April 2026 Newsletter

April Fool’s Day, today!  How many of you either gave or received the telephone number for a Mr. Lyon, only to find it was the number of the Bronx Zoo?  A Scout friend in Nutley either participated or knew of someone who dropped a manikin from an overpass into the back seat of a convertible.  A most-dangerous thing to do!

And, Easter Sunday is this Sunday, for us Believers, a most significant time.

Carol Cavenaugh gave us her contact information (revised Roster included) and has authored a WHIDSHS (what have I done since high school) biography, also enclosed.  And, Bob Delezenski pointed us in the direction to find the obituary on Diane Casale.  Denise Smith Lavacca asks us to remove her Dad’s email address from our Roster (no longer working), but to use hers (is on the Roster).  He also doesn’t pick up his telephone.

Bob Delezenski asks if any of us may know the whereabouts of Tony DeGeorgio.  They were homeroom mates.  Tony also wasn’t able to be located when the 1997 Reunion was organized.

Last month we’ve heard from Armond D’Agostino, Carol Hill, Ginny Van Zile, Denise Smith Lavacca, Bob Delezenski, Carol Cavenaugh; Rocky Imperatrice, Ann Zimmerman, Bob Alvine, and Wally Riker.

Ann Dassing, executive director of the Bloomfield Educational Foundation, reports that a few unsold raffle tickets remain…so a flyer for such is included too.  I know at least four of us who have purchased these $100 tickets (chance to win $1,000).  A ticket is chosen each month while school is in session.

Our next Zoom reunion is Friday, April 24, at 3 pm east coast time.  Wally Riker will again begin at 2;30 pm for those who may need help logging on.  With thanks to Principal Chris Jennings, our BHS speaker is Steve Jenkins, the current Athletic Director.  He has spoken to our class Olympian Dick Emberger, so knows him.  With Title IX it will be interesting to learn if there are now as many girls participating in sports as boys.  Wally Riker suggests the wine paring in the Attachment section to go with our time together.

From…CAROL CAVANAGH GROVER

At the behest of Bill Payne whose excellent sleuthing skills found a fellow BHS 1956 graduate in a small town in Wisconsin, I am updating my fellow graduates about my life (very abridged) for the last 70 years.  REALLY ARE WE THAT OLD?????

I live in Kohler, Wisconsin, home of the Kohler Company (bathrooms) and near Green Bay (Packers).  Kohler is about an hour from Milwaukee and is also well known because it is a golf destination (Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits).

I am widowed, in good health, still getting around and travelling some.  I have 3 married children, two living in the Chicago area and a daughter here in Wisconsin.

After graduation and marriage, I moved a lot for my husband’s career (he was an engineer and MIT grad).  We lived in Kentucky, Illinois, New York and of course here in Wisconsin.  I went to Montclair Teachers’ College briefly and finished my degree at the UW system schools.

Wisconsin is a good place to live except for the weather!  I never thought I would be a Midwesterner but have been here for 50 years.  I play a lot of bridge, am in books clubs, and pursue a hobby my husband and I enjoy called geocaching.  It is a rather “nerdy” computer game where people hide things and give the coordinates to find the caches.  It began when satellites became available.  It challenges me to go to places and get out and explore.  We always tried to find a cache whenever we travelled and to date have found 1250.

Thank you for finding me.  I will definitely ZOOM in May.

Diana L. Casale Casparro, Obituary

In loving memory of Diana L. Casparro of Bradley Beach, New Jersey, who departed this world on March 6, 2026 at the age of 87. Diana leaves behind a legacy remembered by family and friends.

She was predeceased by: her parents, Joseph Casale and Onorina Casale; her siblings, Albina Miller, Phyllis Velardi and Tilio Casale; and her brother-in-law Larry Casparro.

She is survived by: her husband Larry; and her children, Rob (Donna) and Lynn Maloney (Michael). She is also survived by the many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Diana’s name to the American Cancer Society (https://donate.cancer.org).