Newsletter -- Fall 2000

Another Great Day of Golf

What a day! More than 100 BHS alumni players enjoyed a day of golf at the Putterham Meadows Golf Course in Brookline. All proceeds help support the Alumni Association's programs and scholarships.

Golfers ranged in age from Harriet Gurwitz Suvalle '36 to Joe Gully, Jr. '99. No matter what their age, the golfers agreed that it was a great day all around.

Winning teams included the following: First-place gross at -11, Leo Conrad, '66, Joe Grady '66, David Heavey '92, Joe Gulley Jr., '99 and Roger Phillips '68. Second-place gross at -10 were Tom McCarthy '50, Bill McCarthy '44, Bob Murphy '50 and Rich Arsenault '62. Third-place gross at -10 were Mark Wadness '70, Jon Freedman '70 and Bob Riley '69. First-place women's team included Mary Logue Duggan '59, Helena Grady Kelley '57, Cathy Stack Grundstrum '63 and Brenda Moran '65. First-place net at -5 included Stanley Wyzanskimm '68, Dave Brodney '68 and Stanley Baker '68; second-place net at -5 was Ron DiVencenzo, Bob Weintraub, Walter Sargent and John Howard. Third-place net at -4 went to Tom Manning '62, Mickey Rayne '63, Carol Peltier Vittinberger '58 and Patricia Kirrane Flynn '58. The longest drive was won by Pat Canney '96 and Beth Hennessey '82. Closest to the pin were Walter Hart '47, Joe Gully Jr. '99, V.C. Orff '53 and Ed Himml '47. For women, the closest to the pin were Carol Peltier Vittenberger '58, Brenda Moran '65, Helena Grady Kelley '57 and Shirley Greenon Donehey '53.

Many thanks again to the whole Varnum crew for all of their help and especially to tournament director Jerry Varnum '59. A special thanks to Ray Blue '43, who again donated silver bowls for the winners and sponsored the plaque in memory of his brother James J. Blue '42. If you're interested or getting more information about next year's tournament, contact Jerry at 781-543-4264.

Everything Old is New Again

The founders of the BHS Alumni Association thought we were coming up with a new idea, but a recent excerpt from an old Brookline High document proved us wrong.

The first BHS alumni association was organized on February 7, 1893. Membership was "open to all past and present teachers, and to all past members of the school who have been connected with it for one or more years. The members of the Senior Class in the school are also eligible for membership. Life Membership Fee, $2. Annual Membership Fee, 50 cents." Our current rates are only slightly higher - just $15 a year for membership. Why not join today?

Dave Wax Memorial Service Planned

Dave Wax, a member of BHS '59, will be honored in a ceremony in Brookline on May 28, 2001. The event, which will be held at 12 noon in Washington Square on Memorial Day, will honor Wax's service to his country by naming Washington Square in his memory.

David Wax was a graduate of the Air Force Academy in 1963 and was a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. After completing more than 200 successful missions, Lieutenant Wax's plane was shot down near the North China Sea in December 1965. His remains were discovered in 1993.

After the dedication ceremony, a reception will be held at the high school. Former classmates and friends are welcome to attend.

21st Century Fund Names New Director

Brookline High School's 21st Century Fund has named a new executive director. Stephen Maurer of Brookline, the former director of the Mind/Body Clinic at New England Deaconess Hospital, says he is excited about the challenge of overseeing the foundation. "We've raised over a million dollars in gifts and pledges and we're now planning Phase II of the campaign, which will reach out to the entire alumni population," he noted.

The 21st Century Fund, established in 1998, aims to raise $10 million dollars to create an endowment to support innovative programming at the high school and to develop models that other schools can use.

The 21st Century Fund is hoping to get individual graduating classes involved in raising funds for projects at the high school. For more information about the 21st Century Fund or to get involved, call Stephen Maurer at (617) 713-5201 or e-mail him at Steve_Maurer@ brookline.mec.edu.

Watch Out, Tiger!

James Driscoll, '95, a graduate of the University of Virginia, placed second in the U.S. Amateur championship held in late August at the famed Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ. Driscoll is the first Massachusetts-born player to reach the finals since 1946.

The match, carried on national TV, featured 36 holes of match play. Driscoll was down three holes with three holes to play, but rallied to win the final three to force a playoff with Jeff Quinney, a senior at Arizona State. After the two players matched par on the first two holes of the playoff, lightning forced a suspension to the next day. On the first hole, Quinney got the birdie to win the hole and the championship.

By reaching the finals, Driscoll has earned a spot in the 2001 Masters Golf Tournament as long as he remains an amateur. We understand that his intention is to play in the Masters in 2001 and then turn professional and join the PGA Tour.

One other note: 86 years ago in 1914, the tournament was won by Brookline's Francis Ouimet, who was recently inducted into the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame.

We Want YOU Back

The Dance Department at Brookline High is celebrating its 25th year. If you studied dance at BHS, join us for a dance reunion by performing in the Finale of Progressions on May 19, 2001. Alums will meet earlier in the day to be taught the movement for the evening performance.

Don't miss this opportunity to get back onstage in the Robert/Dubbs Auditorium. Please contact the dance department with your e-mail address or telephone number so that we may get all of the pertinent information to you as the date draws near.

Call us at (617) 713-5426 or send an e-mail to: Lynn_Modell@brookline. mec.edu,Christien_Polos@brookline.mec.edu or Kathleen_Chapin@ brookline.mec.edu.

Congratulations!

A Brookline High School alum now has his name up in lights. Bernard "Bunny" Solomon '41, and his wife were recently honored by Northeastern University when it named its basketball facility the Bernard and Jolane Solomon Court.

Solomon, who was recognized as being the school's number-one fan, graduated from Northeastern in 1946. He has served as a trustee on the school's board of overseers and received an honorary degree as Doctor of Public Service. He has been deeply involved in the school's athletic programs and was elected to the school's Hall of Fame in 1988, even though he claims that he was not an outstanding athlete.

Congratulations Bunny!

BHS Hall of Fame Planned for June

Several new members have been elected to the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame. They will be formally inducted in a ceremony held in June 2001. They include: Ed Kirrane '53, Larry Piatelli '70, David O'Brien '84, Jennifer Poulos '89 and Carl Parsons, coach.

For information about attending the banquet, call the Athletics Department at the high school. Congratulations to all!

Reunion Information

Class of 1951: A 50th reunion is planned for Saturday November 10, 2001 at the Holiday Inn in Brookline. For more information, contact Dick McConnell at 781-329-5594; e-mail at hummel4fun@aol.com, or Patricia Carroll Heanue at 617-327-6740.

Class of 1967: A 35th reunion is planned for

Columbus Day weekend in 2002. For more information, call Susan Taymore Fox at 617-469-0412 or e-mail:bubbemax@aol.com.

Class of 1976: A 25th reunion is planned for Saturday November 24, 2001 at the Holiday Inn in Brookline. For more information, contact Karen Green at 617-527-3340.

BHS SWS: A 30th reunion is planned for anyone who was in Brookline High's School Within a School program. The event will be held the weekend of June 22, 2001. For more information, contact the committee through e-mail: SWS_reunion@ureach.com.

Class of 1950 Enjoys Celebration

A gala cocktail party and dinner dance was held in the fall by the Class of 1950. The event, held at the Holiday Inn in Brookline, attracted more than a third of the class. Classmates came from all over the country! The committee is already looking forward to planning the next reunion!!

Get Involved!

The BHS Alumni Association is already planning for next year's golf tournament. You can participate by sponsoring a hole for just $100. Or you can donate an item for our annual raffle. For more information, contact Jerry Varnum '59 at 781-543-4264. The 2000 sponsors included: Larry Kaplan '61, Naomi and Bob Wainer '59, Ray Blue '43, Martin's Coffee Shop, Brookline Construction Co., Elliot Driben '68, David Rosenberg '78, Varnum Family, BHS Alumni Association, Ernie Moreno '56 (in memory of Sgt. Johnie Moreno) and Ron MacInnes, '60.

Everything is Just Ducky

Charlotte Lockwood '33, has always had an interest in ducks. It started, she says, when a friend told her that no women had ever entered the Massachusetts Duck Stamp Competition, which raised funds for wetland conservation. Lockwood, who had painted watercolors of a friend's duck decoys, entered the competition and was hooked. Her home is now filled with duck decoys and she has exhibited her work in local and international museums.

A graduate of the Devotion School, Lockwood is a former art teacher who still lives in Brookline. She and a collaborator recently wrote, illustrated and self-published a children's book called "Jamie and the Ducks of August: A Tale of Decoys." To retain control of their book, former neighbors and friends Tischler and Lockwood started Parkstone Publishing Co. The book is available from several local stores in the Boston area.

A Sad Note

John D. Corley, Jr., formerly director of music in the Brookline Public Schools, died recently. He was also the conductor of the MIT band from its founding until his retirement last year. Our condolences to his family.