Great Find From The Archives - Newspaper Account Of Our Graduation

I found this clipping in a photo album.  It is likely from the Bergen County edition of the Hudson Dispatch, which I delivered while in 8th grade, one of the more miserable jobs I have had, but I'm sure it built character.  I doubt that I can get a readable copy of the clipping so I am retyping it.

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Commencement Held
St. John's Awards 40 Diplomas


Msgr. Richard P. O'Brien, pastor of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Fairview, presided at commencement exercises for the eighth graders. at St. John's Parochial School last night and awarded diplomas to 40 graduates.  Rev. Charles McTague and Rev, Charles Petrocci, assistant pastors, participated.

Fr. Petrocci, who gave the address, told of the great changes in the world today and advised students they "must look beyond what they want to be." "Your friends and relatives can only be your guides," he cautioned, adding that in their approach to life-"to love deeply one must take something of one's self and give it to another. Fr. Petrocci congratulated the parents and graduates and thanked the Sisters of the school for all their efforts.

Medals for outstanding scholastics were awarded as follows:

American Legion Award for distinguished achievement to Dennis Kondrat and Joan Huberry (I'm sure they meant Ruberry); general excellence from Fr. O'Brien to Sara Bentz; scholarship from Mothers Guild to Peter Reilly; religion from Holy Name Society to Maria Scala; mathematics form Mothers Guild to Patrick O'Brien; history , from Knights of Columbus to Marie Montelli; science, from Rosary Altar Society to Richard Gagliardi; english, from Veterans of Foreign Wars to Vito Convertini; spelling from Veterans of Foreign Wars to Paulette Bolcik; effort and cooperation from Daughters of Isabella to Richard McCullough; safety essay medals, first place Judy De Barbieri; second place, Sara Bentz and third place, Lourdes de Armas.

Program opened with processional of the graduates "Pomp And Circumstances"

followed by the hymn "When Morning Guilds the Sky"

The hymn "Full of Glory" the graduates act of consecration which was followed by "Tantum Ergo"

and "Now Thank We All Our God" with the recessional concluding the ceremonies.

The graduates are:

William Meier, Patrick O'Brien, Thomas Downs, Frank Marrone, Vito Convertini, Richard McCullough, Norman Parent, Joseph Maglio, Stanley Scoskie, John Konopka, Steven Marzola, Robert Russell, Dennis Kondrat, Richard Gagliardi, Robert Einhorn, Paul Moser, Robert Ryan, Peter Reilly.

Ann Miranda, Lourdes de Armas, Judith De Barbieri, Bernadette Battish, Mary Scala, Vivian Tarello, Joan Ruberry, Carol Bruno, Lucia Scarnecchia, Marie Montelli, Marsha Dalhelm, Veronica Mugavin, Delia Gonzalez, Cheryle Ballingal, Karen Keady, Oriana Sartor, Kathryn Larson, Sara Bentz, Paulette Bolcik, Genevieve Houston.

Top honor students of the First to Seventh Grades also were announced.  They were:

Seventh Grade: Joseph Scala, Anita Tedesco, Joseph Bentz.  Sixth Grade: Debra Fagnano, Eleanor Cahill, Barbara Meier. Fifth Grade: Gina Scala, Mary Ellen Dever, Joseph Rinn.  Fourth Grade: James McGowan, Mark Fagnano, Theresa Orecchio. Third Grade: Dawn Criletti, Colin Dobbyn, Barbara Bentler.  Second Grade: Susan Stanich, Barbara Rinalti, Michelle Ricciardi.  First Grade: Jane Galina, Cynthia James, William Pedoto.

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The real hilarious thing to me is the order that the names are in.  I am close to certain that it is by height.  I do remember sitting next to Robert Ryan, but that is pretty much it.  I also find it interesting that the priests are featured while "the Sisters" are barely mentioned and none by name.