Classmate Histories
Many of us have not seen or talked to each other in many years. We thought this short
questionnaire might help us all get reacquainted prior to the October reunion. A compilation
will be available then.
What has everyone been up to? A possible conversation piece for meeting up with old friends.
Not all of us will be able to chat with such a large group, but we hope our little histories will be
of interest to all. Help us by sharing a summary of your last 50 years. All interesting tidbits
welcome! Possibilities:
General:
History of your family in Westfield. Where did you live?
Your history in Westfield – schools attended, outside activities, overall remembrances.
Lifelong Westfield friends.
What this reunion means to you.
Specific:
Education, Career.
Current Family: Are you married? How long? Number of children, grandchildren, etc.
Home: Where do you live now? How far away are you from Westfield?
Hobbies and interests. Travels: Most exciting adventures.
Best memory of WHS or Westfield.
Proudest accomplishment since graduation.
What is the same about you since being a teenager? What is the most surprising thing about
you as an adult?
Please either post this information on the website or email to a committee member:
WHS ’71 Website: https://westfieldhsclassof71.wixsite.com/reunion
Teri DiFrancesco, 908-322-9247, teri1002@comcast.net
Barbara Swab, 352-219-3177, barbara.swab@gmail.com
Richard White, 781-898-8017, rw27818@gmail.com
DEADLINE: September 30, 2022, Photos welcome too!
Hello fellow WHS class of 71 friends! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing so many of you at the reunion.
I grew up in Westfield on Lawrence Avenue. I attended Franklin School, Elm Street, Roosevelt Junior High and WHS.
I got my undergraduate degree at Thiel College and MEd
at the University of Houston. My family moved to Houston in 1974 and I followed after graduation.
I have been married to my soul mate, Craig Hanriot, for 43 years. We met at Thiel College.We moved around a bit, from Houston to Atlanta to Southern California.We have one daughter, Nicole Hanriot Tinkess, and 2 adorable grandkids, Charlie and Leon. We are blessed that they live so close by.
My memories of Westfield include my best friends growing up, Toni Connell and Sue Bretherton, swimming for Mindowaskin and the Y, and the Y teens. It was an idyllic childhood, playing outside with all my friends on Watchung Fork until my mom rang the dinner bell, summers at the pool (Mindowaskin), swim meets at the Y, and so many fun times and trips with the Y teen girls!
I was a teacher for 30 years and loved my students who still keep in touch with me. Now I am enjoying retirement and most of all my grandkids!
Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey-Ey, Goodbye
Greetings old friends and fellow Alums. The notion of our 50th reunion is both thrilling and sobering. Congratulations to all of us who have made it this far! Reminds me of the famous comment, "if I had known I was going to live this long, I would've taken better care of myself". We moved to Westfield in 1960, to 200 Sunset Ave. at the corner of Carol Road. So many great memories of that neighborhood, Wilson School, and my football and baseball friends and fellow garage-band members, led by Tom Polman after The Beatles rocked the US on the Ed Sullivan show. Close neighborhood buddies were the Harvey Brothers and many Class of 1970 graduates. Right after graduation in June of 1971, we moved to the Brightwood/Gregory's Pond section of town which my 94 year old mother just moved out of in 2019. It would be sacrilege not to mention playing for the legendary Gary Kehler as a defining moment for me and perhaps many of my teammates. He was THE reason for Westfield football dominance at that time. Let's face it, they don't grow 'em any bigger or faster in Westfield than other towns. Not losing a single game over many years is a rare accomplishment and it was an honor and a privilege to play for him. Thank you Coach! I've been married to my lovely wife Elizabeth Anne Napier for almost 20 years and we have a 15 year old son, Will III. (Yes son, not grandson-haha.). He is a sophomore football player (go figure) at Notre Dame High School in Lawrence Township, NJ, not too far from our primary residence in Washington Crossing, PA which is on the Delaware River about 50 miles from Westfield. I am a 1975 graduate of Princeton University and studied a few years at night at NYU Stern School of Business while working on Wall St.in institutional fixed income. I am currently a financial advisor and part of a terrific team at Morgan Stanley in NYC serving high-net-worth clients. On the field as a player I loved seeing the fans waving white hankies and singing the iconic Steam song late in the game when we were usually pretty far ahead. One of many great memories of days-gone-by in Westfield. I would love to hear from old friends and so look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the reunion. I think we will run out of time catching up and enjoy every minute of it.
See you in October - Na Na Na Na. Bill Napier
Public Relations/Marketing Executive in NYC for many years. Lived in Jersey City w my beloved, deceased partner in crime, Frank, during that time. Many side visits to Westfield, My Home Town since third , to see family and friends. Currently in Asheville, NC ... Freelance writing and marketing activities. What an eclectic town ... Wonderful, fun people. So looking forward to this reunion. I am a sentimental sap! 😄
retired software developer and locksmith in the Boston area since 1978. Occasional oboe/English horn. Translator of Russian checkers literature.