86^th Annual Weedsport Alumni Association Banquet

Weedsport, NY

June 20. 2009

Two hundred and forty Weedsport Alumni, guests, and graduating students gathered at 6:30 PM in the Weedsport Central High School cafeteria on June 20, 2009 for our 86^th Annual Alumni Banquet.

Prior to seating, Mr. Shaun O’Connor, School Superintendent, conducted the Class of 1959, which is celebrating its fiftieth year since graduation, on a tour of the building.

President Joseph Moody, Class of 1960, greeted all in attendance and after the invocation by Gerald DeMoors, ‘59, introduced the head table: Shaun O’Connor, Superintendent, and his wife, Sheila, Board Member MaryKae Brentlinger and her husband, Todd, Board Members Bob Scarborough and Debbie Schwarting, Brett Fingland, High School Principal, Vice President Jenny Fritsch, guest Tonya Case Martinez, and Secretary Penney Schoonmaker Cosentino.

Mr. Moody then directed attention to the kitchen and introduced Amy Fults Chirco, our Treasurer/Historian, and her husband, School Board Member Norman Chirco, who stood ready with others of Weedsport’s First Baptist Church to begin serving our dinners. In addition, at least a half-dozen more of the servers were Weedsport alumni. Thanks.

As the delicious roast beef dinner was being served family style, President Moody asked the alumni to read copies of the Treasurer’s Report and the 2008’s Annual Alumni Banquet Minutes that were provided on each table. Following dinner Charles Kreplin made the motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report, with David Kinney seconding. Beverly Saroodis Clark made the motion to accept the Minutes, with Connie Goodrich Bolton seconding. Both were approved.

Penney Cosentino, Secretary, conducted the Roll Call of Classes while attendees enjoyed dessert. They are as follows:

1934 – 1 (75^th)     1952 – 1            1962 – 2               1976 - 1                1990 – 1

1938 – 2               1953 -  5            1964 – 1 (45^th)     1977 – 1               1991 – 3

1939 – 1 (70^th)     1954 – 8 (55^th)   1965 – 2               1978 – 7               1993 – 1

1940 – 1               1955 – 2             1967 – 1               1979 – 1 (30^th)     1997 – 1

1945 – 1               1956 – 5             1968 – 2               1980 – 2               1998 – 1

1946 – 1               1957 – 12           1970 – 4               1981 - 3                1999 – 2 (10^th)

1947 – 1               1958 – 1             1971 – 3               1982 – 1                2003 – 1

1948 – 1               1959 – 22 (50^th) 1973 – 4               1983 – 1                2006 – 1

1949 – 8 (60^th)     1960 – 5             1974 – 1 (35^th)     1984 – 1 (25^th)       2007 – 2

1951 – 1               1961 – 3             1975 – 1               1989 – 1 (20^th)      2008 – 1

There were 50 members of the Class of 2009 attending as our guests (one of the best turnouts of graduating seniors in recent years)

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The alumnus celebrating his 75^th year since graduating was David Coyle, who is also one of 2009 Graduates of Distinction being honored this evening.

Two alumni were in attendance from Alaska, two from Texas, one from Arkansas, at least one from FloridaCalifornia, as well as our Foreign Exchange student from Germany who was able to remain in Weedsport until graduation exercises. and several from

All veterans and those patriots presently serving were recognized. There were a total of eleven veterans present at the Banquet.

Of families with multiple generations present (most of whom also had graduates in the Class of 2009) there were 29 two-generational families, 9 families with 3 generations present, the families of Streeters and O’Neils had 4 generations present and the O’Neil and Schoonmaker families each had a 5^th generation descendant as a Weedsport graduate this year.

Familiar names were again on our “Most Consecutive Attendees” list this year. Raymond Weller has attended 54 consecutive years, Bunny Moody Vella – 51 years, Charlie Kreplin – 50 years, Joe Moody – 48 years, Dale Thompson – 46 years, Wayne Thompson – 40 years. It wouldn’t be the same without them!

We then adjourned to the air conditioned Auditorium for remarks from Weedsport Central School’s Administration, recognitions and awards.

President Moody introduced Mr.Brett Fingland who briefly reviewed his first year as Weedsport’s High School Principal, after which Shara Brentlinger, President of the Class of 2009, presented the Alumni Association with a copy of the 2009 Yearbook to be kept on file at the Old Brutus Historical Society Museum for reference and research

Ray Alger, dressed in his signature “patriotic” garb, representing the Class of ’59, made a few entertaining remarks about his class and life as he sees it.

Next came the video presentation we all looked forward to. “A TRIBUTE TO 1959/2009”, by Theresa Leonardi’s Video and Text Class, brought tears as well as laughter by the multi-generational audience. These videos, set to appropriate music, prepared each year by Miss Leonardi’s classes are genuine treasures, and hopefully are preserved for future reunions.

Mr. Shaun O’Connor, Superintendent of Weedsport Schools, then addressed the assemblage on the “State of the Schools.”  Weedsport continues to rank in the top of all county academics, and is considered an outstanding small school in New York State.

Among elective competitions, one of our Odyssey of the Mind teams placed 11^th in the World Competition this spring, and the Math teams, and Envirothon Teams continue to make excellent showings in county wide competitions.

Our sports programs continued to excel with some very skilled performances. (See WCS’s web page for more specifics.) One graduating athlete must be mentioned: Zach Nevidomsky became NY State Champion in the Long Jump just weeks ago.

Mr. O’Connor mentioned a couple of other State Championships claimed for Weedsport: notably by Mike Guzewitz who, in 1973, won New York State’s overall top honor in Diving, and the Football team that earned the NYS Class D Championship in 2004.

The 2009 inductees into Weedsport’s Sports Hall of Fame were Sandi Donahue and Gary Griffin (honorary), and the next nominees for the Performing Arts Hall of Fame (to be inducted in October 2009), are brothers James Yurko, Class of 1986, and Patrick Yurko, Class of 1987, and, posthumously, Florence Kempton of the Class of 1909.

Mr. O’Connor next explained the Graduates of Distinction Awards, determined by a nomination process and sponsored by the Administration and Board of Education of Weedsport Central Schools. He introduced this year’s first honoree, Mr. David Coyle, Class of 1934.

Mr. Coyle has dedicated his entire life to the village of Weedsport, the Town of Brutus and our country: its past, present and the future. He volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army forces immediately after Pearl Harbor and served from 1941 until 1945, then returned home to the family bakery. He became Village Mayor and served for 18 years, and then Town of Brutus Supervisor for 17 years, becoming a leader in community improvements (i.e.: municipal water lines, drainage, sewer plant, buildings, renovations, etc.). He was a member of the Weedsport Fire Department for 19 years, and is still a valuable and active member of the Old Brutus Historical Society, as well as a lifetime member of the Clark-Heck American Legion Post. His leadership and selfless public service has been priceless in the development of our healthy community and its heritage.

Mr. O’Connor then briefly outlined the accomplishments and outstanding patriotism of the second graduate to be honored: Edward J. Gleason, Class of 1973. Even though he grew up here in a farming family, after he earned his B.S. and M.B.A., in Albany and N.Y. University, respectfully, he found his special place in the U.S. Coast Guard as a commissioned officer – serving from 1978 to 1999 – in the Artic and Great Lakes. He was instrumental in passage of the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 in aid of families of air crash victims. He became the Commander of Coast Guard Group Milwaukee, overseeing more than 4000 search and rescue cases, facilitated the flow of commerce, and executed law enforcement operations to stem illicit activity.

After he retired from active duty in the Coast Guard, he was appointed Director of Wisconsin Emergency Management, and after September 11, 2001, he served as Wisconsin’s first Homeland Security Advisor. He has since continued to work with the Department of Homeland Security as advisor in protecting our nation’s critical infrastructure.

While guarding our country’s security, he still finds time to be a husband and father, to coach youth soccer and participate in other community activities where he chooses to live because, he says, it reminds him in many ways of his old hometown of Weedsport.

At the conclusion of his quiet talk, much of it addressed to the front rows of graduating seniors, they stood up in enthusiastic applause as Mr. Gleason came down from the podium and crossed in front of them. Ed Gleason sets a high standard to live up to, and our kids obviously respect that.

Vice President Jenny Fritsch announced the presentation of the Alumni Scholarship Awards as chosen by the school’s scholarship committee of teachers.

Before announcing the students’ names, Jenny asked if any previous scholarship recipients were in attendance. Besides herself (’97), Matt O’Neil (’08), Sarah Lewis (’07) and Ed Gleason (’73) stood up. Scholarship awards for 2009 of $300 each go to: Nicholas Silcox, Amy Lewis, Christopher Montross, Jason Ryan, Allison Roosa, and the $500 Frances Hoffman Sine Scholarship goes to Craig Meitz. All students must complete their first semester in an institution of higher learning in good standing and be enrolled in a second semester to receive their awards.

Business pertaining to Alumni Association Officers: Joe Moody indicated his wishes to remain another year as President, Penney Cosentino is willing to remain as Secretary another year, and Amy Chirco will continue to serve as Treasurer and Historian. Jenny Fritsch wishes to step down as Vice President. Penney Cosentino proposed a motion to establish another person as part of an executive committee to assume some duties as needed. Denny Randall seconded the motion. Passed.

Tonya Case Martinez was nominated for Vice President, seconded by Amy Chirco. Lauren Hunter O’Neil (’99) was nominated by Penney Cosentino for the executive committee position and seconded by Amy Chirco.

The slate as stands: Joe Moody- President, Tonya Martinez – Vice President, Penney Cosentino – Secretary, Amy Chirco – Treasurer/Historian, Lauren O’Neil – Exec. Com. member. No additional nominations were offered. Slate was approved by alumni.

Denny Randall announced that a total of $610 was raised in the 50/50. Three drawings would be made, one each of $150, $100 and $80.

The $150 was won by Sheila Scouten

The $100 was won by Theresa Leonardi and donated back to the Alumni Association.

The $80 was won by Ray Alger and donated back to the Alumni Association.

The Weedsport Alma Mater, led by the Class of 2009 and accompanied on piano by Barbara Ward, was sung. The motion to Adjourn was made by two voices in the Class of 2009 and seconded by a chorus of the same. So moved.

Respectfully submitted,

Penney Cosentino, Secretary.

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