Commencement

Note: You may find this page by clicking on "Our ELHS Years" on the menu to the left.
 
Please click here for some video highlights (without sound) of our commencement, also viewable by clicking on "Audio/Video Memories" on the menu to the left.
 
Black and white photos courtesy of our yearbook.

Junior class marshal Michael Keane leads classmates from the school to the athletic field. 
 
 
Heading to our seats in the stands. Photo courtesy of Mr. Robert Moore.
 
 
Heading to our seats in the stands. Photo courtesy of Mr. Robert Moore.

Heading to the stands. Left to right: unknown, unknown, Steve Viger, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown. In the upper right in back are teachers Mr. Robert Dobias and Mr. Richard McCormick (wearing sunglasses). Photo courtesy of Steve Viger's uncle.

Heading to the stands. Left to right: Debbie Andwood, Donna Anderson, Bob Bradley. Teacher Mr. Gary Bunce is in the background on the far right. Photo courtesy of Donna Anderson.
 
 
Junior class marshals Michael Keane and Tommy Thompson conclude getting us into the stands. Photo courtesy of Mr. Robert Moore.
 
 
The band finishes playing Pomp and Circumstance as we prepare for commencement to begin. Photo courtesy of Mr. Robert Moore.

Here we all are in the stands! Photo courtesy of Steve Viger's uncle, who was visiting from Texas. For video highlights of our commencement (without sound), click here. 
 
 
Another photo of us in the stands. Photo courtesy of  Mr. Robert Moore.

A side view of our class. Photo courtesy of Donna Fiorentino.

The speakers' podium to the left of the stands. Photo courtesy of Donna Fiorentino.

A shot of the crowd at our commencement. In the front row, beginning at the far right and moving to the left: our principal, Mr. Ralph L. Shindler, who presented our class; Reverend Robert J. Coonan, Assistant Pastor, Saint Michael's Church, East Longmeadow, who delivered the benediction; Dr. LeRoy J. Kendrew, who delivered the commencement address; Dr. Wayne S. Porter, Superintendent of Schools, who introduced Dr. Kendrew; Mr. Emanuel Tesoro, Chairman of the School Committee, who awarded our diplomas; Mrs. Marian Tesoro; Mrs. Wilda Martin; and Reverend Reuben W. Martin, Pastor, First Baptist Church, East Longmeadow, and father of Ginger Martin, who delivered the invocation. 

Class president Debbie Campanella delivers the Address of Welcome. 

Dr. LeRoy J. Kendrew, staff physician at the student health service, University of Massachusetts, delivered the commencement address. In his remarks, Dr. Kendrew said, "Let us all reaffirm our faith in the dignity of man so that we can all graduate from the selfish immaturity of a philosphy which says, "I think, therefore I am," or, "I feel, therefore I am," to the only mature philosphy that can save mankind: "I love, therefore I am.""

Ann Tesoro receives her diploma from her father, Mr. Emanuel Tesoro, chairman of the East Longmeadow Public Schools Committee.

Clark Swanson receives his diploma from Mr. Tesoro.

Bob "Albert" Price just prior to receiving his diploma.

 
Scott Moore receives his diploma from Mr. Tesoro. Photo courtesy of Mr. Robert Moore.
 

A closer view of the photo by Steve Viger's uncle. If you'd like a high resolution copy of this photo emailed to you, please contact Scott Moore at scottcameronmoore@hotmail.com. You'll easily be able to see yourself at full size.

 

A closer view of the left-most and left-middle sections. Unfortunately, the left-most section is blurrier than the other sections. 

A closer view of the right-middle section. Looking at the front row, beginning third from the left, are our class officers: Debbie Campanella, President; Sue Abel, Vice-President; Greg Naylor (in red), Member-at-Large; Allison Lipp, Treasurer; and Nancy Bryson, Secretary. 

 

A closer view of the right-most section.  

A real closeup view of the left-most section. Sorry about the blurriness. This is a blowup of a portion of a 1" by 1.25" slide!

A real closeup view of the left-middle section. Sorry about the blurriness. This is a blowup of a portion of a 1" by 1.25" slide!

A real closeup view of the right-middle section. Sorry about the blurriness. This is a blowup of a portion of a 1" by 1.25" slide!

A real closeup view of the right-most section. Sorry about the blurriness. This is a blowup of a portion of a 1" by 1.25" slide!

                                 

Hanging from our caps was one of three tassels: the National Honor Society tassel (left), the red tassel for ladies (right), or the gray tassel (not pictured) for men. If anyone has a gray tassel, please contact us.

East Longmeadow High School Alma Mater 

Spartan colors hail to thee
Worn with pride to stay
Ever true to you we will be
Our scarlet and grey
Praise for ever more thy name;
Wave our banner gay on high
Always in our hearts you'll remain,
East Longmeadow High

Refrain:
Alma Mater, Alma Mater
As the years go by,
Faithful we will ever be
East Longmeadow High
 
 
Our alma mater was composed in a collaborative fashion by Mrs. Margaret "Jean" Corliss, who served as the director of vocal music during our freshman year, and Roy Grundstrom, ELHS 1964. It was composed either during Roy's senior year, or during his freshman year at the Hartt College of Music at the University of Hartford. It was first performed at commencement by the class of 1965. This version is in Mrs. Corliss' handwriting. Courtesy of Margaret Corliss Byrne, Mrs. Corliss' daughter.
 

Inside cover of our diploma holder. Drawing by Mark McCandlish (ELHS 1971).

Gina Truitt's diploma. 

Scott Moore's diploma. 
 
 
Posing for a photo following our commencement: Mr. Shindler, principal; Debbie Campanella, class president; Dr. LeRoy Kendrew, who delivered the commencement address; Susan Abel, class vice- president; Mr. Emanuel Tesoro, chairman of the school committee; and Dr. Wayne Porter, school superintendent. Photo courtesy of the Springfield Union.
 
 
Following graduation, behind the stands where onlookers sat. Bottom four: Mitch Dante, Charlie Ackerman, Bill Kenyon, David Sand. Standing: Rick Pesto, Bob "Albert" Price, Jack Evans, Dave Sabourin, Roy Esposito. Photo courtesy of Roy Esposito.

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We love adding memorabilia to this page. Please contact us if you have a photo or item of interest relating to our commencement you'd enjoy sharing.