What is your favorite memory?

"The class of ’66 was a pretty imaginative group. A hearse pulling up for the prom is not an everyday occurrence. And I never did see the VW on the roof of the school, but the perpetrator of that prank brags about it at each reunion.  The one that sticks in my memory started with a hole in one of the large thermal windows in the hall leading to the cafeteria (it used to be the main entrance, but I’m not sure if NHS is still configured that way). Senior privileges allowed us to study in that hall and, upon discovering the window hole, some students took it upon themselves to create perhaps the world’s thinnest fish tank. In less than a day’s time, there were tadpoles swimming in water about 2 feet deep. Fun times." -contributed by Doug Pryce, ‘66

"I was in the graduating class of 1960. I not only spent time in Mr. DeAngelo's shop class, but also spent my free periods there working on car engines. An extra curricular activity was being sent down to the shop to have Mr. DeAngelo take the metal taps off our heels. Those were considered cool back then. I also remember something he always said to us: "You'd better listen to what you learn in this industrial arts class, buddy, because when you get out into industry, you're gonna need it." Ya know what? He was so right." -contributed by Brian (Mike) Glennon

"To the posting by Nicki DeAngelo Rutkowski, [below] I would like to mention that I remember your Dad! I took an electronics course from him when I was a senior. The entire year he joked around with me saying, "Lally, you get an F!" But in fact I received all A's! And to Carol Piccirillo ... I attended Van Antwerp in 1967 and 1968 (7th and 8th grades) and remember it well. Fondest memory -- there are so many. Senior prank was issuing Hall Passes during homeroom to all freshman sending them to the health office and Principal's office. I wasn't directly involved, of course (is there a statute of limitations for these sorts of things?). Adidas were big and so were the basketball games. I remember the NiskaYouth's (dances) with the girls lining one side and the boys the other. I remember Mr. Bill Walker (W.J. Walker), Math teacher, teaching me how to write a computer program and I eventually went into that field. I remember Mr. Zubal (freshman football coach) from Driver Ed. taking us out to learn how to drive and stopping for flowers for his wife! I also remember him sweating profusely when one of the young ladies was driving! Senior year I remember tons of bomb scares being called in from the Grand Union. All kidding aside, I really had nothing to do with that. So many good memories!  -contributed by Bob Lally, Class of 1973

"Mr. Hal Loggins and my dad were the first Industrial Arts teachers at Niskayuna. The Saturdays my dad worked in the shop while I played school on the chalk board, playing basketball in the gym when my mom shot a basket from mid-court, and the exceptional teachers I had are not forgotten. Ms. Olive Houghton began English class with her memorized quote of the first paragraph from "Rebecca" by duMaurier, Mr. Gordon Wright taught Earth Science -- I am sure he thought I had rocks in my head! Mr. Gerald York for mathematics was great! Mr. Al Prazniak was a driver ed instructor and coach. My dad, Antonio DeAngelo, retired in the mid-1970s to pursue his love of aviation. He not only flew his several planes, but he became an FAA certified mechanic and Inspector of Airplanes at age 60. He was the toughest teacher of all."  -Nicki DeAngelo Rutkowski, Ed.D., Class of 1967

"There are many, many good memories. My best -- with Mr. Loggins as our Driver Ed teacher, driving on the front parking lot, which had been flooded with water that had frozen so we could learn the practicalities of driving on ice. It was invaluable experience. The best memory now is the reunion held two years ago in October where we met at our alma mater and had a tour and then spent the weekend together. Our classmates turned out to be wonderful, loving people. I had the pleasure of being instrumental in this as I suggested it, but I give all the credit to those who picked up the ball and ran -- especially Lorraine Zielinski (now Zorechak) who still lives in the area, but also to Craig Pratt, George Flag and others who traveled there for meetings to make it all happen and run smoothly. We had about 6 of us from CA there and I believe 26 states were represented. It was the 43rd year since we graduated and the first reunion that we knew of."
-contributed by Linda Gray Calderon

"I am a graduate of the Class of 1993. I remember being dropped off early to Craig School every morning and sitting in the office on a green pleather chair waiting for the day to begin. The secretary, Mrs. Karen Kreischer, kept me company and would talk to me and let me pick out a pink jellybean from her bag hidden in her desk. She went out of her way to make sure I was comfortable!" -contributed by Melissa Kessler (formerly Strauss)

"I hate to admit that I actually remember the mid-to-late 50s and being part of the first freshman class at Niskayuna High School (the first class that started in 9th grade at the school) that started in 1959 and graduated in 1963. I remember it because it was a wonderful experience with great teachers and great friends in all the classes. One of the most moving moments in my life was the night I was named to the Niskayuna High School Hall of Fame and my acceptance speech was a tribute to my parents and to the teachers. I had a physical handicap but was inspired by them and by many friends. The people who worked in the schools (teachers, principals, coaches, janitors) when I attended were my heroes and still are along with the many classmates who befriended and encouraged me." -contributed by Bill Schultz, Class of 1963

"I was a member of the first graduating class of 1959 -- 45 years ago. My memory is bringing home the first trophy to the trophy case from the Utica Proctor cross country meet in fall 1957 -- the first Niskayuna cross country team coached by Tom Howley. -contributed by Craig Pratt, Class of 1959

"It was March 17, 1978 ... I was the freshman boys' basketball coach. As the late Tom Howley's assistant, I had the pleasure to help coach our first, and only, state championship team in boys' basketball. Led by John Leonard, Dan Terwilliger, Jim Bonaquist, Glenn Doell, and others, we beat Jamesville-Dewitt High School 75-55 in the championship game played in Rochester, N.Y." -contributed by Vince Bianchi, district teacher and coach from 1969-2002

"My favorite memory was being on the staff when they reopened Van Antwerp. It is such a great building! Wonderful staff too!" -contributed by Carol Piccirillo, Van Antwerp secretary

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