Seems like old times
Woodbridge class of 1947 returns after 65 years
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

KATHY CHANG Some members of the Woodbridge High School Class of 1947 walked through their high school on Barron Avenue - some for the very first time in 65 years - as part of their 65th reunion on Sept. 29. The school is now Woodbridge Middle School.

WOODBRIDGE - For many, it was their first time back in 65 years.

"The school seems smaller to me," said Ginny Sorensen-Barnes, as she looked around the gymnasium. "It's nice to see my classmates, their faces look like they did."

The Woodbridge High School class of 1947 had their 65th year reunion by touring their high school on Barron Avenue on Sept. 29 and the class also had a brunch as part of their reunion celebration at the Pines Manor in Edison on Sept. 30. Their high school is now Woodbridge Middle School.

Many of the classmates came to the reunion because they were curious. Some of the classmates pinned their senior photograph on their shirts.

"I wanted to see what the school looked like," said Rudy Gutwein, who grew up in Hopelawn and now lives and works as an architect in Cherry Hill.

Bill and Doris Boehm, of Forked River, and the class committee organized the reunion for their classmates.

"This is the first time we are touring the school as part of our reunion," said Doris. "We have classmates coming as far as California. We were a class of 311 students."

The Boehm's were high school sweethearts.

"We started dating in seventh grade," said Doris. "Then we went in separate directions after we graduated. He moved away."

Bill and Doris got back together after their 50th class reunion.

"We started dating and now we have been married for six years," said Doris. "We have three children and 10 grandchildren between us."

The classmates reminisced with each other about their experiences together at the high school, which had double sessions at the time.

"The double sessions allowed us to get a part-time job," said Mary Palus, who traveled from Texas to the reunion.

Tony Brodniak and Don LaPenta, who have been friends since their junior year of high school, offered precise memories of their high school days.

"We were not allowed to step on the grass, which was cut and fertilized, in front of the school," said Don LaPenta, of Fords, who also reminisced about his time playing the clarinet and saxophone in the school band. "The only time we were allowed on the grass was during graduation."

Brodniak, of Sayreville, remembers a memorable football game against their rival, Perth Amboy.

"When we were juniors, our team beat them by one point [7-6]," said Brodniak, who was one of the quarterbacks on the team and a safety. "They chased us out of town. That Monday, the Perth Amboy kids marched into our town and the police and fire trucks stopped them at the border line of the town."

Brodniak also played guard on the high school basketball team.

"We were the worst team, but we had a lot of fun," said Brodniak with a laugh. "Our school had a lot of school spirit. The pep rallies left our ears ringing on Fridays before the Saturday games."

Sorensen-Barnes, who traveled from Cape Cod, Mass., said she remembers the dances in the gym and said the craft rat races at the Jackson soda fountain was the place to be on a Friday night.

Like many of her classmates, Alice Miller Larsen, of Edison, said she remembers a quiet and peaceful time and a friendly close-knit township.

"Everyone knew each other even though a lot of us were transported from different areas of the township to the school," she said.

Sorensen-Barnes added that the time was a sweet time.

"It was a time of innocence," she said. "Looking around the school brings back so many wonderful memories. It's just hard to believe that it has been over 60 years."

Larsen said she remembers swimming and ice-skating in the clay pits, which is now the Woodbridge Community Center on Main Street.

"We all laugh about that now," she said.

Gene Coll, who traveled from Long Island, N.Y., Harry Christensen, of Clark, and Joe Princ, of Edison, came to the reunion even though they graduated a year or two prior to 1947, but said they were allowed back after they served in the military.

"We were allowed to come back to the school to take courses after the military," said Princ. "There are a lot of memories."

Mel Longfield, who now lives in the Jersey Shore area, said he got goose bumps coming back to the high school.

"This is very emotional," said Longfield as he walked through the halls of the school. "Thinking about those years and how much fun we had as kids gives me goose bumps."

Longfield, who traveled across the country while in his 22 years serving in the U.S. Army, said his fondest memories was playing the clarinet in the band.

"Back in those days, we weren't allowed to play in the band and also play on the football team," he said. "I got caught playing football, but in the end I had to choose one or the other and I decided to stay and play in the band."

While in the military, Longfield spent his time talking to students in schools about the military, and after he retired he worked in an engineering firm.

"I retired recently from the firm, but I'm still active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion organizations where I live."

Al Kovacs, who has been the pastor for the Hungarian Reformed Church in Woodbridge for 17 years, said he would not have graduated if it were not for the teachers and counselors in high school.

"I was a bad student," he said. "I would have been a dropout if not for them."

Ken Manning, who traveled to the reunion from Salisbury, Md., with his wife Peggy, said he enjoyed his time playing the clarinet in the high school band and participating in the dance band, which was formed by his classmate Bill Wiegers, who has since passed away.

"We would play at different organizations whether it be at teen dances, teenage canteens to USO centers and events at New Year's," he said. "It was fantastic."

Larsen and Sorensen-Barnes said times were different.

In 1947, Harry S. Truman was the president of the United States, the book "The Diary of Anne Frank" was published for the first time, and the movie "Gentleman's Agreement" won an Academy Award and Golden Globe award for best picture. The film featured actor Gregory Peck and actress Dorothy McGuire.

"My 55-year-old son was surprised when he saw photos of me and my classmates," said Sorensen-Barnes. "Our hair was proper and we wore conservative clothing. Our belly buttons weren't hanging out."

Larsen added that there were no guns those days.

"The worst that happened was when the war ended and the veterans came back to school, they would smoke downstairs in the boiler room," she said. "That was as bad as 1947 was."

The 1947 class committee said they would hold another class reunion in two years.