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Alumni of old St. Paul’s H.S. reminisce at 50th reunion

By Barbara Hughes
Special to The Catholic Virginian

“Today we celebrate the lives of those whose feet crossed the doorway of this church.”

Benedictine Father Paschal (Anthony) Morlino, speaking at St. Paul’s Church in Portsmouth, told this to his one-time classmates at the 50th anniversary reunion of the Class of 1957 from the old St. Paul High School in Portsmouth.

St. Paul High School graduated its last class of students from the church in 1991 but the spirit which alumni say characterized the school was evident at the 50 year reunion the weekend of May 18–20.

With only 33 students in the graduating class of 1957, the small but tightly knit community deferred to popular demand and included the classes of 1955, ‘56, and ‘58 in the festivities.

But alumni from other classes also attended - people like May Wakefield, a graduate of the class of 1935. At age 88, she continues working as an accountant, does volunteer work and was lector for the Saturday evening liturgy.

“We were like family,” explained Dale Rogerson Canonizoda. “We were all so close.

“When you walked to school together you get to know everyone and it didn’t matter what class you were in. And shame on you if you got in trouble at school! Your mom knew about it before you got home.”

Reflecting on his years at the school Father Paschal, now pastor of St. Benedict Church in Baltimore, expressed his gratitude for the sisters and priests who had a wonderful rapport with the students.

“They all seemed to be on the same wave length,” said the priest who attended St. Paul’s Elementary School and was a freshman at the high school. The following year he transferred to Belmont Abbey in Belmont, NC, where he was ordained a priest in 1966.

“Forty-one years ago I celebrated my first Mass here at St. Paul’s,” beamed Father Paschal.

He remembered with fondness Sr. Alexis, a member of the Daughters of Charity who taught first grade from 1941 to 1951.

“She set the tone for all of us,” he said.

A letter from Sister Alexis Paolozzi, now 92 and works at the reception desk at Seton Health, a hospital in Troy, NY, was on display along with the portrait of another Daughter of Charity, Sister Zoe whom alumni remember with great fondness.

“They’re our special saints,” said Margaret Morlino Stephenson, class of 1960.

Joe Zemienieuski agreed. “Many think of her as a saint.”

Sister Zoe taught bookkeeping, typing and shorthand at the school. After retiring from teaching, she stayed in Portsmouth and worked with the poor in the Oasis outreach program.

One faculty member who did attend the reunion was Roy Chamberland, a graduate of Notre Dame University, who coached football and basketball at the school from 1950-56. Coach Chamberland took the coaching position at St. Paul’s following his graduation from college and soon after became engaged to Rita Reagan, a graduate of St. Paul’s class of 1949.

Once married, he and his bride lived in a house owned by the diocese and located next door to the school. Coach Chamberland recalled that once the babies started coming, he had to sell cars to supplement his income in order to make ends meet. His salary wasn’t growing as fast as his family was. When he asked for a raise, Msgr. Joseph Govaert told him to sell more cars.

It was typical of a spirit that Fr. Paschal captured in his homily and which Pat Morris, chairman of the reunion, said was the highlight of the weekend.

Referencing Tom Brokaw’s book, “The Greatest Generation,” Fr. Paschal invited those present to give thanks for being formed by parents, teachers, priests and neighbors who had been products of World War II and the Great Depression.

“Their sense of sacrifice and personal responsibility shaped our lives and formed us into the people we are today,” said the priest.

“We were among the first in many of our families to receive a college education and we attained more than our parents ever dreamed of.”

He reminded those of his generation that they did not inherit a perfect society but against the backdrop of Viet Nam, the rebellion of the ‘60s and ‘70s, bigotry and racial unrest, faith and education offered stability.

He compared today’s secular environment to that of the early Church when people of faith fought to survive in an anti-religious climate.

“There was conflict between Satan and the Father’s will then and there is now,” he said.

But the priest offered this reassurance. “Jesus on the cross experienced pain, dreams, disillusionment and saw first hand the complexity of life but he forgave and healed and reached out to people who needed hope and healing.

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