Tropical Storm Isaias (Spanish for Isaiah) slammed through Connecticut on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction and power outages. Nearly 50% of Darien’s residents lost power. In New Canaan, that number jumped to 90%.
The local power company said the storm was the third worse in terms of outages in the state’s history. Currently over1,200 crews from around the country are helping Connecticut restore power.
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CIAC Releases Fall Sports Schedule
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Hard to Believe
One Year since our 50th Reunion !
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Jed Sells Lawrence Funeral Home
Darien’s only funeral parlor, Lawrence Funeral Home, has been sold. As of Tuesday, the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home was officially sold to Lesko & Polke Funeral Home of Fairfield. This sale marks the end of the 127-year family ownership.
Originally located in New Canaan, the Edward B. Lawrence Undertaking Business began in 1893. In 1931, Edward B. Lawrence’s son, Edward (Ted) Lawrence moved the business to Darien. Eventually, the business was passed to Jed Lawrence’s father, Edward Green Lawrence. Jed began working in the family business in 1973.
Lawrence, a lifelong Darien resident and Darien High Class of ‘68 grad, said he is ready for a bit of a “less demanding” lifestyle as a semi-retiree. Jed remains an elder and member of Noroton Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis Club of Darien, Darien Chamber of Commerce, and the Noroton Fire Department. He also coached Darien Little League and the Darien Junior Football League. He and his wife Debbie have two adult children.
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DHS Sports Teams Get Ready for Fall
The governing body of high school sports, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, will decide by August 3 whether athletes can be back on the fields this fall. Already the CIAC has allowed schools to conduct outdoor team training, with athletes in groups of no more than ten.
Currently football teams are slated to start practicing Aug. 17.
All other sports will start Aug. 27.
Fall competition in Connecticut is expected to begin Sept. 10.
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With the current heat wave expected to last for several days, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson issued an executive order that restricts the two town beaches to Darien residents on Saturdays and Sundays.
The First Selectman has the authority to take actions necessary in emergency conditions. She felt it necessary, on a limited basis, to limit beaches to a safe capacity in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our community.
Recently Darien has reported an uptick in residents with Covid 19 positive testing results.
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GHS Whitaker Grover
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3 FCIAC Divers Win All-America Titles
Even though the high school boys swimming season was cut short due to the COVID-19 crisis, three athletes managed to earn All-America diving honors.
Graduating seniors James Ragusa and Jackson Camporin from New Canaan HS and Whitaker Grover, a freshman swimmer from Greenwich High, were among the top 100 divers in the nation. Grover won the FCIAC diving championship this past March.
Ragusa and Camporin also won All-America accolades in 2019.
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Charles Scribner, a lifelong Darien resident, recently passed away at 96.
Charles graduated from the Darien High School in 1942. There he played varsity football, basketball, and baseball. He volunteered with the Noroton Heights Fire Department for over 40 years and coached Little League and Babe Ruth teams. He was a member of the VFW, Darien Men’s Association, Middlesex Genealogical Society, Monuments and Ceremonies Commission, and the American Scientific Glassblowers Society. Charles also had a long association with the Boy Scouts of America in Darien, originally founded by his father.
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Some Historical Photos of Darien
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Town officials at Bell gravesite
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Darien Celebrates 200 Years
It was June 12, 1820 that a gentleman named Thaddeus Bell called to order Darien’s first town meeting. Right after the American Revolution, five towns stretched across the shoreline of Fairfield County. One of the towns, Stamford, included today’s Darien, and most of New Canaan. A local religious society, or parish, Middlesex Parish was recognized officially in 1741. When parishes lost their civil standings with the new state constitution in 1818, towns were drawn along political lines and our area petitioned for incorporation.
Thaddeus Bell came from a family who first settled the town of Stamford in 1640. Thaddeus was a leader in the community and perhaps it’s best known veteran of the Revolutionary War. A man of ‘substance’, he owned a large farm in the Ox Ridge area. Under his leadership, the Connecticut Assembly approved the petition to form Darien in 1820.
The original charter listed the town’s name as Belltown, and it was Thaddeus who decided on the name Darien.
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Back to School Fall 2020
With fingers securely crossed, Connecticut announced plans for in-school and full-time instruction come this fall. The state is working with public health and medical experts in reopening the schools. Schools will consider gymnasiums and auditoriums as alternative classrooms to maintain social distancing and all should wear face masks.
“Addressing the educational setbacks and the social-emotional toll caused by COVID-19 is best addressed by maximizing in-person instructional time,” according to CT Education Commissioner Cardona.
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Post 50th Reunion Get-Together
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.
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DHS Class of 1970 to Hold 50 + 1 Reunion
DHS Class of 1970 has abandoned, given up, thrown in the towel - on hopes of holding a 50th reunion this year.
Understandable - considering places like The Goose have all the seating capacity of three outdoor tables.
Their plans, which are outlined on the DarienHigh70.com webpage, are to hold a 50+1 Reunion in August 2021. Good luck to them!
Looking on the bright side, at least Rick Weber doesn’t have to go to back to back 50th reunions!
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Teachers, Students Celebrate End of School
DHS seniors celebrated the end of the topsy-turvy school year but not before one more tough decision had to be made. The event was scheduled for Thursday but with rain predicted it was moved to Friday.
So on Friday morning the Darien High seniors drove colorfully decorated cars and waved posters as they took a victory lap around the campus and collected their diplomas.
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DHS Students Comment About On-line Learning
DHS newspaper Neirad, publishing online, has asked students their thoughts about remote online learning. The responses, of course, run the gamut. Like the song says, you don’t know what you got till it’s gone, many students miss going to school, seeing friends and teachers, the sports and extracurricular activities. Some even miss the “crazy lunchroom”, the site of an out-of-control food fight.
The kids apparently are required to take 4 classes a day at roughly 1 hour per class. Additionally, there are readings and assignments. Many students find this new reality relaxing and a welcome change of pace. It also allows for additional sleep time in the morning.
Downsides includes the social isolation, additional self-discipline and interacting through video. Most students returning to DHS next year hope things return to normal.
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This year’s DHS valedictorian (from Latin “to say farewell”) is student Maya Nalawade. Maya was born in Connecticut but has lived in Holland and India before moving to Darien. Her accomplishments include publishing a poetry book “The World Is a Broken Puzzle: Exploring Identity and Belonging,” along with poetry in various literary magazines. She is editor-in-chief of Darien High School’s literary magazine "Current", president of the creative writing club and vice president of the school’s National English Honors Society. Maya has a fraternal twin sister Nisha.
“When you are a twin, you want to differentiate yourself and be your own person. Nisha pushed me to follow my own path.”
Her advice to her classmates is not to let other people determine what’s best for you. Instead, they should listen to themselves. “Don’t be limited by anyone,” she said. “Go with your gut.”
Maya said her role model is the Darien High School class of 2020. In the time of the coronavirus, “we’ve all shown our resilience. We are all trying our best.”
Maya plans to attend Columbia University
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Brooks Brothers Darien to Close
Tony retailer Brooks Brothers is closing its Darien store. The iconic company, founded in 1818, has had many celebrated clients including Abraham Lincoln, who wore a Brooks Brothers coat to his second inaugural. The company trademark, a wooly sheep suspended in a ribbon (Golden Fleece), was adopted in 1850. This had long been a symbol of British woolen merchants.
Opened in 2008, the 9,800-square-foot retail building in Darien was recently sold for $7.5 million
Currently all Brooks Brothers stores in the United States are closed due to the pandemic. The company is also planning to close all its US factories, making all merchandise overseas.
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DHS Ranked High by U.S. News
U.S. News magazine recently released a list of top high schools, and nationally Darien High School came in a very respectable #214th place. The school has a graduation rate of 97%.
Additionally, DHS is ranked tied for FIRST (!) in the nation in the ranking of Math and Reading Proficiency (determined by state administrated tests).
The high school is also ranked No. 3 in the state. Local high school Weston was ranked higher in CT but ranking slightly below the Wave were Westport (4), New Canaan (5), and Greenwich (7).
Darien’s national ranking in the important Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) category was a respectable #84.
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Great DHS Athletes
Anybody remember Bob Staak? Bob was a DHS graduate in 1966, a year before our class arrived. He is the all-time DHS basketball scorer with 1,166 points. And this was before the 3 point shot.
Bobby started playing basketball at the age of 5 or 6 and was always good at it.
After graduating from high school he transferred to UCONN his sophomore year. He was co-captain his junior and senior years, MVP his senior year, and at graduation was the 4th all-time leading scorer at UCONN with 1,288 points.
Bob eventually entered coaching, where he worked with a number of college teams including being the head basketball coach at William and Mary. Bob has also been in the NBA for nearly 20 years in various assistant coaching and front office positions.
There is now a movement to have Bob’s DHS No. 21 jersey retired.
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Go Team!
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
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Bill Wright, Steve Craig, and Paul Hendrickson attended the CIAC State Track Open Championship in New Haven on Saturday.
In the 1969 track season, Mark Tinker, Rick Poccia, Steve Craig and John Fitzsimmons ('70) ran a DHS record time for the 4 x 220 yard relay. The event is now the 4 x 200 meter relay, so their record will remain on the books.
This year's winning time for the 4 x 200 m was 1:32.18. The 1969 record time for the 4 x 220 was 1:31.20. The 1969 relay was a full 45 feet (13.72 meters) longer and yet run 1.5 seconds faster then this year’s time! Well done!
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The Blue Wave boys and girls track teams competed in the CIAC Winter Track Championships held at Hill House HS in New Haven. Class L events were held Saturday, Feb 15. Both Blue Wave squads came into the event each having finished second in the FCIAC East Division behind Ludlowe.
In the state championships Darien boys finished a distance 12th behind State Champs and host, Hill House HS. Darien was fourth in 55m Dash (6.73), fifth in the 4X400 (3:32.95), and second in the Long Jump (21.00’).
For the girls, the team finished sixth in a field of 22 behind Champs Windsor HS. Darien was second in the 600 m Run (5:08. 50), fourth in the 4 x 400 m Relay (4:21. 00), third in the High Jump (5 – 0) and first in the Long Jump (16 – 11).
In the Open Event the Darien boys team finished tied in 29th place.
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Mardie Porter shares her winter adventure:
Another ski adventure! Three days at the Appalachian Mountain Club Lodge “Gorman Chairback”. We left home when the temp was a freezing -14 below. We trekked eight mile to the lodge as temperatures warmed to near 17 degrees.
The second day was on snowshoe on back-country trails. Day 3 we skied back out to our cars on a glorious day, with temps above freezing!!!
Sounds like a ball!
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Steve and Patti Craig did well in their apple orchard this fall. 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.
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Wave Football Coach Retires
Darien High head coach Rob Trifone is retiring. Taking over as head coach in 2007, Coach Trifone has compiled a 129 – 26 record (.832) including four FCIAC and three State championships. From 2015 to 2017, Darien ended each season ranked No. 1 in the state. Trifone has had four of his sons in the Blue Wave program: Kevin of the Class of 2007, twins Bobby and Christian of the Class of 2016, and Mark, a senior who will graduate in the spring.
Trifone has been with the Darien football program for 15 years, joining as an assistant coach in 2005 and then taking over as head coach in 2007. Including his earlier time coaching Brien McMahon, the Coach has compiled a 252-86-2 record (.741).
Trifone was inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame in 2014, and has also been named Coach of the Year 16 times, including two times by the National Football Foundation, one by the CT High School Coaches Association and four times by the FCIAC.
He was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Hall of Fame earlier this year.
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The Big 5-0
Reunion Central
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Check Out the Photo Album page with Pictures from all 3 Nights
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Send Us Your Pictures
From Our 50th!
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Chris Eng Leventhal, Kate Mason Gredinger, Sue Geiger Johanson
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Benny Bruno, Mark Tinker, Gary Gibbs
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Folks From Hindley School
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Sue Venarde Mahoney, Sue Geiger, Anahid
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Thomas Lane and Edward Tyler
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Upload by going to the Photo Album tab on left side
or send them to tapotts@darkfield.com or johndvdh@gmail.com
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Georgianna Smith Bloom, Rick Bloom, Tom Lane
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Charlie Smith and Lauren Fair
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Carol Ann Augustus Summers and Bev Bonfoey
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Patti Shaw Craig and Mardie Porter
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Mark Paddock, Dennis Sullivan, Sue Venardi Mahoney, Janet Martin Fisher, Martyn Goossen, Kathy DelleFontane Goossen, Steve Craig
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Dave Lynch, Barb and Jim Tully
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Cliff Powell, Gork Boneman, Sandy McGill
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Chris Eng Leventhal, Dennis Sullivan, Patti Shaw Craig, Dick Costello
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Rick Weber, Chris Weber, Eric Joosten, Paul Hendrickson
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Josie Mullen and Lauren Fair
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Peter Johnson, Paul Dominis, Paul Buckley, Carolyn Johnson
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Sue Geiger, Anahid Kavookjian Vrana, Ann Back Price
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Josie Mullen and James Tully
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Dick Costello and Rick Poccia
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Janet Martin Fisher and Sally Armus Shutts
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Charlie Smith, Bill Guptill, Kathy Strachan
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Tom Lane, Stu Traver, Jay Baker, David Miller
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Bruce Frail, Eric Joosten, Vandy Van Wagener
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Sue Venarde Mahoney, Kathy DelleFontane Goossen, Marty Goossen, Ed Tyler
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Gary Gibbs and Chris Bischof
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Our Schedule of Events
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
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Sunday
Weed Beach Paddle Pavillion
Lunch and refreshments
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| 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 |
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| Benny Bruno |
Kyle Hepp |
| Kathy Strachan |
Pam Burkhardt Mele |
| Peter Scholtz |
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Comments from Class Members!
Mary Bass Brown: Have fun everyone! Enjoy - post pictures.....lot's of pictures!
Anna Lamberton Whelpley: So sorry to be missing this great time😫Have a blast!
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Be sure to say "Hello" in the Guest Book section!
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Important Contact Info
Where to send Classmate info : darienhs1969@gmail.com
Where to update your profile and see classmate's info: www.50thdarienhigh69.com
Where to post your pictures: On Facebook, join
Darien High School Class of '69 members group
Thanks, and see you soon!
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Christy Rogers on the Camino de Santiago
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Pete White
Thanks for the Update!
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Joanne Schoepf Reisser
Thanks for the Update!
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We Thank the DHS 1969 Classmates Who Served
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Mike Lopriore and Paul Hepp get together in Jacksonville, FL.
Hey, where's the invite? It's freezing up here!
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Vandy Van Wagener - Good to hear from you!
Thanks for the Update.
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Anne Marie McGarry
Thanks for Your Update!
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Deb Ridabock preps for the end of summer
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Greetings Anahid!
Great to Hear from You
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Hot Fun in the Summertime
The perils of missing class on senior 'Skip' Day
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George Wehmann's Pontiac Super Chief
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Mary Grace Joynt and Suzanne Ferree
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Terry Cummings, Tim Maul, Cliff Powell
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Tina Rollins McKay in Bali
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George Farrington, Mark Tinker and Jay Baker
Photo by George Wehmann
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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
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The names just keep on coming in!
(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)!
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