Back in the Summer of '69
From the archives, a gathering from high school. John Stromaglia, Barb Parker, Chris Austin, Sally Biondi, Nina Millet, Cathy Stone, Kathy Micha, Mary Wilson, Gail Gellatly, and Cliff Powell. Salud!
Darien schools open August 27, and the fall sports schedule has been released. In football, team practice begins August 14, and contact practices start August 23. The Wave kick off their season Friday, September 12, against Naugatuck HS.
Last year, under head coach Andy Grant, Darien had a winning season, finishing the regular schedule at 8–2. The team advanced to the CIAC Class L Championship game, where they fell to archrival New Canaan in a hard-fought battle, 35–21. Darien also suffered its seventh straight Turkey Bowl loss, the Rams winning 34-0. These losses were tough pills to swallow, but should fuel this years team's determination to make waves this season.
Fall cross country practice starts August 18 with the first contest for Darien Tuesday, September 9 at home. Last year's boys team finished 5 – 10 and the girls cross country team was 9 – 6.
Steve Norris, former owner of the Runners Roost in Darien, has been the guiding force behind the Blue Wave Girls Track and Cross Country teams since 1976. His tenure—now the longest of any coach at DHS—is a testament to decades of dedication and love of the sport. A 1967 graduate of New Canaan High School, Steve was a standout runner himself, competing in track and cross country there before continuing at DePauw University for four more years.
His journey as a coach began as an assistant with the boys track team, but it was when he stepped into the role of Head Coach for the girls team that his legacy truly began to take shape. In his first season coaching girls cross country, the team numbered just eight runners. Today, that number has grown to nearly ninety.
Under Steve’s leadership, the program has become known for its welcoming environment and broad participation, supporting athletes from beginners to those preparing for collegiate-level competition. He remains the only girls coach in Connecticut to have won the State Open Championships in all three disciplines: Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track.
Five players from the Darien girls lacrosse team, which won the Class LL championship and finished No. 1 in the Connecticut Coaches Poll, earned USA Lacrosse/CHSCA All-America honors for the 2025 season. Junior Anna Von Kennel, the CHSCA Player of the Year, was named an All-America player alongside teammates Annabel Adams, Caleigh Cummiskey, Hope Hapgood and Quinn Kennedy.
The Blue Wave won the Class LL championship with a 6-5 win over New Canaan in the final, with Von Kennel scoring the winning goal.
In all, 22 Connecticut high school players were named All-Americans, with five schools having multiple honorees. Darien led with five, New Canaan had four, Wilton had three, and Ridgefield and Sacred Heart-Greenwich had two each.
Celebration of Life for Sue Danver
As we remember Sue Danver and mourn her passing (please see Memorials), we have heard from former classmate Nancy Ettele, a friend and colleague of Sue's in Seattle. Nancy wrote to tell us there will be a ceremony for Susan on Sept. 7th at the Point in Odd Fellows Beach Park, 6500 79th Ave., Northeast, Olympia, WA. Details of the event, including the start time, will be passed along as soon as they are known.
Route 1, just beyond the Darien line, is undergoing significant changes. Costco has nearly completed its expanded parking deck and new standalone tire center after demolishing the old DoubleTree hotel. Further down the road a new Target store, the brands 24th location in the state, is opening in August. Walmart, the tenanent since 2003, closed its doors back in November 2023. Just across the street from the new Target is a first in Connecticut Wegmans Grocer. The two superstores will share an intersection. Wegmans is planning a grand opening celebration in late July.
2025 DHS Graduation
Darien held their graduation on Monday, June 16, the very last day of school. Usually schools schedule graduation earlier, to include a date in the case of rain. But state tournaments this year ran long, as the Girls Lacrosse Finals took place on Sunday, June 15, a game the Wave were victorious. 348 students graduated, and the ceremony included the songs "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac, "Jenny Rebecca", and Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)".
55th Anniversary
Friday, August 15
Richie Havens
Sweetwater
Tim Hardin
Ravi Shankar
Melanie
Arlo Guthrie
Joan Baez
Saturday, August 16
Quill
Country Joe McDonald
Keef Hartley Band
Santana
Incredible Strig Band
Canned Heat
Grateful Dead
Leslie West and Mountain
Creedence Clearwater
Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band
Sly & the Family Stone
The Who
Jefferson Airplane
Sunday-Monday August 17,18
Joe Cocker and the Grease Band
Country Joe & the Fish
Ten Years After
Johnny Winter
Blood Sweat and Tears
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Sha Na Na
Jimi Hendrix
Some folks remembering Jordy Perry Kay (right) at her Memorial at the Weed Beach Hut.
Left - Josie and Lauren with Jordy's son Andrew
Eddy, Eric Joosten, Lauren Fair and Tom Tyler
Kathy Micha Frate, Paul Hendrickson, Jeff Frate
Paul Hepp 1950-2024
Classmate Paul Frederick Hepp passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2024.
See full obiturary in the Memorials Sections.
Love to Hear From You!
Please, leave your remarks in the 'Comment' Section
Steve Craig, Heidi Gerber Wolfey, Janet Martin Fisher, Goody Bates and pooch Sammy, and Patti Shaw Craig
Survivor Party 2022
Tinker's Survivor Party - for those of us hanging in there. The red cross goes back to Maher/Crump team football days when players were injured.
Shown: Tinker, Robin and Jay Baker, Marisa, Nancy and Steve Verses, Skins, Deana and Dick Costello, Lynch, Patty Mazza Sturges, Christi and George Farrington
Do A 55th Reunion?
Lots of classmates are talking about holding a 55th reunion of the DHS Class of 1969. Probably something on the lighter-side, a casual Friday get-together and then a restaurant dinner Saturday night.
If this sounds good, you can contact classmate Jeff Myers, someone brave enough to put his name out-there.
Jeff can be reached at myerspercussion@gmail.com . Could be fun!
Great picture of classmates Patti Shaw Craig, Craigbo, Sue Dickman Klein and Paul Buckley at Sue's lakeside cottage. Mazel tov!
We know things are rough right now. So who better than some cheerleaders to keep up our spirits to finish the fight!
Front row left to right:
Anahid Kavookjian, Josie Mullen, Joni Dobson
Back row left to right:
Sue Geiger, Sharon Denunzio, Cinny Cobb, Sue Perschino, Peggy McNeil, Sue Venarde
Sandy Young, Carol Ann Augustus
1967 DHS Cheerleading Squad
From left: Janet Meyer, Lindy Allen, Mary Lou Brameier, Jenny Hunt, Nancy Brown, Byllie Hill, Lynnie Lynch, Carol Haesche, Josie Mullen.
Go Blue Wave!
Benny Bruno, Mike Lopriore, and Dick Costello set to play some golf at Myrtle Beach
Hard to Believe
Six Years since our 50th Reunion !
Georgianna Smith Bloom, Rick Bloom, Tom Lane
Sue Venarde Mahoney, Sue Geiger, Anahid
Reunion Central
Chris Eng Leventhal, Kate Mason Gredinger, Sue Geiger Johanson
Benny Bruno, Mark Tinker, Gary Gibbs
Tim and Jamila Potts
See You Again Soon!
Folks From Hindley School
Charlie Smith and Lauren Fair
Carol Ann Augustus Summers and Bev Bonfoey
Patti Shaw Craig and Mardie Porter
Mark Paddock, Dennis Sullivan, Sue Venardi Mahoney, Janet Martin Fisher, Martyn Goossen, Kathy DelleFontane Goossen, Steve Craig
Josie Mullen and Lauren Fair
Cliff Powell, Tink, Sandy McGill
Sue Venarde Mahoney, Kathy DelleFontane Goossen, Marty Goossen, Ed Tyler
Dave Lynch, Barb and Jim Tully
Chris Eng Leventhal, Dennis Sullivan, Patti Shaw Craig, Dick Costello
Rick Weber, Chris Weber, Eric Joosten, Paul Hendrickson
Peter Johnson, Paul Dominis, Paul Buckley, Carolyn Johnson
Josie Mullen and James Tully
Bill and Annie Schade
Dick Costello and Rick Poccia
Janet Martin Fisher and Sally Armus Shutts
Charlie Smith, Bill Guptill, Kathy Strachan
Anahid
Tom Lane, Stu Traver, Jay Baker, David Miller
Bruce Frail, Eric Joosten, Vandy Van Wagener
Gary Gibbs and Chris Bischof
Friday
The Goose Restaurant at 7:00 pm.
Cash Bar, Refreshments, Free Appetizers
Saturday
Breakfast at the Sugar Bowl
A golf outing at Ridgefield CC 11:00
Main Event at Tokeneke Club
6:00-11:00
Dinner and music at the Tokeneke Club
Weed Beach Paddle Pavillion
Lunch and refreshments
Go Wave
| Pete White | Dave Terry |
| Claudia Smith Davenport | Kathy DelleFontane Goossen |
| Dennis Gavin | Pete Johnson |
| Rick Poccia | Janet Martin Fisher |
| Mark Beckwith | Anita Conway |
| Bruce Frail | Paul Dominis |
| Patty Mazza Sturges | Sue Dickman Klein |
| Sally Armus | Christy Rodgers |
| Mardi Porter | Ed Tyler |
| Bill Guptill | Mark Blackman |
| Georgiana Smith Bloom | Kate Mason Gredinger |
| Pete Franklin | Gary Gibbs |
| Tom Lane | Billy Harper |
| Anahid Kavoojian Vrana | Dave Lynch |
| Lauren Fair | Jimmy Valente |
| Tim Potts | Casey Nickerson |
| Suzanne Nikola Baldino | John van den Heuvel |
| Jim Morrison | Chris Bischof |
| Josie Mullen | Paul Buckley |
| Johnny Maul | Skip Kennedy |
| Bev Bonfoey | Barb Thorne |
| Marni Kent Hansell | Bob Mercer |
| Bob Ierardi | Eric Joosten |
| Dennis Sullivan | Tom Milek |
| Gary Swartz | Dave Miller |
| Steve Verses | Jay Baker |
| Cliff Powell | Ann Back Price |
| Steve and Patti Craig | Anne Marie McGarry |
| Vandy Van Wagener | Bill Schade |
| George Farrington | Todd and Martha Robbins |
| Rick Weber | Jane Seyferth |
| Sue Venarde Mahoney | Mark Tinker |
| Joan Dobson Glazebrook | Paul Hendrickson |
| Sandy McGill | Ted Vanech |
| Jim Tully | Stu Traver |
| Dick Costello | Mike Lopriore |
| Charlie Smith | Chris Eng Leventhal |
| Jane Genster | John Wuerthner |
| Carol Ann Augustus Summers | Anne Irvine |
| Ken Broska | Paul Hepp |
| Dave Jefferson | Sue Geiger |
| Allison Poccia | Joanne Schoepf Reisser |
| Benny Bruno | Kyle Hepp |
| Kathy Strachan | Pam Burkhardt Mele |
| Peter Scholtz |
In Other Sports...
In girl's golf, Darien is 7-2 overall and 6-1 in conference matches. The Rams are 7-0. The individual championship will tee off at New Canaan CC on May 27 and the team championship will be held at Fairfield CC on May 29.
In boy's tennis, Darien is 11-3 in the East, behind New Cannan at 13-2. Darien girl's are 9-5, are in fourth. Both Greenwich boy's and Girl's teams are 15 -0. Tournament matches begin May 23.
Thank-you!!
Great shot of classmates Kenny Peliksza, Mike 'Lope' Lopriore, Dick Costello, and Ben Bruno in Jacksonville. Nobody mentioned any golf scores but all were sad to see former Jax resident Paul Hepp leave for Texas.
Hey You!
Laura Mandi
Choir
Vandy Van Wagener and Family
Anne Marie McGarry
Greetings Anahid!
Steve and Patti Craig squishing apples from their apple trees. One year they report harvesting over 20 bushels of apples. (Note: 1 bushel = 48 pounds). The Craigbo Cider Co. made 16 gallons of unadulterated apple cider, while also donating apples to a local farmer and food pantry.
Terry Cummings, Tim Maul, Cliff Powell
Shot of trip out west during summer of '69 when we hitchhiked to California. Mark Tinker's dad bought us the car to roam around California and back to CT. Thought I lost this. Great memories from that trip. Those were the days! -George Wehmann
(starting bottom left): Chris Garr, Ellen Johnson, Martha Whelan, Jane Hindenlang
Sue Dickman, Kathy McIntyre, Pam Burkhart Melee, Co Koppert (Young LIfe)
Bobby Grant, Kathy Fricke, Jackie Fitzpatrick, MaryLou Sivos
Heidi Gerber
Carol Augustus Summers, Anna Lamberton, Louis Belfour, Sara Schyler
Man in hat- L. (Ron) Hubbard, the kid on far right with hood is Mardie Porter's brother, Clark Porter
The guy near top row hat and glasses: Middlesex science teacher "Booger" Bates
Right Center back row: The man in the hat and woman next to him-
Mr and Mrs Hendrickson (Paul's parents)!
