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

(click on clipping for larger image)

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.

Brick Program Extended

DUE TO A POPULAR RESPONSE…..

THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 8th!

SUPPORT THE OCHS / DWYER

“ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP AWARD”

This new annual award will be presented for the first time to a student in this year’s graduating class. Grade 12 students who apply for the award will submit a personal statement (max. 500 words) explaining “…how he/she has lived the school values of VERITAS; BONITAS (Truth; Goodness) over their four years at Dwyer”.

A unique gift idea for the student, staff member

or families of the OCHS / Dwyer community.

BUY A BRICK FOR ONLY $100

(Full Tax Receipt Available)

Your brick will be placed in a new pathway 

at the school’s circular driveway. 

Your tribute brick will be in front of thenew

“Sisters of St. Joseph” Tribute Boulder & Garden.

Be a special part of this 50th year anniversary.

Contact: Maureen Moloney atmzm@sympatico.ca

• Up to 3 lines of font

• Looks best with 9 characters per line

DEADLINE TO ORDER FOR THE MAY CELEBRATIONHAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 8th, 2013!

(SAMPLE IDEAS)

IN MEMORY OF          JOAN HENNING              THANKS SISTERS

JOHN SMITH      Student 1964 – 1969                    THE

 Class of 1973       Teacher 1974 – 1980           SMITH FAMILY     

The Rock

(click for larger image)

This is a close up of the text of the Tribute Stone placed in front of the school for the 50th Anniversary.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all.  Peace and Joy this holiday season.  Stay safe, be happy, and cherish what you have.

Best,

Ken

Kathleen Taylor

The vice president of the Lord Elgin Hotel is a friend of mine, a prodigious reader of every journal going and he passes down his Maclean's cast-off magazines down to me.  I stuff them into my computer bag, and they make great reading on airplanes and when I am travelling.  I have left issues of Maclean's on two continents, in the pockets of three airlines, and in the Caribbean, where import duties make a magazine go for $13 a copy, they are eagerly snapped up as window to the outside world, and the land of the North.

So I was idly flipping through the November 5 issue of Maclean's and it had an insert titled:  "Portraits in Leadership 2012" presented by Canadian Business and the Ted Rogers Leadership Center @ Ryerson University.  In amongst the cognoscenti of Canadian business, I come across the picture of one Kathleen Taylor, the President and CEO of the Four Seasons Hotel chain.

OCHS alumni will know her as the vibrant Kathy Taylor who was a year behind me and participated in almost every student endeavour imaginable from being the judge at Kangaroo court to Student Council president.
In the above picture, Kathy is pictured third down the line graduating from OCHS (incidentally that is my sister at the head of the line).

So good on you Kathleen.  Congratulations on your achievements and may your successes continue for many years to come.

Tribute Stone

(click for larger image)

Maureen Moloney is giving a thumbs up at the tribute stone honouring the Sisters of Saint Joseph on the 50th Anniversary of the school.

Which reminds me -- go to the website http://pauldwyer50th.com/ and sign up for the next reunion events, and post something on the classmates profile.

Maureen Moloney and Shirley Smegal at the September Reunion

Maureen Moloney is pictured here with OCHS/Dwyer icon Shirley Smegal who served the school so well during her tenure there.  Mrs. Smegal is eighty years old in this picture.

Buy A Brick For the School

SUPPORT THE OCHS / DWYER

“ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP AWARD”

A unique gift idea for the student, staff member

or families of the OCHS / Dwyer community.

BUY A BRICK FOR ONLY $100

(Partial Tax Receipt Available)

Your brick will be placed in a new pathway

at the school’s circular driveway.

Your tribute brick will be in front of thenew

“Sisters of St. Joseph” Tribute Boulder & Garden.

Be a special part of this 50^th year anniversary.

Contact: Maureen Moloney at:  

·         Up to 3 lines of font

·         Looks best with 9 characters per line

·         DEADLINE TO ORDER FOR THE MAY CELEBRATION IS JAN. 15/13

(SAMPLE IDEAS)

IN MEMORY OF          JOAN HENNING              THANKS SISTERS

JOHN SMITH      Student 1964 – 1969                    THE

 Class of 1973       Teacher 1974 – 1980           SMEGAL FAMILY     

Sad News - Shirley Smegal

SHIRLEY WAS SCHOOL SECRETARY FROM 1969-1985.

 This is her staff photo in the 1984 yearbook.

Shirley was admitted to Oshawa Lakeridge Hospital on October 5th after suffering a stroke at her home in Oshawa.  The stroke was a serious one that affected her entire left side.  Shirley will remain at Oshawa Lakeridge for the time being where she will be given physio daily for 20 minute periods.  She will be moved to Whitby Hospital for rehab when a bed is available at that facility.  From there, she will be joining her husband Frank at Sunnycrest Nursing Home in Whitby.  Shirley was in very good spirits at the Dwyer 50th Reunion activities in early September where she renewed friendships with many old acquaintances.  Fortunately the stroke did not affect her speech or memory in any way and she welcomes visitors warmly.  Kindly keep Shirley and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

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

(click to enlarge image)

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.