Greg Duquette Looks Back on the 1960's

Greg Duquette looks back on the 1960's when he was a student at OCHS.

Joe Szekeres and Sister Anne Marie Marrin

Joe Szekeres is pictured here in the school lobby with Sister Anne Marie Marrin.  Joe did a terrific job in help organizing the reunion and the website.

Just as an aside, I noticed in the poster behind them, that the spring break and class trip is headed over to Germany.  Wow.  A European vacation for a spring break class trip.  This wasn't the high school that I went to.

Three Priests

Three priest who were students at OCHS/Dwyer are pictured here.  In the back (white hair) is Fr. Peter Rowe. In the foreground closest to the camera is Fr. Dominic Barber and Fr. Kevin Belgrade is to the right.

There is another alumnus who is a priest.  Mark Fusco was ordained as a Jesuit in 2011.  He graduated from OCHS in the mid 1980's.

Two Principals

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Sister Anne Schenck and Sister Conrad Lauber, two former principals of OCHS/Dwyer pose in front of the office of the school at the reunion in September 2012.

Teacher Ruth Nicholls at the Reunion

Ruth Nicholls has had a long career as a teacher at OCHS/Dwyer.  She taught me English in her early years of teaching.  Here she is pictured at the reunion.

Sisters of St. Joseph at Reunion

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The Sisters of St. Joseph are amused at me being a papparazzi -- or more accurately, since they are nuns, a pope-erazzi (sorry for the bad pun -- actually I'm not).

I can't name them all, but Sister Conrad is in the green.  Sister Theresa Rodgers and Sister Dorothy Schweitzer are in the background.  Sister Jane who was in the office with Mrs. Smegal is in the brown outfit in the front 2nd from the right, and the far right is Sister Anne Schenck.

Thanks to Anonymous who left a comment to fill in the rest of the names:

Sister Mary Anne McCarthy is wearing the brown jacket and lime green top; Sister Margie McGurk is to Sr. Mary Anne's left. Sister St. Patrick is speaking to Sister Conrad.

Looking for Joan Wehrens

Looking for Joan Wehrens.  Her nephew Roger Vleugels from the Netherlands wants to get in contact.  If anyone can help, send me a message or leave a comment.  Thanks.

Bert Hoefs Kicking It Away

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Back to the 1970's for today's offering.  Here Bert Hoefs is about to punt the ball away on the home football field on third down.  I believe that we were playing Eastdale on the day that I snapped this.

Alumni who began OCHS in 1964 at the first reunion event -  Pat (Palumbo) McKim,  Joan Taylor, Mary (Falzon)

News of All Sorts

The Reunion Sports weekend was held last week.  I could not personally attend.  I was travelling on business, but the local paper covered it.  This is a photo from the Oshawa Express.  The caption is as follows:

Left to right: Susan Angel (nee Oortwyn), teacher Case Oortwyn, with the Lafontaine's Bob and Heather, share a moment with current students Shania Mantia (front left) and Sarah Wells (front right).

And we have the sad news that Marvin Matusiak, a student from my era has died.

MATUSIAK, Marvin Theodore -
(July 25, 1954 - October 4, 2012)
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Marvin Theodore Matusiak. Loving husband of Anna (nee Swart) for 33 years, cherished father of Zenon (Carissa), Nicholas and Stephen (Katie). Peacefully with his son Nicholas at his side, Marvin slipped into eternal rest to be reunited with his father Jaroslaw who predeceased him on October 4, 1999.
Also left to mourn his loss is his mother Maria Matusiak of Oshawa, sister Sally (Peter) Shlapak of Whitby and brother John Matusiak of Oshawa. Predeceased by parents-in-law Katharina and Adrian Swart and brother-in-law John Swart. Lovingly remembered by many nieces and nephews and extended family members in Oshawa, Ukraine, Winnipeg MB, Brandon MB, Fort Frances ON,Toronto ON, Germany, Netherlands, Philippines and Hawaii. Loved and respected friend to many. If you needed a helping hand you just called Marvin.

He was born in Oshawa and graduated from Oshawa Catholic High (Msgr. Paul Dwyer) and CDI Institute.
Began his career with REI and was transferred to Winnipeg as an on-site engineer at Air Canada where he would meet the love of his life Anna. Returning to Oshawa after their marriage in 1979.
Twenty two years and three sons later they honeymooned for the first time in Kauai, Hawaii. This would become their dream destination for years to come and where Zenon and Carissa were married in May 2010.
He had been employed over the last several decades by Scan-Optics Canada.
Marvin was a past president of the Ukrainian Canadian Youth Association (CYM) at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre Dnipro Hall as well as the Ukrainian School in Oshawa and very actively involved in preserving the cultural heritage within the Ukrainian community for many years.
He had also established his own company Trident MTM. We wish to extend our gratitude to the attending staff for their kindness and the exceptional care which Marvin received at Lakeridge Health Oshawa 6C.
As per Marvin’s wishes, cremation has taken place.
Visitation will be held at ARMSTRONG FUNERAL HOME, 124 King St. East Oshawa, 905-433-4711, on Friday October 12 from 7-9pm. Panachyda at 7:30pm.
Funeral service and liturgy will be celebrated Saturday, October 13, 10:00AM at ST. GEORGE THE GREAT MARTYR UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 42 Lviv Blvd. Oshawa. Rev. Dmytro Hancheryk officiating.

In pace requiescat.

Former Alumnus (alumni ??)

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Joan Taylor sent this along.  These are alumni who began OCHS in 1963.   Pat (Brockman) Wynne, Rose (Palumbo) Ambra in the back and the front row is Judy (Aasen) Panylo and  Nancy Nicholls who is Ruth Nicholls' sister (Ruth is my former English teacher).

Sharon Clarke and Liz Fitzpatrick

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I don't know if its something in the water or what, but these two former classmates of mine, Liz Fitzpatrick and Sharon Clarke are incredibly well preserved considering the passage of time from high school.  The passing years have barely made their mark on these two friends.  Amazing.

In the background, is Pat Morris, Blair Morris' wife who also taught at OCHS during our era.

Logo On The Floor

When I darkened the doors of the school after many many years since the daze of my youth, the first thing that greeted me, was this logo on the floor in front of the office (or what used to be the office -- not sure anymore).

50th Co-inky-Dink

What a coincidence.  MCVI - RSMcLaughlin Collegiate and Vocational Institute located across Rossland Road, almost neighbours of Dwyer/OCHS at 570 Stevenson Road is having their 50th Anniversary as well.

A reader wrote me asking if there was a football rivalry between the two schools.  I couldn't remember.  The reader further adds:

 I was in Dwyer from 84/85 on. I'm almost positive McLaughlin had a football back then, though they no longer do.

I'm thrilled to have stumbled across your site. I've been on it since and have shared it with many of my old classmates. Though, the 50th Reunion site Memorials saddens me. I'm seeing some people that shared classes with me. 

On the bright side - Jack Cole!!! OMG he was my hero. 

Thank you so much for putting this together. What an amazing journey back in time. 

So do any of you remember (a) if McLaughlin had a football team and (b) if there was an intense rivalry between Dwyer/OCHS on the gridiron.

Inquiring minds gotta know.  Please leave a comment if you can shed some light on this matter.  Thanks.

Update:  It didn't take long.  MCVI did have a team, and according to Joan's research, the newly formed OCHS team beat them badly in our first season 26-0.

Back In The Saddle Again

Well I am back in the saddle again after a sojourn that took me through the Caribbean and back and I can't believe what happened while I was gone.  First of all, I went from palm trees to some cold colourful landscape that wasn't that way when I left it.

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Sharp-eyed readers of this blog will note that the palm tree is the spot where I used to meet Bob McDonnell for snorkeling and beer while he lived in the Bahamas as did I.  It was also here where I met Rob Micheli for the first time after a thirty year gap  from high school.

In my mail, Joan Taylor sent me this little write-up of the initial reunion activities in SNAP, a little publication from Oshawa.  Thanks Joan.  As usual, click on the images to enlarge.