We are now less than two weeks from the deadline for reservations (June 20, 2026). Keep those cards and letters (and checks) coming in!

If you lost or don’t have a printed invitation and form, you can download it from the website.

Hurry!

CHESTER Richard Wilander, seaman apprentice, has completed his boot training at Bainbridge, Md., and is enjoying a fourteen days leave with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wilander, of Huntington Road.

Mrs. Ethel Boomsma of Lee Road, and daughter of Mrs. Josephine Thompson and Benjamin Chaffee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Chaffee of Main Street were married February 12 in the First Congregational Church of Westfield. Rev. Edward U. Cowles performed the ceremony and the couple was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bronson of Westfield.

Corporal Richard Fabrizio USMC, son of Mrs. Emma Fabrizio of Huntington Street, is enjoying a month’s leave after 15 months duty in Japan and Korea where he attended Leadership School for three months. Following his leave he will report to Cherry Point, N.C.

Winners of prizes at the third party of the whist series sponsored by TaskTa Council at the Masonic Temple were Miss Marilyn Webb, Mrs. George Morey, Mrs. Roy Wheeler, Alexander Whiteher, Charles F. Pease and George Morey. Door prizes went to George Morey, Thomas Rose, and Miss Marilyn Webb. Mrs. Joseph Salvini, Mrs. Viola Phelps, and Mrs. Henrietta Salvini were in charge.

Mrs. William E. Giles of Maple Ave. entertained the Past Pocahontas Club of TaskTa Council Monday evening. Honors in bridge were won by Mrs. Amos Davenport, Mrs. Roy Wheeler, Mrs. Alexander, Whitcher, and Mrs. Raymond Leone. The March hostess is Mrs. Leonard Alexander.

Charles Piergiovanni of Main St. has returned from the Noble Hospital in Westfield where he was confined for several weeks, after. a fall from his garage roof.

Mrs. Mae Walsh, Great Pocahontas of the Degree of Pocahontas of Massachusetts and her suite of Boston, paid an official visit to TaskTa Council Friday evening. Social hour with supper followed, with Mrs. Henrietta Salvini, Pocahontas in charge.

S – Sgt. Phillip Blanchard of the Air Force is enjoying a 30-day leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Blanchard of Lee Road. He spent one year in Korea, and traveled 10,000 miles by airplane to his home. While in Korea he joined a hobby club, where he constructed a B29 airplane with a seven foot wing span and received a prize and ribbons. Next month, he will report to Walters Air Force Base at Fort Worth, Texas. Seaman David Blanchard has completed his boot training at Bainbridge, Md. and is on 14 days leave with his parents. A family dinner party was held Sunday with the following guests present: Miss Mary Hancock, Mrs. Charles Sullivan and son Charles of West Springfield; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Blanchard, Mrs. Charles Pere and children Richard, Marie, Francis and William, also Henry Moreau of Westfield and Miss Nancy Blanchard.

Miss Mary Ann Bevan, senior at Endicott Junior College, Beverly, was a weekend guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bevan of School Street.

Pvt. Paul Petersante, USMC, son of Mrs. Martha Petersante of Old Huntington St. has been transferred from Camp Nara, Japan, to Kaneohe Base, at Oahu, Hawaii.

Staff Sgt. Horace Whitaker has left for his new assignment at Rapid City, S. Dakota, after spending a 30-day leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Whitaker of Littleville. Sergeant Whitaker was previously stationed in Japan and Korea for three years.

Frank Kelly, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kelly of Hampden St. has been confined to his home by illness during the past week.

Mrs. Hubert Whitcher of Prospect St. substituted in the Bancroft School last week for Mrs. Seigle.

The social aspects should come naturally! To participate in the “business” aspect, the following documents may be of interest:

• 2025 Executive Board Meeting Minutes
• 2025 Membership Meeting Minutes
• 2026 Executive Board Meeting Agenda (6/27/2026 at noon) will be posted in June.
• 2026 Membership Meeting Agenda (6/27/2026 at 2:00 pm) will be posted in June.

Remember, you can always visit the CHSAA Documents Page to see what’s available!

“I’ve got an idea!”

I’m probably not serious. Maybe.

We could adopt a theme for the 123rd Annual CHSAA Runion.

At least a few generations will get it. (Click the red arrow.)

We could have some Saturday Afternoon Fever!

Missing address:

• Randy Aiken
• Paul Laurie
• John Salvus
• Scott Savoy
• Kathleen Shaw

Have address:

• Guy Carrington
• Barbara Pease Huntoon
• Donald Kozmiuk
• Floyd Pease Jr.
• Michael Pease
• Wilma Shedd Sudyka

Deceased:

• John Miller
• Barry Pease
• Eric Young

Missing address:

• Elizabeth Dean Saunders
• William  Koelsch
• Muriel Wood Donovan

Have address:

• Barbara Forkey Sakaske
• William E. Giles, Jr.
• Nancy Laro LeBarron
• Floyd J. Pease
• Nancy Pease Salvhus
• Joyce E. Platt Cahill
• Beverly Wilcox Sheehy
• Edward K. Willey

Deceased:

• Mel Avery
• Thomas Barton
• Kathleen Broadhurst Roy
• Anita Cadman Borgnis
• Bernice Chandler Daigle
• Charles Conner
• Estella Foley Conner
• Joan Hallock Beatty
• Thomas S. Madru
• Shirley Morey Savery
• Marlene Menton Mottor
• Janet Packard Quinn
• Earl Palmer
• Linda C. Piergiovanni
• William Sanderson
• Theodore Smith
• Lorraine Strout Broadhurst
• Richard Webb, Sr.
• Roy Wheeler

Special recognition was given to Harriet Kelso Gilman from the class of 1939 who recently celebrated her 104^th birthday and was celebrating the 86^th anniversary of her high school graduation. Sybil Miezejewski from the class of 1949 was also recognized as one of the oldest alumni present.

Tom Boyer received applause after traveling the furthest from Florida to attend.

Scholarships presented to graduating seniors included Evan Forgue, Kalee Connor, and Isabella Le Barron. Alumni continuing their education Grace LeBarron, Dalton Savoy, Jackson Harding, and Sean Savoy had their scholarships renewed. Scholarship Custodian Diane DeMoss noted that it was great that several recipients attended the reunion, and all recipients are now considered life members of the association.

Association President Walter Boomsma noted that these reunions are “drifting in the direction of becoming as much a town event as a school reunion.” Boomsma also pointed out that the Historical Society supports the occasion by offering special hours for alumni to visit the museum during reunion weekend. “I think this is proof that small-town America is alive and well, at least here in Chester,” he said.

The Association reelected Walter Boomsma as President for his twentieth year. Treasurer Robert Goewey also returned to the office. Kate Blanchard was reelected Vice President, and Donna Willadson Harris was elected secretary.

The Association’s Board of Directors includes Janice Leone Brown, Jack Young, Jackie DeMoss Conklin, Brenda Budreau, Judy Olson, Bruce Cooper, Edith Whitaker, and Robert Broga. Scholarship Custodians are Diane DeMoss, Linda Casper, and Annette LaMountain.

The Chester Foundation hosts the annual event at the restored Train Station. Dave Pierce, President, noted that the annual reunion is “one of our favorite traditions” and that the Foundation appreciates and supports more than the tradition of railroading in Chester.

The Association has already started planning for the next annual meeting, scheduled for June 27, 2026.

Those associated with or connected to Chester or Chester and Gateway Regional High School are encouraged to ensure that the Association has current mailing information. The Association also maintains a website (https://chesterhigh.wordpress.com/) and Facebook presence (@ChesterMassachusettsSchools) where alumni can gather information and post comments.

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“UTF” in postal vernacular means “unable to forward.” In alumnae vocabulary, it means we’ve lost contact with a ‘mate. If you’re on this list, help us out! Please do not post the information in a comment (privacy concerns)–instead, send an email to Walter or use this form. 

• Rita Wheeler Willey, 1945 (Update: Deceased, but we don’t have the year.)
• Claire Robert Dudar, 1947
• Elma Lehtinen Morris, 1950
• Nancy Olds, 1952
• Marion Pease Elder, 1956
• Betty Philbrook Butler, 1957
• Phyllis Bingley Turner, 1957
• Robert Carraway, MD, 1958 (FOUND)
• Marshall Black, 1960
• Judith Ratio Mesick, 1963
• Gloria Glowski McIntyre, 1964
• Carol Wilander Chaney, 1965 (FOUND)
• Floyd Philbrook, 1967
• John Pfeiler, 1967
• Joe Savoy, 1970
• Glenn Jameson, 1975
• Paul Wheeler, 1976
• Irene Daniels Shedd, 1977
• Wendy Lyon Swartley, 1985
• Amy Webb Underwood, 1991
• Amy Fisher, 1993
• Linda Shedd, 2002
• Sarah DeFeo, 2002
• Jessica Phillips, 2004
• Arthur Geary, 2005
• Emily Stone, 2012
• John Noble, Jr, 2014
• Ben Michael Van Heynigen, 2016
• Anna Pless, 2017

As a reminder, membership in the association is open to anyone who has lived in Chester and/or attended schools in Chester, including Gateway Regional. Graduation is not a requirement. We’re pretty liberal about it! If you’re interested in us, we’re interested in you!