Category: History

Hale Road and Riverside Memories: Patricia Rae Wilbeck Thomas ‘59

Karen Holp

Guest Author: Patricia Rae Wilbeck Thomas ‘59 “One day a hush will fall, the footsteps of us all, will echo down the halls and disappear.” In my 80th year now, I still hear the fading footfalls of classmates on the hallowed halls we occupied several decades ago. I hear the fast clomp, clomp, clomp of my own feet racing up the stairs at Hale Road School, careening around the corner to my classroom, only to knock over my first-grade teacher, Mrs. Olson, who was my height but a few pounds…

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The Essence of a Gentleman: Alumnus Donald Pomfrey Remembered

Gretchen Reed

A phrase used most often about Donald Pomfrey was “a true gentleman.”  A member of the Class of ’54, he excelled in so many areas that honoring his memory adequately is a challenge. His service and dedication to the school and the alumni association were a major part of his legacy, but his unwavering strength of character is also worthy of praise and respect. Don died August 16, ‘21, at age 85. Three traits that Don was widely known for were loyalty, dedication and integrity. When the Pomfrey family moved…

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Remembering Don Pomfrey

Tom Trombley

It is a sad moment to realize that the time has come to remember our own Donald Pomfrey, who died August 16, only a year and two days after losing good friend Ron Balogh, former president of Harvey’s Alumni Association. Together the two men were the heart of the Riv-Har Duck Race and had worked together on the fundraiser for many years. It is almost fitting that we couldn’t hold the race this year because I don’t know how we could have done it without those two loyal alumni members.…

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Clyde C. Hadden Elementary School Memories: Amy Evans Liikala ’73

Karen Holp

Guest Author: Amy Evans Liikala ’73 As far back as I can remember, I loved going to school.  Stepping on the bus with my plaid lunch box, my neighbors and I travelled down Route 20 to Clyde C. Hadden Elementary School, which was actually close to home but felt far away from our small neighborhood.  Pulling into the arched driveway (in on the right, out on the left), Mr. Rippin would send us in the front doors, imploring us to have a smart day.  Even though the building opened in…

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A Glimpse into David Burris: Skip Cohen ’67

Karen Holp

Guest Author: Skip Cohen There’s one good thing the pandemic has given each of us…TIME! Even now, as things start to improve, I still have time to take those fun walks down Memory Lane. Writing for the Riverside Alumni Online Log has given me a chance to put into words what so many of us have felt over the years, as we look back on those teachers who helped us most. While many teachers made a difference in my life, only one stayed in touch, Dave Burris. A few months…

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My Life as a School Bus Driver, Part II

Loretta Vandervort

As a bus driver in my earlier years (see Part I here), I quickly learned it was not an easy job that involved just driving the bus.  It was all the responsibility of the bus driver to be certain that the bus was running smoothly and safely, and that responsibility is as important today as it was then. In my day, all our buses were stick shift. So, for me, it was not that difficult to learn because, back then, most cars were stick shift also. The shifting pattern was…

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Tribute to Mr. Ralph Bunnell: Debra Filppi Colgrove ’72

Karen Holp

Guest Author: Debra Filppi Colgrove ‘72 Growing up in Leroy was wonderful. We were a tight- knit community of caring, loving and warm people. Those days are engraved in my memory; and I find as I age, I daydream often about those lazy, hazy, crazy days of my youth. Being from Leroy, I always rode the bus to and from school. We lived on Leroy Center Road and from the dinette window of our kitchen, I could see the lights of the bus coming down Indian Point Road. I would…

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My Life as a School Bus Driver

Loretta Vandervort

Many years ago, around 1955-59, I was a student at Riverside High School. I chose to take all commercial courses: typing, bookkeeping and business machines with hopes of someday working in an office as a secretary. In our senior year we were assigned to teachers to help with copying articles or any other secretarial needs they may have needed. Well, as luck would have it, I was assigned to Mr. D.W. Shaner, the English and drama teacher, who was a perfectionist about everything, and to Mr. John DeLong, American History…

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Clyde C. Hadden Elementary: Linda Molnar McAdams ’70

Karen Holp

Guest Author: Linda Molnar McAdams ‘70 Clyde C. Hadden started out as a little log cabin in 1859 and in 1900 became a two-room brick schoolhouse. In 1928 construction of a new five- classroom school began, which was called Mentor Avenue School.  In 1940, after undergoing changes, the gymnasium was added.  In 1952, seven new classrooms were added to hold 335 students.  Because of that many students, other schools like Melridge Elementary were being built.  In 1959 the school was renamed Clyde C. Hadden, for the man who served 30…

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Clyde C. Hadden – A Long Look in My Rearview Mirror : Skip Cohen

Karen Holp

Guest Author: Skip Cohen ‘67 When I first contemplated, months ago, about contributing to the Online Log, the word “pandemic” was not in our vocabulary. Now, after nine months of hunkering down, I’ve found taking a look in my rearview mirror is therapeutic. “Throwback Thursday” is happening a little every day, with great memories going back just a few months, let alone years. But staying connected to my hometown, Painesville, Riverside, JRW, and digging back to Clyde C. Hadden maintains a particular place in my heart. There’s a smile on…

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