Coventry High School Alumni Celebrate 85 Years Of CHS

Submitted by Ernest DiMicco

COVENTRY, RI — On November 1, 260 alumni and family members gathered at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of Coventry High School and the 10th anniversary of the Coventry High School Alumni Association. Graduates in attendance ranged from Viola Gertrude Knight Sroka, class of 1939 to Trevor DiMicco, class of 2009.

Several former teachers were in attendance as well as the current superintendent, Craig Levis and the chairperson of the Coventry school committee, Katherine Patenaude. Speakers for the evening included Gary Osprey ’79 who started working in high school at the high school’s radio station, WCVY, and went on to work in commercial radio culminating in his purchase of a radio station, WINY 1350 AM in Putnum, CT. Other speakers included the superintendent, CHS teacher Julie Lima Boyle ’90 who was Rhode Island Teacher of the Year in 2012 and Brooke Macomber ’90, the current principal.

Entertainment was provided by Reckless Blues featuring Colleen Nottage Rogers ’85 and The Bob Tremblay Band who played oldies for the evening. Many old friendships were rekindled and
photographs of all arrangements were taken by Kevin Dolan ’80 who provided photography services for the evening.

In addition to Viola Sroka, who was recognized as the oldest attending member of the alumni, Joanne and David Leroux (of the classes of 1958 and 1959) were recognized as the longest married alumni couple, together for 57 years. Finally, the Sroka family was recognized for having four generations in attendance.

Many thanks to the Alumni Reunion Committee who organized this event under the leadership of
Event planner Tarah M. Warner and Ernie DiMicco ’66, CHSAA President. Other committee
members included Jo-Ann Passarelli ’80, Lori Di Costanzo ’80, Kevin Dolan ’80 (photographer), Stephen Bestwick ’80, Jean Boucher ’68, Kate McCarthy Barnett ’85, Helen Gray ’64, Maureen Jendzejec ’85, Beverly Blais ’74, Kathy Levallee ’83 (website work) and Ray Coppa and Charlie Harrigan, former science teachers.

It was an evening of memories that helped everyone to recall why Coventry High School is such a
special place and why the CHS family helped so many students to find their way in life.