The Darien girls winter track team had an outstanding CIAC Class L tournament, finishing in second place behind Windsor HS. The State event was held February 8 at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.

Darien placed second in the 1,600 m. run (5:14.36), second in the 4 X 800 relay and first in the 4 X 400 relay.
 
For the DHS boys team, Darien finished 5^th in the Class L tournament.

 

Fifty years down the road. It's time to jump in the DeLorean, fire up the flux capacitor and go Back to the Future with some friends you haven't seen in a while. See what's changed and what hasn't. The Sugar Bowl stands, an eternal monument. Darien's two beaches beckon. Catch up with classmates!

 

Dates: August 9 - 11, 2019

Friday Night: Icebreaker from 6:30 - 9:30 pm. We will meet at a local venue in Darien for appetizers and beverages and catch up with each other.

Saturday: Your Reunion Committee is putting together some fun ideas for mid-day. 

Saturday Evening: From 7:00 - 11:00 an event planned at the lovely Tokeneke Club on the Long Island Sound. It will be dinner and drinks along with a DJ who promises to play the songs we like.

Sunday 11:00 - 3:00 - We've upped our Beach game and will occupy the new Paddle Tennis facility at Weed Beach. An indoor-outdoor venue with benches, it backs up on some hiking trails. 

 

Betsy Albert                       Martha Bayless                 Thomas Bier                      Bjorn Cagner
Mark Carpenter                  Deborah Downes             Alexis Evanoff                   Cathy Dwyer      
Donna Farnsworth             Patty Fraser                       Patsy Geyer                       Lisa Goodwin
Tom Grund                        Janet Hawkins                   Susan Holmes                   Nancy Kugler
Jennifer Leahy                    Laura McCarthy                Patty McCloy                     Sarah McNevins
Drayton Meyers                  Patty Morton                    Nancy Moses                    Karen Neale
Linda Olson                        Judy Owens                       Nowell Peavey                  Janet Reichard
Shirley Reid                        Bruce Smith                       Jackie Smith                   Debbie Taylor
Katy Taylor                         Patty Trohan                     Nancy Walker                   Marilyn Ward
Shirley Warpula

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!

It was a girls ice hockey game more befitting a state championship in March than squarely in the middle of the regular season for the Darien Blue Wave and New Canaan Rams Saturday at the Darien Ice House.

Darien scored at the buzzer in the third and final period to tie the match at 1-1 and push the game into OT. The teams were still deadlocked after the 8 minute overtime.

There’s a very good chance New Canaan (11-1-1) and Darien (9-3-1) will clash on an even bigger stage during the postseason, but for now, Saturday night’s energy had both teams feeling good.

“That was one of the best girls high school hockey games I’ve ever been involved with,” New Canaan head coach Rich Bulan said. “That was just a great game. I think we’re two of the best teams in the states easily. I told the girls, they should be thrilled to be a part of a game like this.”

“The pace of the game was fantastic, the energy from both teams was fantastic, the crowd was amazing,” Darien head coach Jamie Tropsa said. “it was a great high school hockey game.”

 

The historic American Shakespeare Theater, located in Stratford Connecticut, was totally destroyed by fire Sunday night. "The loss of this iconic and historic theater that holds a special place in the hearts of Stratford residents is devastating," said Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick. The theater opened in 1955 and has been visited by famous actors and actresses including Katharine Hepburn, the Connecticut Post reports. The theater largely stopped showing plays in the 1980s and there has been talk for decades about how to revitalize the historic property.


From MACBETH:
"Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
(Act V, Scene V, Line 23)

 
A first in the nation class is being offered on growing pot. Over 400 eager students are enrolled in the new class, says a plant molecular biologist at the University of Connecticut who is teaching the course at the main Storrs campus. The course will apply agricultural science - germination, grafting, irrigation, plant diseases - to cannabis from “seed to harvest,” according to the syllabus.

 

 
Alex Ostberg, a member of the Darien High School Class of 2015, earned All-American honors for the second time by finishing 13th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, held at the University of Wisconsin on Nov. 17.  

His time for the 10,000-meter course was 29:33.

It is the second year in a row Alex has been a top 20 finisher. Ostberg is currently a senior at Stanford University.
 

Courtesy NYT

On December 5, the New York Times ran a highly favorable piece about the town of Darien. The town was recognized for its natural beauty, access to New York City and active social, arts and sports cultures.

They stated the town has a population of 22,000 in 14.9 mi.² with 16.5 miles of coastland. About 4,800 students attend the town’s five elementary schools, the middle school and the high school.

Darien High School serves 1,354 of the students, ranking at or near the top in the state on SAT scores and other measures of achievement. In 2017-18, the school’s average SAT scores were 601 in reading and 605 in math, compared to statewide averages of 524 and 507.

In late November, there were 206 houses and 17 condominiums on the market in Darien, with the median sale price of a home around $1.385 million.

The least expensive house currently available is a 700-square-foot cottage built in 1930, with one bedroom and one bathroom, listed for $359,000. The most expensive is the Ziegler Steinkraus waterfront estate, built in the early 1900s on 63.5 acres of a private island, with a 13,015-square-foot main house, guest cottages and an equestrian center, listed for $120 million.

 

Classmates Pete Fenichell and Paul Hendrickson along with Peter's wife Desiree and Paul's son. Picture was taken in Colorado Springs, CO during the Navy - Air Force Game on Columbus Day weekend. 

 

Carol Ann Augustus Summers, Bev Bonfoey and Sue Geiger Johanson share a week-end together in Warwick, RI. 

Speaking of Who's on First- Benny was on first, Johnny Maul 2B, Costello was shortstop and Hepp played third base. Lope was in CF and Kenny played LF. Dave Lynch pitched and was team captain. 

Dick Costello was 1969 All League FCIAC and tied for the batting title with a blistering .408 average. The 1969 DHS team finished 10-8 for the season. 
 

A final photo shoot of the Beatles, two days after their last recording session together in August 1969. Shot on the grounds of John and Yoko's 70 acre estate near Ascot, England.

 

Mardie Porter (bottom right) and some hearty friends ski 8 miles into the Maine wilderness to the AMC Gorman Chairback Lodge for an off-the grid winter week-end. Looks like fun!

 

 

Skins and Terry Cummings

The 45th Reunion

 

The morning began overcast, but the sun was shining at the start of the Sunday picnic.

We missed many classmates, but those who came had a special time. A shout-out to our illustrious 45th committee, especially Steve and Patti Craig, and to Dennis Sullivan who took the majority of the pictures.

Jo Anne Schoepf and Christy Rogers

Baker School Alums

Later, after repeated requests, our group headed to the dining room for an appetizing buffet of prime rib, salmon, and side dishes. Dessert was cheese and chocolate cakes, ice cream, toppings.

Once the tables were cleared, Jenny Bates started the evening entertainment as host of a general Q and A. Questions were asked from the audience about our class and our years in the high school.

One question regarding the shape of a tattoo led Mark Tinker to drop his pants in front of the room to provide the answer. Dick Costello remained quiet when a question arose about a shamrock tattoo.

It was good to have an opportunity to get back out on the dance floor. While some groaning was heard over bad hips and bum knees, a good time was had by all.

Check Out More Pictures from Saturday Night
and Sunday at the Beach
in the Photo Albums section
 

Chris Bischof,Jim Tully, Eric Joosten, Jay Baker, Lope, Benny, Dave Lynch (Next Row) Dick Costello, Nick Augustus, Tim Potts, Steve Verses, Mark Tinker

While many attended the 45^th, many were missed. A number of folks attended for the first time or from much earlier reunions – Mary Bass, Mark Beckwith, Paul Buckley, Linda Castle, Pete Helweg, Diane Holland, Dave Jefferson, Anahid, Mike Lopriore, Tom Milek, JoAnn Schoepf, and Christy Rogers among others.

Pretty much 75% of the attendees made Friday night and it was a chance to reconnect with classmates and to thank many on the reunion committee for all their work.

Thank you's are certainly in order for the group responsible for putting this reunion together:

STEVE AND PATTI CRAIG
JENNY BATES
SUE DICKMAN KLINE
DENNIS SULLIVAN
JIM AND CINDY VALENTE

Outstanding job.

(If we missed anyone, please let us know)

 

Back when smoking was cool

 Terry Cummings, Tim Maul, Cliff Powell

 -

Tina Rollins McKay in Bali

 

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