Recalling the 50-Year Reunion of the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1962

It's been 55 years since the Class of 1962 graduated from Andrew Warde High School. Let's take a trip back five years and remember the 50-year reunion with this wonderful song and video written and performed by class member Bill Baker. "We are all Andrew Warde."

Paul

'Senior Hat' from 1967 Displayed Spirit Pins

How many of you are old enough to remember 'Senior Hats?' This writer is a 1976 graduate of Andrew Warde High School, so I'm not familiar with them. However, one of the regular contributors to the Guest Book wrote, "Anyone remember collecting the different spirit pins, buttons, and badges each week during football season in the late 60s and 70s?"

The writer continued, "Warde students and faculty (collected pins) with the name of the opponent for the upcoming Saturday football game. There used to be 'Senior Hats' for sale, usually before the first football pep rally. Seniors would decorate their hats with the buttons and pins collected during their years at Warde.

"On the day of the first pep rally, seniors were allowed to wear the 'Senior Hats' to classes throughout the day. The school-wide pep rallies usually took place during the last period of the day. If the weather was clear, then the rally took place on the patio in front of the cafeteria. Otherwise, the rally moved into the gym. After the football team and coaches were introduced, each class would compete in a cheer contest with the loudest class being declared the winner."

Believe it or not, I found a 'Senior Hat' from 1967 at a Fairfield Warde High School flea market. The crimson hat has the embroidered letters AW and numbers 67 along with the spirit pins. This is quite a find, and it's one of my favorite Andrew Warde High School collectibles. Take a look. 

Paul

Highlights of AWHS Class of 1967 45-Year Reunion

Wayne Cotter, a member of the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1967, is one of the committee members planning this year's 50-year reunion at Vazzy's in Fairfield. The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 14. Please see the post below for information on the 50-year reunion.

Here is a video he compiled from the 45-year reunion of the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1967. Please make sure the speaker is on and adjust the volume accordingly to hear the audio.

Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1967 to Hold 50-Year Reunion October 14

Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1967 will hold its 50-year reunion Saturday, October 14, 2017, at Vazzy's 19th Hole at the Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course in Fairfield. That's the word from Dr. Eric Mazur, an alumnus of the Class of 1967.

"Three people from my AWHS class--- Micka Zeman-Ellison, Stephanie Owsiany, and Wayne Cotter --- are organizing the 50th reunion celebration," wrote Dr. Mazur, who retired from his position at Norwalk Hospital about three years ago and now teaches residents and medical students. He also volunteers at the Norwalk Community Health Center. "There is a dinner buffet from 7:00-11:00 and a cash bar." For classmates interested in attending, the cost is $25, and checks should be sent to Stephanie Owsiany, 833 Jennings Road, Fairfield, Connecticut, 06824.

According to the committee members, "To date we have received 66 confirmed and paid for acknowledgements for our class reunion. (We are) sending you a reminder notice of the upcoming planned reunion scheduled for 2 1/2 months to our scheduled reunion date, and we needed to move quickly to secure a location that would be cost effective and locally convenient to all.

"We have always kept the affair in our town of Fairfield, where we grew up. This has made some options limited as the town has changed. We looked at our prior reunions and elected to revisit Vazzy's at Fairchild Wheeler golf course, as the price was reasonable and the location picturesque with Fall leaves in color. We were able to secure Vazzy's for October 14, 2017. We look forward to seeing everyone. Lets all make this a great 50th."

Warde Defeated Milford in Opening Round of CIAC Class A Baseball Tournament 56 Years Ago Today

Andrew Warde High School's well-balanced baseball team finished runnerup to Norwalk for the Fairfield County Interscholastic Conference baseball championship in 1961. However, the Crimson Eagles were victorious while Norwalk was eliminated in the opening round of the CIAC Class A championship tournament, Monday, June 12, 1961.

Coach Bob Jackson's Warde squad advanced to the tourney semi-finals with an impressive 2-0 victory over Milford's higher-rated Metropolitan Bridgeport Conference champions as Dick Bernard, who remained unbeaten since the baseball season opened, hurled a two-hit shutout to earn his ninth straight victory in a pitching duel with the Indians' Ricky Grich at Quigley Stadium in West Haven.

The Crimson Eagles, ranked seventh among the eight teams which qualified for the Class A title competition, backed Bernard with a nine-hit attack and tallied single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to defeat the third-ranked Milford team. It was the 17th victory in 21 games for the Fairfield squad, and just the fourth setback in 19 contests for Coach Ray Stoviak's Indians.

Outfielders Mike Siavrakas and Larry Gill connected for two hits each to lead Warde's attack against the veteran Grich, but it was rightfielder Tom Dardina and third baseman Frank Chimelewski who drove in the two runs for the Eagles with extra base hits in the June 12, 1961 contest.

It was a scoreless game until the fourth inning. Grich walked Gill with one out and when Chimelewski hit a grounder down the third base line, both runners were safe when the throw to second base for the attempted force out was too late. One out later, Dardina smacked a double down the left field line to score Gill with Warde's first run.

Tom Cody, Milford's rightfielder, made a fine catch of a long drive by Joe Magdon to open Warde's sxith inning, but Gill singled and Chimelewski bounced a triple off the fence in left-centerfield to bring home the Eagles' second run.

Both of Milford's hits off Bernard were bloop singles by third baseman Art Bungerford in the first and sixth innings. Although both hits were preceded by walks to Vic Nelson, the Indians were unable to capitalize. Warde's second baseman Hank Bahe made a poor throw following Hungarford's first single, but catcher Joe Vige threw out Nelson trying to advance to third base. In the sixth inning, both Nelson and Hungarford were picked off first base on throws by Vige and Bernard.

Paul

Larry Mischik Pitched Crimson Eagles Over New Canaan on This Date 55 Years Ago

Larry Mischik pitched Andrew Warde High School's baseball team to a 4-2 victory over New Canaan at the Rams' diamond on this date, Wednesday, April 25, 1962. The win was the first in three games for the Crimson Eagles.

Warde scored single runs in the first two innings. Singles by Mike Longo and Mischik and walks to Andy Bowman and Jim Lippman brought in the first Eagle run, and a walk, an error, and a fielder's choice by Mischik accounted for the second run.

The Eagles final two runs were scored in the third inning as Bowman doubled, Pete Jankowsky walked, and Les Bufferd tripled. The Eagles outhit the host Rams, six-to-three in the FCIAC contest.

Paul