HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES OF 1961 65 5050 THTH REUNIONREUNION
INSIDE: Hillcrest 50th Reunion Website: http://www.hillcrestottawa50th.ca 2 & 3 & 4—Sandy VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4 SEPTEMBER 2010 Shaw and Patricia Irwin reconnect 5—Posture and Appearance; What WhereWhere havehave allall thethe pompom ------pomspoms gone?gone? teacher said this? 6—A few ‘candid’ snaps—Impact ‘63 7—Remember their favourite expressions? 8 & 9 —A Famous Hillcrest Hawk— Murray Kuntz 10—The Hillcrest Song and Yells 11—What does Hillcrest mean to you now? 12 & 13—Hillcrest High Schools— around the world 14 & 15—School spirit continued... 16 & 17 School Football and Pigskin Parades 18—Beach Boys Hillcrest’s 1963 64 Cheerleaders in their white sweaters, plaid skirts and —”Be True To stylized “H” suspenders .Back row, left to right: Mickie Cox, Marilyn Your School” Reid, June Godfrey, Sue Broadbridge and Wendi Lauder. Front row, left 19—A Trip Down to right: Norma MacFeely, Lynne Mundy, Sandy Hall and Bonnie Sye. Hillcrest’s Memory Lane 20—The 1963 64 Yearbook Staff; SCHOOL SPIRIT—DEAD OR DIFFERENT? Quiz Answers; & Yearbook DVDs In the July edition, we featured a photograph extracted from micro 21—Muriel fiche of a 47 year old issue of “ The Ottawa Citizen ”. Gord Gilbart Johnston Blaine— (Bryan’s dad) presented the winners — the nine Hillcrest beauties who I’m a survivor! you see above — with a trophy that the Cheering Squad had won at the 22 & 23— The Staccatos’ (2nd Annual) CFRA Hi Fi Club Championship held at the RA Centre on Peter Fallis & Riverside Drive in the Fall of 1963. In those days, the cheering squad, or Brian Rading— cheerleaders as we are more used to calling them, was a major part of two more Hillcrest developing ‘school spirit’ at sports games and other large events. rockers But as we cited in the article above that photo (“ Hillcrest’s track 24—The Boys of 11B—before the and field teams are tops; school ranks highly in many other sports ”, Page girls joined them! 13), today, “Hillcrest also has a cheerleading squad and while they don't cheer at any games, they participate in regional tournaments.” That comment has led to thoughts about school spirit and what it (Continued on page 14.)
My best memory was making friends with Pat By Sandra Joyce Shaw (Class of 1964) I must admit up until a few days ago I hadn't thought of Hillcrest at all. When I received the call about the up and coming reunion memories came flooding back, some good, some not. In thinking about it, though, I don't suppose there is a teenager anywhere who has totally positive recollections about their high school. One of my best memories of Hillcrest comes from the year I met and became friends with my neighbour, Pat Irwin. I had come to Hillcrest in Grade 11, which was difficult for many reasons, but meeting Pat made leaving my friends at my former high school less difficult. We became fast friends. We spent much time together, had lots of fun and got into lots of trouble, particularly with Pat's mom. The days and years flew by and at the end of my year in Grade 13 and Pat's year in Grade 12, we were horrified to find that Pat's dad was being transferred to Washington D.C. After many tears, vows to keep in touch and sorrowful good SHAW byes, Pat's family left. SANDRA JOYCE "SANDRA" ******************************************************** "Don't take life I often thought had we got in too seriously; touch, then our friendship would you'll never get out of it alive". have resumed much earlier. Ambition: Public School teacher ******************************************************** Destination: Initially, we kept in contact but, as always, Teaching him to time changes everything. I had met my future say "I do!” husband, was preparing to go to Ottawa Teachers' College, and Pat and I lost contact. I got married, started teaching and was totally unaware that Pat was at Queen's University in Kingston. I often thought had we got in touch then our friendship would have resumed much earlier. Again, though, time marched on. I had three children, retired and had grandchildren before Pat and I reconnected. I thought of her many times but had no way of knowing where or even who she was. She was in the same situation because both our names had changed. I had heard that there were sites on the computer that helped you find people. One day I was on the computer and happened to find one of these sites. I don't know how I did it because I am definitely technologically challenged but I found a person in Seattle, Washington, whose name matched Pat's mom. I guess the name Washington rang a bell, so I called and asked this lady if she knew anyone called Pat Irwin. I told her she would probably think I was crazy but I was trying to find a long, lost friend. Amazingly, unbelievably, this was Pat's mom. She gave me Pat's phone number and the friendship resumed. My husband and I visited Pat and her husband Jeff in Vancouver; she and Jeff came and visited us in Ottawa. We met another time in Montreal. We now e mail at least once a week, talk on the phone, exchange photos of kids and grandkids and try to come up with other occasions to get together. Hopefully, the reunion will be give us another opportunity to connect. Anyway, I think we are both happy for the reconnection and I'm sure we will continue to stay in touch.
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My best memory was making friends with Pat
A friendship is rebonded after years of lost contact as Sandra Shaw and Patricia Irwin enjoy a day on the beach in sunny British Columbia—near Patricia’s home in the City of Surrey— as well as a trip back to the old Alma Mater when Patricia visited Sandy, who still lives in Ottawa. All of a sudden and out of the blue, I got a call! By Patricia Irwin (Class of 1965) My father was in the air force (RCAF) and got transferred to Washington, D.C. in 1964, and so I had to leave Hillcrest at the end of Grade 12 and completed one year of college in Virginia to make up my Ontario Grade 13; then went to Queen’s in Kingston and worked in the States in the summers until I graduated in 1968. My Dad left the service in 1968 and moved to Seattle, Washington, where he worked for Boeing as an aeronautical engineer and retired down there. My parents are still alive; Dad is 89 and my Mom will be 90 this September. After graduating from Queen’s, I moved out to British Columbia to be closer to my parents and younger brother and sister, who were with my parents in Seattle and my brother Bill and I remained the ‘Canadians’ both taking up residence in B.C. (Bill attended Hill crest in Grade 9 and was good friends with John Benoit at that time. He now lives in Lillooet, B.C. ) I worked for many years in the social services field, am married, have two daughters and three grandkids and now that I just retired, I will be more active on the computer and may actually sign up for the ‘ Classmates.com’ website. I never got to go to my high school graduation and I remained out of touch with everyone in Ottawa for many years and have often wondered what had happened to so many of my classmates. I looked at the ‘ Classmates.com ’ website but never got around to paying the fee and actually looking .... It was a great experience, when all of the sudden, out of the blue, I got a call from Sandra Shaw! We have rekindled our friendship! It has been wonderful to reconnect with her and meet her husband Joe and her family with the seven grandchildren!!!! (Continued on page 4.)
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Patricia’s story (Continued from page 3.) Sandra and I were close friends at Hillcrest and she lived only two doors away from me! We used to hang out at her place every Friday after school making our own version of “royal burgers” and listening to Roy Orbison records and back combing our hair. I was always envious of Sandra as she could get her hair to stay so much higher than mine! I remember Vic Peterson as he lived down the street from me and he took me to a prom once and Mr. Benoit...he and his family lived across the street. I washed his kitchen floor every Saturday in Grade 10 along with various babysitting jobs! He was always out playing catch with his sons on the street! My parents kept in touch with them for years even after they moved to Niagara Falls but they haven’t heard anything for a long time now. I remember being in that play the first year Hillcrest started but then I got a part time job at the A&P store the next year and with my first paycheque went to the hairdresser and had my hair dyed platinum blonde and, unfortunately, turned my attention to boys and my wonderful “A” average slipped considerably and that was the end of my participation in the drama club which I still regret to this day!. ************************************************ Unfortunately, (I) turned my attention to boys and my wonderful “A” average slipped considerably. ************************************************ My first real boyfriend (for 6 months) Patricia—before and after spending her first pay cheque. was Stuart Spence and we used to drive around with Wayne Kay and his girlfriend, Susan, in Wayne’s father’s car and Stuart got to use his father’s 61 Buick at times, which was real cool, too! Don’t know what happened to them or Don Easterbrook, who was also my buddy, and Virginia Roshka, who married Paul Blondin, as I lost touch with her as well! I met Virginia at Ridgemont in Grade 9 and we remained friends all through the Hillcrest years as well! Now that I have been “found” by Sandra and Graham and Lynne, I am curious to find out more about other Hillcrest friends and am in consultation with my hubby regarding a trip out to Ottawa next May for the 50 th !!!
Patricia’s other friends from Hillcrest between 1961 and 1964 when she left to go to Virginia. From left to right: Stuart Spence, Wayne Kay, Don Easterbrook and Virginia Roshka.
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Did fancier clothes make for better student behaviour? Yes! Research backs up Principal B.L. Bradley’s ‘Dress Policy’! During Hillcrest’s first year (1961-62), Hillcrest Principal B.L. (Beuth) Bradley placed a lot of emphasis on appearance harping back to the ‘Good Old Days’ when students ‘dressed properly’. As we saw on page 23 of the August edition, we had to suffer periodic “Dress-Up Days” which were premised on the underlying belief that students and teachers tend to behave the way that they dressed— a belief that has subsequently been backed up by research that shows that students tend to act the way they are dressed with less discipline cases on days when they were dressed up and more when they ‘dressed down’. While Mr. Bradley may have had the right idea—wanting his students to look good—it was felt by many that he carried it to extremes, not allowing “Hard Times” hops, which were popular in the 1960s. There was no such thing as “Dress Down Days”. While there was a “Posture and Appearance” contest each month for the girls, there wasn’t one for the boys. And only 30 girls could win the contest each Winners for April 1962 “Posture and Appearance” year—not exactly an inclusive policy but then we must contest were: (left to right) Lynne Mundy, 11B; remember that sexism was part of the culture then. Frances Gale, 9J; and Melody Mayson, 10C. Do you remember hearing these teachers saying this? 1. “Why, I’m growing ulcers on top of ulcers.” a b c d e f 2. “Oh, come on now, you Latin students ought to know this!” a b c d e f 3. “Who’s that fool back there drumming his fingers?” a b c d e f 4. “Anybody who can’t prove this shouldn’t have gotten out of grade eight!” a b c d e f 5. “But it’s absolutely imperative that you know this. Sometimes I think it’s L.M.F. a b c d e f (lack of moral fibre) 6. “I can become anything I want a b c d e f with my system of studying!” (For answers, see page 20.)
a b c d e f
N. CARAGATA R. SAMUDA C. FERRIGAN R. BYERS A. G. PETERSON L.A.P. MELOCHE
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A FEW CANDID ‘SNAPS’ FROM IMPACT ‘63
How many faces and their names can you remember?
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Remember her / his favourite expressions?
Okay, 50 years have nearly gone by, and you haven’t seen some of your old Hillcrest High School classmates for many years...so let’s test your memory cells. Who had these favourite expressions? Match the expression with the picture of A the student who used to say it and can you remember their name, too. E And no using your old yearbook or the 1962 edition of Hillcrest Hi Lites!!!! 1. “No on else got the math homework? Oh, good! B 2. “I couldn’t help it, sir!” F 3. “Aw, come on, eh!” 4. “I got a letter today!” (from K.M.) C 5. “Oh fiddle!” G 6. “I quite agree with you but I must admit you’re wrong.” 7. “Oh, my goodness!” 8. “You don’t say!” D (For answers, see page 20.) H 7
One of Hillcrest’s Famous Hawks—Murray Kuntz
If you haven’t seen the page on the Hillcrest 50th reunion website on “Famous Hawks” yet, you should. Hillcrest graduates have included professional football and hockey players, Olympic swimmers and track athletes, television and radio journalists, hosts and DJ’s (or VJ’s in more modern parlance) as well as a couple of rock stars in the Canadian music scene. (See the July edition, pages 22 and 23 for “The Esquires” or pages 22 and 23 on “The Staccatos”. ) There’s one more to add IMPACT '64 to the list that the younger grads (post 1965) might not have
known—Murray Robert Kuntz, KU TZ, MURRAY ROBERT a member of the Class of ‘64. "Murray" Born in Ottawa at the end of Quote: "Full of nonsense, free 1945, Murray attended Hillcrest from care, there isn't much he during 1963 64 before becoming a wouldn't dare.” professional right winger between Ambition: Commerce. 1966 and 1977. But before his hockey career, Murray was a Destination: Athlete. quarterback for the Ottawa Sooners in the Eastern Canadian Junior Football League during and after Grade 13, when he played for the Hillcrest Hawks Senior Football Team in 1963 64. (See photo below.) And one game certainly stands out. On Saturday, October 24, 1964, the Sooners were hoping to break a run of bad luck over three years with Montreal’s Notre Dame de Grace ‘Maple Leafs’. Montreal had opened the scoring which was increased after a rare defensive holding penalty was called on the Sooners but Ottawa came right back to cut their lead with a hand off by Quarterback Murray (Continued on page 9.)
HILLCREST HAWKS SENIOR FOOTBALL TEAM—1963 64
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A Famous Hillcrest Hawk . (Continued from page 6.) Kuntz. Despite having the convert called for too many men on the field, the Sooners moved ahead on two six pointers by Kuntz and Bob McCarthy with one of them being the game’s nicest touchdown —a 45 yard strike to open up the scoring in the second stanza. The next touchdown was all his as he dove over from the one yard line to give Ottawa a 20 7 lead. Montreal came back reducing the lead and added to the Sooners’ misery by evening up the score in the last 15 minutes of the game, adding the convert to dash Ottawa’s hopes at 21 20. But hockey was his preferred game and like so many other young men, Murray started in Junior B hockey with the Brockville Braves in 1964 65, followed by a year with the Ottawa Montagnards, where he excelled before embarking on a pro career, according to the “Legends of Hockey” website. That was followed by part of a season with the Toledo Blades where he scored five goals and four assists in only ten games— enough to get him onto the New Haven Blades roster in the EHL for the next four seasons where in 207 games, he scored 132 goals, and 148 assists for 280 total points with only 138 minutes in the penalty box. And that doesn’t include the three Murray Robert Kuntz, an all season playoffs where he played 31 games, scoring 10 goals, round athlete—high school 16 assists for 26 total points with only 11 minutes sitting in the football player for Hillcrest ‘sin bin’. 1966 67 was his best season and the highest output in and baseball pitcher for Alta his career. Vista, winger for the Elmvale Next was a year with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in the Cardinals, quarterback for the World Hockey League after the Buffalo Sabres signed him up in Ottawa Sooners, and hockey September of 1970 and assigned him to their farm team in Utah. player at the Junior B / EHL / He spent the next two seasons with the Cincinnati Swords of WHL / AHL / NAPro and NHL the American Hockey League helping his team to win the Calder levels—and Murray today Cup in 1973. Then he was transferred to the Sabres top farm (below) at Surgenor Pontiac Buick on St. Laurent Blvd. team—Rochester—for the 1973 74 season when he led the AHL with 51 goals and 31 assists and was named to the league’s first all star team. In 1974, he reached what every young Canadian hockey player dreams about—signing up with an NHL team—and, in his case, the St. Louis Blues, which acquired him a few weeks after his big season. Now, at 28, he had made it to the top but ‘fame’ was fleeting as he only played seven NHL games. Within two years, his hockey career would be over after two seasons with the AHL and the NAPro. But there is life after a career in any sporting field and Murray settled back in the Ottawa area where he has been in car sales management for many years. And he is highly thought of by many of his fellow students from his years at Hillcrest as one of its “Famous Hawks” for his accomplishments not only in football but professional hockey as well. We hope to see Murray at the reunion next May and applaud his success. 9
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What does Hillcrest mean to you now? While “Classmates.com”, “Facebook” and various other websites are making money hand over fist getting many people plugged in to the “good old high school or college days”, we might want to stop and consider what Hillcrest High School in Elmvale Acres, Ottawa, really means to us: a giggle reading the old yearbook we found in a box in the basement? a sigh and a “Gawd, did I really look like that way back then?” or a shrug and a murmur, “Just another of the high schools I went to a long time ago, so who cares?” The nostalgia business is a growing one—baby boomers (born from 1946 to 1964) started to retire four years ago and will ease out of the workplace for the next 13 years. Why is it that in a time of incredible technological and scientific advances, millions of people are investing time and money pursuing nostalgia? Many of us who entered Hillcrest on Day One, Tuesday, September 5th, 1961, are retired or retiring soon. Why are we developing a Motto: Learning Advances growing interest in and affection for the Secondary: Years 9—12(13) past? Established: 1961 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Perhaps the late American author, Students: 1200 Sebastian de Grazia, Pulitzer Prize winning Website: http:// author of “Machiavelli in Hell”, summed it Doctrina www.hillcresths.ocdsb.ca/ up best in his book, “Of Time, Work and Promovet Leisure” (1963): “When men find their present and future painful to behold, they search for new ideologies and, oftentimes, like the man with the toothache who believed that the time he had no toothache his happiest, they glance backward to a golden age.” De Grazia interpreted action to recapture and relive the past as one way of adjusting to culture change. No generation has seen so much change in their lifetimes as the baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964. Maybe, before we get overwhelmed with the seriousness of our nostalgia itis, we should try to gain some perspective and objectivity. Philosophical statements aside, we, as Hillcresters, are not alone. There is not just ONE Hillcrest High School there are 19 others (including a middle school) as well as many junior highs, elementary and other kinds of educational institutes bearing the name. While many are in the United States, there are also Hillcrests elsewhere in the world. (See Pges 12 and 13.) They mean a lot to many different students and alumni of many different ages in many different countries around the world...and we hope that Hillcrest High School in Ottawa means something to you—as it did then and as it may now!
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Hillcrest High Schools...
Home of “The Patriots” Home of “The Hawks” Secondary: Grades 9 12 Secondary: Grades 9 12 Established: 1981 Established: 1960s Location: Evergreen, Location: Inglewood, South Tuscaloosa, Alabama Los Angeles, California Students: 1250 Students: Not available Website: Website: Inglewood School HILLCREST http://www.hillcresthigh.net District Website
Home of “The Mustangs” Home of “The Hornets” Secondary: Grades 9 12 Secondary: Grades 9 12 Now amalgamated with Established: 1958 Belleville High School Location: Location: Cuba, Kansas Springfield, Missouri Students: (were) 50 Students: 1200+ Website: Website: http://hillcresthornets.org/
Home of “The Vikings” Home of “The Panthers” Secondary: Grades 9 12 Secondary: Grades 9 12 Established: 1966 Established: 1938 and re Location: Memphis, TN named to Hillcrest in 1958 Students: 973 Location: Dallas, Texas Ambition, Website: http://www.mcsk12. Students: 1697 Success, net/schools/hillcrest.hs/site/ Website: http:// The Best, Hillcrest index.shtml www.hillcresthsdallas.org/
Home of “The Falcons” Secondary: Grades 6 8 Established: 1990 Location: Glendale Arizona Students: 700+ Website: https:// Hillcrest hillcrest.dvusd.org/ Middle School index.php Hillcrest High School, Thunder Bay, Ontario—Now Closed
Hillcrest School Motto: Set our minds Secondary: Comprehensive on things above Established: 1960s Private Christian School Location: Dudley, Established: 1942 West Midlands, England Location: Jos, Nigeria Students: 183—11 16 year olds Students: 235 Website: http://www.hillcrest. Website: dudley.gov.uk/index.html www.hillcrestschool.net
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...around the world!
Motto: Believe Motto: Soaring with unity, Secondary: Grades 9 12 pride and excellence Established: 1992 Secondary: Grades 9 12 Location: Ammon, Idaho Established: 1967 Students: 1320 Location: Country Club Hills, Ill. Website: www3.d93.k12.id.us/ Students: 1220 schools/high schools/hillcrest Website: bhsd228.schoolwires.net/ high.aspx/ hillcrest/site/
Motto: Creating Learning for Life Motto: Truth, Honor and Loyalty Secondary: Grades 9 12 Secondary: Grades 9 12 Established: 1980 Established: 1960 Location: Queens, New York Location: Simpsonville, SC Students: 3058 Students: 2217 Website: http:// Website: http://www.greenville. www.hillcrestweb. k12.sc.us/hillcrest/index.asp com/index.html Mascot: Ram
Motto: The Circle of Courage The Home of the Huskies Secondary: Grades 7 12 Secondary: Grades 10 12 Established: 1960s Established: 1962 Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin Location: Midvale, Utah Students: 53 Students: 1500 Website: Website: http://hillcrest.kusd.edu/ http://hhs.canyonsdistrict.org/
Hillcrest High School Hillcrest International Schools Formerly: Port Arthur Technical Institute Classes: Years 4 to 13 Location: 96 N. High Street, Thunder Bay Established: 1964 School Type: Secondary City Location: Nairobi, Kenya Building Size: 120,000 ft² Lot Size: 6.1 acres Students: 650 Established: September, 1928 Website: Additions: 1953/56/59/60/61/68/71 http://www.hillcrest.ac.ke/ Closed: June, 2009
Motto: Motto: Circumspice Adspirat Fortuna Labori (Look Around You) (Fortune favours endeavour) Secondary: Years 9—13 Secondary: Years 8 12 Established: 1972 Established: 1976 Location: Hamilton, N.Z. Location: Hillcrest, S.A. Students: 1650+ Students: 850 Website: Website: www.hhs.co.za www.hillcrest high.school.nz
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The original Hillcrest Cheer leading Squad of 1961 62 “We’re from Front row: June Godfrey and Barb Haines; Hillcrest and Middle row: Sandy Hall and we couldn’t be Mickie Cox; Top: Judy Ann Barkley prouder, If you the squad that helped Hillcrest’s first year students can’t hear us now to develop school spirit in its more traditional form then we’ll shout during many of the sporting activities. a little louder "
Enhancing school spirit (Continued from page 1.) was then and what it is now. Cheerleaders were a huge part of school spirit in the 60’s...will they ever be back in that role? Or are the schools better off without them? As we enter those glass doors under the front portico next May, we need to keep in mind that we are entering our old Alma Mater in 2011 and not 1961. Yes, it may look the same (We don’t!) but it will have a different air to it. Current Hillcrest Principal Reg Lavergne mentioned at a reunion organizing committee meet ing recently that school spirit as we remember it in the 60’s and 70’s does not exist anymore. The reunion may mean more to us, the older grads, than it will even to the younger grads and probably it will be of little interest to current students except for those who might visit the Memorabilia rooms and blurt out, “Look at that outfit! I’ve seen old photos of my grandfather wearing clothes like that!” Hopefully, some of the teachers will be tying some spring term assignments to the 50 th anniversary that could spark some interest, but for most of the current student body, school spirit is encouraged by (I have to admit more meaningful and significant) events like “Spirit Week”, when students rally together to raise funds for causes that are deemed worthy. In April, Hillcrest held its 16th Annual Cancer Drive, according to the school’s website, and raised $49,411 in four hours! Additional fundraising events throughout the year brought that total to $55,787.97! So can (or should) school spirit be enhanced by a return to the baby boomer’s heyday, when there were 20,000 registered cheerleaders in Ontario, according to an article in “ The Star ” back in September 2009? When we sat in the bleachers or stood on the sidelines of a football field cheering on a bevy of young beauties in miniskirts, were we cheering the teams or showing our ‘support’ for some of the school’s more popular young lassies? Or a bit of both? (Continued on page 15.)
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We’re from Enhancing school spirit . (Continued from page 14.) Hillcrest and Attendance at high school regular season games in Ontario ( and probably the rest of the country ) has declined significantly over the years, the aforementioned article revealed, while in the United States, “It’s huge, a spectacle and creates loads of excitement .club cheerleading is the big thing,” according to Chuck Holland, past president of the Ontario Cheerleading Federation. Cheerleading has virtually disappeared from Ottawa high schools, but school spirit then we’ll shout is there, albeit in another form. If they’re so inclined, HHS alumni visiting this upcoming spring can do something to contribute to that spirit profits ( if any ) from the anniversary celebration could potentially be used to support, for example, the “ Hillcrest High School Sports Infrastructure Initiative ”. The Sports Infrastructure Initiative is a joint project of Hillcrest High School and the Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club (OISC), aimed at rejuvenating outdoor sports facilities at the school through the installation of a lighted, multi sport, artificial turf playing surface and an artificial turf ‘mini field’ inside a dome. The project, designed to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of Hillcrest in 2010–11, will markedly improve playing conditions for a range of field sports and other activities while providing a much needed facility in Ottawa’s urban core that can be used by both Hillcrest and other OCDSB schools, as well as by a range of community sports organizations (e.g., soccer, football, rugby) through rental agreements administered by the OISC. To Hillcrest’s lovely cheerleaders (as you can so readily see) from those first years, dig up and dust off those old pom poms ( and your wallets, if you’re able ) and use them to lead the alumni at the 50 th Anniversary in something students past and present can cheer about. Surely that will support and help boost school spirit in our old Alma Mater.
And in the 1964 65 school year, the Cheerleading Squad consisted of: Back row (left to right)— Sue Dempsey, Bonnie Sye, and Barb French; Middle row—Norma MacFeely, Judy Neales, and Jackie Roberts; Front row—Enid Evenchick, Pat Dolan, and Norma Munson.
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SCHOOL FOOTBALL AND PIGSKIN PARADES By Doug Milton (Editor’s Note: The following article, which appeared in the September 24, 1960 edition of “The Ottawa Citizen”, is reprinted courtesy of Postmedia Network Inc.) Yesterday’s ( Sept. 23, 1960 ) participants in the Pigskin Parade were lucky fellows and not necessarily because they were the heroes of some 6,000 at Lansdowne Park. (See photo below.) It has nothing to do with that recent tempest surrounding Football Friday – which by the way, still has me puzzled. Don’t know about you but I would like to know why this physical education committee supposedly frowns on activities of such nature. The whole story hinges around research into The Citizen’s files on the Pigskin Parade. It’s an interesting story and possibly an “ancient history” lesson for some of yesterday’s fans. Pigskin Parades, enthusiastic kickoffs – sometimes too much so – for scholastic football, have been part of the scholastic scene since 1951 with the exception of one year. Too much of that enthusiasm was the culprit forcing a year’s suspension the season before Campbell Stadium opening. (See photo below at right after Laurentian High School was closed down in 2004.)
Originally a Night Show It was originally a night extravaganza, and, believe it or not, outdrew the best crowds of the Rough Riders one season. Its inaugural also had an entirely different format and hence the “lucky” attached to yesterday’s 14 teams – half of this year’s total number of squads but more than twice the number of entries in that first one. Six senior league teams, St. Pat’s, Glebe, Nepean, Lisgar, University of Ottawa and Tech, traded touchdowns in that first Parade as North and South. They each appeared twice against different opponents. However, they played only one game, not the seven separate 12 minute skirmishes yesterday. That is, the teams that followed the first pair took over the ball at the point where the previous action ended. In a bit simpler terms, the regulation meant that a team could go into action on defence with the ball on its own one yard line. Imagine a situation like that under today’s unlimited interference, which, incidentally, the schools are using for the season and “are happy that the pros have seen fit to come along” according to convener Lou Labrosse. (Photo at centre above.) Needless to say, even then, the regulation didn’t last. That first Parade, too, had some well known names battling as South scored a convincing 32 8 triumph. South was Nepean, Glebe and St. Pat’s.
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Some Well Known Names Lisgar had Brian Wherret, a teammate of several of the present day Roughriders and Bruce Nordquist, today coaching Glebe Juniors. On the school’s Junior “B” title team under Don Loney the same year was Tim Reid, one of the senior intercollegiate Football League’s top fullbacks with Varsity, and now in Europe on a Rhodes scholarship. University of Ottawa showed Bob Pelletier, now guiding fortunes of the school’s Intermediate League team. Glebe had Pete Zarry, a star with Queen’s, and Rod Miller , the latter still winning headlines at the Britannia Yacht Club and has won the National Capital Regatta with Don Barwash. (Editor’s Note: Vic Peterson, Wendi Lauder and Lynne Mundy worked with Rod Miller a few years later at Elizabeth Park School, C.F.B. Uplands.) There were also former Roughrider and B.C. Lion Ron Baker, then at Tach; and, Bob Black, later at Carleton; St. Pat’s Dick Porter and Dick Cardill, the latter still holding a junior track sprint mark; and, Lisgar’s Wally Lacosta, if memory serves, a good place kicker with Queen’s. Well, so much for the history and now we’re ready for the season at hand. Odds and Ends It’s getting to be almost as difficult keeping track of the coaches as it is the various leagues which get down to serious business next week. Bernie Black is at his third school as is Lisgar’s new athletic director, Joe Leggett. Both started Ottawa High School careers at Tech; Leggett later moving to Laurentian. Of course, the two athletic directors have nothing on Mike Blum who raised more than a few eyebrows when he appeared with Joe Upton’s Laurentian Seniors yesterday. Mike was the most valuable Junior “A” player at Lisgar a couple years back and last year with George Brancato’s St. Pat’s squad. Leggett is one of two new athletic directors, and both, incidentally, popular appointments. The other is Carleton alumnus John King, who took over from Ross Beck at Tech when the latter moved to organize fortunes at Woodroffe. King was convener of the high school and Ottawa Valley rack meets last spring. Turning out in Rocky Robillard’s Fisher Park backfield was a familiar name of a few years back in Jack Morrow. Morrow, one of twins, was a scoring champ at Tech a few years back under Gene Robillard. Talking of Robillards there are no less than four connected with the school grid wars this year. Rocky has defending Senior champion Fisher Park and Gene has the Junior “A” Rideaus playing for the first time next week. Third is Ed who is helping Guy Berthiaume with Eastview Intermediates and the fourth is Matt, helping brother Rocky with the scarlet and white. (Editor’s Note: Hillcrest didn’t enter a team into the Pigskin Parade until Sept. 17, 1963. See Page 8 for a photo of the Hillcrest Hawks in the story on Murray Kuntz.)
Best remembered for being a sports broadcaster with CFRA and CJOH and play by play announcer with the Ottawa Rough Riders, Rock “Rocky” Anthony Robillard, (1922 2008 ) was educated at Lisgar Collegiate and St. Pat’s College and McGill University, where he graduated with a science degree in physical education in 1950. A member of No. 429 Squadron, he served with the army and air force from 1942 to 1945. A gifted athlete and humble recipient of many athletic awards, Rocky also competed on the intermediate track and basketball teams, while at McGill. After stepping down from his coaching duties at McGill, Robillard moved back to his hometown to embark on a teaching and administrative career at the University of Ottawa, St. Patrick’s and Fisher Park schools, Ridgemont and Highland Park high schools. Seen in earlier days (photo at left), Rocky passed away on October 27, 2008, aged 86.
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Be True to Your School (Beach Boys—September 1963) When some loud braggart tries to put me down And says his school is great I tell him right away Now what’s the matter buddy Ain’t you heard of my school It’s number one in the state So be true to your school now Just like you would to your girl or guy Be true to your school now And let your colors fly Be true to your school I got a letterman’s sweater With a letter in front I got for football and track I’m proud to wear it now When I cruise around The other parts of the town I got a decal in back So be true to your school now Just like you would to your girl or guy Be true to your school now And let your colors fly Be true to your school On Friday we’ll be jacked up on the football game And I’ll be ready to fight We’re gonna smash ’em now My girl will be working on her pom poms now And she’ll be yelling tonight So be true to your school now Just like you would to your girl or guy Be True to Your School Be true to your school now And let your colors fly Single by: The Beach Boys Be true to your school From the album: “Little Deuce Coupe” Rah rah rah be true to your school Recorded on: September 2, 1963 Rah rah rah be true to your school Released on: October 14, 1963 Rah rah rah be true to your school Genre: Surf Rock Length: 2:09 Rah rah rah be true to your school Label: Capital Records Writer(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love Producer: Brian Wilson
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A trip down Hillcrest’s Memory Lane... Who are these three students (photo at left) and why are they holding hands? Clue: the year was 1964 and it had something to do with a musical review. These three beautiful young ladies (photo below) had something to do with a special week being held at Hillcrest in 1964. Do you remember their names? Clue: The same kind of week is held annually in Brazil 40 days before Easter but it has a very different dress code.
And seeing that we have posted some photos of our former classmates on the various cheer leading squads between 1961 and 1965, I don’t want to be accused of being sexist, so, ladies, here are five ‘hunks’ of the 1963 Hillcrest eight member wrestling team that went to the Ottawa HS Wrestling Tournament. (Am I allowed to say “hunks”? Is that PC?) Do you remember their names and what category they won in? And everyone knows the name of the guy in the gym suit at right! Eh?
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YEARBOOK STAFF—1963 64
If it were not for the efforts of these 12 hard working students back in 1963 64, you would not be able to read our humble monthly newsletters — the Hillcrest High School Yearbook Staff — 1963 64 Back row: Left to Right, Philip Rossy, Cathie Leard, Linda Polly, Norma Maines, Ron Pierce. Front row: Karla Crane, Virginia Roberts, Wendi Lauder (Editor), Lynne Mundy, Gail Green, and Cathy Syberg. Insert: Barb Beattie. Hats off to these students for making this newsletter possible! ANSWERS TO MEMORY QUIZES! Lost your yearbook? Do you remember...from page 5 Get it on a DVD now! 1. e—Mr. A. Peterson 2. c—Mrs. Connie Ferrigan The Hillcrest 50th Reunion 3. a—Mr. N. Caragata Organizing Committee is finally ready 4. d—Mr. R. Byers to offer some yearbooks on DVD. 5. f—Mr. L. Meloche You can pay through the website 6. b—Mr. R. Samuda (http://www.hillcrestottawa50th.ca), and be sure to fill out the order form as Remember there favourite expressions?... well (on the IMPACT! page) to request from page 7 the issues of IMPACT that you want. Special prices apply to 1. G—Linda Scovill purchases of multiple yearbooks, 2. B—Bonnie Shanks so be sure to select ONLY the package 3. D—Martin van Sickle that you wish to purchase. 4. E—Noreen Spanier As the reunion website has 5. H—Cathy Syberg only one page available for on line 6. C—Hal Bolton purchases, all items are labelled , 7. F—Diane Usher "Ticket", including the yearbooks, 8. A—Diane Young so don't be confused by the label! 20
I’m a survivor—from going to Hillcrest to breast cancer to living with teenagers! By Muriel Catherine Johnston Blaine (Class of 1964) In 1963, I was carrying out a multi year ‘pout’ because my family decided we should live in Ottawa and I was forced to leave my 'rural roots'! (I wasn't a particularly pliable teenager my dad even got me my first job at Woolworth’s in Elmvale Shopping Centre to get me out of my 'pout mode'!) I actually worked very hard as well to prove my ‘pouting’ points by working just hard enough academically to get a pass! Looking back now, I sure would have done many, many things differently. I have never regretted my teaching career. Wendi (Lauder) and I started at the same school in Ramsayville, but she was in another building—in the middle of nowhere! A few years later, I moved to Blossom Park Public School, then on to C.F.B Rockcliffe. I got married in 1972 and became mother to a six year old stepson. We lived in Toronto for a period of time then I got a teaching position just outside of Lindsay. (A very large school but back to my 'rural roots'!) Our family grew by one more son and one daughter. Sadly, in 2002, my daughter and I looked after my husband as he was diagnosed with lung cancer and died that summer. The following year I was diagnosed with cancer, but I'm now a seven year survivor and going strong! I did retire from teaching in 2003...after spending about 15 years in Grades 7 and 8...loved every minute of it! Two of my three children are here in Lindsay, and my stepson and his family are in Florida. I have four grandchildren, three are teenagers...hmmm...but teenagers do become 'people' eventually!! My sister (also a BC survivor in NS) talked me into dragon boating with a local breast cancer survivor group ( www.thedragonflies.org ) ...I love it but with one hiccup...I don't swim, so my PFD is glued to me! I also have taken up golf...using the term loosely but I do enjoy it. (See photo at bottom left of Muriel and two ’Dragonflies’ friends putting up a poster.) We have a very active Boys and Girls Club here in the City of Kawartha Lakes (another name for Lindsay and the rest of the county) and I have the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors. Bottom line...life is good for me and I sure hope it is for you. A cancer diagnosis does take time to work through and complete the treatment...and there are actually days you don't even think of the BIG 'C'! I have put the reunion dates on my calendar now my next mission is to dig out my Hillcrest yearbook...it has travelled many miles but I think I still have it! JOHNSTON, MURIEL CATHERINE "Muriel" Quote: "A zest for living A talent for friendship.” Aim: Teacher. Destination: Card shark. Pet Peeve: Sitting at the back of Trig. class.
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From Hillcrest to “ The Staccatos ” to the Better known as the “ Five Man Electrical Band ”, the group originally started in 1963, in Ottawa, and were known as “ The Staccatos ”. The original line up featured singer/disc jockey Dean Hagopian, (vocals; 1963 64), Rick 'Bell' Belanger (drums), Les Emmerson (vocals, guitar), Vern Craig (guitar; 1963 68), Mike 'Bell' Belanger (2nd drums; 1968 73), Ted Gerow (keyboards; 1968 73) and two Hillcrest High School students—Brian Rading (bass; 1963 73) and Peter Fallis (1963 65), who had become so involved with the then fledgling group that they put their education aside— temporarily for Peter who was by then in Grade 13 but not so for Brian, then in Grade 12. Breaking into the North American music business is an arduous task at any time—even in the smaller Canadian market. Their first single was “ Small Town Girl ” that got picked up by Capitol Records followed by “ Moved to California ” in 1965 and “ Let’s Run Away ” in 1966 along with “It’s A Long Way Home ” and “ C’Mon Everybody ” that same year. The group had to work hard to get a fan base, a contract with Capitol Records, carry out promotional activities and, most importantly, do live work—the main source of a beginning band’s income. They ended up doing some radio jingles for Coca Cola and shared half an LP, called “ A Wild Pair’ ” with another up and coming group, “ The Guess Who ”. Gigs in Toronto’s Yorkville Village increased after the release of “ Half Past The members of “The Staccatos”, in 1964—Vern Craig, Rick Belanger, Brian Rading and Peter Fallis— with Brian and Peter still students at Hillcrest when their band began is journey to becoming one of Canada’s best known groups. Midnight ” in 1967, which became a national hit and won the group a JUNO award for the Best Produced Single. One highlight later that year was playing for Her Majesty the Queen at a special ‘ Canada Day’ event in Ottawa, with the group wearing green trousers and black sports coats from Delfino’s on Bank Street. While it was a lot of fun on top of the hard work, Peter left the group and went back to school. Brian, on the other hand, stayed with the band under both names until 1973. (Continued on page 23.) 22
“Five Man Electrical Band ” and beyond! (Continued from page 22.) The Canadian market was limited and the group tried to break into the larger market south of the border in late 1969. Extradition was hanging over their heads as US laws were hard on letting foreigners into the country seeking work. Even their contract with Columbia records wasn’t enough and the group, still known as “ The Staccatos ”, retreated to Ottawa “without a record deal and a very cloudy future”, according to the FMEB website. The group was seen as being too ‘Beach Boy’ sounding and their records did not sell as well as expected. But tight harmony, incorporating current hit songs into their repertoire, and virtually ‘living on the road’ got them back to Los Angeles, albeit with a new name—”Five Man Electrical Band ”. A new manager, a new label and a cut that got featured in a film starring Alan Alda put them on a road to success albeit a road that was going to be short. Singles such as “ Hello Melinda, Goodbye ” and “ Signs ” failed to get them higher in the charts and it was back to Ottawa again; however, a persistent manager, another new label and the release of “ Goodbye and Butterflies ” in May 1971 with its controversial cover art, was still not enough to get them where they wanted to go. Hillcrest’s Brian Rading — a key member of “The Staccatos” and DISCOGRAPHY “Five Man Electrical Band”. Studio albums 1966 — Initially (as The Staccatos) Brian recalls bringing a case of beer 1967 — A Wild Pair (Split album: back to the band to begin the grieving one side by The Guess Who; the other by The Staccatos) process in their wind down only to find that 1969 — Five Man Electrical Band “Signs ” had started to climb in the charts, 1970 — Good-byes and Butterflies 1972 — Coming of Age selling more than two million copies world 1972 — Sweet Paradise wide. The next two years would be their 1975 — The Power of the Five Man Electrical Band heyday as Brian reflected on their hard 1995 — Absolutely Right: The Best of Five Man Electrical Band climb to success: “The band was very 2008 — Half Past Midnight: The Staccatos and Beyond tough. We had been a bar band—a five 2009 — The Staccatos—Five Man Electrical Band: First Sparks 2010 — Good-byes and Butterflies (Pacemaker CD Release) nights a week band. That’s where we came from. We had no choice but to be Singles strong. We lived hard and we played 1965 — "Small Town Girl", "Move to California" hard.” 1966 — "Let's Run Away", "It's a Long Way Home", And that took its toll as the group "C'Mon Everybody" lost Brian and Mike and would fold by 1967 — "Half Past Midnight" 1968 — "Didn't Know The Time", 1975. "It Never Rains On Maple Lane/Private Train" In 1986, they reformed for a one off 1969 — "Moonshine (Friend of Mine)" benefit concert that has led to an annual 1970 — "Hello Melinda, Goodbye" Eastern Canada tour and the release of a 1971 — "Signs", "Absolutely Right" CD in 1995. Brian now lives in Gatineau 1972 — "The Devil and Miss Lucy", "Money Back Guarantee”, "I'm a Stranger Here" and Peter will share some of the events of 1974 — "Werewolf" his post Hillcrest years with us in an upcoming edition of the newsletter.
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The Boys of 11B—before there were any girls!
September 1961—The boys of Edmund Benoit’s 11B—before ten girls from 11A were transferred in — and what an extremely handsome bunch of young men if ever there was one! Back row, left to right: Ray Jewers, Wayne Kay, Bryan Gilbart, Peter Fallis, David Bennett, Tim Murphy, Bob Thiessen, Andy Graham and Keith Olson. Middle row: Edmund Benoit, Roy Irons, Roy Shaver, Greg Dehart, Stewart Spence, Graham MacDonell, Grant Jones, Don Easterbrook, Mike MacDonell and Vic Peterson. Front row: Stephen Rhoda, Bruce Fraser, Hal Bolton, Curtis Martin, David Cameron, Andy Armstrong, Terry Steeves, Alistair “Alec” Deighton and Jean L’Heureux. Testing your memory on the boys of 11B Can you remember who had these nicknames: “Grannie”, “Moose”, “Happy”, “Friar”? Who became a head boy as well as a founding member of the rock band “The Staccatos”? Who was Patricia Irwin’s first boyfriend? Good buddy? Which guy had access to his dad’s 61 Buick? Which two guys were twin brothers? Where does one of them live now? (Hint: He wears a kilt!) Who became an actor and had a bit role in a James Bond movie as well as in “ A Bridge Too Far ”? Which other two guys from 11B became head boys? Who were the head girls for the same years? Who participated on the Ontario—Quebec Exchange Student Visits for two weeks in July, 1962? At least four became teachers...which four? Who also taught with Wendi Lauder and Lynne Mundy? Who became an accountant and has a practice in Calgary, Alberta, and was Mickie Cox’s boyfriend. When Hillcrest had the auditorium built it became the second home to a techie guy. Who? Whose yearbook entry said he would have a career in the Royal Canadian Army? And did! Which student was an American who finished high school at a US base near Paris, France? Who was a wrestler in 11B and part of a team to win the first award for Hillcrest in wrestling?
The 50th Reunion Newsletter is produced for Hillcrest High School Graduates from the first years—1961 65; however, we welcome articles from graduates of any year. Please send them to: [email protected] Editor: Graham Evan MacDonell Editorial Assistance: Lynne Mundy Bowes Student, 1961 62 Class of 1964
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