A Million Little Pieces Of My Mind

So, one day on or near September 20th, we had Ring Day. This is the day we receive the class rings we've ordered…if we ordered one. They were coveted but not required. My family couldn't afford one, so this is an AI photo of a generic one. But I got to attend the ceremony anyway, to record it for the yearbook.

Since St Joseph Academy was (and is) a Catholic institution, the handing out of the class rings was given an aura of religious significance, by doing it at church, and having the rings handed out by no less a luminary than Monsignor John Burns, the guy in charge of the Cathedral.

Jenny Horty; Karen Estrada; Monsignor Burns

It wasn't an exciting assignment and there was no coordination with the participants, so the pictures I got weren't always the best. Still, they are what they are; and perhaps some of my old classmates will Google themselves and be pleasantly surprised to see themselves in their old black-and-white days, but in beautiful color!

Anyway, here they are.

Bobby McAloon; Mike Masters

Debby Dean; Annette Davis

Janice Carter; Suzette Chauvin

Joe Oliveros; Dave McDonald

Kathy McGrath; Gail Leonardi

Kim Ellzey; Mary Ellen Dobbs

Mary Steinberg; Debby Reyes

Sandy Meserve; Nancy McLaughlin

Terrie Wiecking; Janis Triay

Theresa Pandolfini; Faye Norton

Veronica Bell; Dianna Bishop

After the quasi-religious ceremony for distributing the rings, we had something that the yearbook called Senior Day.

Kim Ellzey; Ken Barrett; Danny Guidi; Louie Mariani; Dave McDonald; Charlie Thomas; Nancy Alexander; Eddie Drozd

The main feature of Senior Day seemed to be this breakfast, served after the blessing of the rings and, I'm sure but don't remember, Mass. But why this was Senior Day I don't know, since all four years attended the breakfast. But, whatever, free breakfast! And with friends.

John Palmes; Nancy Alexander; Nancy McLaughlin; Paul Cilwa; Mary Steinberg; Dennis Petty; Dianna Bishop; Charlie Hartley; foreground: Suzette Chauvin

Suzette Chauvin; Gail Leonardi; Ken Barrett; Debby Dean; Kim Ellzey; Sandy Meserve; Karen Estrada

Charlie Thomas; Charlie Lopez; Dave McDonald; Tommy McCarter; Gail Leonardi; Janice Carter; Janis Triay; Kathy McGrath; Theresa Pandolfini; Jenny Horty; Mary Ellen Dobbs; Debbie Reyes

John Palmes Nancy Alexander

Monsignor Burns