Fairfield Rotary Club Honored Select Group of Seniors at Warde & Ludlowe 38 Years Ago This Week

The Fairfield Rotary Club honored a select group of 50 graduating students from Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe high schools with its annual Achievement Award at a luncheon meeting presentation ceremony 38 years ago this week.

The awards presentations were made to the students of the two schools by Warde headmaster Robert Genualdi and Dr. Michael Perrone of Ludlowe. Joyce Cohen, career education coordinator for the two public high schools, was the guest speaker for the gathering.

She told the gathering that she did not think many of the students knew what they would be doing 10 or 15 years later. Although many of them had a good idea of what they wanted to do and would likely follow through on their preferred carrer path, she noted that many would change their plans as they gain valuable experience.

Cohen said the career education program in Fairfield has been placing students in work situations corresponding to their career interests to give them a better idea what it is like. But the college diploma is not the key to employment like it used to be, she said. Employers are looking for a good attitude toward work and high motivation, the career education coordinator added.

Tom Knuth was one of the students from Warde who received the Achievement Award. "All I wanted to do senior year in high school was have fun, play basketball or tennis, go out with Terry Keating, and drive around in my '63 Belaire," he recalled via email. "I never could have dreamed that I would someday be a trauma surgeon, nevertheless in Detroit. I guess this is somewhat like dissecting frogs. Thank you, Mr. Honey and Mr. Donovan."

"I had the pleasure of having Tom in both my honors Biology class (ninth grade) and on the tennis team," said Mr. Honey, who is currently teaching at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport. "It was when I first began coaching. Tom was an exceptional athlete as well as an excellent student. (He) played both basketball and tennis. He played varsity tennis all four years."

Honey added, "If memory serves me right, he and Andy Larsen played in the state finals as a doubles team. Another senior, John Hey, was the third member of their threesome. I remained close to all of them long after graduation."

In addition to Knuth, the students from Warde who received the award included Joy Ballerini, Concetta Bove, Charles Cannone, Lisa Cashavelly, Martha Causey, Charles Costa, Doug Coventry, Brad Dansky, Marilyn Dudas, Tom Fairfield, Robert Flug, Amy Hirsch, and Bob Isaacs.

Also receiving the award were Robin Jacobson, Mary Kapp, Bruce Kerns, Thomas Knuth, Laurie Komornik, Michael Maksymiw, Kim McGrath, Mary Palladino, Jeffrey Pittu, Judith Prober, Harvey Samowitz, and Jeffrey Zigun. I wonder, though, how many of those students from Warde followed through with their career aspirations when they were seniors in high school?

Paul