Longtime AWHS Social Studies Teacher Malcolm MacIntyre Passes Away at 93

Malcolm Scott MacIntyre, 93, of Redding, died at home Friday December 22, 2017 surrounded by his family. He was a long-time Social Studies teacher at Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield.

Born in New York City, he was the son of Malcolm and Robina "Nina" Scott MacIntyre. He served as an officer on an attack transport ship in the U.S. Navy during WWII, was an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine, was partner in a die casting company, managed a factory in Mexico, and then taught Social Studies at Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield for 20 years until his retirement.

He received a BA from Hobart College, a BS from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a MA from Columbia Teacher's College. He will always be known for his infectious love of learning, his sense of humor, and for all the wonderfully animated stories he loved to tell, leaving everyone he knew feeling special.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years: Anita, a daughter: Robina and her husband, Malcolm Marshall, and their son Malcolm "Callum"; a son, Scott MacIntyre and his wife Jeanne, and their daughter Callie.

Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday December 29, 2017 at the First Church of Christ Congregational in Redding Center, with the Rev. Dr. Dean C. Ahlberg, officiating. Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY. There will be a gathering in the Church Hall between the service and the interment. To offer online condolences please visit www.boutonfuneralhome.com.

Please sign the online Guest Book at: http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/ctpost/malcolm-macintyre-condolences/187634453?cid=full

Warde Cagers Defeated Notre Dame in Fairfield Festival 44 Years Ago Today

Phil Ness and the Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team stifled a Notre Dame comeback bid in the closing minutes and held on for a 72-65 victory in the opening round of the Fairfield Festival basketball tournament before a capacity crowd of 3,100 fans at Fairfield University's Alumni Hall, Thursday, December 27, 1973.

Trailing 52-44 entering the final eight minutes, the Lancers went to work. Dave Lehn, a six-foot-two senior forward, scored 17 of his 30 points in the final chapter on an assortment of long-range bombs as Notre Dame managed to grab a short-lived 59-58 lead at the 4:21 mark. Lehn's three-point play at that point put the Lancers ahead.

The lead see-sawed back and forth until Bob Neilson tallied a pair of free throws with 1:37 remaining to give the Crimson Eagles a 66-65 advantage they never relinquished. Ness blocked three shots during the final minute of play and made a pair of steals to ice the verdict. The six-foot-seven center finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 blocked shots, and 10 steals.

Ness was aided by Ron DelBianco, who chipped in with 18 points, and Bob Cleveland with 11 markers. Lehn received support from sophomore Tommy Burbank, who scored 12, and Kelly Lombard with 10. Warde managed quarter leads of 19-16, 42-27, and 52-44 before the frantic final minutes of play.

John Lademan's steal of an errant pass with seven seconds remaining lifted Fairfield Prep to a narrow 64-60 victory over a scrappy Ludlowe outfit in the nightcap.

Paul

AWHS Baseball Star and State Championship Team Member Ralph Fidaleo Passes Away at 51

Ralph Fidaleo Jr., age 51, formerly of Fairfield, passed away suddenly on Thursday, December 21, 2017. He was a star baseball player at Andrew Warde High School, where he won a state baseball championship in 1981 and earned numerous FCIAC awards for his outstanding play.

Born in Bridgeport on November 15, 1966, beloved son of Margaret DeRosa Fidaleo and the late Ralph Fidaleo Sr., Ralph was a Fairfield resident for most of his life. He was a graduate of Andrew Warde High School, Class of 1984, where he was a gifted athlete, excelled in baseball, earned many awards in the FCIAC, and received a baseball scholarship to Eckard College in Florida before transferring to Southern Connecticut State University, where he starred in baseball and graduated with a degree in Physical Education.

Ralph later worked as an owner and operator in the food industry. He will be fondly remembered as a loving son, father, and brother and will be sadly missed. He is survived by his children, whom he loved, Ralph Fidaleo III, Dustin Fidaleo and Kaleigh Fidaleo, his mother Margaret (Marge) Fidaleo of Stratford, a sister Donna Callahan and her husband Kevin (Jr., Courtney and Kevin) of Fairfield, a brother Anthony Fidaleo and his wife Kimberly (Antonio and Francesca) of Milford, his former wife Elizabeth McMillan Fidaleo, as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 27 at 11 a.m. directly at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Dr., Fairfield, with burial to follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery. There will be no prior calling hours. Arrangements in the care of the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home. To sign an online register or to get travel directions, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com.

Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1967 Held Successful 50-Year Reunion

The following letter and essay about the 50-year reunion of the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1967 was written by Dr. Eric Mazur, a good friend and a member of the AWHS Class of 1967.

Hi, Paul. As I’m sure you recall, you graciously posted notices of our AWHS 50th Reunion on your Blog last October. I had promised to provide you with a follow-up narrative which I am happy to append. I tried to include as many different names in as many different contexts as possible. But even in so doing, many of the attendees have been left out. I am also appending a full list of the attendees if you are interested in posting that along with the narrative. I am aware that Wayne Cotter is putting together a video picture compilation of the evening that should be available in a month or so and which we will forward on to you. Again, thank you for all that you do in keeping the spirit of the “old” Andrew Warde High School alive. Please stay in touch and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s Holiday season. Warm regards, Eric.

Almost exactly 50 years and 4 months after their high school graduation, the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1967 reassembled on October 14, 2017 at Vazzy’s in Fairfield to celebrate their half century reunion. Organized by Micka Zeman-Ellison, Stephanie Ostrofsky Owsiany, and Wayne Cotter, the Class continued its tradition of gathering every 5 years in Fairfield to celebrate their high school experience and get reacquainted with each other.

This landmark reunion drew classmates from all over the country and one, Carol Mercurio, from St. John in the US Virgin Islands. The long distance attendee award went to Linda Raichelson Gliner from San Francisco who at 2961 miles edged out Terri Shea from San Pedro, CA by a mere 95 miles. Other notable long distance travelers included Michael Brustein from Washington, DC, Tom Deluca from Anwatakee, AZ, George Kellis from Lakeland, FL, Bruce Kelley from Richmond, VA, Connie Kelley Sidberry from Garner, NC, Stephen Mate from Stow, OH, Stuart Silver from Delray Beach, FL, Reva Weiskoph Friedman from Lawrence, KS, and Cydney Arons Kasenetz from Alexandra, VA.

The least travelled award unquestionably goes to class president and former Rooster River Boy Jeff McHugh, who not only did not leave Fairfield, but also remained a part of the Fairfield Public School System for almost his entire career. Since 1984, and only after his superiors agreed that he need not ever wear a tie at work, Jeff has served as the Dean of Students at the Fairfield Woods Middle School, the same middle school that he and almost all the other class had attended. Others classmates continuing as residents of Fairfield include Melanie Correnti Kooris, Eileen Evarts McMahon, Seth Lewis, Doris Norwich, Stephanie Ostrofsky Owsiany, Linda Pistey, Barbara Postol Rifkin, Jay Ringelheim, and Fred Tippett.

Sixty classmates and 16 guests in total joined in the celebration including many former athletes and class leaders. The co-captain of Warde’s very successful basketball team, Rich Fekete, was joined by the co-captain of the less than successful (but no less spirited) football team, Eric Mazur. In fact, accompanied by Steve Silver, the three of them were the last to vacate Vazzy’s at evening’s end, and only after strong encouragement from the Vazzy’s staff. Steve Mate, cross country team captain, Michael Brustein, president of the Varsity Athletic Association, Fred Bogin, president of the School Council, Abe Brustein, President of the International Service Commission, and Seth Lewis, co-chairman of the Club Commission were also in attendance. Jay Ringelheim and Harold Shaw ably represented the Yearbook Committee and were distinguished by defying their age and looking most like they did in high school. Not to be outdone by the men, Cynthia Bernhard Rivers, Captain of the cheerleading squad joined her co-cheerleader Lynn Wesche Welsh in adding to the aesthetics and the festivities.

Classmates were certainly grayer (and many sported less hair) but most were easily recognizable despite the passage of so much time. However, lapel buttons with senior year high school photographs and printed names (now too small to read without generous magnification) helped bridge the gaps in time and memory. Classmates recalled lazy, hormone-fueled summer days at Jennings Beach and rowdy weekend evenings at Friendly’s, Ho-Jo’s, and the Dutchess. Those alums living in the Stratfield section of Fairfield shared remembrances of Mrs. Barske, the feisty old Russian woman who ran a candy store out of her Valley Road home. The thirty class members who had passed on were remembered fondly by all and were a poignant reminder that time is a limited and very valuable resource. The reunion was a great success with only congratulations and accolades for the organizers. The night ended far too early with promises to cherish both the memories and each other and, the firm commitment to gather again in five years for the 55th!

Dr. Eric Mazur

Warde Continues Thanksgiving Day Football Dominance Over Ludlowe

The domination continues. The Fairfield Warde Mustangs' football team cruised to an easy 55-22 victory over the host Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons in the 13th renewal of the modern-day Thanksgiving Day rivalry yesterday at Taft Field. As the "voice" of Ludlowe football for the last six years, I had the pleasure of serving as the public address announcer for the third time in the last five years.

Warde has won seven of the last eight Thanksgiving Day contests overall. Cumulatively, the Andrew Warde/Fairfield Warde Crimson Eagles/Mustangs lead the Roger Ludlowe/Fairfield Ludlowe Flying Tigers/Falcons on Turkey Day, 16 games to seven, dating back to the original Thanksgiving Day series, which lasted from 1975 through 1984.

Warde has outscored Ludlowe by a 202 to 89 margin over the last five games and now leads the modern-day Thanksgiving Day series, nine games to four. The Mustangs' victory tied the longest winning streak in the history of the Thanksgiving Day rivalry, which dates back to the last five games of the original series when Andrew Warde won every Thanksgiving Day game against Roger Ludlowe from 1980 through 1984.

Even more impressive is the fact that Warde is 23-7 in Thanksgiving Day games dating back to a 7-0 record against Kolbe High School of Bridgeport.

Thanksgiving Day football games between Warde & Ludlowe:

Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles vs. Roger Ludlowe Flying Tigers

1975 to 1984

(Series: Warde 7 wins, Ludlowe 3 wins)

1975: Warde Eagles 28, Ludlowe Tigers 6

1976: Warde Eagles 20, Ludlowe Tigers 13

1977: Ludlowe Tigers 20, Warde Eagles 13

1978: Ludlowe Tigers 35, Warde Eagles 6

1979: Ludlowe Tigers 41, Warde Eagles 25

1980: Warde Eagles 17, Ludlowe Tigers 14

1981: Warde Eagles 14, Ludlowe Tigers 8

1982: Warde Eagles 23, Ludlowe Tigers 0

1983: Warde Eagles 26, Ludlowe Tigers 6

1984: Warde Eagles 16, Ludlowe Tigers 13

Fairfield Warde Mustangs vs. Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons

2005 to 2017

(Series: Warde 9 wins, Ludlowe 4 wins)

2005: Ludlowe Falcons 20, Warde Mustangs 14

2006: Warde Mustangs 21, Ludlowe Falcons 12

2007: Warde Mustangs 28, Ludlowe Falcons 0

2008: Ludlowe Falcons 10, Warde Mustangs 8

2009: Ludlowe Falcons 24, Warde Mustangs 14

2010: Warde Mustangs 21, Ludlowe Falcons 16

2011: Warde Mustangs 52, Ludlowe Falcons 13

2012: Ludlowe Falcons 31, Warde Mustangs 13
2013: Warde Mustangs 44, Ludlowe Falcons 21
2014: Warde Mustangs 27, Ludlowe Falcons 12
2015: Warde Mustangs 35, Ludlowe Falcons 14
2016: Warde Mustangs 41, Ludlowe Falcons 20
2017: Warde Mustangs 55, Ludlowe Falcons 22

Cumulative record: Warde 16 wins, Ludlowe 7 wins

Paul

Behind the Microphone at Thanksgiving Day Football Rivalry

The 13th renewal of the modern-day Thanksgiving Day football series between Fairfield's two public high schools takes place tomorrow morning at the home of the Falcons on Unquowa Road. To many of us from a previous generation, the schools will always be known as Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe, and the rivalry pits the Crimson Eagles against the Flying Tigers.

However, this is a new era and a new generation. The Fairfield Warde Mustangs will be bidding for their fifth straight Thanksgiving Day victory, which would equal the longest streak previously established by the Crimson Eagles between 1980 and 1984.

I've attended every Thanksgiving Day game during the modern series. In fact, this will be my third game as the public address announcer (2013, 2015, 2017), all at Ludlowe. I was the master of ceremonies at halftime of the 2006 game at Warde when the football field was dedicated in honor of Fern Tetreau and Bill Davis. I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Even though I have been announcing Ludlowe's home football games for the last six years, my heart will always be with Andrew (Fairfield) Warde High School. Once a Crimson Eagle, always a Mustang.

Paul