Graham See with Mustache ~ 1971

I fired this frame from the doorway during the 1971 school year. After that year, Graham See (RIP) ditched the mustache.

Chess Club 1971

(click for larger image)

Sister Theresa Rodgers was quite active in participating in student life. Here she was the staff resource for the chess club -- the 1971 version. Let's see how many people that I can identify.

Back row: Ian Mulgrew, John Stefaniuk, Peter Sekera?, Laslo Kedvessy, Frank Kreisz, Paul Connolly, dunno, dunno

Middle Row: Roger St. Pierre, Dale Oortwyn, Dennis O'Brien, David Cooper, dunno x 4

Front Row: dunno x 2, Don Hamlyn, Sister Theresa Rodgers, dunno, Brendan Crampsey, Doug Zochodne

French Club

The 1970 version of the French Club is seen before their departure for Montreal, presumably to learn French on the street.

English Textbook Blast From The Past

I am not sure how this book came into my library (perhaps it was a discard and I collected "stuff" from an early age). It is the novel "Moonfleet" and I believe that it was required reading for Grade 9 English. It is a tale set in Dorset, the Isle of Wight and Holland, and was originally published in 1898. We were still reading it in 1969. It was last marked on February 10th, 1969 by Janice Nemeth in Grade 9-4. It was "Used" then and had the St. Joseph High School stamp on flyleaf.

The Great Vega Raffle ~ 1973

This picture was taken in the Fall of 1973. The 1974 model year for GM cars was already out, and the Vega was GM's entry to compete with the flood of imported Japanese small cars. Prior to this, everyone drove big boats of cars -- Detroit (or Oshawa) Iron. A paradigm shift was taking place, and small cars were gaining acceptance, especially in light of the explosion of gasoline prices in the 1970's.

This was one of the most successful fundraisers ever for OCHS. Tickets on the car were a $1. The car retailed for around $2,800 and over 9,000 tickets were sold. I myself had just bought a brand new 1973 Vega that April and I paid $1,978 for it.

Pictured with the car are Gloria Murrant (left) and Judy McLinton (far side of the car).

Another Shot of Tony Seaver in Leather Pants

This is the second pic in the series of Tony Seaver wearing leather pants.  The year was 1972.

Front Foyer Steps 1972

I don't know what the occasion was, but there are people from all grades gathering on the foyer steps. I can identify among others, Veronica Brady, Carol Norrish, Barb Finley, Melody Lack and others.

Snowy Winter Day

This view of the school from the convent was taken on a snowy winter day in 1975.

Outdoor Teacher Awards Ceremony

Sister Conrad is presenting an award in this very informal outdoor ceremony in 1971. Jack Cole is immediately behind the trophy. George Callendar holds one of his children. The female teacher to the right was a math teacher. She had a Polish name beginning with "I" but unfortunately her name escapes me.

At the far right is Tony Meagher who went on to become priest and bishop.

Playing Cards

Another round of card-playing pictured. Left to right: Judy McLinton, Ron van de valk, and Andre Grotenhuis. I believe that this was 1972.

50th Anniversary Website

I received a note from Joe Szekeres (alumnus and teacher) saying that the 50th anniversary website will be up and available shortly.

Here is a further communication from him:

Hello all OCHS/Dwyer graduates and alumni,

The 50th website is nearly ready to be launched hopefully sometime next week. Here's where all of you can assist.....

There will be a QUIZ page which will contain a number of Dwyer events, happenings, people references etc. If you can think of some easy/middle of the road/difficult trivia questions about the school/community that I can place on this web page for all alumni, I think it would be a lot of fun to answer and recall our OCHS/Dwyer knowledge. I can't guarantee that all questions will be placed on the page, but let's have some fun.

If you could have some school trivia questions to me by April 27 it would be greatly appreciated.

Joe

Joe can be reached at: JSzekeres-at-Rogers.com (replace the -at- with @)

I am going to rack my brain to see if I myself can generate some school trivia.

Graham See ~ Rest In Peace

I am finally in touch with the world, sitting in a house on Loch Long on the Argyll Coast in Scotland and I am able to finally access the internet. I received the following email from Ivan in Brisbane:

Hello from Brisbane, Australia:

I thought I would let you know that Graham passed away earlier this year, he had Leukemia. He was 68.

Regards,

Ivan

Graham Douglas See, of Clayfield, born in Bargara peacefully passed away after a valiant battle with cancer on the 7th of February, 2012. In pace requiescat.

Thank you Ivan for this.

Happy Easter 2012 ~ On Hiatus

Happy Easter to you.

The blog is going on hiatus and I will stop posting OCHS, St. Joseph's High School and Paul Dwyer memories and updates for awhile. I am travelling again. My itinerary takes me to Amsterdam and Scotland and I will be time-constrained and perhaps not have the best of internet connections.

I'll be posting again when I get back on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Again, Happy Easter, Joyeuse Pâques and hopefully Spring will be in full force when I get back.

Graduation Ceremony 1972

Herbert Gentry conducts the school band in the graduation ceremony for 1972. (Click for larger image).

50th Anniversary Celebrations

Maureen Moloney sent me the new logo for the 50th Anniversary of the school. It is pictured above.

I also got a note from Joe Szekeres who teaches at the school as well. He sends the following:

ATTENTION: ALL GRADUATES, ALUMNAE, RETIRED AND CURRENT STAFF of St. Joseph/Oshawa Catholic High School/Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School

We are pleased to announce the opening event of our 50th Anniversary celebration. There will be a Mass to honour the Sisters of St. Joseph and their work with Monsignor Dwyer in establishing the first Catholic high school in Oshawa. This mass (to be said by alumnae Frs. Kevin Belgrave, Peter Rowe and Dominic Barber) will be held Sunday September 9, 2012 at 2:00 pm at St. Mary of the People Parish (570 Marion Avenue) in Oshawa. Immediately following the Mass, a drop in reception will be held at the school (700 Stevenson Road North) so everyone may say hello to the Sisters and to reconnect with old classmates and friends. This drop-in reception runs 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm in the school cafetorium.

The following Sisters will attend the Mass and reception:

Sr. Conrad Lauber, Sr. Anne Schenck, Sr. Mary Anne McCarthy, Sr. Dorothy Schweitzer, Sister Margie McGurk, Sr. Theresa Rodgers, Sr. Mary Buckley, Sr. Jane Wilcox

COME JOIN THE CELEBRATION AND BECOME A PART OF DWYER'S HISTORY

_____________________________________________________________________________

And, I also got an email from W.M. Higgins, a teacher from the 1970's who will also make an effort to attend some of the celebrations. Things are shaping up.

Sister Conrad & Kathy Taylor

Sister Conrad talks to an unidentified person, while in the background, Kathy Taylor rehearses her lines. As the student council president, she will make an announcement. The big white machine in the background is the public address system. The year was 1976.

Graham See and The Carnival King and Queen

Graham See is at the microphone at the crowning of Bonnie Filteau and Paul Smegal as the Winter Carnival King and Queen. This took place at a school dance. Student council president Dan O'Neill is behind Graham See.

Lee Sutherland in the Classroom?

I think that the blonde student is Lee Sutherland and the dude with the long hair is Bob Hickey.

Hockey ~ Peter Bathe

Peter Bathe was the assistant captain of the OCHS Saints. Here he is in full flight. This pic was snapped in 1972.

Various Teachers ~1970's

Here's a bunch of teacher pics
Anna Catalano was my math teacher in Grade 10, I think. She is pictured above at her desk.


In the above pic, Miss Catalano helps a student in math class.

Joe Pender in the gym.

Joe Pender with his wife at a school dance.

Miss Holland (center) was my Grade 9 math teacher. Here she is speaking to Dan Dalby (center left). Mike Fairhart is behind Dan Dalby.

Football Fans Fall 1974

(click for larger image)

Students sit on the grass to watch a home field football game in the fall of 1974.

OCHS Geography Class Fly Day

Yvonne Jensen is in the back seat of this Piper aircraft on the Fly Day over Oshawa for the Grade 12 Urban Studies class arranged by teacher Blair Morris. The year was 1973.

Brenda McNeely on the Bus

I snapped this pic of Brenda McNeely on a bus trip to Stratford. If my memory serves me correctly, we saw the Shakespeare play Othello.

Mike Ivanco Doing a Layup

Mike Ivanco on the basketball court doing a layup. The year is 1971.