The Day We Graduated: June 5, 1958

If you need to get in the mood, listen to The Four Freshmen sing “Graduation Day,” (recorded, 1956) by clicking on the highlighted title.

9 A.M.

The last week of the school year and liberation is in sight. That Thursday morning, John Bolvin, one of the faculty advisers to our class, gives us a pep talk before the rehearsal, where we will practice marching down the aisles to the strains of Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstances,” played by our classmate Christine Ferguson. I remember Mr. Bolvin telling us that it had been a pleasure to advise us, and that our class had an interesting mix of students, a balance that the two earlier graduating classes hadn’t had. I think he meant that all of the various high school types were represented (leaders, brains, athletes, artists, hard-workers, hot-rodders, and law-breakers).

We didn’t know it then, but he, too, was about to graduate from high school POD teaching and enter the world of higher education. Dr. Bolvin is now an emeritus professor in the Department of Psychology in Education and the former dean of the College of General Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. In fact, the CGS awards a scholarship annually named in his honor.

The baccalaureate service had been held on the previous Sunday evening, but not everyone had attended and we had only filed in together minus the pomp. For tonight’s graduation ceremony, we need to practice the hesitation step. The girls (who would wear white gowns, heels, and caps with the tassels secured by bobby pins) catch onto the rhythm pretty quickly; most of the guys (to wear black academic robes and mortarboards with tassels clunking them on their noses) never do. As I recall, some drill sergeants (Mmes. Fulmer and Bowman, maybe?) are posted on each side telling us when to turn and how much space to leave before following the preceding graduate as we enter from the foyer at the back and come down the side aisles of the auditorium.

8 P.M.

It is still quite bright out that evening as commencement begins, but, of course, it won’t be over until after 10:30 pm. After we march in, Rev. Luther Fackler of St. John’s Lutheran gives the invocation before we sit down. Dr. Thomas Carson, Supervising Principal, utters a few words in educationese; and Ed Florak, class president, welcomes the assemblage.

Back in mid-April, tryouts were held for commencement speakers. We had to present a 5-minute speech on the general theme “What we owe” before a panel of teachers. Those selected, who were now sweating profusely up on stage, spoke in this order: Bob Beilstein, “What we owe to parents and faculty”; Marjorie Downer, “What we owe to our friends”; Peggy Peterson, “What we owe to our country”; Barbara Sweeney “What we owe to ourselves”; and Bill Vestal, “What we owe to faith.” The audience was requested to please reserve their applause (otherwise the thunderous ovations likely to erupt after each of these talks might have seriously delayed the proceedings).

Aside: The other day I read my speech, typed on 3 x 5” cards, and marveled at its vapidity. Originally it had been too long, but I seem to have cut out all the best parts, and what “we owe to ourselves” came out prescient of the age of me-ism, to arrive a decade later when the Baby Boomers came of age. I was ahead of my times. I wish I could have left in the quotation I liked from my favorite play, “Our Town,” when Emily discovers that people don’t really perceive life passionately enough as they are living it. Darn.

Next we, the senior class, sing “The Halls of Ivy” in unison—which seems a little odd upon reflection, since it’s about an ivy-covered college. Were we led by Miss Werner? I can’t remember much about what happened right after those speeches, still recovering from the adrenalin rush. I don’t think any of us knew where that song came from. Actually, it originated as the theme song for an NBC radio sitcom by the same name, which became a TV series (1954-55). It was sung at the beginning and end of each program by what I imagined was the Princeton men’s glee club. Remember the words?

"Oh we love the halls of ivy
That surround us here today,
And we will not forget,
Though we be far, far away.

To the hallowed halls of ivy
Every voice will bid farewell
And shimmer off in twilight
Like the old vesper bell.

One day a hush will fall,
The footsteps of us all
Will echo down the halls and disappear.

And as we sadly start,
Our journeys far apart,
A part of every heart will linger here.

In these sacred halls of ivy,
Where we've lived and learned to know,
We'll meet again at twilight
In the sweet afterglow."

9:30 P.M.

Next, the new NAHS principal, Robert Grine, presents some scholarships and awards from local organizations. The grand prize goes to Anne Kiley for being a National Merit Scholar. By coming in 5^th for the whole country in the Exceptionally Able Youth Tests, Anne also earns a full scholarship to Duquesne University. Other award recipients include Marjorie Downer, Marilyn Michalko, Phil Lane, John Allardice, Ted Sprys, Janet Heim, Peter Thurston, Richard Sass, Peggy Peterson, and Regis Gschwind.

Mr. Grine then presents the entire class as having completed the necessary requirements to graduate. Ivan Hosack, the North Allegheny Joint School president, announces our names alphabetically as we stand, cross the stage, shake his hand, and get our diplomas. According to the list in the program, 169 are given out.

Now the pace picks up with the singing of North Allegheny’s alma mater by the Boys’ Senior Quartet (John Allardice, John Brownlee, Mike McKay, and Ray Wick). And then a benediction by Rev. Fackler before we march out a lot faster than we came in—and with no hesitation steps.

High school is over for us. The Class of 1958 is history.

I’ve got more to say about graduating—but this play-by-play is enough for one posting…