AlumniAlumni BBeaconeacon Bennett High School SUMMER 2009 Vol. 12/ISSUE No. 1 Bennett High School • 2885 Main Street • Buffalo, New York 14214 • (716) 816-4250 • www.bennettalumni.com From Our Principal President’s Message elieve it or not, the 2008-2009 ven with the economic downturn, the BennettAlumni Association Bschool year is over! The pastEremains strong and contributions continue. Our alumni remain few months have been filled with wonderfully supportive of theAssociation and of the School; we thank many positives for the staff and students of Ben- you. nett High. Here Here are a few examples of the use th eof funds contributed: are a few high- • Partial support for a trip of twenty students with facultythe toinau- lights: guration of the firstAfrican-American President. Despite a bitter cold Thanks to the day in Washington, the students will neverforget the continued sup- experience. Some cried.(See the article and photo on port of the Ben- page 7.) nett Alumni As- • Future purchase of a projector for the auditorium sociation Class Mrs. Ramona which will make possible the projection of photos and of 1956, our sci- Reynolds other images at assemblies and various ceremonies. ence labs con- tinue to be furnished with needed • Continuation of the landscaping projectnow in lab supplies as well as lab extras. phase two of a three year project. Bennett students are In an effort to help some of our stu- participating in the planting and usethe trees sa part of dents fulfill our school’s mission, Dr. Len Katz their science curriculum. If you live in Buffalo or if you “Higher education is not just an President visit Buffalo I suggest you drive by the School. option; it is an expectation”, theAs- • Funding for outings in the region as parthe of t sociation provided monetary assis- mentoring program.(See articles pages 6, 7 and 13.) tance which has allowed 25juniors This year we will not be sending out a special membership mail- to participate in a SAT prep course. ing. The cost of the separate mailing is high and we hathope all t of our This six week course provided test- current dues-paying members (and hopefully many others who haven’t taking strategies that will surely help our students do better on thetaken the opportunity to join as of yet)will use the back page of this SAT. Alumni Beacon to submit their contributions! Through monies provided to our This message carries a sad note withor it mef – this will be mylast mentoring program, students of allcolumn. After five extraordinary years as president of the Bennett three communities took part in aAlumni Association it is time to step down.A new president will be variety of academic, social and cul-elected at the annualbrunch, Sunday, October 4 at noon at theestwood W tural field trips this year, includ- Country Club – please attend.Another group of deserving alumniill w ing honor/merit roll luncheons andbe inducted into the BennettAlumni Honor Roll at that time. award ceremonies; a trip to a Buf- It has been a privilege to serve with dedicated board members who falo Bison’s baseball game; visits ...see principal’s message think clearly about our role in helping Bennett High Schooland the Continued on page 2 students of our alma mater. I am grateful for the opportunity. Bennett Alumni Beacon ...principal’s message the senior class trip to ashing-W Summer 2009 Vol. 12/Issue 1 Continued from page 1 ton D.C. where a few dozen stu- dents had a once-in-a-life-time op- 2008 - 2009 Officers to various local colleges, includingportunity to view the inauguration BAA President UB, Buffalo State, Medaille Collegeof our country’s first African- Dr. Leonard Katz, '53 and Bryant and Stratton. Our stu-American President. While the dents also enjoyed themselves atweather proved colder than ex- Vice Presidents Irene McLeish Green, '57 the planetarium and ice skating. pected for a January day in our Tom Cechini, '56 A group of 25 young men, accom- nation’s Capital, our tudents’s panied by five male teachers,got a hearts warmed in knowing that Treasurer reality check when they visited years from now, they’ll be ableo t Rosalie Brothman Rosenband, '55 Attica State Prison. The studentstell their children and grandchil- Recording Secretary took part in a modified version ofdren that they took part thisin Deby Fox-Hahn, '60 the former “Scared Straight” pro-historic event. gram. Our students heard directly Bennett Alumni Association Corresponding Secretary from the prison inmates regarding Carol Newman Caserta, '60 members should know that ith-w the wrong choices that the inmatesout their generous spirits, theip tr Past Presidents had made that have now resultedto D.C., as well as many other en- Wayne Reilly, '47 in years of life behind bars. Theriching experiences in which our Phillip Brothman, '56 students were strongly encouraged students have taken part, would BHS Principal to pursue their education nda to never have been possible. Thank Ramona Thomas-Reynolds, Fac. steer clear of any decisions thatyou for all that you have done and may lead to a lifetime of regret. continue to do! Directors One of this ear’sy highlights was Roberta Allbert Dayer, '53 Linda Barker Moore, '68 Pamela D. Cahil, '76 Joe Cardina '39 Congratulations to Mrs. Alicia Granto-Esteñoz Donald Cloudsley, '42 by Marsha Jadd, '58 Jennie DePerro Brummer, Faculty Adam Dzimian, Faculty ennett is honored that one of our best teachers has been recog- Lois Edwards Johnson, '60 nized by Everywoman Opportunity Center. This community or- Mary Evanco Caryk, '76 ganization “helps women achieve personal and economic self- Paul Guenther, '42 B Julie Horn, Faculty sufficiency”. For the past twenty-five years it has annually honored Philip Hubbell, '56 two or three outstanding women who havechieved a great success in Marsha Jadd, '58 the Western New York area and have shown exceptional commitment Neil Lange, Faculty to helping others. Larry Levin, '57 Liz Mattis Freedman, '53 We share the enthusiasm that Everywoman OpportunityCenter has Florence Rembold, '47 shown in honoring Mrs. Granto who hashown s exceptional commit- Margaret Russ Guenther, '42 ment to the students at Bennett. Not onlyis she an excellent Spanish Natalie Shupe Abramson, '57 teacher but a caring and concerned human being. She is highlyre- Bert Stevenson, '86, Faculty spected by her students Antoine Thompson, '88 and her fellow teachers Mission Statement for her diligence, posi- We believe in the power of education to tive attitude and the ef- transform lives and society. To that end, fort she gives to Bennett as graduates of Bennett High School, we are committed to promoting equity and on a daily basis. social justice through service and Thank you, Mrs.Ali- reaching out to students and faculty at cia Granto-Esteñoz, for our Alma Mater. We recognize the value all you are and all you of our support in assisting them in reaching their educational goals. The do. As for your well-de- Bennett High School Alumni served Award of Excel- Association’s contribution will be lence—we second the substantive and creative in order to motion. achieve those goals. 2 BENNETT ALUMNI BEACON Alumni Honor Roll 2009 Nomination Form please use this form to make your nomination Categories for New Categories (Fields of endeavor) 2009 Honor Roll Technology Diplomatic Service/International by Dr. Len Katz, '53 Philanthropy Animal Care he categories forthe 2009 T Alumni Honor Roll include Repeat Categories (Fields of endeavor) both new and repeat categories. Higher Education Community Service Please consider honoring living graduates and submit their names Business Volunteerism on the form. This year we willrec- ognize Alumni in the new catego- Nominee Class of ries of Technology, Philanthropy, Address Diplomatic Service/ International, and Animal Care. We will also re- City State ZIP peat Higher Education, Commu- Phone E-mail nity Service, Business and Volunteerism. Briefly describe the accomplishments of this graduate in the field of endeavor. We are including the following list for your use. These peopleave h already been inducted. Higher Education: Jack C.Anthony, '48 Howard G. Baetzhold, '40 Marilyn Bass Buxbaum, '54 Stuart L. Fischman, DMD, '54 Sr. Maryanne Ferguson, '49 Marvin Goetz, '53 Leonard Katz, MD, '53 Linda Moore, '68 John W. Scherer, '48 Gary Toffolo, PhD, '54 Msgr. John Zeitler, '50 Community Service: Donald Cloudsley, '42 Roberta AllbertDayer, '53 Maxwell E. Ellis, '46 Scott W. Gehl, '70 Pastor Kim L. Moses, '76 Sally Nichols Porter, '48 Name and address of person submitting nomination: Business: C. Stuart Hunt, '41 Name Class of Anne O. Krueger, '50 Gerald C. Meyers, '46 Address Wayne Reilly, '47 City State ZIP Peter Tillou, '53 Volunteerism: Phone E-mail Jack C.Anthony, '48 Al Brown, '66 Please feel free to duplicate this form and send in as many nominations Don Cloudsley, '42 as necessary. We would like to be able to recognize all those Bennett Deby Fox-Hahn, '60 Alumni who have done so much for our community. Please submit your Mercedes Hankerson, '67 nominations before July 30, 2009! Jayne Hubbell, '57 Jane Hunt, '42 Return this form to: Bennett High School Alumni Honor Roll Irene Greene, '57 2885 Main Street Linda Moore, '68 Buffalo, New York 14214 Joseph Richardson, '56 Attn: Dr. Leonard Katz William Sidel, '68 BENNETT ALUMNI BEACON 3 Class Notes... Bill Castle,1949, traced his seven Class Notes... The 1930s month treatment for lymphoma in My Journey Thru “L”. The book The 1960s Ruth Brendel Noller, 1939, died has recently been published by his June 3, 2008 in Sarasota, FL. af-wife, Sue Watkin Castle, 1949, Dr. Salvatore J. Illuzzi, 1964, ter a distinguished career of morewho writes that Bill hoped it wouldwas honored by the New JerseyAs- than 50 years as an educator, re- be helpful to “others on the samesociation for Gifted hildrenC Ex- searcher, author and lecturer.