1951: HERE COMES OUR 60TH! (RIGHT CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

The list of missing classmates is the latest I have in my records. If any classmates can add or see errors, please email me.

1951 - 2011: 60 YEARS!! WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

Apologies to those visitor to this website who left comments that have gone unanswered. I discontinued posting on my Hamilton High and Kuser School sites due to my inability to keep all three sites going simultaneously. That was a mistake, and I am hereby resuming posting. To those of you who didn't receive a response to comments left on the site, please know that it was unintentional. A bit of simple math, 2011 minus 1951 equals 60 years, and at the golden age of 78, I admit that I let up a bit on the accelerator. However, I have decided to resume posting on this website. As to the goals of this endeavor and even though I have a very soft spot in my heart for my HHS '51 classmates, you will see that www.hhs51.blogspot.com is a chronological history of Hamilton High School West (Watson) which in my biased opinion is the best high school in the state of New Jersey.

I would like to make a suggestion to those visitors who are familiar with tweaking your computer. This site is much more legible if you reset your monitor display to 800 x 600 (from 1024 x 768).
(Go to CONTROL PANEL, CLICK ON DISPLAY, CLICK ON SETTINGS, MOVE THE SLIDER TO 800 X 600 AND CLICK APPLY.)
800 x 600 is much more comfortable for those of us who advancing age has resulted in our being "optically challenged."

1951: WE MADE SUCH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOGETHER!

Those were such wonderful years! As I pile on the years, memories of those years of singing with the gentlemen above will remain until we prayerfully meet again in the great beyond to resume our vocal talents. The photo was taken while we were in stage makeup as you can see by the lipstick and the flesh-colored make up we wore as we performed for the public. (don't miss our lily white necks where the makeup begins!) Each of us had a specific talent. Our "anchor," Bill Baggott along with Lee Belardino handled the tenor section. Keith Kauffman and Bob Thompson handled the deep, deep, "bass II" and George Mozer and I took over the baritone ("bass I") section. I will never forget the beautiful, indeed ethereal harmony we made together as we sang those great old "barbershop" songs; "When You Wore a Tulip," "Drifting and Dreaming," "In the Evening By the Moonlight," "Shine on Harvest Moon," and countless others.

1992: PAUL WHITE, HHS '93 GETS AN EAGLE SCOUT AWARE

This is from Thursday, November 19, 1992 "MERCER MESSENGER" when my friend Niel Bencivengo was Principal of the best high school in the whole U.S.A. (My opinion of course!) My son Tom so wanted a job with the Hamilton School system. He had an interview based on my telling him that there was a part time and a full time position available. However, when he got to the interview he found that the full time position had morphed into a part time position only.

1992: PAUL WHITE, HHS '93 GETS AN EAGLE SCOUT AWARE

This is from Thursday, November 19, 1992 "MERCER MESSENGER" when my friend Niel Bencivengo was Principal of the best high school in the whole U.S.A. (My opinion of course!) My son Tom so wanted a job with the Hamilton School system. He had an interview based on my telling him that there was a part time and a full time position available. However, when he got to the interview he found that the full time position had morphed into a part time position only.

1956: HERE COMES A n HHS 55th REUNION!

"HOAGLAND," in a subtle-as-a-crutch email, reminded me that my math is slipping; a message with which Max Jordan would be in complete agreement.

The error has been corrected.

I received this announcement from my friend Jack Lacy, HHS '56. Here's another historic milestone from the best high school that every existed,

HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL!

Congratulations to all those seniors from that class who are now card-carrying seniors!

1956: DECEASED FROM HAMILTON HIGH CLASS OF 1956

Thanks to Jack Lacy for this updated listing of Hornets who have passed on. They will be in our prayers and our memories.

1969: HAMILTON'S JIM COURSEN RETIRES

Back in the 1960's and early 1970's, "Charles Van" created quite a community controversy as he wrote a number of very controversial and critical columns relating to the inefficiencies of the Hamilton Township school system. A number of letters to the editor suggested that "Charles Van" was a pen name, and the actual author should identify himself. As my research continues, I may find more information on the writer. In the meantime, he wrote this article on the retirement of Jim Coursen; "Jim Crow" as we called him back during my Hamilton High School years. .

1956: Obituary of John J. Kerlin, HHS '56 FROM JACK LACY - HHS '56

Hi all:

     Sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings so often but someone has to do it.  Been away on vacation so this is a bit late.

Jack

****************

John J. Kerlin  John J. Kerlin, 74, passed into God's loving embrace Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, at Compassionate Care Hospice in Saint Francis Medical Center with his loving family by his side. Born in Trenton, NJ, John was a longtime Mercerville resident and businessman. He attended Hamilton High West and was an avid photographer there. Following graduation, he was a Navy reservist and veteran who proudly served on the USS Harlan R. Dickson and received the Good Conduct Medal. Upon completing his military service, John worked at Reedman Auto for several years. True to his entrepreneurial spirit, he opened and successfully operated Kerlin's Auto Service until 1972, when he decided to pursue a new career that would allow him to spend more time with his wife and two young sons whom he adored. Thus, John's Heating and Air Conditioning was born. John could always be found in his blue uniform and bright red truck. He loved working side by side with his devoted son, Wayne, who continues in John's footsteps, proudly wearing the uniform and driving the bright red truck. When not working, John enjoyed reading heating and cooling technical manuals, watching football on television, taking trips with his beloved wife, Diana, gardening, and attending weekly Mass. He always insisted on sitting in the first pew. A member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, he also enjoyed attending Mass at Saint Gregory the Great Church. John was predeceased by parents, John W. and Anna (Vlaszac) Kerlin, and father and mother in-law, Joseph and Anna Glonek. Left to honor John's memory are his devoted wife and best friend of 47 years, Diana Glonek Kerlin; his dear son and daughter in-law, Paul and Jennifer Kerlin of Colorado; his loving son and daughter in-law, Wayne and Roseanne Kerlin of Yardville, NJ; his precious grandchildren, Christopher and Nicholas of Colorado; a sister-in-law, Joan Doll, and a host of other relatives and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Chiacchio Southview Funeral Home, 990 S. Broad St., Trenton. Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm Sunday evening. Burial with military honors will be held privately at Brig. Gen. Wm. C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ. Parking and handicap access are located behind the funeral home.

1954: MARION GOLDENBERG SCHWARTZ'S TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND

When we were young, we looked in the Society page to see who was getting married to whom. As we age, we now look in the Obituary section of the daily paper to see if one of our relatives, friends, or treasured classmates have gone to be with the Lord. Marion Schwartz's moving tribute to her friend late Marilyn Lister hearkens back to those carefree high school years.