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St. Columba's-St. Joseph's Class of '61
Paul Swere is keeping a date with his classmates from St. Columba's-St. Joseph's High School on Saturday, Oct. 22. A fall homecoming will be held at Mohawk Country Club on Union Street, and stories from 50 years ago will be on the menu. Swere, Eleanor-Ann Loughney Olbrich and Mary Kelly Connelly are among those who will be serving them. The 1961 graduating class was the first after students from the closed St. Joseph's Academy were absorbed by St. Columba's. Posted on September 5, 2011.
Eleanor-Ann Loughney, left, and Ellen Segel get their kicks as cheerleaders.
The St. Columba’s-St. Joseph’s cheerleading squad posed with pep in 1961. Kneeling in the front row, from left, are Mary Kelly, Dorothy Maher, Mary Jean Palumbo, Pauline Doolin, Margaret Antkowiak and Jo Ann Mackey. Standing in the back row are Joan Glenn, Karen Walthers, Mary Michael Coomes, Sue Stevens, Eleanor-Ann Loughney and Ellen Segel. All the girls were seniors.
The altar boy crew from St. Columba’s-St. Joseph’s strikes a pious pose. Standing along the railing, top to bottom, are Robert Miller, Paul Swere, Larry Corrigan, Ken Conlon, John Lemmerman, Mike McCullough and David Marhafer. Standing next to the wall, top to bottom, are Frank Ginac, Bill Drumm, David Eddy, Bill Wright, Dennis McCutcheon, Tom DiDonna, Vincent Rinaldi and Dan Marcella. All were seniors in 1961.
Bill Drumm (20) of St. Columba’s-St. Joseph High School battles for the basketball with a teammate and four players from St. Mary’s of Hudson. The game was held at Notre Dame High School.
Rev. Bill Esmond, assistant pastor at St. Columba’s Church in 1961, talks to Anthony Tomkowski and Marsha Piccolo during the St. Columba’s-St. Joseph’s Senior Ball.
Cecelia Freund, left, from St. Columba’s and Mary Michael Coomes of the former St. Joseph’s study in the library at the combined school.
Mary Kelly's 1961 yearbook photo.
Mary Kelly Connelly, Class of '61 at St. Columba's-St. Joseph's High School, was photographed last month. Looking back, Connelly says: "I loved every minute of it. I met my husband, Dan, there; we were in the same class."
Eleanor-Ann Loughney 1961 school yearbook photo.
Eleanor-Ann Loughney Olbrich, Class of '61 at St. Columba's-St. Joseph's High School, was photographed in August. Looking back on the merging of schools, Olbrich says, "The staff tried hard to make sure, when seated, it was St. Columba's, St. Joseph's, St. Columba's, St. Joseph's."
Paul Swere's 1961 yearbook photo.
Paul Swere's 1961 yearbook photo.
