Viking Views

At the Baccalaureate ceremonies for the Class of 2013, I was struck by thoughts of the thousands of assemblies, games and other functions that have taken place in the same very gym since our building was built in 1950.

I told the graduates that as they joined the ranks of our alumni, they now shared a special bond not only with their classmates but all of us who are graduates of Villa Angela Academy, St. Joseph High School and VASJ.

From this point forward, we are members of one family. And the Viking Village will always be our home.

Scanning the gym, I saw myself as a student at dances, assemblies, basketball games and school plays. I saw memorable teachers such as Tim Robertson, Joe Farrell, Joe Radican, Jack Veasey, Frank Macuga, Gene Oberst, Mike O’Grady and so many others as they enjoyed the functions as much as we did.

I thought of rallies and games where legendary coaches such as Bill Gutbrod, Bernie Guilfoyle, Jim McDonough, Tedd Kwasniak, Bob Straub and Mike Moran shouted encouragement and made our spirits soar. Longtime coach John Storey still does that for us at football games.

I thought of the wonderful nuns such as Sister Naomi, Sister Rosemary Hocevar, Sister Angela Marie, Sister Ursula and Sister Irene Charette who guided their students at the "old" VA, the "new" VA and here at VASJ.

Not a week goes by that we do not have alumni visitors who pop in to the school simply to stroll down Memory Lane. At some point in the first-floor hallway, they stop to gaze up at their class portrait. Often they take a picture of their picture, yet another way to preserve the memories of some of the best years of their lives.

Don’t get me wrong: By no means do we suggest that the high school experience – no matter how uplifting and spirited and inspiring it may be – represents the high point of anyone’s life. We look at it more as a lifelong influence on all the experiences to come. Time and time again, our alums remark that the most important things they think and believe came from their families, their church and this school.

Now another class joins this special group. We wish them well and we look forward to their future visits back home in the Viking Village.

Richard Osborne ’69 is the president of Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School.