February 13, 2025

A Walk Down Memory Lane

The Class of 1970 – Tradition, Athletics, Academics

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EP 1970 Grads Believe They Stand Out!

Recently the Reporter was in touch with Ralph Fascitelli, a 1970 graduate of EPHS and member of the Townie wrestling and football teams.  He is a graduate of the Ivy Leagues’ Yale University.  Fascitelli and others from the class of 1970, think they have one of the more engaging classes from EPHS.  “Almost all EP graduates take pride in their school and have their own narrative of why their class was special, but our class stood out in academic achievement, athletic success and school spirit,” claims Fascitelli.  Indeed in terms of academics alone, the class of 1970 with over 600 seniors probably sent more students to Ivy League and like prestigious schools such as Harvard, Yale, Brown, Wellesley, RPI, Simmons, and Holy Cross among others.  At least seven students entered the Ivy League including George Caruolo, Ralph Fascitelli, Dick Pass, Randy Stone, Jennifer Allen, Candace Heald, and Charles Pickard. Three others went to the prestigious engineering college RPI, and Susan Aguiar attended the top women’s only college in the country, Wellesley.  Wayne Rivard went to Holy Cross and dozens of others went to great local colleges. Some joined the armed forces and others started successful work in the trades. 

Although current day Townies don’t remember much about the State’s oldest high school Thanksgiving Day Rivalry, the Class of 1970 was right in the thick of it.  Football in Rhode Island for decades had to pass through East Providence High School and Pierce Stadium.  The class of 1970 had a tremendous record, winning two State Football titles and also a State Swimming Title while being a powerhouse in most sports. Several members of the class made all state in football including John Brady, George Caruolo and Randy Stone with others such as David Stringfellow, Wayne Rivard, and the Gorham twins – Sandy and Ted also making all division teams.  After graduation the competition didn’t end as three Townie football players, Caruolo, Stone and Fascitelli competed head on against each other in Cambridge for the Ivy League Freshman Championship game featuring Harvard versus Yale.

The Class of 1970 broke new ground for school spirit including producing the first Homecoming Parade which became an annual event in the Fall of 1969. When we asked Ralph Fascitelli the then President of the Student Council for his take on what made the 1970 group so special he gave praise to the faculty both in Junior High and EP Senior. “We were just so fortunate to have so many great teachers such as Chuck Vermette, John Veader, Clarence Curran, Joe Sprague, Ruth Reitman, Elizabeth McDonald, Ellen Baker, Bill Stringfellow, Vin McCrystal, Jacqueline Thompson and Mr. Greene among so many others,” recalled Fascitelli. (Fascitelli’s Dad, Clem Fascitelli, was also an iconic teacher, coach and mentor at that time).  “We had great role models in the Class of 1968 and 1969 with student athletes such as Dan Moniz, John Basler, Dave Johnson and Fred Hallal. I was lucky enough to get accepted to Yale, which traditionally was attended by graduates of the most prestigious prep schools in the country such as Deerfield, Exeter, and Andover and I remember thinking after the first month my public-school education was every bit as good as the kids from these expensive schools and we had more fun in the process,” he added.

Many in the Class of 1970 went on to successful life careers.  “A true measure of a class is what the graduates did with their lives,” said Fascitelli. “Sandy Gorham is a true coaching legend and teacher and his brother Ted became a top pharmaceutical executive. Dave Sharp became a sought-after science teacher in Cincinnati, Ohio and a big winner on the TV show Jeopardy.   Susan Aguiar and Rosemary Cummings achieved success in the field of medicine, David Baker was elected to the school committee and became a school superintendent in New England. George Caruolo, an attorney, ascended to Majority House Leader in the Rhode State House and Jim Raposa headed up one of the largest electrical companies in the State. Mike Dodd became President of the world’s largest manufacturer of ink and Henry Gauthier achieved fame as a renowned sculptor while Al Chadsey was the proprietor of one of the most popular dining clubs in Washington DC. The list goes on and on. Wayne Rivard was a real estate mogul who at one time was rumored to own a tenth of Newport, John Brady was famous throughout New England for his success in the building supplies business and Mike Klar made a great living as an insurance executive.”

Ralph Fascitelli started what became one of the most successful advertising agencies on the west coast and later became a national leader for the gun safety movement. Candace Heald was an award-winning non-profit leader, Hugh Kiley achieved executive heights in the national railroad industry and David Tanury and Sally Sisto made a name for themselves as songwriters and Hall of Fame musicians. Jack McNamara, JoBeth Storm, Suzanne Noyes, Sue Reavey and many others became successful teachers and business leaders.

As Fascitelli recalls: “We as a group were competitive and ambitious, even without knowing it. We all pushed each other to some extent from an early age in Little League, Junior High, High School and beyond. Many of the best people I have ever known in my life were the ones I grew up with like Mike Klar, Manny Mattos, David Giraitis, and so many others. It was a magical period fostered by great faculty, great facilities, and a wonderful town to grow up in with civic leaders that we all looked up to like Ray Brown and Bill Conley, Sr. I think all of us from the Class of 1970 just feel so very lucky and appreciative for being a part of it!”

The EPHS Class of 1970 has staked a claim as one of the best Townie classes ever.  Are you part of another EP class that wants to be heard here? Other interested Townie classes can email: bobrodericks@gmail.com and extol the strengths of your class.  Let’s hear from you!

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