Rebus for You
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Memorial Services for Sally Armus Shutts

A service is planned to celebrate the life of Sally Armus Shutts on Friday, June 9, 2023 at 10:00 am. It will take place at the First Congregational Church on Brookside Drive in Darien with a reception to follow. Sally passed on March 6, 2023 after a brief illness. Please see Memorials. 
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Now that the FCIAC tournaments are behind us, student-athletes are gearing up for the CIAC state events. Some qualifying rounds have already been held.

In baseball, the Blue Wave are seeded 26.
In boys lacrosse, Darien has a 3 seed. Darien girls lacrosse have a No. 1 seed.
In girls tennis, Darien has a surprisingly low No. 9 seed (they are FCIAC Champs) while the boys team, a No. 3 seed behind Fairfield Prep and Greenwich.

In volleyball (boys)- unsurprisingly Darien has the top seed.

 
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Darien beat Trumbull in the boys volleyball finals 3-0, to win their fourth straight FCIAC championship title. The Wave volleyball numbers are astounding: 22-0 this season and 71 consecutive wins. The Wave have won back-to-back State titles also.

Darien last loss came at the 2019 Class L finals against Staples.  Staples has the state’s longest winning streak at 101, set in 2010.


This is the third 2023 Spring FCIAC Championship for the Wave, the other winners are Girls Tennis and Girls Lacrosse.
 
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Outdoor Track and Field Finals

The FCIAC Outdoor Track and Field finals were held May 23 at the Danbury HS track. 

Of the 18 recorded events, Darien boys finished a dismal second to last in points, only in front of St. Joseph. Greenwich HS were first of the fifteen teams.

The Wave had only two events where they had a top five finish - the Pole Vault with a third-place tie at 12’ and 300m hurdles with a fifth place finish.

Darien girls fared better. Darien finished in sixth place with a total of 55.5 points behind winner Ludlowe with 102.5 and second-place New Canaan at 88. Top five finishes include the 400m, 600m and 1600m events, the 4X400 Relay, 4th in the Pole Vault (8’6”) and a win in the 3200m (11:02.81).

 
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Simply the Best
 
Tina Turner, the raw, powerful voice of a generation, passed away Wednesday at her home near Zurich Switzerland.

Ms. Turner sold over 100 million records and received 12 Grammy Awards - including three Grammy Hall of Fame awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Rolling Stone ranked her among the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. 

She was 83.

 
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DHS Girls Win FCIAC Lacrosse Championship

After being runner-up to New Canaan the last two seasons, the Wave came out on top in this years Championship game. For Darien it is their 19th FCIAC crown and caps a perfect season of 18-0.

New Canaan jumped out with 3 quick goals in Wednesday's game before Darien was able to find its rhythm. By half-time the Wave lead 7-5 and never looked back, winning 11-7.



 
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Wave Clinch First Spring FCIAC Championship

For the third consecutive season, the Blue Wave girls tennis team are FCIAC champs.

In a seesaw battle with rival New Canaan, the match came down to the No. 4 singles, where Darien freshman Annabelle Hirscht lost her first set and fell behind 0-4 in games in the second before coming back to win 6-4 and 6-0 to give Darien the overall victory at 4-3.

The teams final record was 15-3.

For the boys team, Darien lost to Greenwich in the tennis finals, 4-3. For the undefeated Cardinals (18-0), it is their 16th FCIAC tennis championship, second only to the New Canaan Rams with 19 titles.  Darien ends their season at 17-3. 


 
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Darien Lose in Lacrosse Semi-Finals to Wilton
Wilton Beats New Canaan in Final

No. 1 seed Darien faced off against the Wilton Warriors (No. 4) in a semifinal boys lacrosse match at Darien HS. In a hard fought game that saw four lead changes, Darien came up one goal short to lose 11-10.

Of the prior 15 meetings between Darien and Wilton, Darien had been victorous in 14. Team Darien finishes the season at 13-5.

Wilton beat New Canaan in FCIAC Finals 8-4.

 
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Two new restaurants have opened in Darien. La Taqueria, behind the old Darien Theatre, has a menu of popular Mexican dishes: tacos, blue corn tortillas, quesadillas along with chips, salsa and guacamole among other popular items. Orders are taken in front before finding seating, where there are both booths and tables. There is also a large bar area.
 

Sweetgreen, a fast casual salad chain that offers a variety of salads, bowls, plates and sides, is in the new development called Darien Commons, located across from the Noroton Heights train station. It can accommodate 26 diners inside the store and 16 on the restaurant’s patio. Salads are prepared fresh and on-the-spot. There is also a pick-up window for takeout. 
 


 
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Spring Sports
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Mardie Porter (in the red jacket) sends winter greetings from snowy Maine. Here Mardie and husband Mark are on their annual XC ski trip, this year to West Branch Pond Camp in Greenville.

Mardie made it home just in time before snow began falling again. Glad someone is having a snowy winter!




 
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Darien of Olde

Great shot looking down the Post Road toward Stamford from Darien RR Bridge. To the left is Tokeneke Road. 

 
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Great shot of the Post Road in Darien back in the '50s. 

 
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1967 DHS Cheerleading Squad

As the high school gets ready for a new season of sports, here is another great picture from the camera of DHS grad Joe Vitti. 

From left: Janet Meyer, Lindy Allen, Mary Lou Brameier, Jenny Hunt, Nancy Brown, Byllie Hill, Lynnie Lynch, Carol Haesche, Josie Mullen.

Go Blue Wave!


 
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There are many reasons to celebrate, as summer draws to a close. One real good one is that we still can!
Classmates Dave Lynch and George Farrington came up with a Survivor Party for those of us who’ve skirted death - with ailments ranging from cancer to heart bypass.
The red-cross shirts harken back to the Maher/Crump team football days when injured players wore the cross to avoid being hit (again).

Continued success to us all!


From left: Tinker, Robin and Jay Baker, Marisa, Nancy and Steve Verses, Skins, Deana and Dick Costello, Lynch, Patti Mazza Sturges, Christi and George Farrington
 

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A Lobster lunch and a summer shout-out from

Steve Craig, Heidi Gerber Wolfey, Janet Martin Fisher, Goody Bates and pooch Sammy, and Patti Shaw Craig



 
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Long Live the Sugar Bowl! 

It happened over the summer, news that the iconic Sugar Bowl, a Darien staple and teenage hangout since 1958, has been sold. The new owner, Peter Crawford, also owns the Darien Butcher Shop, a local store on the same block.

The lunchette came into being by classmate Patty Mazza’s aunt Edna in 1958. The classic Americana décor of wood paneling and checkered tile floors has little changed, even as Darien has transformed around it.

In 1975 Patty’s cousin Bobby Mazza began managing the place for his mother. The plan was to help out for a few weeks but Bobby remained for 47 years as the proprietor, pouring countless cups of Joe while serving breakfast and lunch with the classics: eggs, pancakes, burgers and BLTs.

The new owners are planning changes to the space beginning in 2023. Tentavely called “The Club”, they are planning a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and are applying to serve alcohol.


 
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People Finally Getting Together Again

After a long year of masks and quarantines, people are once again back together.

Benny Bruno and Mike Lopriore recently drove up to Myrtle Beach for some golf with Dick Costello and Navy friends. 

As Mike said: "Great golf courses, good food, and we even had a few beverages." 

Amen to that.

 

Hard to Believe
Nearly Four Years since our 50th Reunion !
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See You Again Soon!
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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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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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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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The Big 5-0
Reunion Central

 
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Check Out the Photo Album page with Pictures from all 3 Nights
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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Tim and Jamila Potts
 
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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
 
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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Bill and Annie Schade
 
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Ed Tyler and Bob Mercer

 
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Dick Costello and Rick Poccia

 
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Janet Martin Fisher and Sally Armus Shutts
 
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Anahid
 
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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

 
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


 
Sunday

Weed Beach Paddle Pavillion
Lunch and refreshments




 
    Our Guest List

 
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  
*
 
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!

Thank-you!!
 
Update Your Profile at
 

Hey You!
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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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Laura Mandi
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Skins and Terry Cummings
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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
Tina Rollins McKay in Bali
 
George Farrington, Mark Tinker and Jay Baker  Photo by George Wehmann
George Farrington, Mark Tinker and Jay Baker Photo by George Wehmann

 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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Reunion Quiz
What is the DHS Motto?

Cheaper than Prep School!
Ivy League Here I Come!
Best partyin' school in Fairfield County!
Veritas vos liberabit
Reunion Poll
Are you retired?

Yes, full time
Yes, part ime
No, work full time
No, can't afford it!
  Results
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