submitted by Janice Tate Co-Chairperson, WAWHS Alumni Association
Nearly 200 Alumni and guests attended the 2011 annual Walter A. Wood High School (Hoosick Falls) Alumni Reunion on Saturday, June 11, at the Pittstown Volunteer Emergency Corps. Co-chairperson Janice Tate welcomed the group with a special recognition of the new 50-year class and of Mr. Philip Leonard, a guest, who was Superintendent of the old high school and the new Hoosick Falls Central School for many years. Rev. Paul Mason of Class of 1955 gave the invocation.
Following dinner, Ronald Seifert, Master of Ceremonies, introduced Virginia Cole Taylor, who then announced members of the 50-year Class of 1961. They were the graduates of the last class from the old school. Attending were Beverly Baker Cottrell, Dawn Baker Gilbert, Donald Barnhart, Cathy Chapman Corcoran, Ginny Cole Taylor, Arlene Cornell Davie, Ralph Helft, Clara LeBarron, Gail Lohnes McGuire, Mary Lohnes Upton, Sharon Mason Ludwig, Kathy Mello McElligott, Diana Moll Corbett, Helen Paddock Wagar, Harold Peckham, Jean Stacy Gore and Peggy Blondin Stevens.
Members of the 60-year Class of 1951 were introduced by Malcolm Brownell. They are Richard Akin, Winifred Hunt Akin, Donald Babcock, Robert Blake, Malcolm Brownell, Marilyn Byars Robinson, James Cutler, David Durfee, Janet Eddy Moses, Charles Kalinowski, Roger LeMere, Lois LeBarron Phelps, Hazel MacArt Witsell, Carleton Philpott, Caroline Reagan Bornt, Giles Russell, Gwendolyn Sawtell Waldron, Blanche Sherman Jones, Wilma Siemens Gutermuth, Mary Lou Snyder Hartnett, Thomas Wysocki and Jack Mulready.
Three members of the 70-year Class of 1941 attended – Norma Brenenstuhl, Mildred Brimmer Lapp and Jane Ashworth Carpenter. Margaret Howard Perry attended for the 80-year Class of 1931. Gifts were presented to the Class of 1940 – Vera Cipperly Griswold, Charles Eddy, Gordon McNeilly, William Nugent, Jr. and Mary Wells Cipperly, Class of 1938, Rita Welch Nowak, Class of 1934, Frank Pierce, and Class of 1933, William Andrick. The oldest alumnus in attendance was Eleanor McClure Fairbanks from the Class of 1929.
Gifts were also presented to those who traveled the furthest – Jean Stacy Gore, Class of 1961 from Abilene, Texas, and Robert Strait, Class of 1960, from North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Thanks were given to the Pittstown Volunteer Corps for the dinner and to all for the voluntary contributions to assist in continuing the Alumni Reunion in the future. The Committee consists of Betty Kipp, Ron and Joyce Seifert, Helen Filkins, Doug Sherman, Sarah Snyder and Janice Tate.