ST. MARY'S Alumni from all classes reunite

One retired teacher said the school was her first assignment in 1953.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
WARREN -- It was a night to share memories -- some of them nearly 60 years old -- as St. Mary's High School welcomed alumni into its auditorium for an all-class reunion.
"All class" meant 18 graduating classes -- 1947 through 1964, when the school closed. During those years, the school graduated about 1,200 students.
Some of the reunions began outside on the Elm Road sidewalk as men and women queued up Saturday evening to get their name tags. The school, directly behind The Mocha House restaurant, was run by the Sisters of Notre Dame.
Dorothy Coffey of Warren was a member of the last graduating class, in 1964. She and her sister, Diane Hernon Cressman, class of 1963, also of Warren, chatted with others in line as they waited.
"I just had my reunion last year but it's really nice to get together with all the classes," Cressman said.
World War II memorial
Some in line looked up to read the inscription above the memorial auditorium door: "Dedicated to our youth. In memory of our men and women of World War II, the living who gave unselfishly of their services and the dead who gave the last full measure of devotion."
The auditorium, dedicated in 1949, was Warren's first permanent World War II memorial. The exterior wall also holds the school motto "Pro Deo, Pro Patria": For God -- For Country.
Inside, a large black-and-white picture of St. Mary's Mohawks cheerleaders read "Welcome Home." Tables decorated with purple and yellow balloons greeted the crowd of around 330.
A 65-page yearbook of sorts was given to every attendee. The book is filled with pictures, newspaper clips of St. Mary's athletic teams' achievements, senior plays, homecoming queens and more.
"This is great -- this is so great," said Patricia Bernard Keller of Warren, class of 1953. "I'm seeing faces I haven't seen in years."
Taught at school
In 1953, Sister Mary Patricia Pasek, known to her students as Sister Mary John Therese, began her career at St. Mary's, teaching religion, science and math. The 73-year-old nun later taught at Warren John F. Kennedy High School, which opened when St. Mary's closed.
"I loved this school," the nun said, smiling as she looked around the auditorium. "The students were wonderful. I had to learn how to teach -- they learned how to learn."
Back then nuns wore habits, a practice that phased out around 15 years ago. On Saturday evening, Sister Mary Patricia Pasek, in a beige blouse and paisley skirt, blended in with the graduates.
Remembering the past
James Botzenhart of Bazetta, class of 1955, stood near the stage and chatted with Helen Morris Watson as snapshots of school days long past flashed on a large screen. The stage held school memorabilia.
"This is awesome," Botzenhart said.
Watson, class of 1957, agreed. She traveled to Warren from her home in Warrenton, Mo., where she and her husband, Bob, have lived the past 21 years. She joked that they're moving to Florida, but not this week because it might float away.
"When I heard about the all-class reunion I thought it was a wonderful idea," Watson said. "My sister's here from California; she graduated in 1950."
James Pipino of Niles graduated from St. Mary's in 1952 and then, after college, coached football at the school from 1956 to 1960 and chaperoned "all the dances." He said he was the only lay person on staff; the rest were nuns.
Pipino gave up coaching for insurance, the Gallagher-Pipino Agency.
Bob Smith of Cortland, class of 1960, said the turnout for the all-class reunion was so good because everyone got a chance to see school friends who were younger or older. His brother, Rick Smith of Chagrin Falls, class of 1971 and alumni association president, said former students live as far away as Alaska, California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Wisconsin.
The building at 261 Elm Road now houses Queen of Peace Middle School.
meade@vindy.com