North Attleboro High School Alumni Association

March 2007

North Attleboro High School
Alumni Association
Winter Newsletter

From the President:

Greetings from the NAHS Alumni Association! I hope you enjoy this second edition of our E-Newsletter and remember to pass it along to friends. We continue to be encouraged by our steady progress as an association devoted to fostering communication among the large body of NAHS alumni and enhancing the educational experience of students at North Attleboro HS. Given the increased traffic at our website and our modest treasury, we have taken the next step in our development plan by announcing the establishment of a series of Alumni Association Awards that will be presented at a banquet scheduled for this June. You will learn more about this endeavor in the Association News section below. If you haven't done so already, please bookmark www.NAHSAlumni.org as one of your favorites. Keep in touch, and enjoy the rest of winter. Spring will be here before you know it!

Mitch MacDonald '79

Association News

NAHS Alumni Association Awards Banquet - June 15, 2007. The Association will host a banquet this June 15th at Leona's Restaurant, Rte. 152, North Attleboro to honor its first annual awards recipients. This series of awards is designed to recognize the accomplishments of our alumni as well as acknowledge the significant contributions many have made to North Attleboro High School. Recipients will be announced soon.
Please continue to visit our website for more information about the award recipients and details about the banquet. All are invited to attend this annual event.
It is easy to update your personal information so that your classmates can get in contact with you. The number of daily hits registered at www.NAHSAlumni.org continues to rise - don't be left behind!

The 3 A’s at NAHS

Academics: The NAHS English Department continues to offer a number of exciting elective courses, including "Fantasy and Science Fiction", a semester elective taught by Miss Jen O'Brien. The course examines the enduring power of fantasy and science fiction literature from traditional fairy tales to modern novels and short stories. The reading list includes J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring, Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
The NAHS Science Department offers "Environmental Science", taught by Mrs. Cochrane. Students in this course work with a professor at Bridgewater State College as they collect actual data at two sites on Abbott Run. The students then present their assessment of the river's health at the Watershed Access Lab Seminar and to the NA Dept. of Public Works and the Pawtucket Water Board.

Arts: The NAHS Music Department will present four events during the second semester. Performances begin at 7:00 PM in the Cobb Theatre; admission cost $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens, unless otherwise noted below.

Wednesday, March 28th -- The Spring Concert
Friday, April 27th -- The All-Town Music Department Concert featuring grades 4-12. Admission is free.
Wednesday, May 16th -- The Fine Arts Festival featuring the Music, Theater and Art Departments.
Friday, May 25th -- A Cappella Fest featuring High School and Middle School A Cappella groups as well as the DOO Wop Shop from UMASS Amherst and the Night Owls from Westfield State College. Admission is to be determined.

The NAHS Theater Department will present "Little Shop of Horrors" on Friday and Saturday, May 4th and 5th at 7:00 PM in the Cobb Theatre. Tickets cost $10.

Athletics: Big Red athletics teams enjoyed successful winter seasons. Here are the final records of winter varsity teams: Boys' Basketball (15-5), Girls' Basketball (6-14), Boys' Indoor Track (7-1, Hockomock Lg. Co-champs), Girls' Indoor Track (7-1), Boys' Swimming (6-5), Girls' Swimming (11-1), and Wrestling (19-0, Hockomock Lg. Champs, South Sectional Champs).
In addition, senior Anthony Sherman recently signed his letter of intent to accept a full football scholarship to play at the University of Connecticut, joining Robbie Vaughn ('06). Anthony was also named Gatorade Player of the Year for Massachusetts, as well as offensive MVP for Massachusetts.

Faculty Spotlight

Elaine Bedard '69 began teaching at NAHS in the fall of 1974 after earning her BA from Wheaton College and her MA from the University of New Hampshire. Miss Bedard teaches Senior AP English, Critical Thinking and Writing, Sophomore Honors English and Protest Literature. As senior member of the English Department, Miss Bedard is one of the most respected teachers on staff, and she continues to serve as mentor to her colleagues.

Derek Herber '91 graduated from Westfield State College in 2001 and joined the NAHS History Department that fall. Derek teaches Contemporary US History and Contemporary World History. Derek has coached several sports (varsity football, boys indoor track, boys spring track and J.V. Girls Basketball) and he is currently a senior class advisor and advisor to the Chess Club.

North Alumni News and Announcements

1940-1949

Clinton Appleby '43 reports that his sister, Lillian (Appleby) Ryan '51 of Randolph, VT passed away on August 17, 2006. Brothers Walter '48, and Arthur '45/'46 are still going strong. George O. Johnson, USMC Ret. '49, recently married Carol Blais. They continue to live in North Attleboro.

1950-1959

Lucille (Clavette) Schmidt '53 recently returned from a golfing trip in Florida with a friend. Lucille exercises regularly at the Hockomock YMCA where she sees George Johnson, Jr. '78. In February, Lucille leaves for 3 months in the Florida sun. Lucille remembers fondly the excitement over beating Attleboro on Thanksgiving Day and bringing Hilda back from Attleboro. Deborah Edwards reports sadly of the passing of her husband, J. Michael Edwards '55 on November 10, 2005. Mike and his four brothers all attended NAHS, where Mike played basketball and excelled in the classroom. Mike worked for 36 years as a computer engineer of IBM.

1960-1969

Patty Cronin '69 is National Sales Coordinator for Comcast Spotlight. She is also Co-founder, Broadcast Media Director of Plymouth Independent Film Festival. Patty currently lives in Plymouth, MA. Karen Bergevine '69 currently lives in Cumberland, RI and spends her time doing and selling design work including an open house once a year. She also spends lots of time restoring her home, which was built in 1720. Karen's son, Adrien, and his wife Ann both attended Temple University and now live in Philadelphia with their son, Henry David, born 4/19/2006. Karen's youngest son, Justin, lives in Portland, ME. He attended Maine College of Art and is currently working at Ritz Camera, designing CD covers for various local bands and some wedding albums.

1970-1979

Murray Korman '71 is in his 26th year of teaching physics at the U.S. Naval Academy. Murray has been doing research on the "Nonlinear Acoustic Detection of Buried Landmines" for the past six years and has had several publications in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. Murray also reports on his good fortune to meet up with Mr. Bob Guthrie '61 while jogging on the HS track during a 2001 visit to NA. Murray explains: "his teachings of 'pride' and 'desire' echo in my mind—daily." Murray married Catharine King Hall in 1990.
Tim Collins '75 is currently a partner in a 6-lawyer firm in Cleveland, OH. The firm mainly practices in the area of business law, and he concentrates on business litigation and transactions. Tim and his wife, Chris (Nicholson) Collins '77, have two children — Matt, a junior at the University of Texas in Austin, and Liz, a freshman at Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware, OH. Chris remembers NAHS "as a place where many of the values, perspectives and skills used in my adult years began to be formed."
Matt McCarthy '78 reports sadly of the loss of classmate Bob Mochrie '78 in early January 2007. Don Johnson '79 is the History Department Head and football assistant coach at NAHS. Don and his wife, Patti, have three children, including Regan '08. Amy (McLaughlin) Hatch '79 has joined the History Department as a long-term substitute for the remainder of the second semester. Amy and brother E. Kelly '79 recently lost their mother, Virginia, to a long battle with cancer. Our sympathies go out to all the McLaughlins, including Maureen '72, Charles "Marty" '73, Andrew '77 and Casey '83.

1980-1989

Jerry Espinosa '80 is Area Vice President, Northeast Division for Bally Total Fitness Corp. Jack Johnson '80 is the English Department Head and assistant an football coach at NAHS. Randy "Woody" Laurence '83 and his wife, Jennifer, announce the birth of their first child, Colby Simpson Laurence, on 9/14/2006 in Rochester, Michigan. Randy works for the Molex Connector Corp. as Regional Sales Manager—Automotive. Kurt Kummer '84 is an elementary Phys. Ed. teacher in NA and the head football coach of the Red Rocketeers! Ron Simoneau '85 is Director, Construction Operations for Shawmut Design and Construction. Ken Nally '86 is the founder and president of Nally & Associates, a company that deals in recognition awards and apparel. Debbie LaPensee Goldberg '87 gave birth to twin boys, Nathan and Ryann, in 2004. Debbie would love to hear from other classmates from 1983-1987. Tim Kelly '88 is the head boys and girls swimming coach at NAHS. Neal "Boomer" Beaupre '89 works at the Hockomock YMCA and is a volunteer assistant football coach at NAHS. Jen (Foster) Graveline '89 is Team Chairperson in the NAHS Special Ed. Department. Jen and her husband, Tom, have two children—Hannah (age 7) and Faith (age 6).

1990-1999

           Will Morrow '91 is still living in Alaska. Will reports that his sister, "Colleen (Murrow) Robertia '94, recently completed the Tustumena 200-mile sled dog race in Kasilof, AK. She has been running sled dogs for a few years as a handler for another musher, 1984 Iditarod winner Dean Osmar. This is the first year she's been training her own team of dogs, many of them dogs unwanted by other mushers. Her team is mostly 2-year-olds. She finished 10th in the Tustumena race, and to do that with puppies against a field that included two Iditarod winners and two Yukon Quest winners, not to mention several perennial contenders, was impressive."
           Kurt Fritzsche '92 and his wife Bridget welcomed a baby girl, Julianna Rose Fritzsche, on February 21, 2006. Ryan Poirier '92 graduated from Connecticut College in 1998 and worked for the Hockomock YMCA. Since then he completed his master's degree in Higher Education Administration at Ohio State University, where he currently teaches classes in educational psychology and adolescent development. Ryan is also pursuing his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and plans to complete his degree in June 2008.
           Jennifer Hodgdon '93 was recently engaged to Jesse Handy. The couple plans to get married in the spring of 2008 in San Diego, where they currently live. Erik Fritzsche '95 is getting married on September 22, 2007 to Laura Tynan, of Chicago IL They will enjoy an Illinois wedding.

2000-2006

1LT Erik Corcoran '00 is currently serving in the U.S. Army. His unit returned from a one-year tour in Iraq in November 2006. He reports that his platoon was extremely lucky and they all came back fine. Erik is stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and he is going to VA to attend a captain career course in the spring and summer of this year. Sarah Fritzsche '00 is getting married on August 4, 2007 to Michael Korenbaum of East Islip, NY. The wedding will be at the Central Congregational Church in Attleboro Falls, MA. Ashley Coughlin '04 is currently a member of the varsity rowing team at URI. In an effort to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, her team will be attempting to row for one full hour. To learn more or make a donation, contact Ashley at lashley@mail.uri.edu. Good luck Ashley.

Many thanks to all who contributed to this newsletter!

To share news about your accomplishments, births, marriages, promotions, or anything else you feel is newsworthy, send your notes to jjohnson@naschools.net and we will publish them in our next e-newsletter.

IMPORTANT Privacy Information: E-mail communication from the North Attleboro High School Alumni Association will ALWAYS include links to www.nahsalumni.org. There are many "for-profit" web-based firms that may attempt to create the impression they are affiliated with North Attleboro High School Alumni Association. We are not. They may send you e-mails with links to their sites. Visiting their sites and providing them contact information could compromise your privacy.

Finally, please remember to log on to www.NAHSAlumni.org to update your personal information!