Brockton High School Class of 1960 News


Dr. Claire M. Appling died February 28, 2023 after a period of failing health. The daughter of the late Harold and Esther (Sullivan) Appling, she was born and raised in Brockton and remained a lifelong resident of the city. After graduating from Brockton High School, Dr. Appling earned her bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State Teachers College in 1954 and her master’s degree from Bridgewater in 1957. She subsequently earned a doctorate in education from Boston College. Dr. Appling began her teaching career in 1954 at West Junior High School. Wanting to teach older students, in 1962 she requested and was granted a transfer to Brockton High School. In 1970, when the new high school opened, Dr. Appling was appointed one of the four original housemasters and became the “highest ranking woman in the Brockton school system.” She held the position of housemaster until 1999. She was then assigned to the central office of the Brockton Public Schools and oversaw the “entire health program for the whole system.” She retired in 2006 with 52 years of service in the Brockton Public School system. Even after retirement, Dr. Appling was involved in education. A member of the Paper Folders of New England, she conducted several workshops in origami. She also served as a substitute teacher at the Kennedy School, at Trinity Catholic Academy and at Cardinal Spellman High School. Dr. Appling’s involvement in the community was varied and lifelong. During her youth, she participated in religious and social activities at St. Margaret’s Church in Brockton. During college, she was a member of the Day Student council, the Newman Club, the Women’s Recreation Association, and the Upper Elementary Club. While teaching at West Junior High, she instructed the American Red Cross junior first aid course. In 1977, Dr. Appling became a certified EMT: before the age of paramedics, she rode as a “third party in ambulances.” Dr. Appling’s achievements have been recognized in numerous commendations. Notably, in 2014, for her “great range of services she has provided to this city”, Good Samaritan Medical Center and USA Christmas Town named Dr. Appling the winner of the James Edgar Community Service Award. In 2015, her alma mater Bridgewater State awarded her the Dr. Adrian Rondileau Award for Professional Achievement and Community Service. In recognition of her dedication to teaching she was elected to the Delta Kappa Gamma Society. All are testaments to the fact that Dr. Appling was “always looking for an opportunity to expand a life well-lived.” Visitation will be held at the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont St., Brockton on Monday, March 6, 2023 from 9-10:30 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 am in St. Patrick Church, 335 Main St., Brockton. Burial at Pine Hill Cemetery, West Bridgewater. Donations in Dr. Applings’s name may be made to the Brockton High School Drama Club, 470 Forest Avenue, Brockton, MA 02301.

7.19.2020: Sandra Smith Gangle Today she shares her Article on Arbitration... Sandra has recently retired from her profession and offers us a salient story of an Arbitor... Arbitration: What does that mean? Sandra Smith Gangle, J.D., Author of “Madam Arbitrator” (now available on Amazon) Often, when I tell people I am an arbitrator, they bombard me with questions. “What does that mean?” “Are you a counselor? A mediator?” I have even been asked whether I “meditate in a particular religion”. And once, I was asked if I “prescribe medication” as part of my work. The short answer is that an arbitrator is more like a judge than any of those other professionals. I am a labor arbitrator, which means I am neutral and impartial in labor relations matters. I am not biased in favor of either unions or management and I am knowledgeable in collective bargaining law. I apply labor contract language, like just cause, to resolving workplace disputes. I have been approved to conduct contested hearings in private industries and in the federal government, through FMCS, and in cases involving public employees like teachers, police officers and government workers though the states of Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Her full article is includedat this link: Sandra Gangle - Arbitrator

Judy Higgins Donohue related that our former Head BHS Football coach, Armond C. Colombo, 87, of Brockton, passed away Sunday, October 28, 2018... Click Here for a link to his obituary, or click on the photo below...

February 22, 2018: Tom Chew reported that Larry Siskind's wife Judy, passed away. The following is her Obituary: Judith D. (Macktaz) Siskind of Brockton, entered into rest on February 18, 2018, at the age of 73. She was the beloved wife of Lawrence M. Siskind; devoted mother of Neal Siskind and his wife Malu and Marc Siskind and his wife Veronica; loving sister of Jeffrey Macktaz and sister-in-law of Marsha Siskind; loving grandmother of Solomon, Alec, Myles and Alana. Funeral services will be held at Stanetsky Memorial Chapel, 475 Washington Street, Canton, on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at 10 a.m., followed by burial at Agudas Achim Cemetery, Brockton. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in her memory may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 101A First Avenue, Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451 or online at www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/MAM. Stanetsky Memorial Chapel 781-821-4600 www.stanetskycanton.com

Update: 11.3.2018: Al Galante sent a note to Judy Donohue that Marty Badoian, a math teacher at BHS while we attended, passed away on October 27th at the age of 90. After leaving BHS, he went to Canton High where he taught until last June. He taught for a total of 60-years and received many local, state and national awards. May he rest in peace... Read below for a prior note: 11.28.2017: Note from Kerry Harkins regarding a former BHS Teacher: Back on October 21st, I attended Canton High School's Class of 1967's 50th Reunion as my wife, Dawn, is a part of that class... I brought all of my camera and video equipment with me and with the Class's permission proceeded to take photos and videos all evening. Unfortunately my video camera was not working properly so I had to rely on my photos to create their 50th Reunion Tribute... As it turned out I met a teacher who, I remember, taught at Brockton High School when we were Sophmores and Juniors... That Teacher was Marty Badoian, Math Guru... He left Brockton High after our Junior year was over, went back to college for another degree and then was offerred a position at Canton High School where He has been for the last ____ years (fill in the blank) I tried to get a video of him talking about his teaching at Brockton High School, but the background noise was louder than Him talking... so accordingly, I can only show a few photos. I hope some of you remember Marty Badoian... See a better photo on Our "Class Photos" page. Kerry can be reached at kfharkins@gmail.com

10.30.2017: Note from our Classmate & Class Vice President, Lynne Davidson: With October coming to a close, I just want everyone to remember that October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I know you all know someone who has suffered from breast cancer, died from breast cancer or survived it! I know this as a fact becuause you all know me. I am a second time survivor. On May 9th of this year, just a few months ago, I had no choice but to have a mastectomy, since I had had so much radiation 15 years prior, other options weren't available. The surgery was on a Tuesday and this is me sitting outside GMT PUB on Sunday, only 5 days later. It was indeed a miraculous recovery, even though there is the possibility of more extensive surgery yet to happen. What a great recovery picture...one of my best! I send this to let you know the gratitude I feel for becoming cancer free and my concern that all women may be strong in fighting this disease. But I write more to ask you to be compassionate every month for the women, and some men, who face and fight the illness. I struggle with the stigma and question whether I should be so open. But I know it is my responsibility to advocate and address the compassion that everyone can fight to embrace a cure and care lovingly for someone dear to you, but also for all those people you will never know. Whatever your consciousness or spirituality , please give your compassion, as I try to give my gatitude....not just in October, but throughout the whole year . Thank you my FB & BHS friends! Warm wishes and blessings for your health and for those you love. If you wish to contact me, my email is: lynne.davidson@nyu.edu

10.9.2017 BHS Classmates Falmouth gathering... It's of a bunch of good looking classmates who got together on 26 September at John Cahill's cottage on Wild Harbor in Falmouth. See more "Class Photos" page. They are left to right: Ron Scarborough, Lennie Miele, Jim Cappiello, John D. Cahill, Alan Young, Joe Voci, and Dick Govoni.

8.18.2017: News from Sandra Smith Gangle: Thanks for giving me the opportunity to update you and the class. I am in the process of retiring from my practice as a labor arbitrator, which I will miss. Gene and I are moving to Camas, Washington, just over the Columbia River from Portland, where we will live just 1/2 mile away from our daughter Melanie and her family, including 5-year-old Maria. I will be busy with my new hobby of watercolor painting, as well as supervising Maria after her kindergarten ends each day. Attached are some pictures of my recent paintings, as well as one with me and Maria, taken on the day of her ballet recital in June. (NOTE: Some of Sandra's Watercolor samples are on the "Class Photos" page.

Linda Crosby Myers, (BHS Class of 1960) Our classmate, Linda Crosby Myers, has recently released her first book, which is now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format. Facets, is described as “a memoir in essay.” Here is an excerpt from the book jacket to whet your appetite: “From the six-year old girl, who misplaced her brother, to the seventy-year old widow who began a new life, became a writer, and took to the open road to explore a new country, FACETS is the author’s memoir told in short essays. She introduces the reader to people and places--jewels themselves--that ground and polished her, and inspired, supported, propelled her forward as she confronted Life in both its brilliance and bleakness.” As the reader might suspect, Linda is the “seventy-year-old widow who began a new life.” After the deaths of her husband and mother, she realized that, “for the first time ever, I was not accountable to anyone but myself.” As she cast about for clues to where her path might lead in this now wide-open life, an old friend identified her as a writer. She thought about his words and realized he was right. At heart, she was a writer. And so she began to write. Part of the reason for this collection, she said, was that she wanted to share some of her life story with her seven grandchildren. “There are so many questions I wish I had asked my mother,” she said. “I wanted there to be some answers for my grandchildren when they became curious to know more about who I am and what life was like for me. Maybe, in the process, they’d find bits of themselves.” Another motivation was to share her experiences of some of life’s darker moments and how she found her through, hoping to assure a reader in the midst of one of those times, that he/she would emerge from it, as well. And, maybe to spark a memory or bring a chuckle. She has plenty of stories to tell. She worked for the federal government in Washington, DC, most of her adult life, taking several years off when her children were small. Four years in Switzerland and three years in Taipei, provided rich fodder for stories. She also writes about her retirement to her current home in Knoxville, TN, and her frequent trips to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. “I have always enjoyed writing, though I never took any writing courses in college,” she said. “Once I began writing, I joined a small writing group—a spin-off of the Knoxville Writers Guild--where I found enthusiastic support from other writers, some of whom were published and some working towards that goal.” She recalled being encouraged to pursue journalism by her BHS junior English teacher, Joan Gale. (Linda grew up in Campello and attended Huntington Elementary, South Junior High.) In 2015, Linda took first place for creative non-fiction in the Knoxville Writers Guild contest. “That award encouraged me to move forward with the book. It told me I was headed in the right direction,” she said. Linda is working on a second book based on her experiences as a “safehavened” wife and mother living in Taipei, while her husband, a government civilian employee, was assigned to Saigon. You will find both versions of Facets—paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Click HERE to go to Amazon's Page to see more. You can get in touch with Linda at hillwms@gmail.com

As you all know, Hugh Ellis was very involved with setting up many of our Mini-Reunions over the years until his passing in May of 2014. His Birthday is October 20th, and I saw a Facebook Post written by his wife, Carole, that showed how sad she was as Hugh's birthdate approached. I had some video clips with Hugh in them and decided I would create a short video made up of various clips that reflected Hugh and his many antics that had us in stitches during our many mini-reunions and other gatherings . . . I have posted that on my YouTube account and have given Carole the link and told her to share it with her children and grandchildren. She has done so and she said it was like bringing him to life again, and asked me to share it with his BHS friends. I offer this video as a tribute to our friend and classmate Huge Ellis . . . Click HERE and then watch full screen, sound up for maximum enjoyment . . . Kerry Harkins, BHS Class of 1960 Webmaster