On The Buses ... the continuum

Once again, I took a lot of pics of the inside geography of a school bus on the numerous school trips that we took. Is this face familiar to you? Any sort of name escapes me, but the face is familiar.

It reminds me of a story that I heard about Paris. Quasimodo, the bellringer of Notre Dame cathedral had just died. The priest in charge of bell ringing was taking applicants to replace him. One day an applicant showed up with no arms. The priest asked him how he could possibly ring the church bells. The applicant said that he would demonstrate.

The priest and the applicant climbed the belfry in the bell tower spire of Notre Dame. When they were close to a big bell, the applicant took a flying run, and hit the bell with his face. The big bell swung from the impact and let out a thunderous "Bongggggg!". At the end of its swing, it swung back. The hapless bellringer was hit by the return swing and thrown from the tower to the pavement below. Dead!

The priest ran down the steps. Already a crowd had gathered around the body. A policeman was present. The policeman asked the priest if he knew the name of the deceased. The priest replied "No, but his face rings a bell!".

If this face rings a bell with you, please leave a comment as to the name.

Update: Gloria Murrant left a comment saying that this is possible Teresa Sauter -- and it is. It was the bell rung that I needed to remember the name.

Offensive Line

Here, the OCHS Saints offensive line scrimmages on the home field (our team is on the right side of the picture). The only identifiable player to me, is Andre Grotenhuis on the far end semi-standing.

What do you do with a girl like Maria?

This is Maria, in the cafeteria playing cards and eating ice cream. She was with us just for one year or two. After Grade Nine or Ten, she voluntarily quit highschool to get married -- her choice. The times were different then.

Copping An Attitude

John Ten Haaf appears to cop an attitude with Victor Suppan (back to camera) at a high school dance. Lynn Belton is in the background.

Girls Riding in Cars

Pat Kilistoff clowns around with Yvonne Jensen (face hidden by hand). Pat's sidekick, Colleen Bulger is just barely visible on the right edge of the frame.

Bert Hoefs

Bert Hoefs was the kicker for our football team. I caught him on the fly here just before he let loose with a kick.

Doug Zochodne, Henry Kowalewski

In the background is Doug Zochodne, and in the foreground is Henry Kowalewski. This photo again is part of Fly Day for Urban Studies where we flew over the Oshawa region looking at urban patterns.

John Donkers

Teacher John Donkers sits on his briefcase at a football game. I never had him as a teacher and do not remember what subjects that he taught. A reader comments that he taught religion.

Cheryl Kelleher

Once again, the negative of this print suffered greatly in storage with scratches and embedded dust. The photo is of Cheryl Kelleher. She was a quiet, gentle soul, and again I never took the trouble of getting to know her very well during my school daze at OCHS.

Football Snaps

Some more pics from the football series of negatives:


Above, Shawn O'Driscoll congratulates Peter Grills (54). Jim Nemish is visible in a jacket behind the head of #8. Jim Dickey is a coach congratulating Marc Adams. Gary O'Connell is far right.

On the home field, Victor Suppan signals the defensive huddle.

Those were the days

I snapped the above pic for a project that I was doing for Urban Studies class. Regional government was a brand new idea that was being proposed, and a bunch of towns, villages and cities were going to be amalgamated into a new region called Durham. Nobody much liked the idea.

The high school was on the cusp of Whitby in Oshawa. Take a look at the population of Whitby. Those were the days. Notice the speed limit sign. That was 40 Miles Per Hour, not kilometers. This was before the enforced metrification of Canada by the Trudeau government.

Musical Lunch

The band rehearsal area/classroom was at the top end of the cafeteria. There was also a jukebox playing loudly. My most vivid memory of lunch in the cafeteria was getting a little round pizza and a chocolate milk, and sitting down to lunch while Steve Miller and his "pompatus of Love" blared from jukebox.

Here, Brigid Coll, Frances Liz Schillings and ? Suzanne Dobos (thanks to a reader) sit down to lunch.

Debbie O'Keefe and Mary Colle

Debbie O'Keefe is standing and Mary Coll is sitting. Geography class, I think.

Sign of the Times?

I snapped this pic while out on the car counting field trip for Urban Studies class. I believe that this is 1972 or 1973.

I haven't been back in a while, and when I do return to Oshawa, I can't recall seeing a population sign. It would be interesting to see the difference between then and now.

John Coleman

Indomitable John Coleman demonstrates his log walking capability on a geography field trip to Hell's Half Acre (okay, it was Warsaw Caves, but Hell's Half Acre sounded better) .

High School Iconic

High School is a time of discovery for many people. This is how it looked like in the 1970's.

Slow Dancing at the Prom

If there is anything that epitomizes the popular conception of high school, it is slow dancing at the prom. The guy in this shot, is an O'Driscoll but his first name escapes me (Tim, I think). His brother Shawn was in our class.

Update: A reader left a comment saying that the person that Tim O'Driscoll is dancing with is Geri Gedge. Thank you very much.

Football Pics

In the picture above, Coach Tony White is oblivious to the spillage about him. Marvin Matusiak (#62) looks on as does Jack Cole on the sidelines. The only other person that I can identify, is Frank Foley in the background right wearing a windbreaker and light coloured pants.

Marc Adams, Joe Novak (head turned), John Marinzel (foreground), unknown, (far Background) Peter? Bathe, Peter Grills, Frank ?,unknown, Andre Grotenhuis (foreground, head turned), Paul Coros, Ted Van der laan .

Students Watching Kangaroo Court

This pic was snapped at the Kangaroo Court proceedings of student initiation. Readily identifiable people (to me) are Mary Catherine Robinson at the extreme right, and above her is Kevin Duignan.

Carolyn On The Bus

This pic was taken on one of the numerous school trips aboard a bus. Carolyn Corrigan is in deep conversation.

Initiation Pics Continued ...

The following series comes from Grade 9 Initiation (or Minor Niners as they were called). As previously iterated, it is politically incorrect to humiliate and torture these days. Back in our day, it was considered a worthy spectacle. But in an earlier day, so was feed Christians to the lions. Ahhh ... I miss the smell of DDT in the morning.


The sign that the person is wearing is "Minor Niners Waddle to School". The only person that I can identify, is Cathy Montgomery in the upper right corner. Update from reader: Girl with glasses is Mary Ellen Barrett.

Above is part of the crowd totally enjoying the humiliation and degradation of the Grade Nine students. Mark Foley is identifiable. The tall dude, I believe is a Kreisz (sp?) and the blonde long-haired individual is Benny Winterink, who has passed away (R.I.P.).

Update: A reader has a much better memory than mine: Middle photo - foreground (left to right) - Mike Foley, Francis Kreisz, Benny Winterink, Bernadette Barber, Melody Lack.

Take a look at the eggs and various filthy substances in the bottom of the pic to smear the Grade Niners. At the extreme top left of the pic, is Italo Labignan.

Yearbook

One of these shots or a variant thereof appeared in one of the yearbooks. I believe that this is a yearbook committee. I'm sorry that I can't identify anyone other than the girl is Sue Vitali's sister Sharon Vitali.

Update: The two fellows are Michael Gordon & Derek Gordon (brothers?) who were Grade 10 students. All three were members of a very small Public Speaking Club coached by Sister Mary Jane Trimble.

On Hiatus

Thanks for sharing this trip down memory lane. This blog will be on hiatus until at least May 20th, 2009. I am catching a morning flight from Nassau to Miami to Paris, then to Marseille. Linda and I are staying at a gîte in the Luberon Valley of Provence.

See you on the other side.

Warsaw Caves Reprise

You have already seen a variant of this picture previously in this blog. This is Vicki Lupton and Joan Downey at Warsaw Caves on a geography field trip.

Andy Tass

This is Andy Tass and classmate sitting on the bus, on a geography field trip. Andy had a sister, Mary in my class.

Ann Stovell

This picture was taken of Anne Stovell in Sister Mary Buckley's class.

Monsignor Paul Dwyer & St. Gregory the Great

Monsignor Paul Dwyer was the driving force behind OCHS. The school was eventually named for him after he died. Monsignor Dwyer was the pastor for many years of St. Gregory the Great parish in Oshawa. This is what the church looked like in the 1970's.

Not only did I serve mass with Monsignor Paul Dwyer for many years, but I also caddied for him on the golf course.

Late addition:

During my high school years, one of the parish priests was Father James Stuart "Stu" Murphy. I served Mass many many times with him. I just came across his obituary:

MURPHY, Reverend James Stuart -

Passed away peacefully at his residence surrounded by prayerful friends on Thursday, December 31, 2009 in his 82nd year.

Father Stu Murphy served in several parishes in Toronto, Oshawa, Angus, Orillia and Atherley in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Beloved son of the late John and Catharine Murphy. Mourned by Ronald, Paul and Marie. Predeceased by the late William, Betty and John. He will be fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Father Stu will be lovingly remembered by members of the Association of Christian Therapists and also by members of the Charismatic Renewal in Toronto and surrounding areas. The family will receive friends at St. Margaret's Church, 589 Hugel Ave., Midland on Sunday, January 3rd from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Parish prayers will offered by Father Jim McLenaghen on Sunday evening at 8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Collins on Monday, January 4th at 12 noon. The homilist will be Bishop Pearce Lacey. Concelebrants will be Bishop Hundt and other members of the clergy. Spring interment at St. Margaret's Cemetery, Midland. If desired, memorial donations to Renewal Ministries, Shepherd's Trust and Canadian Food for Children would be appreciated.

Rest in Peace.

Linda Winterink

Linda Winterink wears some faux fur that was prevalent in the 1970's. This was taken on a chilly November day when the football team was playing on the home field.

Fashion Show III

I think that this is Helen Rosicki, modeling some fashions from the psychedelic era of the 1970's. Again this was a fashion show put on by the students.

Football Line

This pic is our team lining up in a game. The only player that I recognize is Andre Grotenhuis (number 10) at the far right of the picture.

At The Dais

This is Kathy Seaver at the dais onstage. Kathy was a member of the Student Council and Snow Queen. If I were to choose one word to describe her, it would be Spirit.

(nb. All pictures are clickable to get a larger image.)

Tony White, George Callender

Pictured here is Tony White and George Callender conferring on the sidelines of a football game. Mr. Callender taught history during my tenure, and I dropped History as soon as it was feasible so he never taught me. Mr. Callender again was on the cool list of teachers.

Halloween Dance II

This snap came from the series of negatives from the Halloween Dance. The quality of the frame isn't stellar, but the flower power comes through the reticulation of the film. I do not have an indentification for this person .

Update: This is Joanna MacDonald.

After School

Why does everyone look so down in the dumps? What are they doing?

Actually, it is an impromptu game of chess going on. A student is challenging French teacher Gary Ranalli, sitting to the right. The chessboard is on the floor.

The only student that I recognize, is facing the camera. He is Doug Hamlyn's younger brother, (someone left me a comment saying that Doug Hamlyn doesn't have a younger brother). The person is in fact Don Hamlyn.