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LONG LIVE SJHS AND THE CLASS OF ’65 … AND ALL THE OTHERS

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, OCT. 17, 2016) — In 1965, THE PLANET graduated to ninth grade. We entered St. Joseph’s High School on Maplewood Avenue in Pittsfield, continuing a tradition of an incoming freshman class going back to the 19th century, when the school opened. The elegant building outside which we assembled that first day in September ’65 impressed us with its light-tan bricks. It loomed without overshadowing. It hovered without suffocating.

As a young teen thinking of a career in architecture, we stood affixed at the contrast from my previous academic abode. From K through 8, we attended Mt. Carmel School on Fenn Street, opened in 1954 in a great collective effort by parishioners and pastor Fr. Camillo Santini.

“Catholic” and Catholics have taken a beating in the 62 years since. Today, the word as a proper noun brings as much derision as devotion. As a generic noun, however, “catholic” means universal, applicable to all. In that sense, we are all “catholics.”

They Didn’t Walk; They ‘Processed’

It was both as a Catholic and a catholic that 13-year-old Dan Valenti stood outside on that brisk, clear September morning. The bell finally tolled for assembly, boys on one side, girls on the other. In 1965, Catholic students didn’t “walk.” We “processed.” Once inside, again an architectural flourish grabbed our attention. We marveled at the glossy, light-brown cement blocks of the walls. Entrancing.

Our freshman class included Jean Dassatti, Jerry Packard, Gerard Downing, Edward and James Wood, Steve Proper, Stan Wojtkowski, Shaun Ringe, Denny Ryan, and so many more. Older spirits lingered: Denny Kelley, Frank Scago, Dan O’Connell, Danny FordKeith Haven, Jim Ruberto, Paul Procopio, Jim RubertoDanny FordPeter McGuire, Peter GregoryTommy Tobin. We could go on and on …

There are no such things as ghosts, of course, but if we allow reverie to mingle with wistfulness, we can imagine memory in a tangible form that still mingles inside those walls. Should that building become condos, a charter school, or assume some other function, we have to think that every happening of the years of its life as a parochial school will be eternally present. The presences might be still and quiet, satisfied in their goodness. They might haunt. If the latter, it will be a benign “disturbance,” a procession, if you will. If the building goes condo, sign THE PLANET for the first unit.

——– 000 ——–

A Forced Choice of an Odd Master

The black and white-habited nuns herded us up to our home room: 310. That was another contrast with Mt. Carmel, where we guided by the Venerini Sisters. The St. Joe sisters were more formal, from habit to homework, more rigid. The hidden secret at St. Joe was that the school culture leaned Irish. Mt. Carmel bent toward Italia. We were Austrian-Italian but fully subsumed as an American. Young Dan Valenti possessed that wonderful quality of adaptability.

At St. Joe, we had our first male teacher ever for 9th grade algebra: Paul Perachi. We sat in the middle of five rows, fourth seat in, directly behind Charles Trzcinka. Perachi went on to become a barrister and judge, Trzcinka a renowned economist and academic. Fate had placed us in fast company.

The other memorable teacher At St. Joe was our gym coach, Al Belanger. He gave us the confidence of refined athletic movement, teaching us the finer points of gymnastics, wrestling, handling a basketball, and the ethics, morals, and values to be found in sportsmanship. We also cannot forget our English teacher, the beautiful, young Sr. Theresa Florence, who was early to encourage us in our ultimate career as a writer.

——– 000 ——–

“It was with great sadness that this decision had to be made, but not before many years of valiant efforts by the very dedicated board, faculty and staff of St. Joseph’s,” said  Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski in a statement. “We had hoped to turn around the enrollment decline and financial deficit, but despite the very best and exemplary efforts of so many, the task proved unattainable. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who grieve the end of this great school.”

The good bishop had no choice but to give into man and mammon. He knows better than we that no man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and cling to the other, or he will love the one and despise the other.

The diocese, having been reduced to an economic fiduciary, had no alternative to choosing an odd master.

———————————————————————————

“I could die for you, but I couldn’t — and wouldn’t — live for you.”Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views expressed in the comment section or opinions published within the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not those of PLANET VALENTI or endorsed in any way by PLANET VALENTI; this website reserves the right to remove any comment that violates its Rules of Conduct, and it is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and PLANET VALENTI’s terms of service.

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dusty
dusty
7 years ago

I went to PHS in the sixties. My best friend was a hot shot on the football team and I went to most of the games. When PHS played St Joe I marveled at the size of the St Joe crowd and the ST Joe spirit. They really got into it. And even though I was a student of PHS and my best friend was on that football team I wished I went to St Joe and was part of that enthusiasm. And if St Joe won I was quite alright with that.

The School Committee
The School Committee
7 years ago

I’m guessing these kids are future Wahconah or Lenox high students.Dalton and Lenox sports are now becoming extentions of Pittsfield athletic programs.I’m starting to see the positives in school choice where if you are a marginal athlete from pittsfield you move or choice out to our other two high schools in lenox and dalton.St Joe was known for sports and that is what will be missed most.

The School Committee
The School Committee
7 years ago

Lenox and dalton.St sports are losing their towns identity in school choice.We are now all one big school system…PHS..THS..
WHS…LAST are all one.I feel sorry for the kids years ago who couldn’t choice out to find a varsity team in the area to play for.So many good player got cut.St Joe will be a charter school in 2 minutes..watch.It’s downtown and the state will pay for private education
….the st. Joe building can hold 400 charter students….it will fill up in 35 minutes after opening announcement.Go charter.Pittsfield school committee can’t run schools….get ready….Planetvalenti needs to promote a charter high right in the middle of downtown and they will put an addition on in 2 years

heh heh
heh heh
Reply to  The School Committee
7 years ago

If a charter school went in there the Pittsfield teachers union would be picketing outside the doors and throwing tomatoes at the kids trying to get in.

Every piss ant political favor in the state will be called in to prevent a charter school from opening there. It makes too much sense. It is too cost effective. And it would offer a great educational opportunity for children. These things fly in the face of municipal educational efforts.

Just ask Krol or White or Amuso who are against any more school choice.

Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally
Reply to  heh heh
7 years ago

The three Bandidto’s…A Charter Chool would destroy any of the objectives of those three and Tricia, hard work down the drain.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  heh heh
7 years ago

Very classy post hh.

heh heh
heh heh
Reply to  Thomas More
7 years ago

Watching too much Donald Trump I guess.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  heh heh
7 years ago

its cost effective as long as the bar isn’t set any higher for education attainment. Dum Dum input is Dum Dum output.

The School Committee
The School Committee
7 years ago

Turn Pittsfield schools up side down….400 charter high schoolers out of the system…this timing of St joe closing could not be better….on our way to one high school…lets see 1600 minus 300 is 1300..
Lets get varsity sports at the charter Taconic will hold everybody…
…remember in pittsfield public education is a 90 million ac year business

Thomas More
Thomas More
7 years ago

Please check page 191 of the 1969 PHS yearbook

Wilson
Wilson
7 years ago

Wonder if the “international students” Rozanski was expecting to generate revenue were Syrians, but it fell through when they turned out all to be Muslim fundamentalists…

chuck garivaltis
chuck garivaltis
7 years ago

I’m not a St. Joe guy but you don’t have to be to feel the loss of St. Joseph’s High School. This is sad and bad news for Pittsfield. It reinforces the gloom that things aren’t right here but, at least, trumpets aren’t blowing this is a turnaround.

There are a few distant sport memories one can never forget. Frank Koldys intercepts a pass and runs it back 100 yards for a touchdown against PHS in 1944. Fran Ferris kicks extra point for a 7 – 6 win. Jim Gallagher, also a basketball star, excels for St. Joe. If it wasn’t for the war Jimmy would have entered Notre Dame.I may not be Methuselah but I saw the game played at Deming Field. Then there was the great St. Joe football team of 1950 that beat PHS 14 – 12 at Wahconah Park. This team had Fred Broaderick and Eddie Poulin as running backs and Don Anderson at QB. Great line, too. Gene Murphy and Fran Nichols were blocks of granite. Their basketball teams at this time were just as good. I recall a team of Pat Robinson and Pat Grady, both 6’6″ tall and Jimmy Denno as the playmaker. Earlier there was Don Gleason as sharp shooter. Frankie Scago and Billy Gardner broke scoring records.Great athletes, great coaches, like John Lyons, Mezzy, Paul Procopio. They didn’t come any better.

How can one ever forget the Friday night rallies that began at PHS where hundreds of students would march up East Street to North to Maplewood Ave. then down to St. Joe High where hundreds of their students would protect their turf. Always led to fistfights where some of the battles would be better than game.

Dan mentions in his story today there are no ghosts. I will forever find it hard to believe the guys I mentioned won’t be roaming halls of this late great school looking for a football or basketball, or an athlete or coach as good as they were.

All this will be missed. At least we have the memories.

chuck garivaltis
chuck garivaltis
Reply to  chuck garivaltis
7 years ago

Reply to myself. How did I forget Gary Bianchi as an all time great coach at St. Joe’s? Gary was as good as anyone who ever coached in Pittsfield.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  chuck garivaltis
7 years ago

Chuck – that was the miracle team that beat PHS in 1950. Pdge Kilmer completed the backfield, Bill Carrigan and Ralph Pisani were the other linemen while Jim McNeice and Jimmy Kordana were the ends. Ed Tierney kicked the two extra points that were the margin of victory, 14-12. The 1949 game was won by PHS 49-0. St. Joe hadn’t scored on PHS since 1946.
St. Joe also had great basketball teams in 1951 & 52. The gold plated ’52 team consisted of Dick Maloney, Pat Grady, Don Gleason, Chuck Custer and Dan Thornton. Big problem was as it was for every school back then, they couldn’t beat Adams.

Victor
Victor
Reply to  chuck garivaltis
7 years ago

Great memories Chuck and Tom Moore. The PHS-St. Joe game was the biggest school boy competition of the year. No one today can grasp how important those games were to building community. Brilliant piece Mr. Valenti.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
7 years ago

Theresa Florence was super. Can’t say that for Al Belanger or Perachi. Belanger currently enjoys a very generous pension he “earned” by playing games for forty years.

Who remembers how Perachi used to put his finger in his collar gyrate his head and make that face?

h
h
Reply to  12 Gauge
7 years ago

Agree on that whole heatedly 12 Gauge, no one that I knew likeed those two. My favorite Nuns were Sister Roberta Ann and of course,Sister Mary Dorothy, tuff as nails Dot, but was a woman of great conviction.

Voytek Gobsigski
Voytek Gobsigski
Reply to  h
7 years ago

The

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Voytek Gobsigski
7 years ago

????

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  h
7 years ago

Dot had a big heart. Sorry to see that old building that housed the convent go. In my mind a tribute to the Sisters of Saint Joseph. There was only one whacko sister. don’t remember her name escapes me.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
7 years ago

Hurley was dud also,what a drab teacher he was.

Painter
Painter
7 years ago

Who could ever forget smile a very saintly woman Of the sisters of Saint Joe .

H
H
7 years ago

Sister Claire Edwards, a Gem.Liked them all. You had to Love Sister Mary Elizabeth.

Bill Q
Bill Q
7 years ago

My favorite Nun was Sister Patrica Ann. S J G S.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
7 years ago

Tom Potter was a great Coach and Teacher. Bill Murray was the best Coach, period.

chuck garivaltis
chuck garivaltis
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
7 years ago

Hey CL, no doubt, Billy Murray, Hollywood handsome Billy, was certainly a great coach. The environment he coached in at the time was the turmoil and racial animosity of the mid-60’s and 70’s. It wasn’t easy but Billy commanded respect from all players and turned out powerhouses at the time.

chuck garivaltis
chuck garivaltis
7 years ago

Thomas More, what a fantastic memory. Players you mentioned were terrific football players. I would rate this team as one of St. Joe’s all time great ones. Every position was solid. Fred Broaderick learned games same place I did – the Crescent Creamery parking lot that was dirt, grass and hilly at the time. Mr O’Brien let us play there. A wonderful man, wonderful family. Jimmy Kordana and I became buddies at Pomeroy, as did Butch Pisani, brother of Ralph. Ralph was a good football player and a very good police officer. The ’50 team was indeed a great one. How about that run Eddie Poulin made? He went about 70 yards and tripped on the 3 yard line. I have talked with Eddie about this. He does not know why he tripped. Anyway, next play Broaderick goes over for a touchdown. Yes indeed, Thomas, St. Joseph had a very good team that year. One of their best ever.

May Hemm
May Hemm
Reply to  chuck garivaltis
7 years ago

Best Football player ever was Ray Woitkowski, in my opinion.

Victor
Victor
Reply to  May Hemm
7 years ago

Ray was one of the greatest all-round athletes ever to come out of Berkshire County.

The School Committee
The School Committee
7 years ago

.. We will call the new school St. Joe charter and it will fly in a city that cant run education.Honest to God’s truth the people in pittsfield need a charter high downtown

Really?
Really?
7 years ago

Really?

I vote for a house of ill repute.

Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally
Reply to  Really?
7 years ago

Another Hott Dog Ranch

mi
mi
7 years ago

Planet Valenti New Headquarters……with T I F