Letter #
Jun 17, 2004
I graduated from OLHC 50 years ago today.
Sr. Rita De Paul, of happy memory, died several years ago.
Richard Brennan, Class of 1954
e-mail: <Richard.Brennan@dbr.com>
Nov 4, 2004
I am looking for classmates from Our Lady Help of Christians East Orange. I graduated 1975. My two brothers Timothy and Martin Sullivan went here as well as my younger sister, Margaret. If anyone knows of students from this school please have them contact me! Thanks so much! Eileen
Eileen Sullivan, Class of 1975
e-mail: mescully@ptd.net
Nov 28, 2004
Well what do you know? I GRADUATED IN 1975 TOO! HI EILEEN. It's Glenn Davis...remember me? I am so happy to have stumbled upon this website and found you. Remember Vincent Berardi? I just spoke to him this morning and I told him about this website. We talk frequently and OFTEN the conversation shifts to memories of East Orange and Our Lady Help Of Christians and YES we think of you too. I will write your email address and I hope to hear back from you soon. It would be great to get an OLHC Website going. Ahh, the memories...what a great time. Hope all is well with you. Take Care and write soon!.....Glenn
Glenn Davis, Class of 1975
e-mail: soxxy32@yahoo.com
Nov 28, 2004
Also known as Vincent Berardi!
....Eileen, you have no idea, how long, both Glenn Davis and I have been still talking about OLHC... When I saw your message on goose bumps ran through me!
How the hell are you?!
There is soo much for the three of us to discuss!
Glenn and I have remained close ever since our graduation. He now lives in Pa. (I'll let him tell you about his own life...lol)
We're still crazy...still making those stupid sounds... But, it really keeps us young.
Love to sit and write down a million sentences, but I have to get ready for work.
I'm living in Belleville, NJ. (this area is going down fast...lol)
I tried your email address and it came back... Get the friggin thing working will ya! LOL
Hugs!
The Heemy Club, Alumni
..Ever hear from Linda?
Vincent Berardis, Class of Class of 1975
e-mail: peccavione@aol.com
Nov 29, 2004
Hey Eileen, it's me, Glenn, again. I tried to write you at the email address you provided above. My e-mail was returned as not deliverable to you. If you read this, please contact me at soxxy32@yahoo.com. Would love to hear from you. Take Care...Glenn
Glenn Davis, Class of 1975
e-mail: soxxy32@yahoo.com
Dec 10, 2004
I went to Our Lady Help of Christians from 1950 to 1958. I didn't graduate as I transfered to another school during the 8th grade. Let's see.....there was:
1st grade - Sister Maryaden
2nd grade - Mrs Rice
3rd grade - Sister Gertrude
4th grade - Sister Trease (had the record for breaking the most rulers on boys hands)
5th grade - Sister Agnes
6th grade - Sister Judith
7th Grade - I'm having a senior moment
8th grade - Sister Anita
There was Father Farrell, Father O'grady & Father Ernst
Bill D'Arcy, Class of 1958
e-mail: billdarcy@mail.com
Dec 11, 2004
I remember sitting on those little carpet samples in the library while Mrs. Bryan would read stories to us.
I remember hot dog day..."1 and 1".
I remember when the window shade fell on Sr. Catherine's head in 8th grade, and the class laughed. She said, "...I guess some of you think that was funny."
I remember Eileen and Glenn Davis were the "pets", yet they were the ones to steal more stuff than anyone else!
He-Me club... Linda was a little monster...Is she still alive?
Eileen, write back!
Let's get together and talk about old times!
Bernie, Class of 1975
e-mail: peccavione@aol.com
Dec 26, 2004
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE...Special "Hi" to Vinny and Eileen, Class of 1975. Hello Bill (Class of '58). I read your post and it made me stop and think of the Nuns and Priests that were in place when I attended OLHC (1966-1975).
Over in the rectory was Monsignor Glover, Father Ernst (he baptized me in 1961), Father Haber (now hospital Chaplain at Trintas Hospital in Elizabeth), Father Gurski, and Father Hajduk (who is now Monsignor at St.Henry's Parish in Bayonne). Over on the school side, there were the Sisters of Charity. This is the faculty lineup as I remember it over the years:
Principal....Sr. Francis Bernard (later replaced by Sr. Anna Marie Tansey in 1969)
Grade 1......Sr. Joseph Benedict
Grade 2......Mrs. Pilmere (later Mrs. J. Groves)
Grade 3......Mrs. R. McCann (other 3rd Grade teachers were Sr. John and Sr. Gertrude)
Grade 4......Mrs. G. Popson (later Mrs. B. Bowen)
Grade 5......Sr. Mary Perpetua (also Miss C. Bianchi)
Grade 6......Sr. Regina Gertrude (also Miss Tracey who taught a 6th grade class on the third floor)
Grade 7......Sr. Maureen William (also Mrs. Jiles who taught a 7th grade class on the third floor. Later, other 7th Grade teachers were Mrs. D. Sabilia, Miss M. Mahler, and Miss Egan
Grade 8......Sr. Catherine Maureen The OLHC School Secretary was Mrs. Edythe Bansemer (I can still picture the blonde beehive hairdo and hear the New York accent).
The Ladies who were our librarians were Lorraine Bryan and Mrs. Guido. I remember the school custodian was Charlie Gannon. In later years the custodian was Al Michaud (He lived next door to me in a 2nd floor apartment on North Burnet Street. Our Music Teacher was Mrs. Angela Little.
OK...did I jiggle any memories here? I really feel bad taking up space on the OLAS website (Thank You for the opportunity OLAS). We really should get an OLHC website going. Anybody out there?...Would love to hear from any OLHC alumni, all years. HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Glenn Davis, Class of 1975
e-mail: soxxy32@yahoo.com
Oct 6, 2005
Seeking fellow graduates from Our Lady Help of Christians, East Orange, NJ from class of 1975.
Please contact me at my email address directly and lets remember old times!
Vincent Berardis, classof: 1975
email: peccavione@aol.com
December 11, 2006
Looking for classmates from OLHC....I have a new email address.....sorry for not fixing the old one. Write soon. Eileen
Eileen Sullivan, Class of: 1975
e-mail: mescully@ptd.net
April 15, 2009
I graduated from OLHC in 1968. Sorry to post late, but I just found this doing a google search!
Ron Walker, Class of 1968
e-mail: rwalker43@yahoo.com
September 16, 2009
OH MY GOD the names I saw and recalled. I went two years to OLHC
1962-1964 K-1 I had Miss McCafferty and Sister DePaul. When I was in K the first grade teacher died (a very Young nun)You know back in those days they didn't tell children much.So I always wondered what happen to her.
It happened during the Christmas holiday. They closed the K and some of us went to Ashland school. I came back in Sept. to first grade and had sister De Paul. I will never forget those eyes. Also Kennedy was shot that Nov. The school went nuts.
The memories are flooding back. I want to share more but out of time. Love to hear from somebody!
The school Librian Lorraine Bryant is my God Mother.
Father O'Grady baptized my sister and I.
Steffi, Class of
e-mail: libwalt@roadrunner.com
October 28, 2009
Steffi, We must have been in the same class. I remember starting 1st grade, never going to K and not knowing why they didn't have K. You answered that question. My mother worked in the library as well. Mildred Craggan was her name
Robert Craggan, Class of
e-mail: rjcraggan@comcast.net
October 28, 2009
I attended OLHC from 62-68 (1st thru part of 6th). That's where I was when Kennedy was killed. I was an alter boy.
Fuzzy momories of:
Father Gorski
Mrs. Nelson
Hot Dog day
The little Art cards
Trips to the Library
Ring-a-lario
The bingo hall
Monsenior Glover passing
Robert Craggan, Class of
e-mail: rjcraggan@comcast.net
March 13, 2010 posted April 30, 2010
Remember those years as though time stood still but have trouble with remembering this morning. Anyway after many years in military returned to EO and delivered mail for 30 years and witnessed th decline of a once wondefull city. Now fully retired I live half year in Summit, NJ and other half in France/Europe.
Bob Jeffery, Class of 1951
e-mail: provence@enter.net
July 14, 2010
I went to Our Lady Help of Christians from first to sixth grade (Sister Judith). I lived on South Walnut Street and then my family moved to Verona in 1953. I would have been with the class of 1955. I remember: Carol Woodruff and Pat Kilfeather in my class and then Bobby Mathews who was a year older - I had a bid crush on him - whatever happend to him? I would love to know where some of them are today.
Please respond, if you have any information.
Thanks, Bev
Beverly Murphy DeCheser, Class of Oul Lady of the Lake - 1955
e-mail: bdecheser@comcast.net
October 14, 2010
I had no idea that Our Lady Help of Christans has been around for so long. I remember Sister Agnes. She was still there in 1978. She was one of those mean nun's you always hear about. I often have dreams of being back in that building, walking up and down the back stairs looking for my classroom. I wonder why I would dream about that school all of these years later.
Skye Long-Bailey, The year I left was 1982
e-mail: sul2@nau.edu
November 24, 2010
WOW...Hope it wasn't the same Sr Agnes we had at All Souls!.....She was small and thin a wicked as hell!...You would walk miles around the building not to pass her!....MEAN!...I recall when I was making my confirmation she was in charge of the names we picked...Making sure they were Saints....She picked on someother kids first til she came to me...."Miss Walsh ..Are you aware that the archangel Gabriel is a Man?...No Woman can become an archangel!....I was ready to peee my pants ...opps...mean woolen itchy skirt when I said we were told to pick some Saint we admired and I just figured he must be a Saint too....OMG...The look she shot me!....Don't think she could dispute that so she said that I must be "Gabrielle" and the odds of me ever being an angel were slim!...LOL...Such a scar these Nasty Nuns had on me...Patty
Patty Walsh Robinson, OLAS Class of 1973
e-mail: federicolady@hotmail.com
February 17, 2011
I would love to find some of the classmates from 1948 to 1955. My family moved to Verona, so I went to Our Lady of the Lake for 7th and 8th grade and then onto Verona High School.
I can remember some names: Pat Kilfeather, Carol Ann Woodruff, Kathleen Magee, Sebastian LaSapio and Bobby Mathews (a year ahead of us).
Beverly Murphy DeCheser, Class of 1955 e-mail: bdecheser@comcast.net
February 21, 2011
I love checking the site to see what has been added but I find it to be very disturbing the way the nuns are made to look.I agree some of them (Sr. Rita) were very scary but we must remember we were little kids. If the kids now had some of what we had maybe this world we live in wouldn't be so SCARY. When I look back on it now I think the ones who were so "mean" were the ones who really cared about us. No I am not a preacher I am just a grandmother who wished my grandchildren had A Sr. Rita or Sr. Jean or Sr. Mary Inez to teach them. Than I would know they had a chance...OK I had my say and my memories are good ones, even the oops ones....
Kathy Washington Tompkins, Class of 1959
e-mail: dafrog@embarqmail.com
February 22, 2011
Yes, Kathy, the nuns lived in poverty & loneliness serving their God and community, and should be thanked and commended. In the "real world" there have been a few testimonial dinners that recognized this fact -- not nearly enough, but some.
But we're not writing critical editorials in the New York Times here; we're just reminiscing, enjoying the nostalgia of being kids, not rationally re-examining it all through the eyes of an adult :-)
Ted Mooney, Class of 1959
e-mail: mooney@finishing.com
February 26, 2011
Naturally you are both right. The world would be a far better place to raise children if many of the traditions were in place today. Respect and work ethic and I don't mean just the mere fact of working, but rather the philosphy that you reap what you earn. There are needs vs. wants. The nuns too were a product of their environments and there wasn't a great deal of joy. Just lots of hard work and sacrifice. They were dedicated to God and gave us one heck of an education. Let's get back to remembering the way it was, as off kilter as it may seem from the adult in us. Love, good health and fond memories to those who walked the halls of OLAS with us.
Mary Robinson, Class of 1961
e-mail: maryrossetti@ymail.com
March 22, 2011
Sorry Kathy with my Nun Bashing....But it was all true....Some nuns were nice....Sister Mary DeMontfort was nice.....Some at EOCH were very cool.....Patty
Patty Walsh Robinson, Class of 1973
e-mail: federicolady@hotmail.com
June 26, 2011
I am so happy that I came across this site. My 2 older brothers, my sister and myself all attended OLHC. My sister graduated in 72 or somewhere from 8th ggrade. We moved a few years later when I was in 5th. I remember a father Little, who I always thought was related to Mrs. Little. In first grade I had sister Ann-Marie (or was she the principal ?)
Many of our old schoolmates are on Facebook. I am pretty sure I am linked to at least 3 or more families from the OLHC days. So if I find people you want to contactr, I will tell them about this site. Good Old Days !!!
Sharon Cullen-Faulkner, Class of 1977
e-mail: marmie234@comcast.net
June 26, 2011
Would love to hear from any of you from that "distant" class. Lots of good and funny memories. Sister Mary Aiden sold my sister, Susan, as a pagan baby to Suzanne Cronen for $5.
Eileen
Eileen Fraher Sullivan, Class of 1960
e-mail: Eileen39@nc.rr.com
June 24, 2012
Wow - I can't believe that I found this string of messages. I went to OLHC from 1958 - 1963. Principal was Sister Margaret Daniel (also taught me in 8th grade). Other faculty members were:
Sister Eleanor Daniel
Sister Gurtrude (must have been 100)
Sister Agnes
Sister Roberts
Mrs. McCann (I was there when her son died)
Mrs. Popson (her trick was to pull at your sideburn hair.
Priest line-up I remember was Msr. Glover, Fr. Ernst (died 1988), Fr Joe Gurski, Fr Michael O'Grady.
Bob Monica, Class of 1963
e-mail: robt.monica@gmail.com
March 20, 2013
I remember my 7th grade teacher Sister Maureen Williams.
The new gym that was built I played on the school team in 7th and 8th grade.
Looking for other classmates that were in OLHC during same years.
R. Fleming K Jordan H Hoyos J Gandolf L Giordano P Bradley and others
Carlos Aguero, Class of 1967
e-mail: ceaguero@metalico.com
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