Photo by Mary Anne Zak
Pictured at Captain Jimmy’s in Agawam celebrating their 73rd reunion are seven members of the SHS Class of ‘43. Seated, from the left: Florence Putkowski Christian, Marguerite Kupernik O’Brien, Mary Kozikowski Labun, Joe Phillips. Standing: Charles Colson, Gert Israel Hastings, Muriel Whalen Deck.
The first class to have spent four entire years in the first Suffield High School building of 1939 celebrated its 73rd reunion on October 15. Co-chairs Gert Hastings and Marguerite O’Brien organized the gathering with the help of Gert’s daughter-in-law Jayne Hastings and Michelle Leahey, daughter of the late Sheila Leahey, class secretary.
Also attending the gathering at Captain Jimmy’s in Agawam that Saturday were Charles Colson, Florence Putkowski Christian, Joe Phillips, Mary Kozikowski Labun and Muriel Whalen Deck. A social hour was enjoyed at 12:30 p.m. with lunch at 1 p.m.
Suffield High School was built in 1939 after a long and controversial process which debated whether it was needed or not. One town meeting approved it and a later one rescinded the vote to approve. Years later an addition provided room for junior high school classes. In ensuing years, High School #2 was built, later becoming a middle school when High School #3 opened on Sheldon Street.
The Reunion Class of ’43 had much reminiscing to do. Sixty-two members would have graduated in 1943, but a tragic accident claimed Robert Brome a short time before graduation. In their faithful yearly tradition, members honored the memory of classmates no longer with them.