Seymour (CT) High School Class of 1969

Congratulations to classmate and friend Tom Gardella for completing the Mt. Washington Road Race!

A special congratulations to classmate and friend Marion Cirishioli Cochran's granddaughter, Stephanie Tucci for graduating from Post University with a BA in psychology, this weekend. From the SHS Class of 1969, we wish her much success in life!

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

I just received an email from classmate Marion Cirishioli Cochran, who had read that Ruth Ambrose made a post on page of classmate, and friend (and Ruth's cousin) Tony "Buddy" Ambrose passed away in California today. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that Tony was also a cousin to friend and classmate Karen Niegelsky Spargo. May Tony rest in eternal piece. Please keep Tony and his entire family in your thoughts and prayers.

Additional information will be passed along as I learn of it.

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

As a number of you may have learned by now, James "Jimmy" Slie passed away earlier in the week. Jim was the nephew to Linda DeRienzo's late step mother, Muriel.

Jim played football and baseball at the high school, as well as softball, and the Twi-Light baseball league in Waterbury, with some of the members of our class.

Please remember all of Jim's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

The wake will be at Hull's Funeral Home. The final arrangements are yet to be released as of this notice.

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

p.s. - Updated link to the funeral arrangements - https://www.hullfh.com/memorials/james-slie/5410844/index.php

I learned from Marion Crishioli Cochran that Stephen Kennedy, husband of 54 years to classmate and friend Kathleen Dziadek Kenbedy passed away recently. Please keep Kathy and her entire family it uour thoughts and prayers.

Please see the attached obituary for the dates and times of the calling hours and services.

Peace and Best Wishes

Steve

https://memorials.adzimafh.com/stephen-kennedy/5399880/index.php

I just learned of the passing of Charles Cassetti, nephew to classmates and friends, Nancy Parrott Lambert, and the late John Pokrywka. Please remember all the Cassetti, Pokrywka, and Parrott families in your thoughts and prayers. Attached is a link to the obituary.

https://www.millerwardfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Charles-Cassetti/ #!/Obituary

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

Charles Anthony Cassetti - View Obituary & Service Information Share Memories and Support the Family.

Sadly, I just learned that Lynn Greywacz Brown's sister Ellen's husband Daniel Moran passed away recently. Attached is a link to the funeral and calling hours.

Please keep Lynn, her sister, and their entire families in thoughts and prayers.

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

Daniel Moran Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information Share Memories of Daniel & Support the Moran Family

This photo has appeared on a few pages. This is from my little league team in 1961. I was 10, and my brother Mark was 9, it was both our first year playing with Riversides in the George J. Hummel Little League. We finished third that year behind Top notch and league champs Garden City, we finished second to the Orioles the following year, and first when I was 12. Riversides finished first for the next 5 or 6 years, my youngest brother Jeff played on the team, and my dad coached, assisting Dick Ashe.
This was the make up of the 1961 team (teammates class years in parentheses after their name if I knew it): Front Row - John Yuston ('68), Brian Barrett ('68), Ken Ku**er ('68), John Biondi (Eli Whitney '69), and Mark Allen ('70). Row 2 - Joe Feher (?), Jack Micknak ('69), John Koehler ('69), Glenn Marston ('67), Steven Allen '69), and Bobby Slie ('66). Row 3 - Coach Dick Ashe, Joe Coppola (NDWH '66 or '67), Len Coppola (NDWH '66 or '67), Franklin O'Brien ('67), Ernie Hafersat ('67), and Manager Bill Slie.

Congratulations to classmate and friend Barbara Fassbender Bunting on the birth of her new grand daughter, Elowen Skye, on 2/12. Congratulations to Barb and her entire family on the blessed event!

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

I just learned from classmate Kevin Flaherty that classmate and friend Gary Flach's mother just passed away recently. Pleaee see the attached obituary.

Please keep Gary and his entire family in your thoughts and prayers.

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

Eleanor H. Flach SEYMOUR - Eleanor Harriet (Haversat) Flach, age 96, of Seymour, the beloved wife of the late Melvin E. Flach, entered into peaceful rest on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at Griffin Hospital.She was born in Derby on June 1, 1927, the beloved daughter of the late William Haversat and Harriet (Crowther) Havers

I have just learned through a Facebook post by classmate and friend, Diane Orfino Murray, that her husband Ron has passed away. Additional information at this time is not known, but if I learn of anything further, I forward it on to all of you. Please keep Diane, her children, Michelle and Sam, and their entire family in your thoughts and prayers.

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

From Joanne Trez

I just heard through Fred Oko, who had heard from John Kearney, that classmate in grade school and junior high school, Harold Hengar passed away in Washington state from a heart condition. There aren't any further details. Please keep Harold and any of his family members in your thoughts and prayers.

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

As we prepare to enter a New Year, we once again have much to reflect on from the past year, happiness, sorrow, and special events. We are also entering the year of our 55th anniversary of our graduation from the hallowed halls of Seymour High School. In some respects, it seems just like yesterday, and other respects it seems like forever. But regardless, there's a bond amongst us that will always lead us back to those informative days, that we thought would never end, just like the Mary Hopkins' song....
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way...

Well of course times are different, and we've all changed in various ways.

This past year saw the passing of classmate George "Eddie" Hermance (brother to classmate Bill Hermance). We saw the passing of teachers, coaches, and administrators at Seymour. Early in the year we learned of the passing of Theresa Rasmussen, business teacher, later assistant and then principal at Maple Street School (as we all know she was the beloved wife of history teacher, the late Frank Rasmussen). Then we saw the passing of legendary Junior and Senior High Athletic Coach Dan Heffernan, and then just in past few days math teacher and sister to classmate Betty Chatfield Brosius, Jean L. Chatfield. Classmate Greg Kowal saw the passing of his mother Alma. We saw the passing of classmates spouses including Maryanne Kraynicki Allen's husband Douglas in late 2022, and just recently Joanne Olechnowich Trez husband Tom passed away. A number of classmates lost siblings, Rich Kowal's brother Sam, followed by Gary Flach's' brother Mark; Cathy Triantafillos Antonelli's brother Robert; Gary Hays lost his sister (I apologize as I don't have her name). Classmate Greg Makowski's mother-in-law Norln Wolter passed away, as two of Donna Mitchell's cousins Paula and Walter Stelmuk who passed away in the same week. Pat Potosky Lique brother-in-law George Shelton passed way; Marge Stochmal Mattei's aunt, Maryann Stochmal passed away earlier in the year. Susan Wols Morgana's sister-in-law Frances Wols, also passed. Our dear friend and classmate from Argentina, Claudia Pretto lost her nephew and godson Hernan Aguilar Pretto. Recently classmates Marcia Bomba Cushing and Mike Hricko lost their aunt, Alfreda Garbien. Lastly, my aunt, Patricia Johnston passed back in February at the age of 97. A few of our classmates have dealt with various health reasons of the past year, including Gary Hays. The others preferred not to be identified for privacy reasons.

All was not sad news this passed year, classmate Paul Sponheimer became a grandfather again, when his daughter gave birth to his second grandson Ryatt. Lynn Greywacz Brown had two special event's this past year, first her late brother Ernie was elected posthumously into the Seymour Wildcat Sports Hall of Fame, and her parents celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary. Classmate Kevin Flaherty found a YouTube video by Cathy Triantafillos Antonelli where she discussed the steps on growing wild plants such as milkweed to help increase the butterfly pollution in the area. It was a very informative video, and if you missed it, let me know, and I'll get you the YouTube link. Also, he found a couple old baseball photos from the early 1900's which showed photos of Pam Potter's grandfather and cousin

Lastly, as I had alluded to earlier in this yearly update, 2024 marks our 55th anniversary of our classes graduation. Although there has been no formal plans or discussions about anything this year, classmate Barbara Fassbender Bunting graciously held a mini type of a reunion at her home in Bethany back in early October. Fun was had by all who attended. Since 2009, I have been involved as a volunteer at Look Memorial Park in the Florence section of Northampton. I belong to a model railroad club, and we have built and help in some little way organize a Christmas event known as Santa's Trains at Look Park. Aside from missing two years because of the pandemic set up a whimsical holiday tradition for the young and old of Western MA and the surrounding area. This year was an extremely successful 13 day (4 hour per night) run, which saw just over 20,000 people attend this worthwhile event. This wasn't the only holiday event I was involved in. I along with a couple other members set up Christmas/Holiday themed model train layouts at the Senior Center in South Hadley, MA, and Wistairahurst Museum in Holyoke, MA.

Lastly, I want to apologize to anyone if I overlooked any special event that had occurred over the past year. I try to keep my ear to the ground to catch any tidbits concerning our classmates, relatives, and/or Seymour High School as best as possible. I want to thank the following classmates who have kept me informed, Marion Cirishioli Cochran, Betty Chatfield Brosius, Linda Derienzo Zibluk, and Kevin Flaherty. If there is any change's to your home address, email address, or telephone number(s), please let me know, so I can update the class database in order to keep you in contact with the class regarding any news or get togethers that may occur. You can get a hold of me through my page, although I'm not on Facebook as regularly as as use to. If any of you are on Facebook, but are not aware of it, I maintain an informal class page entitled Seymour (CT) High School Class of 1969.

In conclusion, on behalf of the Seymour Class of 1969, I want to wish you and your families a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous New Year! I look forward to continuing to keep you informed as long as possible.

Peace, Love, and Best Wishes

Steve

It's with much sadness that I forward this note sent to me by classmate Betty Chatfield Brosius, on the passing of one of her older sisters Jean, who many of us may have had for math at the high school. I personally had Jean for Geometry and Algebra II. Attached is the note from Betty....

It is with sadness that I want to let my classmates know of the unexpected passing of my sister Jean Chatfield on December 28th, due to recent age-related health issues. I know several of you probably had her as a math teacher during her 1966-1969 employment at SHS. Jean was in her apartment at a retirement community in Keene, NH when she passed. She graduated from SHS in 1962, earned an education degree at Lake Erie College in Ohio, and taught math for three years at SHS. She moved to our family home in Weston, Vermont in 1969, and then to Chester in 1987, while teaching math in the Springfield school system. Jean retired from teaching after 30 years and worked part-time at the Vermont Country Store in Weston and ushered at the Weston Playhouse Theatre in the summers. She moved to Keene in 2019. Burial of her ashes in the family plot at Pines Bridge Cemetery in Beacon Falls will take place at a private ceremony for family, in the spring.

At this special time of the season, please take time to reflect on what we have and keep Betty, her older sister Carol, and their entire family in your thoughts and prayers.

Peace, Love, and Best Regards

Steve❤🙏🙏❤

Update on the funeral arrangements for Joanne Olechnowich Trez;s husband Tom.....https://www.eggerfuneralhome.com/obituary/Thomas-Trez

I just learned that Joanne Olechnowich Trez husband Tom passed away today. Marion Cirishioli Cochran also confirmed the information. It's too early to know of any arrangements at this time. At this special time of the year, please keep Joanne, her daughter Beth, and son Jeff, and their families in your thoughts and prayers. If any further information becomes available, I will forward it onto the class.

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve

On behalf of the Class of 1969, I would like to wish each and everyone of you and your families a Very Merry Christmas! If you're traveling, please be safe. I'm hoping to have a 2023 class wrap up available before the end of the year. Remember 2024 marks the 55th anniversary of our high school graduation.

Again, Have a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas to one and all!

Peace and Best Regards,

Steve🎅🎄❄⛄