WILSON AREA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1971

'71 Turns 70

Check out the latest updates on the '71 Turns 70 Reunion Weekend here. 

Who's coming?  Check out who will be joining us at the picnic here.

Reserve your spots and pay for your tickets by credit card here or by check here.

Show us 50+ years in a dozen photos . . . 
Learn about and participate in The Legacy Project

First Thusday Breakfast
September 7, 2023

Click here for
additional photos at
First Thursday
Breakfast Archive

63 Years Ago

Second Williams 2nd Grade Pic Rumored;
Joins Elusive Avona Photo on Wanted List

09/06/23

Dave Vanderbilt and Rachel Dreisbach Wissner were quick to respond to yesterday's email blast, filling in most of the blanks on the photos of the Fairview and Williams Township 1960-61 second grade classes, respectively.  Rachel also confirmed Bob Agosta's original suspicion that there is a second Williams Township photo hiding out there, since there were actually two separate classes of Williams youngsters that would eventually feed into the WHS Class of 1971. Stay tuned as the hunt continues . . .

(To contribute an ID or just comment in general, click on the Message Center link under the Member Functions heading in the left-side menu.)

Williams Township Grade 2 Pic Found;
Avona Photo Still MIA

Bob Agosta has come through with a pristine copy of the Williams Township Elementary 1961 Second Grade class snapshot, leaving Avona Elementary as the lone missing jewel in the treasures that are these photographic blasts from the past. Bob was able to pick out a good number of his classmates, but there are still a few that can use identification, so you other hilltoppers should scroll down, have a look and fill in the blanks.

Meanwhile, our thanks to Diane Yurko Mahoney, who has chipped in most of the IDs we needed on the Fairview photo, which you can check out in our previous post (below). 

Williams Township Elementary School - Second Grade - 1960-61

Front Row: Cynthia Allen, Halden Ballek, Katie Loebsack, Robert Agosta, Tyson Zackey, Jean Sandt, Joel Ehret, James Keiter, Rodney Steckel, Rodney Seifert  Middle Row: Louis Woodginske, Karla Szmodis, James Davis, Rachel Dreisbach, Robert Helm, William Pensyl, Dale ?, Stephen Rehrig, Audry Haas  Top Row: Willie Salokey, Jack Fleming, Earl Eckert, Mallia Danner, Robin Shippers, Steven Bandi, Nancy Trauger, Deborah Deremer, Miss Rymond   Absent: ???
 

Four of Six Second Grade Photos Surface

Our thanks to Dave Vanderbilt (Fairview), Sally Terzino Lagman (Liberty) and Betty Chroust (Hay) for digging up copies of their elementary school class photos that the Wilson school district apparently commissioned during the 1960-61 school year - the year that the WHS Class of 1971 was navigating the rigors of second grade.  Along with the Livingstone photo, we now have four of the six elementary schools and just need to track down copies of Avona and Williams Township to complete the set.

If you can't help us out locating those two photos, perhaps you can help us identify a few classmates we're not sure of in the photos below.  To contribute an ID or just comment in general, click on the Message Center link under the Member Functions heading in the left-side menu.

Hay Elementary School - Second Grade - 1960-61

Front Row: David Whitmore, Dawn Warner, Dottie Rush, Jimmy Herb, Silke Thom, Gary Porter, Dave Hunsicker, Melody Maurer, Ned Shuttleworth  Middle Row: Shelley Hunsicker, John Worman, Dennis Causey, Janet Rath, Nancy Rolling, Barry Messer, Keith Bartholomew, Darwood Hoff, Miss Hazel Clark  Top Row: Joy Garren, Wayne Little, Andy Updegrove, Tim Horninger, Betty Chroust, Barbara Eveland

Fairview Elementary School - Second Grade - 1960-61

Front Row: ???, John Tindall, Jeff Smith, Bobby Ott, Eileen Ehritz, Debbie Grover, Liv Osby, David Vanderbilt, Johnnie Mack   Middle Row: Tommy Peters, Rosalie Amato, Wassum ?, Johnny Katinis, Dennis Katinis, Chuck Nausbaum, Claire Simmonetta, Kathy Rasener, Debbie Vogel, Francis Cerino   Top Row: Steve Gable, Gloria Decker, Ginger Hahn, ???, Sharon Lifland, Diane Yurko, Jimmy Johnson, Clifford Milburn, Mrs. Garren

Liberty Elementary School - Second Grade - 1960-61

Did a little better with the Liberty Brigade, but we suspect some classmates were absent on picture day.

Front Row: Pat Adams, Sandy Long, Mark Seiple, Karen Brewer, Tom Sestak, Mickey Snyder, Donna Howey  Middle Row: Barb Riegel, Judy Henthorn, Ted Natterman, Mickey Pierson, Jill Guzzo, Fred Thomas  Top Row: Mrs. Grey, Dave Mertz, Sally Terzino   Absent: ???

Livingstone Elementary School - Second Grade - 1960-61

Front Row: Linda Frey, Donna Hudock, Debby Inderelst, Paulette Davis, Joan Pyatt, Darlene Hetzel, ? ? ?, Ray Bright, Bill Kester, Bruce DeRohn  Middle Row: Albert Kester, Janet Stroble, Crystal Hartranft, Steve Kohut, Walter Frant, Charles Kries, Tom Hartranft, ? ? ?, Karen Davis, Linda Post  Top Row: Lorraine Nagy, Pam Rhinebold, Nick Falcone, Scott Schaffer, Gary "Pete" Stoneback, Eric Case, Carol Tylus, Sandra Keiter, Sandra Dunlap, Mrs. Hawk   Absent: Bob Seiple

First Thursday Breakfast
April 6, 2023

Fourteen classmates and guests got a jump on the Easter weekend at April's First Thursday Breakfast, including one new classmate and our first Gen Alpha guest.

It was great to see the lovely Darlene Berardinucci Creazzo, who joined us for her first First Thursday.  We also welcomed to the table our first Gen Alpha guest, Leo and Marianne Wismer's granddaughter, Sydney, who charmed our regular gang of Baby Boomers with her smile and her fashionable and on-point Easter bonnet.

Clockwise from lower left: Marti Ott Sebring, Donna Howey Bysher, Debbie Hoover Statler, Sandy Long Rickert, Terry Bieber Balcavage, John Katinis, Bob Statler, Barb Nuttal Horinko, Betty Chroust, Darlene Berardinucci Creazzo, Leo Wismer, Sydney and Marianne Wismer.  Not in photo: Photographer Joy Garren Hemming.

The flip side.

Newcomers Darlene and Sydney enjoying the pre-Easter company with Leo and Marianne.

Rest in Peace . . .

Darwood T. "Woody" Hoff

February 4, 1953 - March 22, 2023

Our sincere condolences to Woody's wife Terry, his daughters Lindsay and Laura and the rest of his family and friends.  Click here for information on visitation and services.
 

3/2/23 - Eventful Breakfast

'71 Classmates attending March's First Thursday Breakfast were pleased to welcome Diane Cohen Griffith, who, in addition to logging her "first First," set a new record for distance travelled - making the drive from her home in Haymarket, Virginia, just west of Washington DC and 210 or so miles from the Nazareth Diner.  (Check out the FTB  Archive for more photos.)

In addition to catching up with fellow '71ers, Diane brought a guest, her cousin Janis Krieger, a 1973 Wilson grad currently serving as Vice President of the Wilson Area School Board.  Janis also serves on the board of the Wilson Area Partners in Education Foundation, a volunteer group made up of community members and district representatives whose mission is " . . . to ensure the highest level of educational innovation supporting students, faculty, and staff with community involvement in a partnership of lifelong learning."

Jan invited all present, as well as any other local Wilson alumni and residents to a fund raiser on Thursday evening, March 9 . . .

as well as a breakfast  event on May 2 that will honor former Wilson grad, teacher and coach Gary Laubach . . .

If you're interested in helping or participating in the efforts of this dedicated group, visit WAPEF.org, where you can get more information and sign up with your email address to receive newsletters and announcements.

New Website Feature:

First Thursday Breakfasts Archive

Check out the new First Thursday Breakfasts Archive, with photos from the monthly gatherings since June 2022,  Click the link on the left side menu and see how many classmates you recognize without the captions!

February 2, 2023

Wilson Boro Winnie 
Sees Her Shadow

Winnie Williams, third cousin twice-removed of the current edition of Punxsutawney Phil, made a rare appearance outside her Washington Boulevard den today with her usual weather prognostication, as well as a special message for the WHS Class of 1971.

Holiday Pop Quiz

With the holiday season winding down, New Year resolutions being formulated and 2023 dates being saved (September 30 comes to mind), here's a little holiday pop quiz we thought you might enjoy pondering . . .

While they differ greatly in scale, cost and crowd-attracting potential, the annual holiday commemorative displays of neighboring Wilson Boro and the City of Easton share a number of things in common.  We're looking for two particular features that they share that are somewhat unique, but will consider any unique answers you can come up with.

 See the two winning answers here

Meanwhile . . . Back In Bloomsburg . . .

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

When last we left Class of ’71 alum Rosalie Amato Strouse, she was preparing to travel the five miles down Route 11 in Bloomsburg to watch the Wilson Area HS field hockey team take on host Central Columbia in the opening round of the PIAA Division 1A State Championship Tournament  Coincidentally, at the conclusion of the hockey game, Ro wouldn’t have to leave her seat to cheer on her granddaughter, Ella, and her unbeaten Central Columbia Girls Soccer teammates in their opening match of the PIAA Girls Soccer Tournament.

It turned out to be one of those good news / bad news kind of evenings . . .

READ MORE HERE

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Question: Besides their Wilson High pride and their abilities to dazzle crowds by skillfully manipulating a stick, what do WHS Class of 1971 head twirler Rosalie “Ro” Amato Strouse and the 2022 Wilson High Field Hockey team have in common?

Click here for the correct answer

Wilson High Field Hockey Team

Targets League Championship

Donna (Howey) Bysher '71 Recalls 1968 Title . . . 

October 19, 2022

With the new high school buildings occupying the grounds that we remember as the field hockey and soccer pitches, the Wilson Area High School varsity field hockey team now plays its home matches on the athletic complex fields at the Intermediate School in Avona. 

This Thursday (10/20/22), however, the girls take to the road to meet Northwestern Lehigh in a semi-final playoff match that could result in the Warriors punching their ticket into the final of the 2022 Colonial League field hockey championship tournament . . . . . 

READ MORE HERE

CLASS OF 1972 CELEBRATES 50TH REUNION

In classrooms, on fields and tracks and courts, in the stands, on stage, at dances and parties, at the pools, and (of course) at Topps Pizza after wrestling matches and basketball games . . . Besides our own Class of 1971 classmates, many of us spent more time interacting with members of the Class of 1972 than with any other WAHS class. 

Unencumbered by COVID restrictions, that Class of '72 celebrated the 50th anniversary of its graduation from Wilson Area High School on September 30 at the Woodstone Country Club in Danielsville. 

Who do you recognize?

READ AND SEE MORE HERE  

Congratulations, Debbie and Ernie . . .

Congratulations go out to Debbie (Vogel) and Ernie Bossert, who joined the ranks of the retired on August 19 when they completed the sale of their family business, Korte Company to Schiff's Food Service. 

A purveyor of meats and other foods, Korte was founded in 1934 by Debbie's grandparents, Gus and Catherine Korte.  Debbie's parents, Tom and Catherine Korte Vogel, took over the business in 1968 when Mrs. Vogel's parents retired.  Debbie and Ernie became the third generation at the helm of Korte when Debbie's folks began their retirement. They're both especially pleased that they were able to pass the torch to another family-owned establishment that recognizes the quality and service orientation of the Korte brand and its employees.  If you've ever eaten a steak sandwich in the Lehigh Valley (and who hasn't?) you've likely enjoyed Korte's signature product!

For more background on the companies and the acquisition, click here.  

Well done!  Enjoy your retirement, Debbie and Ernie!

A Great Day Starts with a Good Breakfast and the Best Breakfasts are "First Thursdays" with the Class of '71

Wilson's Warrior

To Be, Or Not To Be?

Wilson Area School District will stop future use of  Native American logo

By CLARE FONSTEIN   THE MORNING CALL |  JUL 26, 2021 AT 6:07 PM

Priscilla Liguori  |   Aug 16, 2021 Updated Aug 20, 2021

Facing pushback from residents, Wilson Area will keep chief logo

By MICHELLE MERLIN   THE MORNING CALL |  AUG 24, 2021 AT 6:39 PM

50 Years On . . .

Watch the Class of 2021 Wilson Area High School Commencement

Watch the Class of 2021 Wilson Area High School Award Ceremony

Ready.  Set.  Zoom!

Sunday evening was the 21st day of March in the 21st year of the 21st century.  So it seems appropriate that 21 classmates from the Wilson High Class of 1971 found their way to the first event of the 50th Anniversary year of our graduation - coming together via the internet on the Zoom platform that has become such an indispensible tool over the past year.

Read about our March 2021 get-together here . . .

Greetings, first time visitors . . .

Welcome to the digital home of the WHS Class of '71.  The bricks and mortar of our alma mater may be gone, but we've now got a campus room in "the cloud" to gather, communicate, reminisce and stay connected.

The site is private, secure and free, and as it evolves, will allow us to:
- maintain an up-to-date database of classmate information
- decrease the cost and increase the efficiency of notifications and communications
- allow for broader participation in planning efforts through surveys, polls and forums
- provide a contact point and archival "scrapbook" for the class.  

Please take a few minutes to join us by:

1)  Clicking on and reading the First Time Here? link.

2)  Signing up with your email address and a password.

3)  Completing your classmate Profile.

4)  Reaching out to classmates you are in contact with to get them to sign up.

5)  Exploring the site, uploading some photos, having some fun!