⛳ Darien Charging Toward Chappa With Momentum
Darien boys golf team has closed out its final stretch of regular‑season matches with two statement wins, edging Greenwich 151–154 and dispatching Staples 146–156. In both nine‑hole matches, four Wave golfers posted rounds in the 30s, a telling sign of how locked‑in the lineup is as October pressure arrives.
The timing couldn’t be better. The team now turns to Thursday’s Chappa Tournament at Longshore Country Club, one of the premier best‑ball showcases on the schedule — a format that rewards chemistry, consistency, and the ability to capitalize on scoring windows. Darien checks all three boxes right now.
The Wave wrap the regular season with Ridgefield at Wee Burn CC, a final tune‑up before the postseason bracket begins.
🏑 Darien Field Hockey Keeps Rolling
The Wave remain undefeated at 7-0-1, grinding out back‑to‑back 1–0 wins over New Canaan and Danbury to stay atop the standings. Even in low‑scoring games, the underlying dominance is impossible to miss: Darien has piled up 41 goals this season while allowing only 5, backed by six shutouts from a defense that rarely gives opponents a clean look.
It’s the profile of a team built for November — disciplined, stingy, and capable of manufacturing the one goal that matters.
New Canaan is having a year. The Rams sit at 4–0, outscoring opponents 170–14 and looking every bit like the defending 2025 FCIAC and Class L champions. The program’s trademark blend of discipline, depth, and defensive suffocation has been on display from Week 1. All of it continues under the steady hand of Lou Marinelli, now in his 45th season and long established as Connecticut’s winningest high school football coach. Marinelli has surpassed 400 career victories and guided New Canaan to 16 state championships, including the current four‑year run from 2022 through 2025. His imprint on the program spans generations: his son John Marinelli played for him at New Canaan, later served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator, then moved on to become head coach at Greenwich High School before joining the college ranks at UConn.
This week brings a pause for both New Canaan and Darien, each on a bye before returning to action. The Rams host Bridgeport Central on Saturday, Oct. 17, while Darien faces Staples at home on Friday, Oct. 16.
With Darien sitting at 2–2, the stakes for this year’s Turkey Bowl are already taking shape. The Wave’s last win in the rivalry came in 2021, adding an extra layer of urgency as November approaches.
DHS reaches out to alumni for 100th Anniversary
From: Alison Mullane (amullane@darienps.org)
Message: Hi,
I am one of the assistant principals at DHS and I'm hoping we can organize something fun for next year's homecoming weekend. It will be the 100th anniversary of the opening of DHS. To that end, we are collecting alumni information.
If interested go to https://forms.gle/ARdNHfYVNUA2yexR7
Thank you,
Alison
Weather Doesn't Dampen
Class of ’71 Reunion
In spite of steady rain and raw, unsettled weather, Darien High School’s Class of 1971 pulled off a remarkably successful 55th reunion weekend. More than 75 classmates and friends turned out for one or more events, beginning with an afternoon walk on Great Island — the former Zeigler Estate — followed by a buffet supper at Riko’s Pizza across from the Darien train station.
The celebration wrapped up Sunday at the Paddle Tennis Hut at Weed Beach, where a super‑high tide briefly pushed water into the parking area but didn’t dampen spirits. By all accounts, the class’s milestone gathering was warm, lively, and well‑attended. Congratulations to the Class of ’71.
Paul Hendrickson headed to Paris with his wife Joan and son Rob. Luckily they were there before the oppresive heat overwhelmed the EU in June. Made it back for the oppressive heat locally, however.
Fast cars, fast boats...Anthony Molgano ready to rock-and-roll this summer!
Bob Ierardi in town catching up with Ed Tyler over lunch at Pappa Joe’s. Great to see classmates reconnect.
Jeff Myers hanging out with wife and daughter in Portugal, a great country!
Christy Rodgers on the Chilkoot Trail, a rugged 33 mile backpacking adventure retracing the footsteps of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush stampeders.
57th 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
Do A 60th Reunion?
Lots of classmates are talking about holding a 60th 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!
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
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
Hard to Believe
Six Years since our 50th Reunion !
Georgianna Smith Bloom, Rick Bloom, Tom Lane
Sue Venarde Mahoney, Sue Geiger, Anahid
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 |
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!
FCIAC Track championships take place Saturday, May 23 at Danbury high school track. Currently, Darien boys have a record of 4–0, tied with New Canaan in the top of the East. The Wave girls’ team is 3–1 and one behind the Rams at 4–0. Last year Greenwich HS swept the Finals.
Since 2014, Danbury (six titles), Greenwich (three), and Ridgefield High School (two) have combined to dominate the boys championship standings. For the girls, Danbury has been a powerhouse, winning four straight championships from 2016-2019, then another in 2022.
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
keep on truckin
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)!
