DHS ’69 was well represented at the wedding of Janet Martin Fisher's son Tyler, and Jenny Bates' daughter MacKenzie this October in Vermont. The newlyweds recently returned from Australia, where they both ran in the Sydney Marathon in August.
Pictured from left to right are Jennifer (Goody) Bates, Pennie Page, Janet Martin Fisher, Heidi Gerber Wolfey, Patti and Steve Craig, and Suzanne Ferree Kent.
"Beautiful weather, a beautiful wedding, and a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends. A memorable weekend for all!"
John Carl Wuerthner
Classmate John Wuerthner, of Arlington, Va., passed away peacefully on Oct. 11, 2026. Born in New York City on Nov. 30, 1950, Wuerthner moved to Darien after living in Rhode Island, Syracuse, N.Y., and Alexandria, Va. He returned to the Washington, D.C., area in 1972 and remained there for the rest of his life. An entrepreneur and businessman, John opened the first Baskin-Robbins in Washington, D.C., with his brother, Mark. He later served as a finance director for a Honda and Mercedes-Benz dealerships before owning and operating a Midas shop in Warrenton, Va., until his retirement.
An avid skier, runner, sports fan, history enthusiast and music lover, John also enjoyed spending summers in Malta and Great Falls, Mont., the hometowns of his parents. John is survived by his wife of 26 years, Joanie Matthews; his sister, Susanne and brother Mark. A funeral Mass will be held Oct. 31 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Arlington, Va.
Darien (3-3) left little doubt Friday night, rolling past McMahon (1-5) at Jack Casagrande Field in Norwalk. The Blue Wave entered the game looking to rebound from a disappointing 20-0 loss to Staples, while the Senators had struggled throughout the season, having been outscored by 124 points in their four previous defeats. It did not take long for Darien to seize control. The Blue Wave returned the opening kickoff to the McMahon 5-yard line and scored on the very next play. Darien built a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and extended it to 35-0 by halftime.
The Blue Wave added another score in the third quarter to make it 42-0, allowing them to cruise through the final period with a running clock. Darien will look to build on the victory when it hosts Danbury next Friday.
No. 1 New Canaan rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat No. 2 Greenwich 23-19 on Friday night at Cardinal Stadium, extending its state-best winning streak to 29 games. After trailing 13-9 at halftime, the Rams leaned on a dominant rushing attack, running the ball on 22 consecutive plays across two third-quarter scoring drives to take control of the matchup. The showdown marked the second straight season the state's top two teams met during the regular season. Both programs are defending state champions, with New Canaan owning four consecutive Class L titles and Greenwich two straight Class LL crowns.
The FCIAC cross country championships were held Wednesday at Waveny Park, with Greenwich dominating the boys varsity 5K race and New Canaan claiming the girls team title. Greenwich ran away with the boys championship, finishing with just 48 points from its top five runners. Staples placed second with 92 points, while Darien finished ninth with 269 points. Wilton's top runner captured the individual boys title in a time of 15:49.9. Darien's fastest performance came from Mateo Hershey who crossed the finish line in 16:58.0, good for 33rd place overall.
In the girls varsity 5K race, New Canaan earned the team championship with 53 points. Darien placed sixth with 162 points. The fastest individual time of the day belonged to a Greenwich runner, who completed the course in 18:05.3. Darien freshman Gracen Dunne led the Blue Wave, finishing 21st overall in 20:19.9. The championships marked the culmination of the FCIAC season, with several conference teams now turning their attention to postseason competition.
Darien's field hockey team remains No. 1 in the GameTimeCT Coaches Poll with a 11-0-1 record. The Blue Wave sits atop the crowded FCIAC East Division, though Fairfield Ludlowe is right behind with an identical 11-0-1 mark. Staples, another perennial contender, stands at 10-3. Darien is the defending FCIAC champion and has won four of the last five conference tournaments. Senior Shannon Bock, a Boston College commit, has led the unbeaten Blue Wave with seven goals and four assists.
Both Darien soccer teams find themselves in the middle of the FCIAC pack. The girls squad is 6-7-1 and part of a three-way tie for ninth place. Greenwich and St. Joseph are tied atop the standings at 11-0-1. The boys team is tied for eighth place with a 5-5-3 record, while Staples currently leads the conference at 13-0-1.
Bob Ierardi recently dug-out an old picture of the 10-Year Reunion Committee. This motley crew consisted of Lauren Fair, Meri Hock, Bob Ierardi, Johnny Maul, Josie, Tim Potts, Jayne Seyfreth, Skins, Ed Tyler, Heuvel, and Steve Verses.
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
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)!
