Gunnard Johnston

Howie Appel

Wow, I remember Mr. Brock very well.  If I remember, he had short cropped hair and I think he taugh math when I was there.  Am I talking about the same teacher?  Congratulations to Don Brock on a very distinguished career.  I do remember your also being soccer coach.

Michael Riley

bravo to agreat soccer coach and a great math teacher. i am glad to hear his well after he became ill last fall during the soccer tournament. i was amazed when i learned that he was still coaching happy retirement Mr.Brock.

Virginia Day (Barbera)

Mr. Brock was such a great math teacher as well. What a great record as soccer coach. Hope he continues in his recovery. I was very sorry to hear the news of his daughter's passing.

Robert deVeer

Mr. Brock was the teacher who stirred my interest in math.  Thanks for that, and congratulations on an outstanding career.

Deborah Davis (Sturgis)

Mr. Brock was my favorite math teacher.  Math was difficult for me , but with his help,  ( i.e. teaching me repetitively in study time or after school),  I actually learned.    Most of what I learned then has stuck with me.   As a teacher myself , I look back upon his patience and positive attitude with gratitude.   I hope his recovery continues.   Congratulations to him for excelling in many areas of his life and for touching so many young lives in a positive way.  

Carolyn Campbell (Kay)

Bob, I think I could say the same. In fact I got a math degree. He and Mr Chambers were a big influence.

Douglas Chamberlin

A number of people have reflected on the influence that coach Holt had on them. I've met a woman through my church who lived in Needham. She, too had high praise for Coach Holt's work with the team. Her name is Carol Charlantini. She lived in a house that overlooked the "Little Red Store" on Great Plain Ave. not too far after the big curve in the road, not far from the golf course and the train station. I'm sure some of you (Candy Baker Ross) and others remember it. She said she drove the bus for soccer and hockey teams for a number of years, possibly, though, before we were team members. She remembers  Robbie Ftorek. She also spoke very highly of Coach Holt. She wondered if any of you remembered her. Please post something if you did. Thanks, Doug

Paula Nardella (Weaver)

Mr Brock was my Algebra I teacher in the 9th grade. I remember how my almost-failing math grades shot up over the course of the year, because of his good teaching and confidence-building. I subsequently took a lot of math in college and used it in my career. 

Carolyn Campbell (Kay)

Paula, Were we in the same class? I was also in one of Mr Brock's algebra I classes. I wonder if there was one or more classes of algebra I.

Janice Whitehead (Mosher)

Paula and Carolyn, I had Mr Brock in 9th grade Algebra I also. In fact I remember the room number 25 at Pollard. He was always a very positive teacher.

David Drake

I also had Mr. Brock for Algebra I in 9th grade.  He was a great math teacher.  We need to hear from some of his soccer players.

John Semple

As a member of the soccer team our last year in high school, I would like to note that the coach of the soccer team in the fall of 1968 was Fred Preston, who also taught math.  I pulled out my copy of the Advocate to confirm that I was not having a "senior's" moment. Mr. Preston is in the picture of the soccer team with a bunch of young men who likely all remember the hellish wind-sprint drills we did to get ready for what was a very successful season led by Mr. Preston running backward.  I also remember taking a math class from Mr. Preston in high school, but not Mr. Brock.

Charles Charlton

Like a number of us from the class of 65 I had Don Brock as a teacher at Pollard. To me what made him interesting as a teacher was the fact that he was so young - in his early 20's at the time. My youngest brother Tim knew him quite well. Tim played soccer for Mr. Brock for three years - including the undefeated  and unscored team of 1977. I went to 5 or 6 games that year and  they had terrific team.

John Semple

Regarding Coach Preston, who died in Oct 2014:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/wickedlocal-wellesley/obituary.aspx?pid=172743504

The picture of Coach P in the Obituary is of a much older person than I remember.  True for all of us after 50 years.

Martha Johns

Reading the notes about Mr. Brock brought back the memory of 9th grade algebra at Pollard! That was one of my favorite classes. And I do recall how young he was, probably the youngest teacher I ever had. Fun to think about those days. (Moved away after 9th grade, hence no graduation picture.)

Douglas Chamberlin

I find it interesting that different memories, all positive, of Mr. Brock have been posted. I remember Mr. Brock at the High School, but not at Pollard, which I attended. Don't think I ever had him for math. Sounds like it was my loss. I'm like John Semple (good go hear from you, John). I kept thinking that coach Preston had been our varsity coach, but had to go to the yearbook to confirm. My busdriver friend, Carol Charlantini, was convinced that Mr. Brock had been varsity coach. I wonder if they just swapped for a few years. Anybody know the answer to that? 

Bruce Dean

During my years at Pollard, Don Brock was also my algebra teacher. Math was never my strongest subject. I vividly recall that during one particularly difficult exam, Don walked up and down the aisles, glancing at our answer sheets as he passed each desk. At one point, he stopped, briefly reviewed my answers over my shoulder, nodded his head and smiled.  I think I received a C+ or B-.  It was his caring gesture that I still remember so well. A class act.

Howie Appel

When I was at NHS, math was never my strong skill (nor is it to this day!!).  I never, unfortuntely, had Mr. Brock for a teacher.  I knew him to say hello in the hallways.  I sure do wish I'd had him, based on all these comments.  

David Drake

2015 High School Proms!

I saw on the Today show this morning that teens spend an average of $900 on their Senior Proms today.  Really!!  Certainly 2015 is not 1965.  There has been a signficant amount of inflation in the last 50 years but I would argue that expectations are much different today than they were in 1965.  Do the high priced Prom dresses, tuxes and limos mean kids have more fun at their Proms than we did?  I would argue a resounding NO!

How are all your memories?  I tried to remember.  Where did we have our Senior Banquet and Senior Prom and how much did they cost (for the tickets, not counting dresses, etc.)?  I then looked it up in my scrap book.  I got one of the locations correct but I was way off in the cost of the tickets.

In the 50th anniversary of our Senior Banquet and Senior Prom, I am curious who else has fond memories of these events that they would like to share.  Also, do you remember the places and prices and how you got there?  Please take a guess before you look it up in your scrap book.  If no one spills the (baked) beans within a few days, I'll post the places and cost of tickets.  I'm looking forward to all your responses!

David Drake

Remembering our High School Prom and other Senior events.

Hi David- I found your post on Proms interesting.  However, clearly your/my post did not strike a chord and/or fell on deaf ears.  I remember going to all the Senior events in our 1963 Chevy station wagon - no limo for me (or unfortunately for my date).  The Senior Prom, called "Carousel", was held in the Needham High School gym on May 1, 1965 from 8:00 PM until 11:45 PM and cost $3.00 per couple.  The Senior Banquet was held at the Meadows in Framingham on June 10, 1965 from 7 PM until midnight and the cost was $3.65 per person.  [There is now a restaurant called Pappa Razzi at this location but there is a sign for the office park that still says "Meadows".  There is also a WalMart in the adjacent lot.] The Thirteen Club sponsored the Commencement Dance for the Class of 1965 and it was held at the Maugus Club in Wellesley Hills on June 11, 1965 from 8 PM until 11:45 PM and cost $3.75 per couple.

Les McKechnie

Dear Classmates... David Drake has asked that I share this with all of you.  

We have a bonus activity for Friday morning the 25th of September. You may not know it, but the largest and many consider the best privately owned World War ll museum in the world is located in Natick, Massachusetts. It is usually invitation only.  However, our own Jeff Farrell is the curator and through his generosity, he has opened the World War Two Museum for 60 classmates and or spouses to spend Friday morning stepping back into the history of our parents generation.  We will establish a roster of classmates that send in their reunion registrations and indicate a desire to join us in visiting this museum for this fabulous opportunity.  First Come— First Served… No cameras are allowed and you will be required to sign a release. The usual $25 donation has been reduced to $10. More details are available on their web site. We hope that you will join us for this special opportunity.

http://www.museumofworldwarii.com

If you had the opportunity to view the recent movie…. The Imitation Game; this museum has several German Enigma machines for you to touch and examine.

Here is what Trip Advisor has to say…. (by the way.. TripAdvisor was started in Needham and its new world headquarters is almost complete in the Needham Industrial Park)


http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g41698-d3600168-Reviews-Museum_of_World_War_II_Boston-Natick_Massachusetts.html

Howie Appel

Thanks for sharing...Wish I lived closer.  Sounds like a great take.  Have a fun time.

Pamela Nichols

My husband and I would love to visit this museum. So I'm looking for information about registering for the the reunion and can't find it. Help!!

Nancy Murray (Charlton)

I, also, cannot find where to register for the reunion.  Help would be appreciated.