Members of My 1970 Class ~ Part III

Left to Right, Top to Bottom:  Mario Romano (RIP), Joe Sawyer, Debbie Shepherd, Roger St. Pierre, Des Shutka, Victor Suppan, Karen Smegal, Lee Sutherland, Eva Stanko, John Szekeres.

Members of my Class - 1970 - Part Le Deux

These are some more of my classmates in 1970 at OCHS. Left to right, top to bottom:  Jim Nemish, Damian O'Brien, Dan O'Neill, Anne Ramrekersingh, John Patterson, Steve Reilly, Mike Pineau, Michelle Reynard, Paul Power, Dennis Richard

Members of My Class ~ 1970

These are some of my classmates in 1970 at OCHS. Left to right, top to bottom: Debbie O'Keefe, Miriam Price, Helen Rosicki, Mary Scerri, Cathy Rush, Kathy Seaver, Mary Rzeszut, Maria Serra, Teresa Sauter, Patricia Shannon

The Graduating Class of 1971

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Front Row: Maureen Kirkland, Patti Fairhart, Heather Ravary, Gisele Cormier, Sharon Benson, Beatrice Sziklasi, Shelagh Kirkland, Chris Paulocik, Helga Marinzel,

Second Row:  Linda Kawecki (RIP), Bernard Hurst, Alan Taylor, Ed Sztajdocher, John Kreisz, Mike Guerney (RIP), Paul Gimpelj, Lorrie Byrne.

Third Row:  Carol Nemeth, Mike McCarthy, Brian McLaughlin, Jim McGeown, Jim Jileson, Tom Adamcewicz, Tom Dalby, Jacques D'Allaire, Brian Vitarelli, Laura Grotenhuis,

Fourth Row:  Anne Marie Kraemer (RIP), Peter Rowe, Frank Zochodne, Gary Lawless, Ivan Downey, Andy Kowalewski, Jan Prazmowski, Paul Hastings, Claude D'Allaire

Student-Teacher Basketball Game 1970

Two scanned pics from the Heritage yearbook of 1970-71 where the students played the teachers in a basketball game.  Top row is where Sister Conrad consults with Mr. Bambrough while Mrs. Morris holds the ball and in the bottom pic, Sister Jane shows some action.

Another Tranche of Teachers From 1970-71

Here is another bunch of teachers from the 1970-71 year class. Herbert Gentry (Music, Band), Miss Iwaniac, Sister Mary Angela, Sister Mary Buckley (Math), Blair Morris (Geography, Urban Studies), Mrs. Morris (wife of Blair Morris), Frank Sachetti (Physics) , Sister Theresa Rodgers (Accounting, Business, Typing)

We were young, we were kings and we didn't know it.  The 1970's were one of the best times of the century to be alive.

1970-1971 Teachers Continued

Going left to right, row by row:  Miss Holland (she taught me math.  Good math teacher with a British accent), Mrs. Kearns (she taught me French as well.  Glad for the French now, not because of the Quebec riverside summer home, but because of the regular visits to Provence in France), Sister Marie Howorth (she taught me Latin).  Tony Meagher (later priest and bishop -- he taught me English).  Miss Ruth Nicholls (had her for a number of years, always enjoyed her classes).  And we come to the inimitable Graham See (had a great jocular relationship with him, and developed pics for him.  RIP).  Mrs. Thompson (she taught me History.  One day Shorty [Glenn] McLaughlin made her cry.  The latest fad at the time was streaking your hair.  She had her hair streaked.  When she entered the classroom, Shorty said "Good Morning Mrs. Zebra".  It did not go over well.).  And then there is Tony White our gym teacher.

Art Chai and Bob McDonnell

In the above pic, Art Chai helps Bob McDonnell ponder over a math problem.  Bob went on to become a teacher, and after retiring from the same school board where he was a student, he went on to teach in the Bahamas, and is currently finishing up a multi-year gig teaching in China.

Unfortunately, Art Chai has had no respite from his grave illness, which he suffers with the same grace that punctuated his life and teaching career.

Teachers 1970-1971

Teachers from the 1970-1971 year.  Mr. & Mrs. Bambrough (Mrs. Bambrough taught me French -- with a Cockney accent -- ironically I am fluent in French today), Stella Barnett (Typing and Business), Ivor Boyagoda (Chemistry), Anne Brady, George Callender (History), Jack Cole (Vice Principal and Math), Mr. Deweert (Art), Sister Dorothy Schweitzer, Bev Ferguson (Librarian).

Assembly 1970

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This is a student assembly of 1970.  The photo was taken by Paul Gimpelj.  In the picture we can see Brian O'Malley, Chris Taafe, Peter Meringer, Eva Stanko, Maureen Thomas, Doug Zochodne, Mike Ivanco, Claude D'Allaire, and Anne Marie Monego among others. This photo was the frontispiece for the student section of 1971 Heritage Yearbook.

OCHS Chapel in the Full Moon ~ 1971

This was the cover photo of the 1971 Heritage yearbook.  I was a staff member of the that yearbook.  This is a photo of the chapel attached to the convent of OCHS in the light of a full moon.  The photograph was taken by a Father O'Malley.  No first name given.

The Most Powerful Woman in Canada -- An OCHS Graduate

Royal Bank of Canada is set to become the country’s first big bank with a board of directors headed by a woman.

This was last years announcement:

Canada’s largest and most profitable company on Thursday announced that Kathleen Taylor, a former hotel executive, will become the next chair, following the retirement of current chair David O’Brien, at the end of this year.

“It’s been an honour to serve our shareholders with the support of an engaged board, outstanding management team and talented group of employees globally,” Mr. O’Brien said in a statement.

Ms. Taylor, who joined RBC’s board as a director in 2001, is already one of the most influential women in corporate Canada. In her new position she will be one of the country’s most powerful leaders, man or woman.

Trained as a lawyer, she joined Four Seasons Hotels Inc., a leading luxury hotel organization with operations around the world, in 1989. Ms. Taylor started off in the legal department but was quickly promoted into operations where she soon caught the attention of senior management.

She was later hand-picked by Isadore Sharp, the charismatic founder and chief executive, to be his successor.

Lauwra Huskens

Got a nice note from Laurwa Huskens who attended OCHS from 1968-1970 in Grades 9 & 10.  Her parents moved back to Europe after that and she went as well.  She lives there now.   If anyone wishes to contact her, I have the contact information.  Email me at the usual email address.

Kevin Kennelly RIP

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Sad news that Kevin Kennelly passed away on November 15, 2013 at the London Health Sciences Center in London Ontario.  Kevin was a friend of mine, a couple of years behind me at school.  I was a camp counselor when I first met him at the Holy Cross Grade 8 end of year camp.  (Bob McDonnell was a fellow counselor there as well).  He and Danny Clancy were fellow musicians at the camp and through high school.

In this pic, Kevin is playing Conrad Birdie in the school production of Bye Bye Birdie.  Others in the picture that are recognizable are from left to right (Kathy Taylor -- in January the new chair of the Royal Bank and director of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board),  Danny Clancy with his mouth open singing (now lead singer for the band Lighthouse), Kevin Kennelly, Mary Lee O'Neill and Danny O'Neill who was president of the Student's Council.

Kevin was a member of the graduating class of 1977 at OCHS/Dwyer.

In pace requiescat.

Kevin Kennelly Obituary

KENNELLY, Kevin Richard, age 55 of London Ontario, went to be with His Lord on Thursday 14th November, 2013. He was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and London pastor, who also travelled across Canada and Asia sharing the reconciling love of God. 

Kevin was born in Oshawa, Ontario on 18th October, 1958 to Elizabeth Kennelly (Courtney) and the late Robert Kennelly. He attended Paul Dwyer High School and then the Royal Military College, graduating in 1981 as a Mechanical Engineer. In 1990 he received a MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering and Vehicle Technology from the Royal Military College of Shrivenham in England. 

Called by God into full time ministry, Kevin resigned his commission and attended the Salvation Army William Booth College for Officers in Toronto from 1992-1994 with his wife Cathi. They were appointed to church planting in London Ontario upon ordination, where they have remained ever since. 

Kevin is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Kennelly (nee Courtney), his wife, Catherine Kennelly (nee Albrecht) his three sons: Jeremy (Stacey), Sean (Danielle) and Michael (Chelsea) and four beloved grandchildren: Faith, Cillian, Gavriel and Nathan. He will be greatly missed by his sister and brothers: Cathy, Bob (Andy), and Michael (Denise), and all of his nieces and nephews. 

His absence will also be deeply felt by his church family at London Christian Fellowship International, by his ministry friends in London and beyond, and the many other friends across the world that he has made along the way. We pray that what he stood for, and who he stood for, will not be forgotten, but will multiply in people's hearts in the coming months and years. We love you Kevin, we miss you, but mostly we thank God for having you in our lives. 

Visitation will be held at the ROYAL VIEW PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, 218 Clarke Rd., London Ontario on Tuesday November 19, 2013 from 1-2:30 pm. Celebration of Life Service immediately following at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Kevin's church, London Christian Fellowship International in London or the London Health Sciences Centre.

Sad News ~ Arthur Chai is gravely ill

Sad news came this morning that Arthur Chai is gravely ill.  Art taught a variety of subjects including Math, Computer Science, and he was the Guidance Counselor.  He taught me both Math, and he taught me how to program in COBOL.  It was my first introduction to computers, and we used the mainframe at Durham College.

Little did I know then, that I would pursue it as a career and that both the Math that he taught, as well as the concepts of programming would suit me well as a Chief Technology Officer and Technical Architect.

Souvenirs

Well the 50th reunion of the school is come and gone, and I have to say that I was a little disappointed at the turnout.  The website has less than 100 graduate profiles out of a cast of thousands.  Considering that high school is a seminal part of our development as adults, I would have thought that the turnout would be larger.

I have come to another logical end of my content for this blog of memories of St. Joseph High / Oshawa Catholic High / Monsignor Paul Dwyer High.  I have run out of pictures to post.  If you have some, please forward them to me, and I will post them.

Thanks for stopping by. The late Steve Goodman wrote a song called "Souvenirs" made famous by John Prine.  I think some of those lyrics are appropriate at this juncture:

Broken hearts and dirty windows

Make life difficult to see.

That's why last night and this morning

Always look the same to me.

Memories, they can't be boughten.

They can't be won at carnivals for free.

Well it took me years to get those souvenirs,

And I don't know how they slipped away from me.

Shirley Smegal ~ Rest in Peace

In Memory of
Shirley Victorine (Patterson) Smegal
April 8, 1932 - July 3, 2013

Obituary

SMEGAL, Shirley Victorine

(Retired long time secretary at Monsignor Paul Dwyer High School)

Peacefully at Hillsdale Estates on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 at 81 years of age. Beloved wife of Frank Smegal for 56 years. Loving mother of Viki Collins and her husband Al, John and his wife Isabel, Richard, and Cathy Duignan and her husband John. Cherished and devoted Bobby of Lee, Chantal (Brandon), James, Julianne, Jonathan, Rosabel, Christian and her wee great granddaughter Kallie. Dear sister of Joyce Kashul (Predeceased), Joan Rife (Bob), Wayne Patterson (Veronica). Shirley will be lovingly remembered by her extended family and many friends. Visitation will be held at the OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME, 847 King Street West (905-721-1234) on Friday, July 5th from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. GREGORY THE GREAT CATHOLIC CHURCH (194 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa) on Saturday, July 6th at 11:00 a.m. Interment Thornton Cemetery. Prayers will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 8:00 p.m. Memorial donations to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.

In pace requiescat.

The Commemorative Brick Series continued

Further images of some of the commemorative bricks placed at the school for the 50th Anniversary.

Cardinal Collins Blessing

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This is the second shot in a series shot by Joan Taylor where Cardinal Collins is blessing the school.  Again, Paul Pulla looks on from the right.  On the far left, the deacon is W. (Bill) Higgins, who used to teach at OCHS.

Cardinal Collins Officiating

Cardinal Collins officiates at a 50th Anniversary reunion event of the school.  That's Paul Pulla, ex student and Director of Education at the far right.  On the far left, the deacon is W. (Bill) Higgins, who used to teach at OCHS.

(photo by Joan Taylor)

Sister Anne Schenck, Joan Taylor, Sister Conrad Lauber at the reunion

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The title says it all. Two principals, two nuns, and a former student all rolled into three people.

Another Brick in the Wall

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Why does Pink Floyd lyrics come to mind (The Wall, 1979).  Here is a snap of more commemorative bricks at the school.  Courtesy of Joan Taylor.  Thanks Joan.

Commemorative Bricks

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My apologies for neglecting this blog.  I have been on the road continuously for a month and a half, and have covered many thousands of miles ranging from the Caribbean to the European continent and the east coast of Canada.  As a result, I missed the May activities and have Joan Taylor to thank for this tranche of pictures that I will display in upcoming posts.

As previously advertised, commemorative bricks were being sold for the reunion activities.  This is a shot of some of them in place.

PS.  I have had to turn off the comments because of the daily link spam that I was getting in the comments.  If you have a comment, by all means please contact me through the email address shown in the side column. Thanks.

Oshawa Express Coverage of Reunion

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Unfortunately I was travelling and was unable to attend the May reunion events.  However Joan Taylor sent this clipping along from the Oshawa Express.  I understand that a good time was had by one and all at the Pub Night.  Thanks Joan for this clipping.

Looking for Melitta Bast

Melitta Bast, if you are reading this blog, please leave your email address.  Thank you.