Our dear classmate Donald Page, who was in our class from first through fifth grades at Center, Mapleshade, and Mountain View Schools, passed away on Jun. 20, 1963. 

Here is a newspaper article about his passing which appeared in the Springfield Union newspaper:

Donald R. Page, Jr., 11, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Page of 137 Pease Rd., East Longmeadow, drowned in an abandoned quarry near his home late Thursday afternoon, Jun. 20, 1963.

According to police, young Page and a friend from West Springfield, Donald Smith, fell off a homemade raft into the water.

Chip Harris, 14, of 191 Pease Rd. saw the boys fall into the water, jumped in and pulled Smith to shore, then returned to hunt for Page, who had gone from sight. He was unable to find him. 

Harris then ran home and asked his mother to call police.

The Page boy's body was recovered from the quarry about an hour later by firemen using a boat and grappling hooks.

Patrolmen Robert Rowland and Joseph Merton answered the emergency call at 5:30 in the police cruiser with the resuscitator.

The fire alarm sounded about the same time for a boat to be sent to the scene.

The boy's body was recovered in about 15 feet of water. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Norman Yosko.

The quarry is near the intersection of Pease Rd. and Lee St.

The fire department search was directed by chief Mark Bourgeoise and Deputy Chief Ray Jones.

Here is an article about Donald's funeral, which appeared in the Springfield Union newspaper on Jun. 25, 1963:

The funeral of Donald R. Page, Jr., of 137 Pease Rd., East Longmeadow, was held in Park Memorial Baptist Church on Monday.