submitted by Janice Tate
Nearly 160 Alumni and guests attended the 2012 Annual Walter A. Wood High School (Hoosick Falls) Alumni Reunion on Saturday, June 9, at the Pittstown Volunteer Emergency Corps. Co-chairperson Janice Tate welcomed the group and led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Rev. Paul Mason, Class of 1955, delivered the Invocation.
[private]Following dinner, Ronald Seifert, Master of Ceremonies, gave a special welcome to the newest 50-year class, the Class of 1962, and Linda Siemens McClellan introduced the members of the class, who were invited for the first time. Attending were Leslie Miles, Doris Mason Cottrell, Patricia Marsh Grennan, Barbara Allen Sausville, Nancy Brandi Bontadelli, Sandra Cipperly Burgess, Charles Filkins, Elaine Hall Myers, Rita Luskin Martinoli, Linda McClellan, Mary Stearns, William Webster, Mary Peckham Gorton, Richard Weeden, Ray Wilson and Paula Schmigel Mason.
Members of the 60-year Class of 1952 were introduced by Gay Sherman Voss. They were Alice Kagel Swertinski, Phyllis Betner Sargood, John Harrington, Jean LeMere O’Dell, Shirley Travis Wager, Barbara Cottrell and Gay Voss.
Recognized in the prior years were: 65 years – Class of 1947 – Barbara Eldredge Brackett, Iva Hewitt Durkee, Gwendolyn McMartin Smith, Marion Siemens Cipperly, Evangeline Weller Brenenstuhl and Edward Bouplon; Class of 1946 – Monte Strever and Elsie LeBarron Marpe; Class of 1945 – Betty Cipperly Kipp, Margaret Sargood Rousseau and William Thurber; Class of 1944 – Bertha Piritz Alden and Robert Thorpe; Class of 1943 – Harry Michie and Helen Brownell Filkins.
Special recognition and gifts were presented to: the 70 year Class of 1942 – Gertrude Carpenter, Marion Goodermote Hynick, Winifred Griswold Ferguson and Mary Christofferson Brundige; Class of 1941 – Norma Brenenstuhl and Jane Ashworth Carpenter; Class of 1940 – Vera Cipperly Griswold, Charles Eddy, Gordon McNeilly, William Nugent, Jr. and Mary Wells Cipperly.
The Class of 1938 was represented by Rita Welch Nowak, the Class of 1934 by Frank Pierce. A special guest and congratulations were given to Eleanor McClure Fairbanks, Class of 1929. She celebrated her 100th birthday on June 17.
Gifts were presented to those who traveled the farthest: Gay Sherman Voss from Boca Raton, Florida, and Ray Wilson from El Cajon, California. A total of $1,500 in voluntary gifts this year will be given to the Hoosick Area Church Association (HACA) Food Pantry.
Thanks were given to Pittstown Volunteer Emergency Corps for the dinner, Charlotte Redden for the centerpieces, and Charles Filkins for the programs.
The Committee consists of Helen Filkins, Art and Joanne Hyde, Ron and Joyce Seifert, Doug Sherman, Sarah Snyder and Janice Tate.[/private]