321 List Avenue • Rochester, New York 14617 • (585) 336-3067 • www.westirondequoit.org July 2009 Newsletter Message from the President I want to welcome the Class of 2009 into the West Irondequoit Alumni Association. Our numbers keep grow - ing, yet we remain close to one another. West Irondequoit has always been a place to come home to, and our home has seen many changes throughout the past several years. We are now in the final phases of major renovations at IHS. The new pool and improved tennis courts should be ready for student use this coming school year. In the district’s tradition of excellence, our students took a record 850 Advanced Placement exams this spring. Historically, 75-79% of those students have consistently attained scores The new main entrance of IHS welcomes you home. qualifying them for college credit. Alumni are welcome to visit IHS to see the wonderful improvements INSIDE being made. We have over 10,000 alumni still living in the Rochester New Construction Makes a Splash at IHS! ............ 2 Generations of Excellence ....................................... 3 area. Many alumni have moved back to West Irondequoit, as parents know Memory of Gordon Allen Honored .......................... 4 the value of a good education. We should all be proud of our alma mater. Women’s Alumni Lacrosse ....................................... 4 Class of 1943 ............................................................. 5 A common theme among the Generations of Excellence Scholarship appli - Class of 1945 ............................................................. 5 cants is the pride our senior class members feel in having attended the Reunion Details by Class ......................................... 5 Class of 1958 ............................................................. 6 same school their parents did. We are delighted that so many parents and Class of 1967 ............................................................. 6 children have been able to share the same fond high school memories. Class of 1977 ............................................................. 7 Alumni Spotlight: Class of 1981 Nila Webster ....... 7 My Life in Iraq .......................................................... 8 The West Irondequoit Alumni Association values the input of its gradu - Good News ................................................................ 9 ates, and we are always open to your ideas for the alumni newsletter. Tales from a Small Town ....................................... 10 Memories on Tape .................................................. 10 Please visit us at www.westirondequoit.org/ alumni/htm to share your Alumni Reps ........................................................... 11 thoughts and ideas. Golf Tournament .................................................... 11 Alumni News ..................................................... 12-14 Old Yearbooks Wanted ........................................... 13 Leslie Knapp Ferriter Alumni Passings ..................................................... 14 Class of 1977 Bricks 2008-2009 .................................................... 15 New Construction Makes a Splash at IHS! In May 2007 West Irondequoit residents approved the construction of a new swimming pool at IHS. The original pool was added to the building in 1958 and while it had served the community well for 50 years, it was showing its age. Mechanical failures were frequent and the pool was too small to meet today’s needs. The new pool is being constructed in the same location with additional area obtained by moving the east wall out 24 feet. The pool will have eight lanes, replacing the previous five and the new pool will be 14 feet deep at one end rather than the original 11 feet. You can follow our progress at www.westirondequoit.org/capital_project _updates.htm . Construction began in June 2008 and Show your IHS pride and purchase a will be complete in September 2009. Although we have had no swimming West Irondequoit facility on site this past year, all of our West Irondequoit swimming programs have continued at neighboring pools. Please visit WWiinnddooww CClliinngg www.westirondequoit.org for details of the pool opening toward the end of sum - mer. We’d love to hear your memories of the original pool or of school sponsored swimming activities prior to its con - struction – yes there was a swim team before there was a pool! Send the alum - ni office a note at alumni_ [email protected]. I Clings will be mailed to: Name __________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________ The West Irondequoit Foundation offers free City, State, Zip __________________________________________ tours of IHS to class Phone #___________________________ reunion groups. Checks should be payable to: Come and explore the West Irondequoit Alumni Association Irondequoit High School Total # of clings ___________ x $2.50 = $___________ of 2009! Contact the Please return this order form to: Office of Public West Irondequoit Alumni Association Information to arrange a 321 List Avenue tour at 585-336-3067. Rochester, NY 14617 2 Generations of Excellence – Years of Tradition Each year, a new class of graduates joins our for the past four years. I am proud to attend Alumni Association. Many of those gradu - the same school as my family did.” Danielle ates are following in the footsteps of parents will attend SUNY Fredonia this fall. and grandparents who are also alumni of Irondequoit High School. In 2004, the West Jackson was preceded at IHS by his dad Irondequoit Alumni Association began to David Frenzel ’72, his grandmother Joan Danielle showcase this tradition of excellence by Record Frenzel ’47 and his aunt Mary Crary awarding the first Generations of Excellence Frenzel ’85. Jackson wrote, “I have enjoyed scholarships. being part of a long line of Irondequoit High School graduates. I worked at the same To be eligible for this award, graduating sen - radio station that my father and cousin Mike iors must have a parent, or grandparent who did years before and had some of the same is a graduate of Irondequoit High School. teachers that taught my Aunt Mary. I feel They must be a good student who worked proud of the education that my family and I hard in school, they must have attended IHS have received at Irondequoit. ” Jackson is for four years and they must be planning to headed to the University at Buffalo. attend a two or four year college or a voca - tional school. Applicants must write an essay Michael’s mom Elyse Rothstein Keeley ’74 telling of their experience belonging to a and his uncle David Rothstein ’78 paved the Jackson Frenzel family that has had two or more generations way for him. Michael wrote, “Having rela - of students in West Irondequoit Schools and tives as IHS alumni is interesting because I must provide two letters of recommendation. mention names of teachers that my mother On June 2, Steve Arter Englert ’57 presented and uncle remember from when they attend - the seventh set of scholarships to our ed Irondequoit High. It is interesting to newest graduates. Danielle Crary, Jackson think that even though we attended high Frenzel and Michael Keeley each received a school at such different times, many things check for $100 and an engraved clock. never change. ” Michael will attend SUNY Oswego in September to study Broadcast Danielle followed in the footsteps of her dad and Mass Communications. “My dream job William Crary ’77 and her mom Michelle would be to be a play by play sports broadcaster.” Crevier Crary ’80. In her essay Danielle wrote, “My father and his four sisters and Do you have a child or grandchild soon to Michael my mother and her two brothers and sister graduate from IHS? Encourage them to apply Keeley all attended Irondequoit High School. It was for the generations of Excellence important for me to graduate from the same Scholarship. Applications are available from school as my relatives for the simple fact the Alumni Office at 585-336-3067 or online that there were memories and traditions at www.westirondequoit.org/alumni.htm . I created within the walls that I have walked ¡ Clip and File Don’t forget to update personal information on the IHS Alumni database so you receive the alumni newsletter and other WICSD alumni mailings! Call 585-336-3067. 3 Memory of Gordon Allen Honored at Rededication On May 9, the stadium at IHS was rededicat - of the concession stand, facing the field. ed to Gordon Allen. Coach Allen’s daughter- This lasting tribute reads: in-law Sue, his son Dick, granddaughter Unselfish dedication to the welfare of others Jessica and great grandson Andrew were on is an attribute to be coveted. It is a height of hand for the ceremony which was led by accomplishment known only to a few, to men Athletic Director David Green ‘75. like Gordon Allen. Through the channel of Gordon Allen coached and taught in West Physical Education, Mr. Allen trained both Left to right: Athletic Director Dave Green ’75, Irondequoit from 1942 to 1972, and served bodies and minds; he always sought the high - Jessica, Andrew, Sue and Dick Allen and the newly as Athletic Director. The 1963 er goals of good sportsmanship, effective installed plaque honoring Gordon Allen. Neodaondaquat was dedicated to him. He leadership and strong character. His friendly was a mentor to many, a role model for all smile and genuine personality will be treas - Check out the athletic stadium during and a true gentleman. ured by those who knew him, his