Old Rochester Regional High School Unveils Alumni Wall, Recognizing Classes of 1962-1965

Old Rochester Regional High School unveiled the new Alumni Wall, recognizing members of the Classes of 1962-1965, at a reception held on Thursday, May 1. Bill Garcia (left) was president of the Class of 1965. (Photos Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)

MATTAPOISETT — Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Principal Michael Devoll are pleased to report that Old Rochester Regional High School celebrated the unveiling of the ORR Alumni Wall with a reception held on Thursday, May 1, sponsored by the National Honor Society and attended by the graduates of the Classes of 1962-1965.

About 30 members of the four original classes of Old Rochester Regional High School attended the event, celebrating the new Alumni Wall and paying tribute to the school’s establishment in the fall of 1961, when 718 students from Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester first entered its doors. After alumni viewed the wall, NHS students led them on tours of the school.

The wall has been a two-year effort by the National Honor Society and its advisors, English teachers Kathleen Brunelle and Randy Allain. The funding for the project and reception, as well as gifts for the alumni, came from National Honor Society fundraising efforts.

The school’s opening in the fall of 1961 marked the first time that students in the tri-town area came together under one roof, including grades 7-12.

“The classes of 1962 through 1965 are more like one large class, bonded by that experience,” said Kathleen Brunelle, an English teacher at Old Rochester Regional High School, who spearheaded the ORR Alumni Wall project and the reception.

Brunelle read the following dedication at the event, which is now posted on the wall. 

“The Class of 1962 started the year as seniors. They were the first official graduates of Old Rochester Regional High School, establishing the Bulldog tradition,” Brunelle said. “The Class of 1963 entered as juniors and spent only two years in the new school but quickly made it their own. The Class of 1964, sophomores, enjoyed three years in their new home and pulled together despite turbulent times. The Class of 1965 earned the distinction of being the first graduating class to have competed all four years of high school at Old Rochester.”

“These four classes remain forever bonded by their years at ORR. They established ties and traditions that continue to guide the school today,” Brunelle continued. “They are our foundation and they are our history. For these reasons, we dedicate this alumni hallway to them — the classes of ’62-’65 — the original students of Old Rochester Regional High School.”

The National Honor Society offered thanks to the following individuals for helping to make the Alumni Wall and the reception possible:

• Tony Tranfaglia, owner of Village Signs 
• Allison Barker, who helped design and place the letters for the Alumni Wall
• Michael Bauer, who put up the images that make up the Alumni Wall
• Principal Michael Devoll, who gave approval for the project and helped choose the images and fonts
• Alumni Dick Morgado, Vincent Pina, and Edyie Johnson, for their emails, support and communications that helped make the event a success
• Dana Palmer-Donnelly, vice president of the Bulldog Pride Association
• National Honor Society students, for their preparations for the event, especially Nolan Bushnell, who helped to spearhead the event

Superintendent Nelson thanked the National Honor Society for its work to make the Alumni Wall possible, along with its co-advisors English teachers Kathleen Brunelle and Randy Allain.

“It was a pleasure marking this historic event nearly 65 years later, bringing our alumni together to celebrate and unveiling the new ORR Alumni Wall,” said Superintendent Nelson. “Thank you to our National Honor Society co-advisors and all of our National Honor Society members for all their hard work to make the ORR Alumni Wall come together and for making this event such a success.”

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Old Rochester Regional High School first opened its doors during the fall of 1961. The school unveiled a new Alumni Wall, recognizing members of the Classes of 1962-1965. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)

Charlie Jefferson, of the Class of 1962, is known as “the original Bulldog.” Jefferson, who played football for Old Rochester Regional High School, suggested that the school adopt the name Bulldogs. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)

Vincent Pina was president of the Class of 1964. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)

From left to right, Carol Oliviera Regan, John DeMello, and Kathy DeMello, of the Class of 1965. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)

Members of the Class of 1962. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)

Bill Garcia, president of the Class of 1965. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)

Old Rochester Regional High School unveiled the new Alumni Wall, recognizing members of the Classes of 1962-1965, at a reception held on Thursday, May 1. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)