Latest News

 
The Spartan Walkway, built in 2011 as part of the ELHS 50th Birthday Party, graces the entrance to our school in this September 2012 photo.
 
Note: On this page we include news about our classmates, former classmates, parents, upper and lower classmen during our time at ELHS, faculty and staff from kindergarten through 12th grades, and construction progress on the new ELHS. Please contact us with news you'd like to share, which we'll generally keep posted for 60 days.
 
Apr. 24, 2025 - - - Classmates Bruce Moore and Andrea Hastings Driscoll in event celebrating start of the Revolutionary War
 
On Apr. 19, 2025, in front of the town hall, classmates Bruce Moore and Andrea Hastings Driscoll participated in an event celebrating the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War on Apr. 19, 1775. Bruce was one of several speakers documenting the military service of residents who lived in what is now East Longmeadow. Andrea was dressed in a style of clothing from that period. Click here for a story published in The Reminder newspaper.
 
 
 
Bruce Moore speaks at the ceremony.

 
 
Bruce Moore and Andrea Hastings Driscoll in front of the town hall.
 
Apr. 11, 2025 - - - Progress continues on new ELHS
 
Here are two recent aerial photos showing construction progress on the new ELHS, which is scheduled to open in September  2026.
 
 
Aerial view of new ELHS in late March 2025. The natatorium (building with blue roof housing the swimming pool) is seen in the front left near the tennis courts Current high school is in the middle right of photo. 
 
 
Aerial view of new ELHS in late March 2025. Current high school is on the left, with athletic stadium at the top. Natatorium is in the left rear.
 
 Apr. 3, 2025 - - - Classmate Rick Maurer passes away
 
We bid farewell to our dear classmate Rick Maurer, who passed away on Mar. 31, 2025. He resided in East Longmeadow. Please click here for Rick's obituary and click here for our tribute to him.
 
 
 
Rick's senior candid and later in life.
 
 Apr. 2, 2025 - - - Mrs. Joan Orr, mother of classmate Channing Orr, passes away
 
We bid farewell to Mrs. Joan Orr, mother of classmate Channing Orr, who passed away on Mar. 9, 2025, just nine days after the passing of Channing. She resided in Savannah, TN and was 92 years old. Please click here to see tributes to all our parents who have passed away.
 
 
Mrs. Orr later in life.
 
 Apr. 2, 2025 - - - Classmate Channing Orr passes away
 
We bid farewell to our dear classmate Channing Orr, who passed away on Feb. 28, 2025. He resided in Deland, Florida. Please click here for our tribute to Channing.
 
 
 
Channing's senior candid and at our 45th class reunion in 2015.
 
 Mar. 28, 2025 - - - Upperclassman Carol Byron Rydell, ELHS 1967, passes away
 
We bid farewell to Carol Byron Rydell, ELHS 1967, who we knew as Carol Byron. She passed away on Mar. 28, 2025. Carol resided in Salem, VA. Please click here for her obituary and click here for our tribute to Carol and other ELHS Class of 1967 classmates who have passed away.
 
  
 
Carol in 1967 (senior portrait) and with her husband, Carl Rydell, ELHS 1965 later in life.
 
 Mar. 26, 2025 - - - Upperclassman Michael Harton, ELHS 1968, passes away
 
We bid farewell to Michael Harton, ELHS 1968, who passed away on Mar. 22, 2025 following a yearslong struggle with his health, according to his sister, Gloria Sutherland, ELHS 1973. He resided in Ellicott City, MD. We'll add a link to his obituary here when it's published. Please click here for our tribute to Michael and other ELHS Class of 1968 classmates who have passed away.
 
 
 
Michael in 1968 (senior portrait) and later in life.
 
Mar. 22, 2025 - - - New ELHS rapidly taking shape
 
As seen in these recent aerial photos, the new ELHS is progressing nicely, with an impressively large building. It opens in 18 months. Where has the time gone? The current ELHS was just 10 years old when we graduated.
 
 
The new ELHS under construction is seen in the foreground and the current ELHS in the background.
 

The new ELHS under construction is seen in the center, with the current high school on the left, and the athletic stadium at the top.
 
 Mar. 11, 2025 - - - Upperclassman Jeffrey Newman, ELHS 1969, passes away
 
We bid farewell to Jeffrey Newman, ELHS 1969, who passed away on Mar. 6, 2025. Please click here for his obituary and click here for our tribute to Jeffrey and other members of the ELHS Class of 1969 who have passed away.
 
 
 
Jeffrey in 1969 (senior portrait) and later in life.
 
 Mar. 7, 2025 - - - Upperclassman Marie DiMauro Burack, ELHS 1967, passes away
 
We bid farewell to Marie DiMauro Burack, ELHS 1967, who we knew as Marie DiMauro. She passed away on Mar. 5, 2025. Please click here for her obituary and click here for our tribute to Marie and other members of the ELHS Class of 1967 who have passed away.
 
 
 
Marie in 1967 (senior portrait) and later in life.
 
Feb. 28, 2025 - - - Important milestone reached on construction of new ELHS
 
On Feb. 26, 2025, construction of the new ELHS reached an important milestone with the placement of the final steel beam on the skeletal frame. In a "topping off" ceremony attended by dignitaries and citizens of the state and town, Fontaine Brothers, Inc., who is constructing the school, secured the beam, signed by ELHS students, in place. In keeping with a longstanding tradition, an American flag and an evergreen tree were temporarily attached to the beam. Please click here for a story in The Reminder newspaper.
 
 
The final steel beam is secured in place on the new ELHS. Photo by Erin Chrusciel Photography, LLC.
 
 
Close-up of the beam, signed by ELHS students. Photo by Jaime Rooke.
 


A view of  a portion of the new ELHS in late February. Photo by Erin Chrusciel Photography, LLC.
 
Feb. 26, 2025 - - - Class mini-reunion luncheon in Florida
 
Today, Donna Anderson hosted her fourth annual mini-reunion luncheon in Osprey, Florida. Six classmates attended, including two with their spouses. 
 
 
Luncheon attendees: Gina Truitt McKinney, Al Beaumier, Donna Colapietro Beaumier, Donna Anderson, Karen Martin Johnson, Candy Plante, Brian Falk, Dennis Plante.

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 To request prayers for a classmate, family member, faculty and staff personnel, or yourself, please contact us. We'll post your request at the top of this page. We ask that you limit requests to life-altering issues, which we anticipate will be mostly health and welfare-related. Your request will remain posted for 30 days, unless you let us know prayers are no longer needed.