Bonnie Chisholm and Sister Anne

Bonnie Chisholm and Sister Anne at the 1966 first graduating class of OCHS ceremonies.

Former Alumni Who Came Back to Teach

Former Alumni Who Have Taught/Worked at O.C.H.S. / Dwyer C.H.S.

1960s = John Novak; Debbie (Micheli) Pankhurst

1970s = Bob McDonnell; Jim McGeown; Patricia (Pascoe) Frizzell; Jim Larkin; Dale Irwin; Sue (Knapp) Clancy;

Tim VanLeeuwen; Maureen Moloney; Ezio Azzano; Kevin Dillon; Anne (McGeown) Smegal; Joe Szekeres;

Randy Boissoin; Ed Staresnic; Suzanna (Oliviera) Periera; Cindy (Ervine) Winterink; Cathy Booth

1980s = Harry Lack; Mike Wilson; Michelle (Planeta) Flynn; Andrew Oliver; Barry Oliver; Christine (Tueph) Pineau;

Chris Goddard; Chris Traynor; Michael Drake; Sarah (Hottot) Sirizzotti; Leanne (Gourley) Oliver;

Nancy (Barrese) DiFlumeri

1990s = Michael Cain; Sandra (Cardona) Dantas; Bryan Wray; Michelle (Farragher) Kasprzak; Angela (Bagnal) Butler;

Romina (Barrese) Cain; George Guerreiro; Brandon VanAsten; Peter Wonnacott; Jennifer Pedro;

Annalisa Cara; Marla (Vesters) Cannon; Julie Wonnacott

Bonnie Chisholm and Robert Lambe

This is a picture of Bonnie Chisholm and Robert (Bob) Lambe on the occasion of the very first graduating class from OCHS in 1966. Tragically Bob Lambe was killed in an automobile accident while as a student at Royal Military College. An annual award is given in his name every year at the school to a boy who is Most Outstanding -- Non Graduating.

Thanks to Bonnie for these memorable and historic pics.

The Very First Graduation -- 1966

This is the only graduating class photo that the school didn't have. They have individual pics of the grads, but the photo of them all together went missing. The school gave up looking for a copy of this photo in 1996.

Teacher (and former student) Maureen Moloney who is writing a history of the school initiated a quest to find this photo. I am pleased to report that Bonnie Chisholm had a copy of it, along with a program of the names of the graduates. Unfortunately, we cannot put the names to the faces.

A copy of this photo will now join all of the others at the school, and the school will have a complete set of photos of every graduation class since it opened.

If you can identify the people in the photo from the list in the second scan, please leave a comment. Thank you.

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Update from a reader:

I moved to McLaughlin before grad but started out with this first group. This should be pretty accurate ( a couple of the girls might be mixed up - perhaps someone could doublecheck)
BACK ROW ( L - R )
Peter Valks, Pat Drumm, Ted Marks, Jim Verall, Ziggy Martenyk, Bob Lambe
MIDDLE ROW ( L - R )
Lydia Krysa, Anna Grills, Lynn Conlin, Carol Lami, Sylvia Semiana, Paulett Babineau, Mary Byrne, Patricia Kahn, Mary Kirkland
FRONT ROW ( L - R )
Bonnie Chisholm, Mary Grygorcewicz, Christine Shaw, Sister Anne, Sister Mary Shiela, Frances Johnson, Anne Ivanko, Catherine Tenhaaf

Thank you.

Aerial View of the School - Late 1980's

The school was already bursting at the seams in the 1980's with portables and additions, as this aerial photograph shows.

Where Are They Now -- Sister Anne Schenck

Sister Anne Schenck was the third principal of the school from 1979 to 1988. She succeeded Sister Conrad Lauber who succeeded Sister Mary Sheila. This is a relatively contemporary picture taken of her. At the time of her tenure, the name of the school had already been changed.

New OCHS Gym - 1966

This photo is of the badminton team holding a trophy in the newly finished gym of OCHS in 1966. It was a photo taken with a simple camera and flash bulb so the faces in the center of the photo were washed out and the photo was blurry.

In this age of digital manipulation, I was able to "burn in" the center to see detail in the faces, and I ran a sharpening algorithm a couple of times to improve sharpness.

You will note that the girls are still wearing the crests of St. Joseph's High School on their jackets.

Update from Joan (identification):

Bernadette Van Hoof, Shelagh Kirkland RIP, Christine Paulocik, Lorna Harris (staff), ?? Mary or Anne or Mary Anne Novak, Suzanne Legere

front: Judy Aasen, Marg Fitzpatrick, Monica Kelleher

School Cafeteria 1966

This is a pic of the school cafeteria in 1966. It didn't look much different in the 1970's.

List of Vice- Principals

This is Maureen Moloney's list of Vice Principals in the history of the school. The Principals list is immediately preceding this post.

Vice-Principals

Sr. Anne Schenck 1965 - 1968

Sister St. Clare (Mary Buckley) 1968-69

Jack Cole 1969 - 1990

Joe Visconti

John Brown

Sharon Steele

Bob Henry

Chris Sammut

Mike Powers

Rob Fitzgibbons

Garry Booth

Bianca Cervoni

Jim Larkin

Mike O’Brien

Brendan Kennedy

Vanessa Taber

Shawn O’Hare

Shannon Brady

List of Principals

Principals

1964 – 1967 Sr. Mary Sheila

1967 – 1979 Sr. Conrad Lauber

1979 – 1988 Sr. Anne Schenck

1988 – 1991 John Brown

1991 – 1997 John Vesters

1997 – 2002 Marilyn LeBrun

2003 – 2007 Bianca Cervoni

2007 – 2009 Gloria Kramp

2009 – present Joe D’Amico

Maureen Moloney who is a graduate of OCHS/Dwyer, and is now a teacher is writing a history of the school. I will be posting some facts that she has compiled about the high school. Above is the canonical list of principals.

Where Were They Before We Knew Them

Treasure from the closet for sure. Thanks to Eddy J for sending me this. The caption on this photo is Grade 5 - Grade 6. It is from St. Gregory the Great Primary School located next to the church on Simcoe Street North. The year was 1950.

Who knew that two larger than life figures would be in the same class and who would go on to teach at OCHS and even further .

The boy with the red dot on him, is none other that the irrepressible Jack Cole who was vice-principal and taught at OCHS/Dwyer for 21 years. The student with the yellow dot was my English teach Tony Meagher, who went on to be a priest, Monsignor and Bishop.

I never knew that they were classmates at St. Gregs.

Another photo of Jack Cole in his early days is playing hockey with St. Gregory's CYO in 1952 - 53. Jack is in the middle of the back row with a small red dot over him.



Click on the pic to enlarge it.

Where Are They Now - Sister Marie Howorth

Sister Marie Howorth had a classroom near the end of the hall on the north west wing of the school opposite George Callendar's classroom. I was in one of her classes. She taught languages.

Prior to the change-over to given names, she was known as Sister Eulalie-Marie.

The Indomitable Tony Seaver (again)

I don't know why I have several shots of Tony Seaver mugging in front of my camera, but I do. Tony Seaver is now my Facebook friend, and one would have difficulty identifying him using this photo.

Where Are They Now - Sister Mary Buckley

This is a contemporary photo of Sister Mary Buckley today. Sister Mary Buckley was one of the more popular nuns. Among the subjects that she taught was math.

She is also a survivor of the horrific automobile accident in front of Jack Cole's house as a carload of nuns was pulling out of the drive and was hit by an oncoming car.

Some 50th Anniversary Activities for the School

SAVE THE DATES AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

ATTENTION: ALL GRADUATES OF ST. JOSEPH/OSHAWA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL/MONSIGNOR PAUL DWYER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

More activities are being planned, but please save the following dates and mark your calendars now. Times and venues to be announced:

Sunday September 9, 2012 - Opening Mass to honour the Sisters of St. Joseph and Drop-In Reception

Friday May 10, 2013 - Pub Night

Saturday May 11, 2013 - School Open House and Dance

Where Are They Now - Sister Conrad Lauber

This is a current picture ~2011 of Sister Conrad Lauber. She must be at least 80 years old now. She was the principal during my entire tenure at OCHS.

The Very First Principal - Sr. Mary Sheila

Sister Mary Sheila was the first ever principal.

I have to say that looking over these pictures of the nuns really takes me back to another time. I have an aunt who was a sister of St. Joseph, so I was used to seeing this garb from an early age. However, looking at it now, with the head dress, veil, the headcloth, white bib and the habit, it must have been onerous to wear.

When I was at OCHS, for 4 out of the 5 years, the nuns had switched habits to street clothes, and most of the pictures here of Sister Conrad Lauber, the next principal after Sr. Mary Sheila, are in civilian garb.

That's a Fact Jack -- Jack Cole

People who are larger than life are known by one name only. At OCHS, it was Jack !!!

He was Vice Principal, disciplinarian and ironically considered a "cool" guy by ever one.

During my first year at OCHS, there was student/teacher hockey game. The first time that he carried the puck, it left his stick and dribbled between his feet. Without even looking down, he gave it a shot with the back of his skate, which put the puck back on his stick and the little deke got him around the defense. We looked at each other dumbfounded, knowing that we had just seen pure artistry on ice.

Jack played Junior A hockey, and was part of the winning 1960's Championship team, the Saint Michael's Majors, who withdrew from the Ontario Junior Major A Hockey League in 1962 to be replaced by the Toronto Marlies. Our understanding was that Jack had a chance to turn pro, and chose teaching instead. One of his peers at St. Mike's was famous Toronto Maple Leaf Goalie Gerry Cheevers.

Jack taught another Toronto Maple Leaf and goalie as well -- Rick St. Croix who was a year ahead of me in my brother's class.

Jack's tenure lasted 21 years at OCHS. It was a record until Debbie (Micheli) Pankhurst came along. She has 41 years into the school. Five years was spent as a student, and she has been teaching there for 36 years.

In case you thought that Jack was pure jock, one of the subjects that he taught was calculus. He signed his full name in my yearbook: John D. Cole.

The Smoking Area -1970's

This is something that you probably don't find at all now in high schools -- the smoking area. My how times have changed.

Thanks to the reader for the update: This is Jim Lamb, John Ciosk, Brian McNeely, Cathy Rush et al

Aerial View of the School 1966

In this aerial view of the school in 1966, the school was open, but the convent was still under construction.

1967-68 Student's Council

Top Row: Steve Jarrell, Dermot O"Brien, Pat Mullen (RIP), Joan Taylor, Chris Paulocik, Rick Dobby, Michel Rancourt.

Bottom Row: Sandra McLaughlin, Paul Scott, Sue Paulocik, Steve Horvath, Monica Kelleher, Linda McLaughlin, Mary Adams

Click for a larger image.

In Mr. See's Class

These are my classmates in Mr. See's English class. Left to right: Pat Kilistoff, Colleen Bulger, unidentified, Sharon Clark (foreground), Barb Finlay (back to camera), Cheryl Kelleher (foreground), Jeanette Kowal (behind Cheryl, Mr. See, and Elsa Lack with her back to camera.

Comment : Maureen Moloney

I teach in Mr. See's classroom right now. He was my Gr. 9 English teacher...(same room)....weird.

Early Early Origins -- St. Joe's High

When OCHS was first incarnated, it was known as St. Joseph's High School (after St. Joseph's Primary School on Simcoe Street North which is now shuttered. Incidentally, I attend St. Joe's primary school. The Sisters of St. Joseph taught at both places. Coincidence -- I think not). This is a rare photo of Boys Basketball in the Fall of 1962 at St. Joe's High.

(Click the pic for a larger image)

Paul Power

I photographed Paul Power from the lobby. I am not sure why it was a non-uniform day. Perhaps we were going on a class trip. Seated on the steps behind Paul, is Andre Grotenhuis. Paul and Andre were tossing a football to each other just previous to this picture being taken.

Grade 12 Boys Class Trip - Spring 1966

In this photo, taken in the Spring of 1966, the Grade 12 boys are going on an outing to Port Credit Ontario. Two things to note. It was a nun who took this picture. You can see her shadow. And the boys are wearing blazers with the old St. Joseph High School crests on them.

Update: Thanks to the reader who left the following comment:

Back Row ( left to right ):
Peter Bobris, Ziggy Martenyk ( R.I.P. ), Bernie O'brien, Ted Marks, Bob Stewart
Front Row:
Pat Drumm, Frank Ruszer, Jim Verrall, Larry Coros, Henry Valks

Nuns Watching Student Activities - 1960's

The Sisters of St. Joseph sit outside and watch the student activities during the 1960's. Compare to the following picture in the 1970's:

Lobby -- Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New

A few entries ago, I had a pic of the lobby and foyer from the 1960's ( click here or scroll down to to see it ). The pic was obviously a posed setup for the year back in the day. Teacher Maureen Maloney at Dwyer decided to recreate the picture with the 2012 version pictured above. Nice !!

Peter Bambrough and Paul Coros in Comedy Sketch

Depicted here is a comedy act for the talent show. Peter Bambrough is in drag playing a teacher and Paul Coros is playing a student. Bambrough is attacking Coros. Both of Peter's parents taught at OCHS. His mother had a Cockney accent with a high pitched yet raspy voice and taught French.

The act was hilarious, because he was close to parodying his mother in the skit.

Graduation Class 1969

Herbert Gentry conducts the band for the 1969 graduation ceremonies. When clicking on the picture and getting the big view, you can make out Frances Schillings on clarinet, and the dynamic duo of Marvin Matusiak and Mark Foley on euphonium, among others.

Keith Leung Enjoying Spring Weather

Keith Leung sits outdoors enjoying the mild spring weather. Keith was one of 5 or 6 Chinese students sponsored by Art Chai and brought to OCHS in Canada for a North American education.

Daffodil Queens

Anne Ivanco, the Daffodil Queen of 1964, crowns Anne Bathe, the Daffodil Queen of 1965. Other events of 1965 include Canada getting a new flag, trading in the Union Jack for the red and white Maple Leaf.

Note the white gloves that the women are wearing.

On the Bus, Part X

This student was a year ahead of me. I do not remember her name. I snapped this photo on a class trip on the bus to Stratford. I remember the play vividly. It was Othello. If you know the name of this student, please leave a comment.

The School Lobby, Circa 1960's

This is the school lobby, circa 1960's. I have a feeling that this photo was staged for a yearbook shot. Look at the strategically placed groups of studious people examining books. It's like: "Wait a minute -- have to dash to the lobby and look at someone's textbook !!!"

Interestingly enough, the lobby was unchanged from this picture to when I was there during the 1970's.

(Note: This is a high res pic, so you have to click on it to see the full effect.)

Unidentified Student Playing Badminton - 1972

This unidentified student was caught in full swing playing badminton in the gym.

Note to commenter: Thanks, it does look like Larry Marshall. Can't be sure though.

Monsignor Dwyer and the 1967 Graduation Class

Monsignor Paul Dwyer presents a diploma to a graduate of the 1967 class of OCHS.

Thanks to Joan for the identification:

Judy Aasen Panylo is receiving her diploma

the late Patrick Mullen is assisting the grads on the steps

Front row standing left to right :

Susan Driscoll

Erna Reid

Linda Paulocik

Audrone Zelvys LeBreton

Rose Palumbo Ambra

Patricia Brockman Sapinski Wynne

Suzanne Weeks Robb

Susan Dobby

Roll Call of the Dead

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the school, I've decided to do a roll call of students and teachers who have passed on. This is a partial listing. If you know of more, please leave a comment.

• Adelarde, Margaret Avery, Sister
• Andrews, Kathy
• Barnett, Stella (typing teacher)
• Barney, Sister M. Gonzaga
• Barrett, Leo
• Batinic, Nada
• Beauchamp, Leesa
• Bilissis, Peter
• Boucher, Damian, Christian
• Bradley, Sister Mary Angela
• Breau, Nicholas
• Brown, John
• Cahill, Sister M. St. Christopher
• Caldwell, Daniel
• Chartrand, Paulette
• Christine, Marie, Sister
• Corby, Trevor
• Coros, Donna (Coleman)
• Coston, Noreen, Sister
• Cotton, Monica
• Coughlan, Marjorie
• Dalby, Barbara (MacLean)
• Crowley, Sylvia
• Dawson, Barry
• de Gannes, Greg
• Di Cola, Peter
• Dionne, Alicia Mary
• Dixon, Angus
• Farrell, Sister M. Angelica
• Fidelis, Mary, Sister (Fulton)
• Francis, Lee
• Gentry, Herbert
• Gingrich, Jeremy
• Gorny, James
• Gosson, Thomas
• Gurney, Mike
• Hannon, Charlotte
• Harrison, Gary, Father
• Hart, Sister St. Jerome
• Hendricks, Kristina
• Hinze, Ed
• Hughes, Wendy
• Hurst, Bernie
• Ihnat, Gail
• Jensen, Yvonne (Eastman)
• Jileson, Connie
• Jilesen, John
• Kelly, Christopher William
• Kelly, Joshua
• Kirkland, Shelagh
• Klein, Patrick
• Kraemer, Ann Marie
• Kuypers, Jacques
• Lack, Bob
• Lamb, James
• Lambe, Robert
• LaPorte, Linda
• Leddy, Sister Agnes Clare (Audrey)
• Lefebvre, Sister Catherine Mary
• Lehman, Mark
• Lillie, Darran
• Loftus, Sister Claudette
• Lowery-Bleackley, Susan
• MacNab, Ethel
• Malone, Sister M. Redempta
• Martenyk, Zbigniew John "Ziggy"
• Mary, Catherine, Sister
• McAllister, Paul
• McArthur, Bob
• McCallum, Melinda
• McCormack, Terry
• McCourt, Jason
• McDonald, Sister Mary Kenneth (Dorothy)
• McDonald, Mike
• Meagher, Anthony, Monsignor/Bishop
• Meringer, Susan
• Milner, Steven
• Mulvaney, Sister Marie Christine (Philippa)
• Monk, Allie
• Mullen, Patrick
• Murrant, James
• Novak, Nicholas
• Ogle, Mary Denis, Sister
• O'Malley, James
• O'Neil, Sister Mary Sheila
• Ostafichuk, Nick
• Ouellette, Shannon
• Pascoe, Pat (Frizzell)
• Patterson, Ken
• Peck, Joan
• Penman, Charles
• Poelman, Brett
• Price, Gregory
• Ramrekersingh, Joe
• Rancourt, J. Michel Marc
• Regan, Mike
• Ricketts, Kevin
• Romano, Mario
• Ronan, Sister Patricia
• Rush, Paul
• Rush, Theresa
• Saville, Brendan
• Schillings, Paul
• See, Graham Douglas
• Shields, Susan
• Simiana, Joe
• Simiana, Michael
• Simmons, Matthew
• Simmons, Patrick
• Smialek, Gerry
• Stevens, Mary, Sister Mary Constance
• Sziklasi, Victoria
• Terwillegar, Paul
• Thomas, Maureen
• Treanor, John
• Trimble, Sister Mary Jane (Mary Dorothy)
• Van den Boom, Geoff
• Vitali, Susan (Lovell)
• Volaric, Matt (Custodian)
• Walowski, Sebastian
• Webster, Jacqueline
• Wehrens,Eric
• Wilson, Danny
• Winterink, Bennie
• Zavesiczky, Otto
• Zelie, Marie, Sister (Gignac)

In pace requiescat.

The thought struck me that in the near future, I could just print the first ten years of yearbooks. Everybody will be gone eventually.

Theresians

The caption on this photo says "Junior Unit of Theresians (First in Canada)". I had to Google "Theresians" as I didn't know what it was. Their website says they are "Women Supporting Women with Gospel Values".

I recognize a few of the faces in photo, who were still at OCHS when I attended. I can't put names to the faces, but if you can, please leave a comment. Click on the pic to make it bigger.

Thanks to Joan for the following:

Back row: Eileen Egerer, ___ ; Linda Paulocik

Centre: Nellie Ten Haaf; Sharon Knox; Judy Tompkins Cotter; _______; Adele Wilkinson; Christine Shaw; Anna Marie Grills; ___ Byrne

Lynn Conlin; Maureen Mitchell; Monica Johnson Storie; Suzanne Legere; Paulette Babineau; Bonnie Chisholm; Erna Reid; Frances Johnson Edwards; Kathie Love Preston; Sister Mary Sheila

Front: Nancy Nicholls; Mary Patricia Byrne; Betty Anne Yanch; Anne Ivanco; Ene Ten Haaf; Olga Kokot Tilk; Mary Grygorcewicz

That Didn't Take Long -- OCHS Crest

Thanks to Gary O., we now have a pic of an OCHS crest. (See blog entry below). Thanks again Gary.

Looking For OCHS Crest

Now that the school is 50 years old (stayed tuned to this blog for events), a teacher who went to OCHS and is now teaching there is assembling a history of the school. What is missing, is a picture of the OCHS crest when the school was known as Oshawa Catholic High School.

There exists crests of when it was known for a short while as St. Joseph's High School, and of course the crest is available for Paul Dwyer High, but none seems to be around for OCHS. If you have one, or have a picture of one, please contact me. Thanks.

1967 -- Confederation Centenary -- Second OCHS Graduating Class

Paul Scott, Monica Kelleher and Sister Conrad Lauber (in the old style habit) in 1967 at OCHS. It was the year of the very first second graduating class of OCHS. It was also the 100th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. The first grade 12's graduated in June '66 and ceremony was held in Sept. 1966

Graduation Class 1967 - Five Boys

These are 5 boys from the second class of OCHS in 1967. Thanks to Maureen for sending these pics to me. If you recognize any of them, please leave a comment. .... singing ... a white sports coat .... and a pink carnation ...

Thanks to Joan for identifying these students:

Frans Van Iersel

Homer Dupuis

Jack Coros

Adrian de Laat

Shane Armstong