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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First Selectman Closes Beaches to Cars
Jamie Stevenson, Darien First Selectman, announced Darien has a total of 40 cases of Coronavirus with 2 hospitalizations. The affected ages range from 17 to 76. 2 people have been hospitalized.
Additionally, Ms. Stevenson has closed Darien beaches to vehicular traffic.
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Lily Genovese
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Darien Senior Laments Close of School
DHS senior Lily Genovese is upset, thinking her senior year may be over. Penning a letter to the Darien Times, Lily writes “Darien High School is an extraordinary place. The building is bursting with opportunity and has an outlet for every single passion you may have. If the club you want doesn’t exist, you can make one. If the sport you play doesn’t have a team, you can start one. We are incredibly grateful to have the resources to support almost every student activity…
The second semester of senior year is the time where we can let loose- just a little bit. The senior dinner. Senior prom. Senior skip day. The senior send-off. Graduation.
All those textbook moments that we have been looking forward to for our whole lives are potentially flushed down the drain."
We hear you, Lily. By the way, did the Class of '69 start Senior Skip Day?
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CoVID -19 Update
New Canaan reports a 17-year-old resident has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. The teen makes 24 positive tests for the town. The most recent totals for CT state-wide is 1,291 positive tests.
Currently New Canaan is leaving open the high school field facilities along with adjoining Waveny Park. The town tennis and paddle courts are also open. New Canaan students are receiving Internet class instructions which end between 2:15 and 2:30.
Darien has closed all school fields, but parks and beaches remain open through sunset.
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COVID Testing to Start
Darien will finally begin "Drive-Thru" testing starting this Monday. The tests will take place at the Darien High School and is one of 15 test sites in Connecticut.
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Before all the March sporting events were canceled, the Darien girls hockey team was advancing to the state semifinals. The Wave had just crushed a team from East Catholic 7 – 0. It was a mismatch with Darien scoring 3 goals in the first period and for the game getting off 55 shots against only 16 for East Catholic. The semi final match would have pitted Darien against the Greenwich Cardinals.
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Last Picture Show
The Darien Playhouse, the iconic property which defined downtown Darien for over 90 years, recently was sold. The amount was $11.3 million. The Playhouse is a 21,000sf theater building which had been converted into retail space, preserving the building's architecture and surrounded by upscale restaurants, boutiques and retailers. The sale may bring to an end having a movie theatre in Darien.
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Anyone have suggestions or first hand knowledge
Use the Blog to let us know!
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Darien Library/Schools Close Due to Virus
The Darien Library has announced they will close because of the Corona virus until further notice. Schools will close for 2 weeks.
Yikes!
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CIAC Cancels Winter Games
The CIAC has canceled all state championship events. The concern was for the new reality of the corona virus, coupled with the fact the Winter events were all held indoors, making spread of the virus easier.
However, a petition has been circulating with over 70,000 signatures to call for the games to continue.
More to follow.
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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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Blue Wave Fall to Rams 4 – 3
The FCIAC boys hockey final was played Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd at the Dorothy Hamill Ice Rink in Greenwich. Darien had been the odds-on favorite. They entered the match not only with a 10 game winning streak, but had pulverized New Canaan in the regular-season contest by a score of 10 – 2.
But it was New Canaan who scored first and in just the first minute of the contest. The Rams followed with a second goal 6 minutes later. In the second period, the Rams went up 3 – 0 before Darien was to put their first goal on the board at the 5:14 mark of the second period. The Rams quickly followed with another goal of their own to go up 4 – 1 into the third.
With just under 3 minutes to play Darien poured in 2 unanswered goals but fell short as time ran out.
New Canaan’s FCIAC championship was the 19th in program history, and they are the league’s all-time leader. Greenwich is second with 11 FCIAC titles, and Darien and Ridgefielld are tied with eight apiece.
Darien in seeded 4th in the CIAC tournament set to begin March 10
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Blue Wave Girls Hockey FCIAC Champs
Darien beat defending champs New Canaan to win the FCIAC Ice Hockey championship on Saturday. Darien had last won the championship in 2016. The 4-2 victory gave the team their sixth crown since 2003.
Darien finishes the season 16–2– 1.
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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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FCIAC Indoor Track Results
In Indoor Track, the FCIAC Eastern Division Championship was held at Wilton HS on Saturday, February 1. Darien boys came in second with 104 points, and Blue Wave girls came in second with 87 points. Fairfield Ludlowe won both events.
Darien placed first in the boys 600 m (1:32.62), 300 m (39.01), and 45 m (5.96) dashes. Also the 4X375 relay and long jump (20-04.5).
Darien girls were first in the 600 m (1:49.56) and 1000 m (3:10.78) and won pole vaulting at a height of (7 – 06).
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Stop and Shop at Noroton Heights Closed
No more Stop and Shop at Noroton Heights :-(
They done turn off the lights December 19.
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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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Darien Loses Dramatic Championship Game
On a drizzling, foggy late afternoon mess of a game, Darien’s lost their bid for a fourth state crown in five years. Newtown HS, with only 3 seconds left in the game, scored on a dramatic 36-yard touchdown completion to win the game 13-7. The win for Newtown came seven years to the day after the elementary school shooting in that town. One of the Newtown players, Ben Pinto, lost a brother in the shooting.
The dramatic game ending catch was the top play on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays of the night, and featured on CNN, Good Morning America and posted by Barstool Sports and MaxPreps to their social media accounts. ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, Marty Smith and Trey Wingo all shared the video to their extensive followings on Twitter. Newtown football coach Bobby Pattison has been overwhelmed by the attention from across the country.
Almost everyone described the play as divine intervention. “It was almost like someone was watching over them,” said one observer. “Its kind of for me is a symbol of the resiliency of people, of our community.”
Others spoke of the community’s resiliency in the wake of the horror seven years ago.
Darien finished the season 11-2.
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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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Anahid, Chris Eng Leventhal, Alice Plaster, Bob Mercer, Skins, Claudia Smith Davenport
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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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I am Grateful...
Take to the Blog page and let us know what you are thankful for over the last 50 years!
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Classmate 'Mini' Reunion
April 2019 in MA
Mary Bass Brown, Suzanne Ferree Kent, Craigbo, Janet Martin Fisher, Heidi Gerber Wolfley, Patti Shaw Craig
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Be sure to say "Hello" in the Guest Book section!
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Smooooth Jazz....
St Louis Blues, baby!
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Pam Burkhart Mele with husband John
Hope to see you there!
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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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