, with a plaque. Let's have a warm, hearty Fairfield Warde welcome for Tom Davis and the Davis family.

Paul

Random Thoughts

I applaud the players, coaching staffs, officials, parents, and fans for battling the elements during the football game at Warde Thanksgiving morning. The conditions were simply awful. A driving rain fell throughout just about all of the game, and the winds were howling as well.

The halftime dedication ceremony was a nice touch. Unfortunately, although I was able to read the biographies of Fern Tetreau and Bill Davis without much incident, the rain and wind made it almost impossible to turn the pages. In fact, the pages began sticking together and falling apart. I wasn't able to read the best part of the tribute to Fern. That's been bothering me all day and night. Trying to hold the microphone, umbrella, and script in pouring rain and wind is not easy.

Thankfully, the ceremony ended just before the start of the second half. If anything, perhaps it's a good thing my tribute didn't go on much longer. We were soaked in the middle of the field. The highlight of the day --- the unveling of the sign over the scoreboard while the school fight song was being played --- was emotional and gratifying.

Following the halftime field dedication, Tom Davis, brother of the late Coach Bill, joined me, and we spent the second half reminiscing.

From our perch atop the grandstands, the view of the high school, baseball field, softball field, and gym looks exactly like it did over 40 years ago. We chatted about the team's original uniforms, which sported two stripes across each of the shoulders. Tom told me he wore those uniforms as a freshman, and the team changed jerseys for his sophomore season.

The entire Davis family was on hand for the field dedication. His Mom was seated not far from Fern Tetreau, Andrew Warde's original coach. Tetreau is now 85 years young, and the photo of him with his players which appeared in this week's Fairfield Citizen-News is classic. Fern will always be known as "Coach" at Warde and throughout Fairfield.

Tom told me the family is gathering for Thanksgiving dinner at his brother's home in Easton. He and his family are grateful for the support from the Fairfield Warde High School athletic department and the Board of Education.

Both of us clapped whenever Warde made a good play on the field. He was thrilled that the hosts won the game on the day the school forever remembered his brother.

Thanks, Tom, for being such a kind and decent human being. Your brother, Bill, is smiling today. The Davis family has much to be thankful for on this special day.

Watch the News 12 Connecticut feature story on the Thanksgiving Day festivities at Warde High School by clicking here.

Paul

Larsen & Knuth Cop Most Memorable Sports Honors

Andy Larsen and Tom Knuth won the Connecticut Class LL tennis doubles championship during our senior year at Andrew Warde High School. That accomplishment was voted the most memorable athletic achievement during the 1975-76 school year in our latest online poll.

Larsen and Knuth garnered 45% of the votes, well ahead of three other sports achievements. The baseball team's dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Ludlowe, the girls' basketball team's FCIAC championship, and Floyd Scholz new high jump record each received 18% of the votes.

The poll was taken over a two-week period. Congratulations to Tom and Andy for an outstanding accomplishment.

Paul

Blog Prediction: Warde 24, Ludlowe 14

Fairfield Warde is the only team not to have a player on the All-FCIAC football first team. The Mustangs' only victory this season came against winless Bassick. Warde lost last year's renewal of the rivalry against the Falcons at Fairfield Ludlowe, 20-14.

It would seem that the odds are stacked against our high school football team when it plays Ludlowe Thanksgiving morning at 10:30. However, I'm fairly certain Warde will emerge from the contest victorious.

There will be too much emotion on the Warde sideline Thursday morning. The school is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the field will be dedicated and renamed in honor of its first two coaches. Many former players are returning to Warde for the festivities. And, I think Warde has the better football team.

My prediction: The Mustangs will beat Ludlowe, 24-14, in the first meeting between the two schools at Warde in nearly a quarter century.

Tony Procaccini, Class of 1976 reunion chairman: Warde 21, Ludlowe 6. "Keep them (Ludlowe) under double-digits, I say."

Mark Waxman, Class of 1976 (from Ohio): "I think the Ohio State vs. Michigan game was tempered a bit by the Browns vs. Pittsburgh game, and it's hard for me to pick a favorite between Ohio and Michigan when I'm from out of state, and I have relatives in Michigan who are big Michigan fans. It's kind of like the Falklands war back in the 80s. Having relatives in England and Argentina who would I hope would win?

"As far as Warde vs. Ludlowe....Warde all the way!"

Who do you think will win, and what will be the final score? Please email me at pppiorek@news12.com, and I'll publish your prediction.

Fairfield Warde Mustang and Fairfield Ludlowe Falcon football photos from this season are courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com.

Paul

... and now, the Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons!

The school is no longer known as Roger Ludlowe. The nickname is no longer the Flying Tigers. But the rivalry and emotions are sure to be charged when the "other" public high school in Fairfield travels to Melville Avenue to play Warde on Thanksgiving Day.

Memories are sure to be stirred for the alumni of both schools when they gather to renew acquaintances before the 10:30 kickoff. A number of tailgate get-togethers have been planned, and former football players from Andrew Warde, Fairfield, and Roger Ludlowe high schools have been invited to a pre-game breakfast in the cafeteria beginning at 9 o'clock.

There are several reasons why this game has drawn so much attention. First, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Andrew Warde High School. Many former gridders from Warde will be on hand for the contest.

In addition, this is the first meeting between Warde and Ludlowe at our high school in nearly a quarter of a century. The last time these two schools played at Melville Avenue, it marked the final varsity football game ever for the Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles.

Finally, the field will be dedicated and renamed in honor of two legendary football coaches at Andrew Warde High School, Fern Tetreau and Bill Davis. Tetreau's Crimson Eagles won the state championship in 1959 by posting an undefeated 9-0 record, just three years after the school opened. The next year, his charges went 8-1 for a 17-1 cumulative record over two years. Davis succeeded Tetreau and coached from 1970 to 1979, with one of his most notable achievements being the two-game sweep over Ludlowe during our senior year.

As far as the Falcons are concered, this has been an especially tough year on the gridiron. Ludlowe enters the game with a 1-8 record with its only victory coming against winless Bassick. The visitors are sure to be somewhat intimidated by the pomp and circumstance surrounding the events at Warde. Even though Ludlowe won the first renewal of the rivalry last year on its home turf, 20-14, they're sure to be underdogs this time around.

Now that the game is only two days away, let's take a look at the rivalry between the two schools during our senior year at Andrew Warde High School:

Football: Coach Bill Davis' Crimson Eagles defeated Ludlowe twice on the gridiron. Warde won the regular season meeting, 27-13, and the Thanksgiving Day affair, 28-6.

Soccer: Although Warde tied Ludlowe twice by identical 1-1 scores, the Tigers won the coveted Swedish Cup over Constantine "Dino" Vanghele's squad by virtue of their better overall record.

Baseball: The Crimson Eagles, coached by Bob Jackson, posted a dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind victory at Ludlowe by scoring all their runs in the final inning.

Volleyball: Coach Ed Bengermino's FCIAC runner-up Eagles beat Ludlowe two games to one.

Field Hockey: Coach Pat Jennings squad lost a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to the Lady Tigers.

Basketball: Bengermino's cagers dropped a one-sided affair to the Tigers, 80-47.

Ice Hockey: The skaters tied Ludlowe, but the highlight of the season was defeating Wilbur Cross at the New Haven Coliseum.

Wrestling: Although Coach Frank Bent's grapplers finished with a winless record in 13 matches, they lost a narrow decision to Ludlowe, 32-24.

Boys' Track: The team defeated Ludlowe, 84-61, and placed seventh out of 16 teams at the FCIAC championships.

Editor's Note: The information provided on this Web site is courtesy of the Flame yearbook. Unfortunately, some sports summaries didn't include complete information, so I wasn't able to list a few of the sports results.

Fairfield Warde Mustang and Fairfield Ludlowe Falcon football photos from this season are courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com.

Paul

Thanksgiving Game Primer

Are you ready for some football? I hope so. It looks like we'll have a decent turnout for the first Thanksgiving Day football game between Warde and Ludlowe at Melville Avenue since 1984. However, a couple of things have changed since then.

First of all, the Crimson Eagles haven't existed since Andrew Warde became Fairfield High School in 1986. That's when the school adopted the nickname "Mustangs." When Ludlowe reopened a few years ago, Fairfield High School was renamed Fairfield Warde and kept the Mustangs logo and nickname.

Fairfield Ludlowe, which is located in what used to be Roger Ludlowe High School on Unquowa Road, is now known as the home of the Falcons.

I know it will be tempting to cheer for the Crimson Eagles, or to even chant "Eagles Eat Tiger Meat." But that doesn't mean anything anymore.

The football field now has synthetic turf and all new aluminum bleachers. It was completely remodeled a few years ago, and it looks better than ever. I think you'll be impressed with the field. Parent and student volunteers even operate a souvenir shop completely stocked with Mustangs gear. The refreshment stand is located nearby, too.

Both the Mustangs and Falcons are at the bottom of the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference standings. The teams still play in the FCIAC, but since the split, they've had a tough time competing against the high-calibre competition from the likes of Greenwich, which won the league title Friday night, New Canaan, and Bridgeport Central.

The Mustangs and Falcons are both 1-8 and tied with Harding for next-to-last in the conference. Both teams defeated the Bassick Tigers (0-9) this year. Bassick hasn't won a game in over five years.

The Falcons won the first renewal of the Thanksgiving Day rivalry last year, 20-14. The hosts from Unquowa Road jumped out to a quick 20-0 lead at the half, but Warde stormed back with a pair of touchdowns in the second-half to make it a close game. As an eyewitness to the game, it appeared as though 90 percent of the crowd was rooting for Ludlowe. We'll have to change that this year.

Game time is slated for 10:30, and the halftime festivities will be memorable. I'll have an update on our tailgate plans and the history of the Warde/Ludlowe football rivalry tomorrow.

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.

Take part in our latest poll. We welcome your vote as to what you think was the most memorable athletic achievement at Andrew Warde High School during our senior year. The survey is in the right-hand margin.

Fairfield Warde Mustang football photos from this season are courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com. The above photos are from Warde's home victory against Bassick High School.

Paul

Sophomore Music Memories

Thirty-three years ago this week, we were well into our sophomore year at Andrew Warde High School. Here are the top ten songs in the nation for the week of November 17, 1973:

1. Heartbeat - It's a Love Beat by The DeFranco Family
2. Top of the World by The Carpenters
3. Photograph - by Ringo Starr
4. Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight & the Pips
5. Space Race by Billy Preston
6. Paper Roses by Marie Osmond
7. The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
8. Keep on Truckin' by Eddie Kendricks
9. Angie by The Rolling Stones
10. Just You 'n' Me by Chicago

Do any of these songs bring back memories? The DeFranco Family? Marie Osmond? What are the chances those songs would have made the top ten today?

Have a good weekend.

Paul

Recollections of Mr. Genualdi

The following was written by 30th reunion committee president Tony Procaccini in response to the entry on former Andrew Warde High School headmaster Robert Genualdi.

When we started our senior year, back in the fall of 1975, I told my father that a person named Robert Genualdi was our new school headmaster. Well, lo and behold, my dad told me that Genualdi was a long-time client of his.

My father, Joseph Procaccini, who still lives in Fairfield with my mother, was Genualdi's piano tuner. He clued me in on his prowess as a string bassist and Genualdi's son's career as a concert violinist. (Ironically, I played string bass in Band my first two years at Warde,
so we had that idiosynchrasy in common.)

While making the end-of-day announcements for the PAC our senior year ("Tony Pro with the afternoon announcements..."), I had frequent contact with Genualdi and all the others in the Main Office, so he got to know me pretty well at that time.

Now, we fast-forward 5 years into the future... In the 1980-81 season, Mr. Genualdi began his first year with the Bridgeport Youth Orchestra, and I was his manager for that year. It was a good experience working for him, and the high school connection plus the orchestra stint (only one year for me) cemented a friendship that has lasted to this day. Mr. Genualdi would eventually stay with the organization for 25 years, and built a one-orchestra program into a
program of four, from entry level to advanced. To my advantage, he was also one of several music professionals who gave me referrals for music teaching positions upon my graduation from the University of Bridgeport.

When I contacted him this year to ask for his attendance at our thirty year reunion, he remembered me instantly, was glad to hear from me after a significant interval without contact and accepted our offer immediately. I think we're lucky that he and other teachers were
willing to attend and they enjoyed seeing us and re-connecting with so many former students.

Robert Genualdi a True Renaissance Man

Robert Genualdi, who became headmaster at Andrew Warde High School during our senior year and served in the same capacity at Fairfield High School, recently retired as music director of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras in Bridgeport. He was also the conductor of their principal orchestra. He is a musician, educator, arranger, and composer.

As a student, he trained at the University of Miami and Northwestern University, where he received a Bachelor of Music Education degree and Master of Music Performance on String Bass. He received a Sixth Year Diploma in Education Administration from the University of Bridgeport. Later he played under the batons of Thor Johnson, Arthur Fiedler, Jonel Perlea and John Nelson.

Mr. Genualdi has been a member of the GBYO, the Greenwich Symphony, and several chamber music ensembles. He previously taught music in public schools in Illinois and Connecticut as well as at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Bridgeport. He has served as an adjudicator in musical competitions in a number of states and has conducted at numerous musical festivals.

Mr. Genualdi has composed several chamber music compositions and two works for full orchestra. Two of his original compositions are included in the Carl Fischer Inc. publication, "Melody Book for Strings." He is co-arranger of this collection as well as the "Masterworks Melody Book for Strings" also published by Carl Fischer Inc. He began his professional music studies at the University of Miami.

According to the 1976 Flame yearbook, "Mr. Genualdi, the new headmaster here at Warde, is a truly sincere, honest, and open human being who has a real concern for others. He is very much impressed by the friendliness of those at Warde, staff as well as students.

"Ben Franklin is the object of his admiration because, Mr. Genualdi feels, he was as close as we can come to the Renaissance man. His interests include boating and fishing as well as music. Mr. Genualdi also plays the string bass. He feels that 'In order to gain from life, one must take prudent risks.'"

It was a pleasure to speak with him at our 30th reunion. He is to be admired for his lifelong commitment to education and the arts. Good luck in your retirement, Mr. Genualdi.

Paul

The Fairfield & Hungary Connection

The following was written by Tony Procaccini, president of the AWHS 30th reunion committee.

With the recent anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the eyes of the world were focused again on this monumental event, which had repercussions decades later, and left a scar on Hungarians who escaped the country as well as those who remained. The state of Connecticut has a strong connection with the country, especially in Fairfield County.

Hungarians comprised one of the USA’s major immigrant groups in the early and middle parts of the twentieth century. In 1894, a Hungarian Reformed Church was founded in Bridgeport, and in the 1930s the Park City had the second largest Hungarian community in the country.

Unfortunately, all remnants of a once-thriving neighborhood, bordered by Worden Avenue, Pine Street and Cherry Street, no longer exist. Hungarian dance halls, churches of various denominations and native language newspapers were some of the characteristics of the area. Redevelopment in the 1950s and 1960s put the proverbial final nail in the coffin, but the Hungarians’ displacement became a positive event for Fairfield.

Saint Emery’s Church on Kings Highway became the new Saint Stephen’s Church, at least for the local Hungarian population. (Ironically, Saint Emery was the son of Saint Stephen.) Streets in the area near Saint Emery’s took on Hungarian names: Andrassy, Hunyadi and others stare at us as we wind along Jennings Road.

Jozsef Cardinal Mindszenty, a staunch anti-Communist who took refuge (starting in 1956) for 15 years in a Budapest embassy, visited the tri-state area twice. His first visit, in 1974, is remembered by a plaque outside the Fairfield church, and a street adjacent to the church is named Mindszenty Square. He also visited Saint Ladislaus Church in Norwalk and Saint Stephen of Hungary Church in Manhattan.

Many Warde 1976 classmates are of Hungarian ancestry. Frank Fekete’s parents are Hungarian-born, and he now lives in Budapest with his Hungarian wife and their child. On our class roster we find the following Magyar surnames: Bakonyi, Bodak, Dudas, Dudics, Foyto, Gadacy, Hajna, Keltos, Kentos, Kiraly (2), Lakatos, Nagy (2), Oros, Pekar, Szabo, Takacs (2), and Toth. There may be others, too, but name spellings may have occurred, obscuring the original names. Toth, Nagy, Kiraly and Szabo are among the most common Hungarian surnames.

Driving along Black Rock Turnpike, one passes Katona Drive, which was named for former Fairfield Town Clerk and native Hungarian, Maria Katona. This is just another example of the strong connection between Fairfield and Hungary.

Classmate Tony Procaccini was organist at two Hungarian Catholic churches, Saint Ladislaus in Norwalk, CT (1978-1982), and Saint Stephen in Manhattan (1998-2002). He has interviewed many prominent Hungarians, including soprano Eva Marton, and written numerous articles on Hungarian culture and music for “Magyar News.” His January 1997 sojourn to Hungary (one of three) included time spent with classmate and former fellow baseball player Frank Fekete.

Go, Eagles, Go!

Remember the good old days, when we'd gather at Andrew Warde High School every Saturday afternoon to cheer the football team when the Crimson Eagles played rival schools from the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference?

Well, one of our classmates has the photos to go along with those wonderful memories.

"I hope I won't be sorry for doing this, but here are some photos my brother-in-law took that fateful football game," wrote Stacey Marden in a letter sent to reunion committee chairman Tony Procaccini. The photos show several classmates "back in the day" during a Crimson Eagles' football game at Warde.

The first photo above shows Stacey leading the cheers while Jerry Vigorito, in the Warde sweater, plays backup.

Janet Criscione and Matt Bell, in the second photo, played the role of mascots, apparently wearing protective rain gear. "Maybe they were disguised," pointed out Procaccini.

"I remember that game with such fond memories like it was yesterday," admitted Janet, who is married to Ed Szymansky. They constitute one of twelve married couples from among AWHS classmates. "My kids always look at me with weird looks on their faces when I recall how I dressed up as the Warde mascot at a few of the football games. Wasn't it yesterday that we were their age?"

"We look so young!" emphasized Stacey. Yeah, it's hard to believe that we were still teenagers over 30 years ago. We were young.

Special thanks to reunion committee chairman Tony Procaccini for staying in touch with our classmates before and after the reunion. Through his efforts, we were able to get the photos posted to the blog and the class reunion Web site.

Alumni are encouraged to send in their photos and stories to be published on the blog. Please email me at pppiorek@news12.com if you have anything you'd like to contribute and share with our fellow classmates.

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.

Take part in our latest poll. We welcome your vote as to what you think was the most memorable athletic achievement at Andrew Warde High School during our senior year. The survey is in the right-hand margin.

Paul

A Request for The Crimson Crier

One of the most sought-after "relics" from our days at Andrew Warde High School are copies of The Crimson Crier. Just about everybody with whom I spoke laments the fact that there aren't any copies to be found. If you have any issues of our school newspaper, please let me know. I'd like to scan them and include them on the reunion blog.

Much like the yearbook staff, the students who wrote, typed, and printed the newpaper used equipment which is archaic by today's standards. We're so accustomed to modern technology and the ease of using word processors and computers that it's hard to imagine what it must have been like for our classmates over 30 years ago. Royal typewriters, white-out, erasers, carbon paper, and the printing press were staples of newspaper publishers back then.

Today's staff of The Focus on the Web, Fairfield Warde's school newspaper, has it much easier. The students can use the computer, email, and even publish their newspaper on the Web. Imagine, not even using the printing press and reading the school news on the computer screen! That was unheard of 30-plus years ago. Prior issues of the FWHS newspaper can be found online at http://www.fwhsfocus.com/.

According to the 1976 Flame school yearbook, The Crimson Crier, Andrew Warde High School's newspaper, informs the student body of current news and events throughout the school and community. Each month, the paper comes "fresh off the press" containing news reports, features, sporting events, and other added attractions. The Crier enables students to develop leadership, responsibilities, and help them become more self-sufficient. All of these qualities are justly needed to ensure a successful paper.

Wouldn't it be great if copies of The Crimson Crier were still available online? If you happen to come across any copies of our school newspaper from our days at Andrew Warde High School, please email me at pppiorek@news12.com. I'll enlist our graphics department to scan and edit the newspapers. They'd be accessible on the blog instantly.

Ah, the wonders of modern technology.

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

From the Reunion Mailbag

The following letter was received by reunion chairman Tony Procaccini from fellow classmate Stacey Marden, who now lives in Wilmington, Delaware:

Hi, Tony!

Before we reach our next reunion milestone, I want to write and thank you for hosting such a great event. It was wonderful to see you and all our classmates. Probably the best part was how friendly everyone was; it seems as if the clique partitions that marked us in high school are
now a distant memory. Phew!

The Sunday after the big "R", I ended up spending the whole day with Bob Smith (Class of 1975). It was great to see him but I'm sorry we didn't make the picnic. Here's a picture of Robin Goodall and me. I think the photographer thought we were a couple. He kept telling us to get closer until our faces were smashed together. I just read that I need to send the proof back to be included in the reunion book. Oops!

Anyway, thanks again. It's been great chatting with you through e-mails and reconnecting with other friends. Can't wait for the next one.

Stacey

P.S. I was trying to think of a token of my appreciation for you, and one thing you probably don't have is the CD I included, from some local Philly musicians. So local, in fact, that my boss, Alan Kirschner, is one of the musicians.

Note: Tony and Stacey were in Band together, thus the music CD is most appropriate. The cover of her card has a scanned photo from a Warde football game, with Jerry Vigorito, Stacey, Matt Bell and Janet Criscione cheering on the team, as cheerleaders or mascots. We'll try to get it on the Warde 1976 Website.

Fellow Alum Lauded for Charity Work

John Prevelige (Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976) and his wife, Maria, raised over $1,200 for an orphanage in Illinois. The raffle they conducted put quite a scare into the winner, but it was all for a good cause.

Their story appeared in The Connecticut Post last week and this morning.

The full text of the story can be found at connpost.com.

I applaud John and Maria. I think you'll enjoy the story.

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 Blog as a Resource

I received the following letter from Holly Pullano at The Fairfield Citizen-News:

I am a reporter with The Fairfield Citizen-News and am currently putting together a story on the upcoming field dedication at FWHS. In browsing the Internet I came across your blog and read with great interest your posts regarding Coach Tetreau and Coach Davis.

I hope you don't mind that I mention the blog in my article. If you would like to speak further on this or if you have any helpful information to relay, please feel free to contact me at any time. Thank you.

I appreciate your taking the time to create this blog -- it will be very helpful as I am putting together this story.

Best regards,
Holly M. Pullano
Staff Reporter
The Fairfield Citizen~News

A Look Back --- Girls' Cagers Cop FCIAC Crown

They were known as the "comeback kids." And they completed an impossible dream. The 1975-76 version of the Andrew Warde High School girls' basketball team will always be remembered for its shocking come-from-behind victory over Stamford to claim the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship. But, they'll probably be remembered more for their heart and spirit.

With a new head coach, Miss Mary Beth McGirr, the girls got off to a slow start early in the season, but they staged a remarkable comeback to end up winning the league title.

One of the reasons for the team's mid-season surge was the play of sophomore sensation Kathy Anderson. Anderson's phenomenal improvement from the beginning of the season paralleled the improved play of the team as a whole. By the end of the campaign, Anderson was habitually leading the team in points and rebounds every game. She earned All-FCIAC first-team honors, and she was named the MVP of the league tournament.

But, Anderson wasn't the only reason the team won the coveted FCIAC championship, which it did by defeating Stamford, 48-44, in dramatic come-from-behind fashion, and by trouncing powerhouse Westhill by a 62-49 margin. The many other players who contributed much to the team's achievements included seniors Diane Dionis, Debbie Mendell, who earned All-FCIAC second-team recognition, Gayle Johnson, and Marti Causey. The juniors included Kris Ness and Betsy Niesyn.

With their 16-5 regular-season record, the team also qualified for the state tournament. They easily defeated Bunnell of Stratford, 74-46, but bowed to R. C. Lee of New Haven, 63-39.

The FCIAC championship was the highlight of the season. For that reason, the 1975-76 Andrew Warde High School girls' basketball team earned my vote for the most memorable athletic achievement during our senior year at Andrew Warde High School.

I welcome your vote in our latest poll in the right-hand margin. There are seven items from which to choose, including the girls' basketball team's FCIAC championship, the volleyball team's state finalist squad, the football team's two victories over Roger Ludlowe High School, and the baseball team's dramatic come-from-behind triumph over Ludlowe. There are several individual achievements as well.

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