Jo Anne Schoepf Reisser

 

We learn belatedly with deep sadness the passing of Jo Anne Schoepf Reisser in July 2024.  After high school, Joanne graduated from the University of New Hampshire and continued her studies at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Known for her compassion and unwavering commitment to others, she devoted her life to charitable work, especially fundraising for causes close to her heart. A faithful parishioner of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Jo Anne made a lasting impact on her community and beyond. Her generosity, kindness, and steady dedication to service remain her enduring legacy.

 

 

Joanne was preceeded in death by her son Scott and is survived by her husband Fritz John Reisser, their daughter Elizabeth and her husband Montgomery Markland. 

 

 

In her memory, donations can be made to the Scott Reisser Memorial Scholarship Fund, Making Headway Foundation, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Football Practice 

 

 

The calendar is about to flip into football season across Connecticut. For Darien High, the runway is short: athletes report for their first official practice on August 13, with full‑contact sessions beginning August 22 as the Blue Wave start building toward a demanding 2026 slate.

 

 

Darien’s opener arrives on September 10, whith the Wave hosting powerhouse St. Joseph, a perennial contender and one of the state’s most disciplined programs. It’s a measuring‑stick game right out of the gate — and it comes as Darien enters the season ranked No. 17 statewide.

 

 

The neighborhood rivalry looms just as large. New Canaan, slotted at No. 4, returns as one of the most complete teams in Connecticut, adding extra weight to the annual Thanksgiving showdown that routinely draws one of the biggest crowds of the year.

 

 

For Darien, the next few weeks are about tightening fundamentals, installing schemes, and getting young players up to varsity speed before the pads come on. Once they do, the countdown to September 10 accelerates — and the Wave will find out quickly how they stack up against the state’s elite.

 

Chloe Humphrey
Chloe Humphrey

Darien Players Join National Team

 

  

Three former Darien high lacrosse players will travel to Tokyo, Japan, to help the United States National team bid for the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship later this month.They are attack Chloe Humphrey (now at UNC), and goalies Shea Dolce (Boston College), and Caylee Waters (UVA).

 

The United States is bidding for its fifth consecutive World championship and has won the title in nine of the 11 tournaments held since the event started in 1982. 

Darien Tops New Canaan - In the Pocketbook 

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Darien now ranks first in Connecticut for average income and is among the wealthiest towns nationally, according to Census Bureau data. Darien households average $455,000 and $150,000 per resident - nearly three times the median statewide of around $58,000. Its income-per-person is more than five times that of Hartford, which sits at the other end of the average-income scale.


For an example of Darien’s extreme wealth, look no further than Contentment Island, a small peninsula with 42 properties that have a cumulative assessed value of 322 million. Between 2019 and 2020, Darien’s average household income jumped by about $40,000, a 10% increase that dislodged New Canaan from the top spot. That latter town now sits in second place in both income-per-capita and average household income. 

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New Canaan HS does rank higher in the US News Ct survey, with the Rams at #2 and Darien No 4. 

 

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.

 

56th 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

 

 

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



 

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!

 

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



 

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 !
Eddy Tyler and Bob Mercer
Eddy Tyler and Bob Mercer


Georgianna Smith Bloom, Rick Bloom, Tom Lane
 


Sue Venarde Mahoney, Sue Geiger, Anahid
 

The Big 5-0
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

 

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

 

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  
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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!

Thank-you!!
 
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. 

 

Update Your Profile at
 

Hey You!
Be sure to say "Hello" in the Guest Book section!

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. 

 
 
 


We Thank the DHS 1969 Classmates Who Served
 
 

Laura Mandi

Choir

Christy Rogers on the Camino de Santiago
Pete White

Joanne Schoepf Reisser
 
George Wehmann's Pontiac Super Chief
 
 
Skins and Terry Cummings

Vandy Van Wagener and Family


Anne Marie McGarry

Deb Ridabock preps for the end of summer

Greetings Anahid!

Hot Fun in the Summertime
 
The perils of missing class on senior 'Skip' Day
 
 
 
 


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.
 

Mary Grace Joynt and Suzanne Ferree

 Terry Cummings, Tim Maul, Cliff Powell

keep on truckin

Tina Rollins McKay in Bali
Tina Rollins McKay in Bali
George Farrington, Mark Tinker and Jay BakerPhoto by George Wehmann
George Farrington, Mark Tinker and Jay BakerPhoto 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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