Westport, Connecticut: Staples High School

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SPECIAL NOTICE

This notice is for one of our own Billy Palladino, Staples H.S. graduate, class of 1968. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in November of 2009 and has been hospitalized since Feb. 6, when complications from throat cancer surgery in November robbed him of his ability to speak. He had an operation where they removed his epiglottis, the flap that covers the trachea during swallowing so that food does not enter the lungs. He had a Tracheotomy and now is unable to speak. He is presently in Danbury Hospital and is receiving Chemotherapy and Radiation and hoping to go home soon.

With all this going on for Bill, another tragedy struck his family. His wife, Janice Ann McClenathan Palladino, age 45, passed away from a massive heart attack on February 11, 2010 at her home in Sandy Hook, CT. She was also a Staples High School Graduate, class of 1983. Not only did his wife meticulously prepare meals that were injected through the feeding tube Bill had implanted after his surgery and monitor his medications, her full-time job at a small manufacturing company in Oxford provided the health insurance that covered the bulk of his medical bills.

Now there is no income for family and they don't know how long the insurance from Janice's job will cover Billy's medical bills. They have 2 daughters, Michelle and Sarah Palladino who are both in college.

We want to let you know that a trust fund has been set up for Billy and his family at:

Newtown Savings Bank
30 Main Street
Danbury CT 06810
Phone: (203) 205-0080

For those of you that want to contact him or send get well cards to, his home contact information is:

Bill Palladino
7 Overlook Knoll
Sandy Hook CT 06482
(203) 426-8960

Here are some links for more information:

Article on Billy in the Danbury News Times, Feb. 21, 2010.

Obituary from the Westport News on Janice Ann McClenathan Palladino.

Please help out where you can. Collectively we can all make a difference for Billy and his family, no matter what the $ amount is. Words of support are also needed if you can't make a donation during these hard times.

Thank you, Shelby Goodlett Pike

Staples High School Bulletin Board To add an entry on this board, please log in or sign up.
Hi Everyone! This is a wonderful site and a great way to connect. Although I still live in CT, I haven't seen any of my classmates in such a long time. It would be wonderful to know how all of you are doing. All my best.	Debra Sopkin Bento 1968 view posts Saturday, 08/28/2010 16:50:55
Does anyone know any information on Bonnie Jones?	Jenny Herzbrun Glidden 1980 view posts Friday, 07/23/2010 13:13:30
Sorry to report that Susan Kahn (1971) passed away at her home in Birch Bay, Washington, on 11 July 2010. Susan's husband, Bill Hansen, cared for her after she was diagnosed with lung cancer in December.	Catherine Shornick 1971 view posts Wednesday, 07/14/2010 06:32:46
Class of 71 Almost 40 years! Want to see old classmates? How about a reunion? Click on the link and let us know. -link-	Joanne Romano 1971 view posts Saturday, 06/05/2010 07:31:05
Anyone know the whereabouts of Michael Mahar, Staples '74? Nick Georgis is looking for him.	Nicholas Georgis faculty view posts Wednesday, 04/28/2010 09:07:43
Hi. I just found out about this site. I feel really lucky that I went to Staples when I did. We had such an incredible time. I loved every minute of it! I remember driving in circles in the parking lot in my friend's Valiant with the drive "button" pushed down and her hand pulled on the wheel, laughing constantly. That's what I remember--the laughter and the bands that came to play there.	Alison Smith Nicastro 1969 view posts Wednesday, 03/31/2010 09:59:41
Attention Class of 1961: 50th Reunion June 24-26,2011 Go to Facebook: -link-	Kate Thornton Thornton 1961 view posts Saturday, 03/27/2010 17:19:05
To all who read this: It has been many years since I was up in Westport, and seeing all the names and faces of those I went to school with brings back many memories. I sure would like to get in touch with some of my old classmates. Even though I didn't graduate with you all, the memories as I said are still there.	Charlie Saenz 1978 view posts Monday, 12/07/2009 18:08:52
Hi Everyone: I just joined and hope to hear more good memories!	Cheryl McGoldrick 1976 view posts Wednesday, 08/26/2009 14:46:12
Hello everyone! I just joined, and was amazed at what I saw. Lots of memories for sure.	Peter Berger 1969 view posts Friday, 08/14/2009 09:43:04
Hello Westporters, Probably the only people who remember me are Steve Wall (we‚Äôre in regular contact -- he‚Äôs in Seattle and I‚Äôm in Portland, Or.) and Mary Palmieri (remember the accident with Miles the bus driver?) I also knew Eric Melton,Wynn Plaut, Molly Palmer, Charise Gendren, Chou Chu Rahm, Karen Kahn, Nancy Raffel, Kurt Eckel, Scott Scheirman, Bruce Coveillo, and Keith Roberts. I ‚Äúwent out‚Äù with Carol Harrison, who went on to marry Mr. Cushman! I can‚Äôt say that I actually ever had a conversation with Marilyn but I am pleasantly shocked by the outpouring of love and triggered memories all of you retain and confess to a modicum of jealousy that you‚Äôve managed to to a) stay in the community you grew up in or thereabouts and b) that you have such good friendships. I was a ‚Äúnewby‚Äù Army Brat living on Wassell Lane (doesn‚Äôt exist any longer I hear.) I loved my time in Westport. I went to Bedford (Mrs. Wachob, Mr. Lomnitzer) Coleytown. Mr. Cushman, in particular, helped me find my voice through journaling. I am so sorry for your collective loss of Marilyn Briggs. Her personna obviously touched all of you and I wish all who are in grief the best of healing energy. Charlie Monroe	Charles Monroe 1970 view posts Sunday, 04/19/2009 17:27:16
Does anyone know what became of Paul Schmitz, class of 1969?	Jennifer Kilian 1971 view posts Thursday, 04/16/2009 11:28:28
I am fortunate to still be living in Westport, at least for now. This afternoon, I was on the Post Road and it looked as if several of the car dealers had closed. Stew's in Norwalk was about half full at 5 PM. And to think that folks were whining about the economy back in the day. Of course, they didn't have myspace. Westporters.com is, of course, better. ;)	John Fontaine 1976 view posts Sunday, 01/11/2009 18:25:11
Last year, I guess it was around Memorial day, I drove onto the campus back by where the classroom trailers were. Wow, what a difference from what my memory had esconced in my grey matter. I couldn't help it, when I got home I checked it out on Google Earth. The silhouette was there, burried behind the new structure. I'll never forget driving my first car (72 Plymouth Scamp) into the parking lot. Who cares that I didn't have a drivers license. Well, the school Police Officer, I can't remember his name, did. He was understanding enough and let one of my three passengers with a license slid into the seat and off we went. Whew! I haven't seen most of my classmates for about 26 years and I can't wait for a chance at seeing any of them again.	Jonathan O'Connor 1981 view posts Tuesday, 12/16/2008 02:25:40
Hit the wrong button! Anyway, Beau came home to get on with the rest of his life and has now been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) Apparently this is an unfortunate occurance which most of us are unaware of, but they think it may be related to the vaccinations he received before going overseas. Other vets are also coming down with this, for which there is no cure. Please everyone, send money for research to try and help these guys!	Leslie Arnold Pecheur 1963 view posts Wednesday, 11/26/2008 13:14:25
I sure all of you at Staples in the classes of 1962-64 remember Matt MacVane, star quarterback. Matt's son, Beau, after joining the Marines and doing 2 tours of duty in Afghanistan and 3 tours in Iraq	Leslie Arnold Pecheur 1963 view posts Wednesday, 11/26/2008 13:09:13
Cheryl, I had to join after seeing you here!! Of course I remember you!! How could I ever forget the horses and the pool!! We had a lot of fun. Missy told me about this site and what a rush back in time!! I went to Greens Farms for 5th and 6th grade and Long Lots, moved before entering Staples to Greenwich. Never liked Greenwich at all but still try to see what is happening in Westport.	Amy Goode 1976 view posts Friday, 11/21/2008 10:01:38
Ok - I can't resist - not sure who will remember me but it has been fun reading all the 'posts' - I guess "brain disconnect" has not totally set in as I remember most of you. There certainly are a lot of memories of Staples and growing up in Westport - but did anyone else go to Greens Farms Elementary??? I too cannot believe the big 5-0 has arrived - when I saw the numbers on my birthday cake I thought it belonged to someone else! After Staples I had the idea of going to a "big" school, and that I did...Indiana University...Bloomington was great but I guess I had the east coast in my blood so my husband and I moved back to CT in 1981. From that point on I got an MBA, traveled a bit, had 3 kids (21,18, and 14), and worked in the pharmaceutical industry - so the time has certainly passed quickly. Well, I don't live too far from Westport (Shelton) and still go there often. For some odd reason I chose a pediatrician in Westport - anyone remember Dr. Peter Czuczka at Willows Pediatrics? - I still see him but thankfully not so much anymore. It is fun to go to Westport with my kids, very nostalgic, and kind of strange, too. It was especially strange a few years ago, to watch my son's high school football team win the state championship against of all schools...Staples!!! Anyway, it's nice to read about things you have in common with people from your past. To Cindy Hill - although I am not in the landscaping business (wish I was!) I too am really dirty most of the time, weather permitting....love to garden...and to Missy Freedman I have contemplated visiting Kripalu for several years - that's awesome....and for you graduates of University of New Hampshire...my daughter is a freshman there...what a beautiful campus!...Anyway, take care everyone, and if we do have a 35TH reunion, I'd be glad to help. Cheryl	Cheryl Arnett Zebendon 1976 view posts Tuesday, 11/18/2008 11:48:15
Hi all! Just a word from Amsterdam, Netherlands. Indeed it's been a long time ;) Raise your stein to '79!	Rien Vanderschans 1979 view posts Wednesday, 10/15/2008 12:38:27
Hey 79 - Been long time gone, 30th coming up. Miss you guys.	Brett Saltus 1979 view posts Sunday, 09/21/2008 15:05:13
Hey 73 - Did you guys plan your reunion yourselves? 1980 has our 30th coming up. Approximately how much lead time??	Andrea Scott Myers 1980 view posts Friday, 09/05/2008 02:09:05
I saw Mr. James Quinn today in Fairfield. He was a GREAT English teacher at Staples. I recognized him immediately - he looks great! In 1980 we studied Arthur Miller, among others. I loved his class.	Andrew Wittenstein 1981 view posts Monday, 08/25/2008 07:08:35
End of summer approaching quickly, but the weather is awesome. For anyone within driving distance Dave Mason is playing the Leavitt Saturday 8/23.	Marc Pfeiffer 1978 view posts Friday, 08/22/2008 10:08:32
STAPLES CLASS OF 1973...REUNION..OCTOBER 4, 2008..GO TO OUR WEBSITE... -link- FOR REGISTRATION FORMS, PIX, BLOGS, INFO ET AL	Daryl Gordon Holbrook 1973 view posts Thursday, 07/17/2008 12:07:02
Staples Players alums! Two important announcements! First, Al Pia is ill, so Staples Players is going to dedicate the Friday August 8 performance of Les Miserables to Al. There will be a post-show presentation of a plaque and some light refreshments. The show is at 7:30 PM, and is directed by David Roth and Kerry Long. Tickets will go online July 20 at staplesplayers.com. Second, this school year is the 50th anniversary of Staples Players. They are going to be hosting a special celebration some time early next year. I'll post details when they are available. My boys are both part of the lighting crew (Hi Sue Hart!), and I am very happy to be involved with Players again. Julia Lang Mally juliamally@gmail.com	Julia Lang Mally 1979 view posts Wednesday, 07/16/2008 12:07:39
Hey class of 73, I am so hoping we pull this reunion off. It has been way to long to have been out off touch. I will be coming in from Colorado and plan on stayig at the norwalk in if I don't find another resting spot. Anyone interested in sharing a room? I also am looking for some out of towners to car pool from the airport so we wall do not have all rent cars. Let me know. Thanks looking forward to OCT. there are several people in CO. I am trying to reach all I can. My cell# is 720-532-3702, my e-mail add. is hlovett373@aim.com, looking forward to hearing from anyone. HOLLY	Holly Sampson Dehaan 1973 view posts Thursday, 06/05/2008 02:06:53
Susan Lucia Palmieri, class of 1993 (Me) will be in New York Grand Opera's La Traviata and Aida in Central Park July 16th and Aug 13th both at 7:30 PM fully stages and free. My mom is getting a bus together ... anyone interested should email me. LuciaPalmieri@Yahoo.com	Susan Palmieri 1993 view posts Monday, 05/19/2008 01:05:20
Hi Gang! Great idea to have a reunion Scott, please keep me informed. By the way, please tell Bernadette my daughter caught the sea glass bug from her during our last reunion visit and continues to search all beaches, everywhere!!	Lauren Perlis Ambler 1973 view posts Monday, 05/19/2008 06:05:45
Hey all! Peggy Lehn got ahold of me through my bro and Jeff Isotalo. I have been reading what everyone has been writing back and forth and think that it is great that you have this site for us. Nimpy, Dan, Steve, Eileen, Sue etc... - Hey!!!	Linda Alexander Whitcomb 1979 view posts Thursday, 05/08/2008 17:56:02
Has anyone heard from Scott Stettaford? If so please let me know..thanks!	Mike Beattie 1982 view posts Thursday, 05/08/2008 13:45:40
My biggest memories were wwpt Thanksgiving marathons and having turkey salad sandwiches and pumpkin pie at sunrise. Has anyone heard from Bill Nesbit from the class of '79?	David Stitzer 1979 view posts Sunday, 05/04/2008 06:23:58
Whatever happened to Anne Cheever? Jane Denlinger Class of 1965 jfraytet@ix.netcom.com jfraytet@TIAA-CREF.org	Jane Denlinger 1965 view posts Friday, 04/18/2008 11:36:09
Hey fellow Westporters! I've lived in Dallas, Texas for nearly 28 years now, but I can't seem to shake my love for Westport. Memories of my high school days may have dimmed over the years but, they'll never die! I often think of the teachers who made an enormous impression on me Teachers like Ginny Parker, Alan Jolley and Miss Lee(remember her cat eye glasses?). Sue Champagne Ringer and I are still in touch after all these years. But, I've often wondered what happened to Cappie Campbell, Monica Grady and others! Recently, I tracked down an old friend from my neighborhood and elementary school years, Susan Glimcher. We have had an amazing time reminicing together about our growing years. Would love to hear from others like Randy Grosberg, my next door neighbor, and others. Would love to hear from you! thewindricks@gmail.com	Sue Holliday Windrick 1976 view posts Wednesday, 04/16/2008 20:32:18
A big shout out to any graduates of Staples High School, class of 1978.. 30 years is coming up, can you even belive it.. I cant.. Kirsten Goehausen Waters 1978	Kirsten Goehausen Waters 1978 view posts Saturday, 03/22/2008 21:17:56
Jeanie Wakeman ('59) her sisters, and I (59') hoed corn where the tennis courts were located at the entrance to Staples. Are they still there? Our corn hoeing days were back in middle school. We would walk through the woods to reach the corn field, hoes in hand, and hoe out the weeds.	Vincent Puleo 1959 view posts Saturday, 03/01/2008 08:01:53
Does anyone know of any graduates from Assumption School 1963.	Richard Dodge guest view posts Monday, 12/31/2007 10:20:37
My Mother once told me "you can take the Yankee out of Connecticut, but you can't take Connecticut out of the Yankee" how true I do miss my Conn. days, and those great times at Staples	Kevin Lynch Coursen 1973 view posts Monday, 11/12/2007 00:55:57
Hi there! I was so sad to hear about Pam Guthman.(almost a year later) Her passing touched me deeply. We were in the same class at Staples and then went on to Colby Jr College together where we became pretty good friends. The last time I saw her was at our class of '71 20 year reunion and she looked fabulous and was obviously very successful and happy in her antique business. Dan, thanks for the lovely obituary... On a completely different note I want to report some amazing news....my High School boyfriend and fellow '71 graduate Jon Ball and I have reunited after 37 years and are living ecstatically together in Oakland Calif - planning to get married sometime SOON! What am amazing thing - a second chance at first and true love - ya gotta love it. We're coming through Westport next week to explore all of our old haunts for a day or so - first time together there since 1973....Trish Bristol and Bill Lindenmuth...where are you guys? look us up: psnash64@hotmail.com thanks all - Pamela Stavenger Nash (class of 1971)	Pamela Stavenger 1971 view posts Wednesday, 10/03/2007 04:22:56
Hi all. To my shock I've just looked at our class listing and seen that Sandy Tomlinson Helm is deceased. We were best friends in high school and I've been looking for her online for a few years. I last saw her at one of our reunions and wondered why she wasn't at the last one. If anybody knows what happened to her please, please let me know. You can email me at rltobin@excite.com Thank you	Rachelle Tobin Parady 1966 view posts Friday, 08/03/2007 04:23:05
Obituary: PAMELA GUTHMAN Pamela Guthman, a well-known antiques dealer and expert, died peacefully on December 11, 2006 at San Diego Hospice in California. She was 53. A memorial service in her honor is planed for May 12 at Pequot Library in Southport. The service will begin at 1 p.m. She was born on February 22, 1953 in Philadelphia, and grew up on High Point Road in Westport. A graduate of Burr Farms Elementary School, Long Lots Junior High and Staples High School, and Principia College in Elsah, Ill., she worked in Boston for the First Church of Christ, Scientist, before returning to Connecticut in 1980. Her mother operated Pat Guthman Antiques in Southport. Pamela left her job in Manhattan to join her mother, exhibiting at up to a dozen antiques shows a year. She worked there until Pat's death in 2002. "We were roommates and business partners," Pam wrote in a 2002 tribute to Pat Guthman, a specialist in antiques for the kitchen and hearth. The women spent nine months designing and building a commercial/residential complex in Southport with three shops downstairs and a three-bedroom, three-bath apartment upstairs. They incorporated antique architectural fragments throughout and gave cooking demonstrations on the site. A devout Christian Scientist, Guthman worked as a practitioner, or spiritual healer, after moving to San Diego from Westport four years ago. In the early 1980s, Guthman was on the editorial staff of Antiques and The Arts Weekly and was the first editor of Connoisseur's Quarterly, the journal of the Art & Antiques Dealers League of America. "We had lots of fun when Pam was working for our paper," R. Scudder Smith, editor of Antiques and The Arts Weekly, said. "Her enthusiasm and energy ran at a very high level and she was always full of more story ideas than she could possibly have time to write." As a freelance writer for a variety of publications she wrote widely about friends, travel, food, antiques, outdoor pursuits, environmentalism and faith. She studied ballroom dance and took up diving, rock climbing, long distance running and even trained for an Ironman triathlon competition. In each instance, she cared more about camaraderie than competition. She made friends everywhere she went. In 2003, Pam married Brian Kissock, her second husband and a fellow practitioner. They had recently divorced but remained close. Guthman is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Scott and Bernadette Guthman, and her nieces, Rachel and Laicey, all of California; her stepmother, Elizabeth Stillinger of Westport, and her stepsisters, Alice Stillinger and Amelia Stillinger. In addition to her mother, she was predeceased by her father, antiques dealer William Guthman.	Dan Woog 1971 view posts Saturday, 02/17/2007 13:42:37
Hi everybody- what a great site with memorable photos. I see Westport has really changed but the spirit remains!	Carlo Kyprios 1982 view posts Monday, 01/22/2007 03:52:08
A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JIM CALKINS will be held Monday, July 24, 10 a.m. at St. Peter and Paul's Church in Norwich, Conn.	Dan Woog 1971 view posts Saturday, 07/01/2006 11:33:28
1961 Staples grads - June 23-24-25 2006 - big doings in Westport. contact me at bopert@sterlingcommercialcapital.com so I can let you know about our 45th celebbration brian opert 203-895-0173	Brian Opert 1961 view posts Thursday, 06/15/2006 08:03:10
Thanks Dan Woog for directing me here. Lost track of the old site where we could catch up with people. Having lived in the south now for over 25 years, when I tell people I lived in Westport CT they all say how beautiful it is there and I always respond "30 years ago it was gorgeous." I will ALWAYS remember the Westport I grew up in. I guess thats one reason other than family and the few people i can catch up with i really don't get the rush i used to coming home. Thank god for the Black Duck! Some things will never change AND SHOULDN'T!!! My wife and I are avid motorcyclists and plan on riding up to Westport this sumer. If anyone ever heads towards Myrtle Beach let me know. The golf is great herer too. My brother Cliff is still around town and keep s me in touch with most still in the area. Would love to hear from anyone!!!!!	Joseph Cuseo 1973 view posts Friday, 06/02/2006 17:28:28
Reaching out to all 1976 Staples graduates - our 30th reunion will be held July 7, 8, 2006. Friday night at the Black Duck and Saturday afternoon into the night. The baseball diamond has been reserved for Saturday - along with Clam bake on South Beach. Send me an email to get your name on the list - we're looking for a head count so we have all the clams needed! The coordinators for the reunion are: Jen Chittick Ken Machol Bill Shaner Spread the word! We will be in touch with more information shortly.	Jennifer Chittick 1976 view posts Sunday, 04/30/2006 23:15:22
Jim Calkins, principal of Staples High School from the mid-1960s to mid-'70s, died on April 5, 2006, in Martinsville, Va., of complications from congestive heart failure. He was gratified in the final months of his life to hear from so many former Staples students and staff members, thanking him for all he did as principal during a tumultuous time. Jim was, in large part, responsible for giving students a voice when most high schools silenced them, and for enhancing Staples' national reputation as a creative, innovative place. There will be a memorial service in his hometown of Norwich, Connecticut some time in June.	Dan Woog 1971 view posts Thursday, 04/06/2006 02:17:31
As with the rest of the comments below, I too miss the old Westport - the "hominess" you felt whether you were in Saugatuck or Greens Farms or Compo Beach... such a quaint town went to the proverbial wolves of progress (or what they call progress). I enjoyed every friend, every beach party and house party... I miss kid parties at the Pink Ice Cream Parlor, hanging around Sam Goody, Friday nites at Friendly's, weekends at the Dairy Queen, riding around in my boyfriend's muscle car with the reverse lights waiting for a rat race (what the HELL are those rice burners they call cars nowadays!!) softball games at Greens Farms, trips over the border to NY when our bars closed!! (the "city" never sleeps after all!) Sometimes I wish I could go back for a week or weekend, but then I look at my kids and remember that it's their time and I enjoy watching them. I will hold and love every memory as long as Mr. Alzheimer allows :)	Sheila Merrill 1982 view posts Tuesday, 01/31/2006 06:55:26
James Cunniff should really be credited with creating this whole concept and its many permutations. Kudos to you, James. Still in S.F.? Many of the "old folks" from Westport have fled, left or been deposed. Sad, but true, and with houses starting at a million dollars, who would want to stay, when they can buy a house in CA and FL for that kind of cash? The local glitterati are still here, older and uglier, but locals are selling their houses only to have them torn down for contractors to build MacMansions, most of which will only house 3 - 4 people and remain undecorated, since they paid too much for the house and can't afford to furnish it... Blah, blah, blah... Most of the original businesses are gone, replaced by big name chains, filled with transplanted NYers, oh joy! Glorified consumption society! Sadly, most of them think that they are SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU! Watch your feet or they'll run them over in the parking lot. If you've moved, enjoy your new location, as it's not the same here any more, sorry to say. Many of my friends no longer come here to visit, but I call them anyway and we reminisce about the streets we biked, the ponds we swan in, skinny-dipping at Compo or the other crazed things normal teenagers did back in the '70s. Life goes on. Hope you are all well.	Timothy Gilchrist 1974 view posts Tuesday, 09/06/2005 14:11:30
Nikki Montemora is doing a GREAT job teaching kids in NYC at "Special Ed & Arts NewYorkCity - PS162" Last summer she went to Italy with a bunch of friends on an active artists tour. Her younger sister Christina dies a few years ago.	Lance Drake 1965 view posts Friday, 07/01/2005 15:56:59
Does anybody know if there will be a 40th year reunion for the class of 1965? I don't know of anything, but was curious. The thought that it was 40 years ago that we left Staples is a a little hard to accept. Jane Denlinger (Fraytet)1965	Jane Denlinger 1965 view posts Sunday, 05/29/2005 13:24:06
It seems that we only get one or two responses a year here now. Too bad. I was just reading James Cuniff's reference to the old Staples being replaced by "a three-story monolith"...sure enough, when I visited with my youngest son two weeks ago, the new building was up and the old are slowly passing away....	Michael Paciello 1977 view posts Monday, 05/23/2005 10:42:40
if i were asked what happened last week or last month i would draw a blank stare and try hard to remember what happened but to recall some of the shit that went on when i was back in staples in the late sixties and 1970 it seems like that shit happened just a short while back ago. ( you can tell i picked up alot in english!) everyone remembers the runs to pc or vista, vassens, carrols, but how about lee's dam, car eating forrests, the hashish trail, vectors, climbing the power-line towers shit faced, beach parties at glendennings,. i remember closing the ye old bridge grill more than once... then there was carmen who used to sell smokes and news papers, bills smoke shop, officer wild bill creberri directing traffic down in riverside	Thom Pedersen 1970 view posts Friday, 07/16/2004 23:12:16
I spent a great day recently with Jim Calkins, former principal of Staples. He lives in Martinsville, Virginia, and is still vigorous and sharp. He considers his principalship of Staples to be the highlight of his professional life, and remains proud of all he did for students and staff at a very turbulent time. He would love to hear from any Staples grads who care to e-mail him -- what you remember, and what you're up to now.	Dan Woog 1971 view posts Monday, 03/08/2004 17:19:26
I am writing a book on the history of Staples High School, from 1884 to the present. Publication will coincide with the opening of the new school, in 2005 (god willing). Right now I'm looking for memories and/or insights into Staples: What made it the type of place it is (or was)? What stands out in your memory -- things you did, people who influenced you, what affect it had on your life? Why is it such a special place, and what about the time you attended made it extra special? I realize this may sound pretty amorphous, but I'm trying to cover as many bases as possible -- different eras, different activities, different groups, different perspectives -- and so I need everyone's help. Feel free to e-mail any and all thoughts to me; if you'd prefer to be interviewed by phone, just let me know a number and a few good times to reach you. THANKS!	Dan Woog 1971 view posts Friday, 01/09/2004 10:12:59
I found this on an old piece of paper below the Staples Alma Mater: "Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes" Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine, Or leave a kiss with-in the cup, And I'll not ask for wine; The thirst that from the soul doth rise Doth ask a drink divine; But might I of Jove's nectar sip, I would not change for thine	Susan Stoddard Celuch 1962 view posts Tuesday, 03/02/1999 21:09:57
That fateful night in the summer of 1958. Doug Janson and I had just finished a hard day working for the Westport Dept. of Public Works, filling potholes so the rest of you could speed around town without ruining your shocks. Janson had planned and coordinated the attack on the parking lot at the just completed new Staples High. He had the paint and brushes and given instructions to meet at 8:00 PM. All the conpsirators except me arrived at 8:00 and painted special parking assignments. When I arived late, all I saw were the flashing red lights of Westport's Finest. Unfortuately, Janson had told one too many and got ratted out. He and the others spent the night in jail while I slept peacefully at home. The early worm gets the bird.	Doug Fenton 1960 view posts Wednesday, 03/03/1999 22:13:51
My fav restaurant memories have to be Burger King during D2 with Jill Nash! Also the famous Pizza and Brew! We had it good!	Julie Pirri Bradford 1980 view posts Saturday, 03/06/1999 15:25:25
I remember when I was in Staples & I had no real friends. I found my close friends in June of 1983 when I was graduating, then the 7 of us were " a clique" or a "gang". During my years at Staples I had a lot of "individual friends, but not a "group of friends" like most people do. I remember when the lot that occupies Barnes & Noble was an empty field & they used to hold the Yankee Doodle Fairs given by the Westport Women's League. I also remember when Long Lots Jr. High buned down. I still live in Westport & as I drive around to accomplish various tasks, when I am not at work, I see all these different places and find myself thinking "I remember when" such & such was there, or it was an empty field... I enjoyed singing in the Staples Sophomore Chorus, the Women's Glee Club & a number of other "miscellaneous memories' as I think of them. They involve various people, places, times, etc. One of these things I remember is this: I remember when I had a crush on David Linton in Long Lots Jr. High. It was 9th grade. What are the memories that you have of your times at Staples?	Susan Sporre Bresnehan 1983 view posts Tuesday, 03/09/1999 13:21:43
Here's a good one! After getting together with my good friends Peri Lolachi and Laura Downing last month, we started talking about Sound Power, our non-marching football band! I remembered that I had pictures taken at the '79 Homecoming game. They proved what a distinguished musical group we all were! Mr. A. trying to get us to play, half of the kids playing the instruments weren't even in the band! I am not even sure they actually played in any band!! The rest of us were looking the other way or talking! What a good band we were!!! Those were the good old days!	Julie Pirri Bradford 1980 view posts Wednesday, 04/14/1999 23:02:53
Having worked as a Guidance Counselor in a number of different high schools in the Boston area I feel so fortunate to have had some wonderful teachers throughout my years in Westport. Does anyone know what has become of any of the great teachers they once had?	Kimberly Aultman 1976 view posts Wednesday, 06/02/1999 11:30:16
Going to Port Chester for cold ones. Pin ball at the bowling alley. Bo Diddley at graduation. Smoking in front of the cafetorium. I feel like Michael J. Fox.	Richard Sundheimer 1962 view posts Saturday, 06/05/1999 09:50:12
Boy, there are some doozies. I dont want to get myself in trouble by saying anything in print! I leave it for the reunion!	Paula Gallo 1979 view posts Thursday, 07/01/1999 13:06:31
I seem to remember learning more about Hopkins military experience than Chemistry or Aeronuatics. Staples was a rather enlightening expeience all the way around. How about that campus store? Do they still sell the Shakley product line? I could use an energy bar right now. Hey Laddie Lawrence, thanks for the runs, my friend.	Jeffrey Nixon 1983 view posts Monday, 07/19/1999 12:00:41
A lot of my memories are of WWPT -- some good, some not so good. But for the most part I do look back fondly on my involvment there. Does anyone know what's going on with the station now -- is it still alive?	Larry Perlstein 1975 view posts Tuesday, 08/10/1999 10:56:54
Stuffing Kirstin in the trunk of my '88 Pontiac and driving by Robo with my pass that I had to steel out of Hector's office. My private room in the nurses office. Mrs. Luster's sort of English class. Mr. Stahl's Lead Pipe son. Bribing teachers with tickets to my shows in hopes of improving my grade, and failing miserably. Walking out of my Criminal justice class final. Car accidents with Heather Marstin. "Adult" talks in the bathroom with Arlean Knott. Laughing at the bullhorn lady. Freshmen Friday ... before it was outlawed. Sarina Orgel?s little red dress at the band bash. Adam Lau in English class, I can't believe he called me a beached whale. Stage Craft ... Video Production and the other loop holes that were called classes. The green room. Saran wrapping toilets in the teachers lounge. Lunch with Hector ... he was the BEST dean, I don't care what anyone says. Graduation with my police escort ... Staples made page 12, I made page 1 ... WOOOO HOOOO!	Susan Palmieri 1993 view posts Tuesday, 08/10/1999 11:20:18
Hey Sue Reddy, if you're out there HI. Do you remember going to the Cape for a summer job interview and never making it??? That motorcycle gang was great - I still love motorcycles to this day. And all those St. Lukes football games and coming out parties. Needless to say, I think we ENJOYED our senior year....	Gail Latimer Gorian 1966 view posts Friday, 08/20/1999 21:54:39
I didn't go to Staples, but I was headed there 1 year after I moved in 79. Going through the alumni list, I noticed many familiar names from Greens Farms and Long Lots. After about 20 years of being a stranger of Westport, I'm trying to touch base for a change. A couple of years ago I finally made it back but didn't recongize much at all. I know very little about anyone from those days except for Michael Hayden's acting career. On my visit in October 97 I did touch base with my former band teacher Jack Adams and heard a rumor that Carl Nilson still lives in town on Old road.	Larry Smith 1983 view posts Tuesday, 09/07/1999 14:51:41
The view of the river from Riverside Avenue. The baby blue Oldsmobile of Chub Lane. The imaginative style of the pork pie hats worn by Tarzan Rietano and Mike DePalmer. The great impersonation of Lionel Barrymore by Steve Chelminski.The wit and charm of Miss Higgins in sophmore English.The same with Miss Manser in senior English. The fun serving on the Inklings staff.The stoic presence of our basketball coach, Mr. Wachob. The great fun of being on the varsity basketball team.Hanging around with Bob Leopold, Larry Barringer,Doug Clark, John Gilbert, Punk Stannard,Ian Black, Billy Jayne,Steve Messelt, Bob Middlebrook, Dale Wassell. Hitting the beach at Compo. Riding the school bus from Wilton and back.Enjoying the company of Pat Fisher, Barbara Indelkof, Carol Rueckel, Ardella Brock, Pat Fahy, Ginnie Hatch, Ginny Hillman, Janet Perdun - several of the many fair ladies of the class of '51.What a great year we had in football, basketball and track. And all this before Elvis!!	John Pennington 1951 view posts Monday, 09/20/1999 12:21:12
Recently I was at one of those useless teacher workshop days and we were asked to recall the most vivid memory of our school years. The memory that surfaced was one I had long forgotten. During that long awful weekend after Kennedy was shot, someone started a phone tree to members of the choir to see if we could rehearse a program to do for the whole school when it reopened. What I recall was not so much the performance as the rehearsal, which was on a day off from school, maybe that Monday. It was very soothing and important to me to be able to share the shock of those days with my friends and classmates through the music..."The Navy Hymn", "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" and I forget the other pieces. In fact,after all these years as a musician and teacher, memories of Choir and Orphenians remain bright, special, and beautiful.	Susan Sosna 1965 view posts Saturday, 11/13/1999 18:45:03
I thought I'd add to Sue Sosna's memory of singing for the memorial service after President Kennedy's assassination -- a particularly poignant memory at this time of year. I was in fifth grade at Burr Farms Elementary School on Friday, November 22, 1963. We were about to leave for the day, when a teacher -- Mrs. Webber? -- burst into my room with Miss Parker and said, "Kennedy's been shot!" One girl -- who came from a long line of Republicans -- clapped, perhaps because she thought she had to. Miss Parker slapped her. I walked home, as I always did, with Glenn Welker and a couple of other kids from High Point. We dissected the news -- this was big! As we cut through the Staples parking lot, on our way to High Point Road, I saw groups of students clustered around, listening to the news on car radios. Some were crying -- boys, even. That made an enormous impression on me. I was only 10 years old, but President Kennedy was my hero (imagine a 10-year-old saying that about the president today!). I was stunned, all weekend long. Glenn slept over that night, and was upset that there was "nothing good" on TV. I watched as much television as I could, all weekend long. On Sunday, at a memorial service, I sobbed. When I got home, I turned on the TV in my parents' room -- and watched Lee Harvey Oswald get killed, the first live murder ever on TV. Things were getting very scary. On Monday -- the day we had off from school -- my friends organized a touch football game at Staples. I played. I will always regret doing that, and not watching the funeral on TV. Thanksgiving came. Two days later, Staples played Darien for the FCIAC football championship at the old Roger Ludlowe High School field. (The game had been postponed a week from the following Saturday.) I had gone to all the Staples games for years; I was a Staples groupie, though just in sixth grade. Somehow, though, the game that day lost all its magic. I was always inspired by the "Ask not what you can do..." plaque that the Class of '64 hung at the entrance to Staples (or the closest thing we had to a main entrance, anyway). During modernization, sometime between 1978 and '81, it was taken down and disappeared. Several years later, I found it in the storage room beneath the 6 building (what was once the "senior lounge," and offices of WWPT and the Staples printing press!). I told then-principal Marvyn Jaffe about it. He couldn't care less. Finally, thanks to the persistence of Mollie Donovan of the Westport Arts Council and a few others, the plaque was re-hung. Because of the new facade of the building, however, it does not stand out. As we near the 36th anniversary (feel old?!), I'd be interested in hearing other JFK assassination memories.	Dan Woog 1971 view posts Friday, 11/19/1999 23:30:47
Thank you Dan and Sue for the moving memories of that very traumatic era in our lives. I think that November 1963 was a defining period for all of us old enough to remember it all clearly. I was in the 6th grade, in Highland Park, Illinois (just before I moved to Westport). I was in the library when the principal announced over the speaker that Kennedy had been shot, and dismissed school for the day. Kennedy was the only president I had ever known, and was a real hero to me (and still is). It was impossible to believe he was dead. The vivid memories are...all the adults weeping, and the round the clock TV coverage. The funeral....the widow, children, VIP's, the horse-drawn caisson, the little boy's salute (and now he is gone too). And then the sight of Oswald being shot, probably the first real-life murder ever caught on TV. All of us must remember where we were, what we were doing, and how we felt and reacted during those days. I look foreward to reading other's recollections.	John Kyle 1970 view posts Saturday, 11/20/1999 16:04:53
One of my fondest memories was being in the "upper" parking lot with 6 other students deciding if we wanted to use the note that said we were absent for 1 day or 2!! We decided on 2. Unfortunately when we were in NY, we were pulled over for having 4 in the front seat. When the cop opened the passenger door, a beer bottle fell on his foot ! After we were escorted to the police station, our parents and school called, it was a quite ride back. The 4 girls got 3 days detention since it was our first offense, but the 3 boys got a week. (Ok they had some trouble in their backgrounds) It was fun. Lost touch with all of them. I remember walking the Post Road from the Crest to the Bowling Alleys. Chasing Pat Lyons around town having egg fights from our cars on Halloween. Dancing the Bridgeport Walk at the dances in the cafeteria. Freddie's red motorcycle or "the Coffin" in the upper lot? Anyone out there from that era??	Linda Wasilko Fratino 1967 view posts Wednesday, 11/24/1999 04:34:54
Well, Linda opened up a new can of memories. I also remember all those things. I was consider a "SI" at that time, but I could dance and remember all the dances in the cafeteria with the "Remains". I remember Pat Lyons too. My friend Chris had a Sunbeam Tiger and we would drive the "Strip" from the Crest to Macdonald's in Fairfield, looking for boys to race with. The upper parking lot by the Shop Building, that's where all the good cars were parked. And we would leave from there with anyone who was skipping school that day. Remember the Southport Diner where we would all meet to decide what we would do that day? Ha, wasn't it fun!!!	Janice Beecher 1965 view posts Saturday, 11/27/1999 21:01:50
How's this one: Remember "Grass Roots?" It was an awesome little pub downtown where you could go and order up a big pitcher of sangria brimming with fruit . . . and they never, ever carded a single one of us! Local bands used to play there sometimes . . . they even let some friends and I put on a little show there once. Some of my first few drunken experiences were in that place . . . Fond memory! Jeff Nixon, I DEFINITELY remember Hopkins' chemistry class! (I didn't learn much, either. GOD that guy hated me! Maybe it was because I used to refuse to wear shoes to class!) They called my little group of friends the "Courtyard Gypsies . . " Courtyard, because that's where we always hung out to smoke cigarettes, and Gypsies, because we used to go barefoot, wear long Indian skirts, and spend all our time listening to the Grateful Dead (guess we were just about 10 years too early for the whole "grunge" trend, huh? Fashionable before our time). Staples was one of the only places in my life where you could find people who were both smart and really fun (and cool, in that "alternative" way). I remember it fondly. I'd love to hear from any of my old friends who might happen to read this. Hope you're all well and happy. Look me up (I'm in San Mateo, California). Cheers, and Happy Millenium to all you alumni! --Brianna	Brianna Politzer Stevens 1983 view posts Tuesday, 11/30/1999 15:48:54
My dad's old Dairy Queen is now the site of "Swanky Franks"! Sorry Viv, no more butterscotch dipped cones ... you'll have to drive to Fairfield now :-(.	Carol Christopher 1970 view posts Wednesday, 01/12/2000 23:42:48
Just read a lot of the memories that have been posted. I went back to Westport last summer - couldn't believe they tore down the Remarkable Book Store (the pink building at the end of Main Street). I loved Big Toppe hamburgers! And, I worked at Chubby's (Compo Beach). Best memories - the great plays, Christmas and Spring concerts, Mrs. Rennert as the cheerleading coach and here's an oldie "We are called the Staples Wreckers and the wrecking that we do, teaches all the teams we tackle to respect the white and blue. So if you would like to see a game that's murder thru and thru, The Staples High School Wreckers sure will dooooooooooo....	Becki Miles Whittington 1967 view posts Friday, 01/28/2000 15:18:40
This site is great! It's bringing back memories & people that I have forgotten. When I think back, the first place my mind stops is Compo Beach. I think my life revolved around that beach. It was so big then...and now when I visit, it's so small.	Liz Kritzer 1975 view posts Thursday, 02/10/2000 08:49:01
Why won't my kids believe me when I say we had the Doors, Sly, and Cream perform concerts at staples? Staples High School is an icon in my life. never before or after was I able to choose between total freedom vs rules and have it not really matter! For some of us who have kids at Staples, the most difficult adjustment is the fact that all the buildings are connected now. you don't have to drag your coat along all day, and you don't have wet feet from 8 am! Back to school night, you'll find us "old timers" (parents) navagating the kid's schedules from outside, because the connecting buildings just don't make sense!	Cristina Negrin 1971 view posts Sunday, 02/13/2000 13:36:47
It was October 1965, remember Lynne, Deni, Ag, Criste, Nancy, Debbie, Patti, Mary, Sue W, Sue L, Sue R, Millie, Linnea, Joanne (God bless her) and who ever else dropped in? My wonderful parents went to Bermuda for 2 weeks and it was "open house" at 25 Sterling Drive! We started out that 1st weekend in NYC at the World's Fair with the guys from West Point - Deni, Ag. Needless to say, a great time was had by all. How were we able to make it to Port Chester and back for lunch? I don't think much studying got done those 2 weeks but we sure had FUN! Ah, the memories...	Gail Latimer Gorian 1966 view posts Friday, 03/03/2000 09:16:22
I remember when it used to snow we'd grab the cafeteria trays and go sledding down onto the fields. On a good icy day you could slide almost half way across the football field. There's be about 50 or 60 kids all bombing down the hills out of control and about 100 shattered trays littering the area. It used to drive Caulkins and the food staff crazy. That didn't ever seem to stop us though! Then there were the spring time activities, the ones that heralded the warm weather and outdoor fun. After a winter of being cooped up in the classrooms looking out at gray and white it was great to be able to sit outside again. It also increased the anticipation of being out of school soon, May was the silliest of months at Staples. In '73, when I first got to Staples, streaking was the rage. Once or twice a day somebody would run past, bobbling and jiggling, to the hoots of derision or the appreciative applause of faculty and students alike. Another odd springtime activity was the ..uh..Duck Walk (for lack of a better term). You'd get one student walking across the courtyard caught up in their own thoughts and ignorantly blissful of what was happening behind them. Behind him was some wiseass, walking in lockstep and mimicking his every move. Soon another would join and then another, and before long you'd get a line of ten kids all walking in unison behind one unaware mother duck! They'd follow him all the way into the classroom and then keep walking in unison right out one of the windows and back into the courtyard!	David Daniels 1975 view posts Sunday, 04/02/2000 07:28:57
While I wasn't the most popular,or, the best student, or, involved in the sports world (I saved all my success for my later years), I cannot remember much of my years at Staples High School, or, Long Lots Junior High. Like many others I have repressed many of the memories! I cannot look back at my teachers and feel that they gave me much inspiration. Most of them did not. I think they wrote me off. Not that it mattered to me because school meant little to me. However, thirty years later all I remember is laughing. We had so much fun whatever we did, we laughed. Those carefree teen-age years are lost forever. I still love to laugh. Despite Staples, and, the teachers, and even some of the other students, all I remember is the laughter! For that I am thankful. Although, I live close by I hardly ever go too far into Westport. You would hardly recognize that Route 1 trip from the Fairfield line through downtown that we all drove. Most of the familiar sights are gone. The traffic is unbearable. It would take us all night now to do one circuit! Further, we could not afford to put gas in our big 8 cylinder cars and spend the night driving around. One dollar's worth could keep us travelling all night! I don't think the kids today have as much fun as we did. I wonder if they laugh over nothing....?	Judy Stevens 1970 view posts Monday, 04/03/2000 05:20:58
Best memory of Staples was anything that had to do with Orchestra or choir. Also the time Mr.K took us to see "Hair", especially after the nude scene and the "fake" cops showed up and Mr.K just about had a heart attack. How I wish I had a camera. How about the time Greg handcuffed Mr. K to the door knob and ran away, that was priceless. Big Top.....no where in the world could replace that spot.	Lynne Murphy 1968 view posts Tuesday, 04/04/2000 14:47:08
We, for some reason, weren't a very serious class when it came to the class gift. Someone, I can't remember who, came up with the idea of presenting the school with an Outhouse painted in the school colors. We found this item up at Fillow Nurseries, that used to be on Clinton Ave. We loaded it on my dad's pickup truck and took it to one of our class's home in Weston. In those days we had kids from Westport, Weston and Wilton going to Staples. For two weeks up to seventy five kids worked on painting it, painting for sale signs, model home signs et al. When it was finished the General Staff met, there were five of us, and planned the operation like a military strike. We even went so far as to synchronize our watches. At 11:30PM the first wave left with the signs and the chickens and ducks. They were to park in the old Bedford J.H. lot, now the Kings Highway school, walk down the hill and quietly put the signs up and put the birds around. We left at 11:50 with the outhouse and two car loads of kids to help unload the out house on the front lawn of the school. The timing of this came about because we figured the cops would be changing shifts at midnight so there was little chance of being spotted. We failed to take into account that there would be twice as many cops available to come after us. Anyway, the lead party made too much noise and got nailed and the cops figured there was more to come. As we got to the intersection of the Post road and Riverside we ran into a bit of a problem. There was a cop waiting in the little parking area by the old Westport Tackle shop. I spotted them as I drove by and he pulled out behind me cutting off my trailing car. The guys with me were going nuts wondering what we should do. I tried to signal the car in front that we had a problem. The dummies didn't get the hint! When I got to the school I decided to keep on going and damned if we didn't get away. I guess the cop that was following us didn't think there was anything strange about an outhouse traveling down Riverside at midnite on the back of a pickup.We took it to my father's shop. Dropped it off, went to my house on Treadwell and told my folks what happened. They knew about the plan so they put us in the car,went back to the school where my mom tried to tell the cops that the kids they had lined up against the wall weren't really terrorists. The thing got really funny when the press, who we had told the plan, showed up and wrote the story up as a big joke. The biggest joke was that they, the cops had missed out catching the outhouse. Two weeks later we deposited the Model Home on the front lawn, but it had lost its impact by that time.	Arthur Bradley 1956 view posts Tuesday, 04/04/2000 12:45:50
having fun with Pat Pryor, Andy Lewis and Andy Giavis and playing hacky sack inthe courtyard hanging in the woods behind the field house	Alfred Gwilliam 1986 view posts Monday, 04/10/2000 08:24:08
D. Hawks homemade cherry bombs. Wow--one day he got up on top of the walkway cover and dropped one behind a teacher, it went off & I thought this women was going to drop dead on the spot. Streaking down the quads from the cafeteria to the science building and as we came up on a Frisbee game having to do a wicked running fake to avoid running right into the principal. Close call. Senior year trucking 100's of tires to the HS and putting them over the lamp posts and sleeping out in tents one night by the science building and the next morning crawling out to see teachers at 7am, we all scraggly and bleary eyed with hard hats on and they with looks of "you have to be kidding." Of course that was the whole point. Hiking in chest deep snow up and over Mts. in the Adirondacks with Jeff Lea and loving every bit of it. Water balloon fights and dropping them on the girls lying out in the quads, sunning themselves. They offered a target we just could not resist and it gave us chuckles for days to see them jump and scatter. My apologies now, but it was funny and it wasn't down with any intent to hurt. Wow have things changed since then. Can you imagine a HS now if they "only had to worry" about who is going to loft a water balloon into a crowd or who is going to streak, or throw a snowball or get into a fist fight. The war was over and there was a sense of relief from the year before that we weren't going to be drafted. I wonder if it ever really hit some of us that we were pretty close to that possibility. It wasn't something real to me at the time and now looking back I can't imagine how being sent to Vietnam would have changed my life. For all the people who were sent there they have my respect and admiration, I can only wonder how they survived that and survived coming back to fellow citizens that were so lacking in compassion and understanding for what they had been through. We had a sense of humor and I thank God we were allowed to keep our innocence and our sense of humor a little longer.	Henry Atterbury 1975 view posts Saturday, 05/06/2000 00:44:58
I can't forget being apart of the "birth" of the Staples High School Marching Band. (but what the hell year was it? 1984?)Jack Adams, with his furvor, trying to get us bandies in marching condition (try coordination), and all of us trying to march proudly (playing was another problem) on our very first day on the field. We did meet up to the status quo so to speak, once we aquired a more "formal" uniform (no more blue t-shirts and white pants), complete with white puffy feathers on the top of our hats. What were those called? (They always blew cockeyed in the breeze..in all directions...comical to be sure). I actually started out in the color guard (we tried, really), but the clarinet was calling, and so... But what a trip it was. In fact, so much fun was that extra curricular activity (no extra curricular credit did we receive for those long hours), that I joined the Cornell Marching Band (200 members strong, just to make college life even more difficult. The entire music program at Staples always brings back good memories for me. Choir (Dr. Wiegle), Band (Jack), Pit Orchestra (Jack Adams, again, pounding orders into our silly pre-occupied brains). And who can ever forget the Candlelight Concert! So much fun.	Sharon Paulsen Hackney 1986 view posts Wednesday, 05/24/2000 01:17:34
Marching Band, eh?? I remember a bunch of us trying to get Mr. Alberts to do a marching band, instead of Sound Power or, rather, the "Last 3 notes of Rocky's theme" Bleacher Band!! As much as we loved it, disorganization was the correct description of us!. I recently found pictures of the 1979 Homecoming and there we were, some playing, some talking, some looking up in the sky, and even some people playing instuments who weren't even in the band!! But try as we may, Mr. A. was resolute in keeping life the way it was. So we proudly (?) wore our blue sweaters with white turtleneck dickies, gray cords and black shoes! I am kind of relieved that we never saw the hats with the plumes on them! All in all, I had great times at those Saturday games and even found some confetti in my old clarinet case that one Maria Mascolino stuffed inside my clarinet 20 years ago!! Can't beat memories like that!	Julie Pirri Bradford 1980 view posts Monday, 05/29/2000 19:53:10
Anyone remember singing "My Lord What a Morning" during lunch-hour Choir with Mr. Weigle? I can still almost hear the shimmer in the room right after we sang the last note.	Prill Plantinga Boyle 1972 view posts Saturday, 06/03/2000 03:18:27
Being a "resurrected townie," Staples in an an ever-so-interesting blend of then and now for me. The Staples that I so vividly remember from my years as a student (1960-1963) kind of "mushes" into my more recent encounters with our mutual alma mater, first as the parent of a Staples student and then as a mere member of the larger community taking advantage of the wonderful variety of adult-ed opportunites offered for "grown-ups" (Grown-up? Who? Me???) at Staples now. As my own perspective changes, Staples changes with it. It is a TRULY weird experience to walk into Staples as a parent on "Back to School" night. It was a VERY bizarre to deal with one of my former teachers in their new role as my daughter's teacher. It's almost creepy to try to find my way to an adult ed class through a maze of inter-connected buildings when my "muscle memory" wants to show me only separate buildings connected by the often slushy paths that I remember from my own days at Staples. I keep waiting for some awesome authority figure to swoop down and demand to see my hall pass! Can I, as a tax paying grown-up, now smoke in the girls' room without fear of expulsion? I'm not sure that I'm willing to risk that just yet! During my student days, I was never one of the "High-Si," cool group, although, at the time, I, albeit foolishly, thought that that would have been as close to being admitted to heaven as one mortal, slightly chubby, adolescent girl could possibly get. But, I was blessed with a group of very close and very real friends, without whose support and enrouragement during the coming-of-age, Staples experience might not have been survivable, much less the very pleasant time of my life that I now recall with fondness. Dee, Liz, Stan, Duncan, Brad and all the rest of my adolescent support group have a cherished place in my memories and my life. We might not have been "cool," but, damn, did we have fun or what! Some teachers, who were outstanding in both their ability to pass along knowledge and their caring compassion, have a special place in my heart. Mr. Weigle, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Burke, Mrs. Harvey and Mr. Downing saw things in me that even I didn't know existed and their encouragement during those formative years has made all the difference in my life. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, where ever you may be. You challenged me and encouraged me to be become the best person that I could be and I will be forever in your debt. Living in Westport, as I still do, has allowed me to come to know people I remember from my Staples days, who also still live here, in a different light - as the grown-ups they've become rather than the kids that I remembered. Attending our '63 class reunions has been a marvelous experience and I've truly enjoyed seeing people I didn't particularly like in high school as the people they have become as adults. Ya know what? We've cleaned up REALLY well. So, here's to us, class of '63! We have so much that we can remember with genuine fondness (yes, in spite of it all!) and so much to celebrate in terms of the people we have become since that memorable graduation day!	Dale Eyerly 1963 view posts Sunday, 07/16/2000 17:21:20

Staples High School Image Gallery

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