March 2025: Volume 25 - Issue 6

Thank you to everyone who responded about the St. Patrick's Day Parade, especially Mr. Don Larsen, the band director at the time!  We continue to look for writers! Have a story for us to print? Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade

  by, Wendy Elkis Girnis, Class of 1977

The NYC St. Patrick's Day parade dates back to March 17, 1762. Irish ex-patriots and military members serving with the British army stationed in the colony of New York marched in a parade wearing green to symbolize Irish pride. They were immigrants who missed their homes and felt joy in the freedom to wear green, sing songs from home, play Irish tunes, and speak Irish. 

Originally, the parade was organized by military units, but after the War of 1812, Irish fraternal and beneficial societies took over the hosting and sponsoring the parade. The Irish 69th Regiment started to lead the parade around 1851.  The Ancient Order of Hibernians also became involved in the parade and eventually became the official sponsor. 

Hicksville High School Marching Band has marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade for as long as I can remember.  It was always fun preparing for the parade, except for the one year we needed to cut and staple green shamrocks on our hats.  It's a long story, but you'll find it below.  We were excited about boarding the buses with our instruments and heading into NY.  Some years, it was cold; others were seasonal.  The crowds lining the streets were boisterous and enjoying every minute of the parade.  I remember one year, we were told that WPIX was broadcasting a playback of the parade after the late news.  I think we all stayed up to see Hicksville march across the screen.  Unfortunately, the only person in the band who marched across our TV screens was Charlie Thorwarth, who played the baritone horn.  Needless to say, we all came to school the next day exhausted and mad at Charlie. 

From teacher and marching band director, Mr. Don Larsen - For the record, the giant shamrocks were the HS administration's reaction (Mr. Rusch, especially) to concerns about the orange in our uniforms.  If you recall, the political scene in Ireland and Northern Ireland was  VERY tense at that time.  One of the comments on the thread mentions the crowd lining the streets.

Mr. Larsen

I asked the alumni for their reminiscences as well as pictures of the parade.  We had quite a response.  Here are some of the responses with their memories of a great time. 

Kathy Doucette 

 

This is the only picture I have from the parade. This picture was taken by my sister, Mariann Doucette in 1979. I believe her and her friends skipped school that day because Seniors had a habit of doing that. I, Kathleen Doucette was a Sophomore, and, that's me carrying the base drum. 

The Band Director was, Mr. Don Larsen. In the picture you can see Mr. Pitrelli in the beige coat walking alongside the band.

 

I remember getting up early that morning. We didn't have chartered buses back then like they do today. Our transportation was the big yellow school bus. Once we arrived in the city, we waited on the side street until it was time to step onto 5th Avenue. The highlight of course was marching in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral and, seeing someone I knew amongst the thousands of spectators, my sister. She snapped this only picture I have of me and my fellow percussionist marching that day. I remember feeling relieved when I was able to unhook the base drum, but had blisters on both hands from banging that drum!! 

 

I wish I could remember more...

 

 

Ellen Baldwin Mackey:  That was such a fun time! I remember when we got back to the HS I used the pay phone to call home to be picked up and my mom was screaming that I was on TV.  She said they zoomed in and put a Shamrock around my face.  They taped it in the VCR but who knows where that ended up! Great memories for sure!

Anna Kokoris Tzanetos: I played the violin so I begged to be allowed to March and play the glockenspiel! One of the best memories from high school. What an honor.

Gina Marie Garone: I did , I was a Coquette

 Anne-Marie Simco-Hayes: Yes, I marched with the Coquettes senior year.  It is a wonderful memory.

 Donna Hess Fischetti: I marched as a Coquette

 Matthew Capelli: One of my favorite lifetime memories! Such an honor to march (played trumpet in the band) … in NYC … on St Patrick's Day!!

Karen Lee Britt: I was there, right next to you!  If I remember correctly, The Daily News front cover was an aerial photo of the parade and our band was the one in view. I know it was one of the major papers.

 Jackie Samuels-Jaffee: I remember watching Hilary Dick in a video Don Larsen probably has, from 1980 where they were marching and playing in the snow!

Joanne Pearl:  I marched and remember one year there was peppermint schnapps

Ilene Meister:  I marched twice in the NYC parade.

John Florio: Cut the day & took LIRR to Manhattan

Hope Cedar Dagan: I remember riding the bus into the city. I enjoyed the opportunity to march and hold the sign with Jane Batterman, even though some people threw beer cans at us!

Resources

History of the St. Patrick's Day Parade - https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/about/history/ 

Hicksville High School Dedication Centennial

   by Stefanie Cedar Shames, Class of 1977

On March 28, 1925, Hicksville High School was dedicated. When Ron Wencer's Ancient Hixtory article first appeared in November 2018, pictures inside the auditorium were unavailable online. We are including them here and have added them to the original article. If you can't believe your eyes about this history of Hicksville, go to Features, Ancient Hixtory, and read Ron's article, " November 2018: A History Too Conveniently Overlooked". If you live in Hicksville and hear of any Centennial events, please email a story and/or pictures to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Etcetera for March 2025

Notes from Readers

Below is a comment we received from reader. Remember, if you are signed in, you can leave a comment on an article.

*Memories from a Long, Long Time Ago- From Eugene Lewan:  "I was about 10 years behind and remember the T-wings of the Junior High and the cafeteria being under construction, but I was unaware that the High School also had temporary buildings. Are there any pictures of HHS during the transition? A fun read. Thanks, Wayne"

In Memoriam

Editors' Note: We recently learned how to search obituaries that mention Hicksville High School. Thus, this month, we have included older obituaries and entered these names on our In Memoriam pages. And a special thank you goes to the Hicksville Public Library for posting yearbooks that help us verify class years of graduates. You can access the yearbooks from the HixNews site under Resources.

Thomas Steedman, Class of 1960, passed away in May 2023

Dennis Foley, Class of 1980, passed away March 1, 2025

Joseph George Myron, Class of 1966, passed away February 4, 2025

Suzette Rivera, Class of 1998, passed away February 23, 2025

Alice Campanelli Ciccone, Class of 1966, passed away January 25, 2025

Gary Marshall, Class of 1963, passed away Oct. 17, 2024

Carol Nygren Curreri, Class of 1955, passed away Sept. 18, 2024

Stephen F. Gordon, Class of 1961, passed away August 13, 2024

Loretta Eleanor Wilson Roux, Class of 1954, passed away May 10, 2024

George F. Fox, Class of 1964, passed away July 9, 2023

Eleanor Zabel Donovan, Class of 1946, passed away Jan. 30, 2021

Barbara Smith Craig, Class of 1976, passed away June 22, 2024

Donna Jean Bragg, Class of 1972, passed away April 15, 2020

Jay Poggiali, Class of 1979, passed away Nov. 7, 2024

Jerome "Jerry" Smith, HHS Social Studies Teacher, passed away May 11, 2023

They are trying to compile the addresses of alumni. Please send your address, regardless of whether you can or cannot go in a Facebook PM, to either of them. Or email Donna Smith Weston at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Janette Teplin-Marvelli at  jani91167@gmail. Classmates who can read this, please post it on your pages as well. If you also are in touch with anyone NOT on FB, reach out to them ASAP! SO looking forward to this wonderful night!

Class of 1975 50th Reunion Updated

Join us for a special evening where the most popular phrase will be “Remember when…”! Yes! We are celebrating our 50^th anniversary as the class of 1975 from our beloved Hicksville High School. And what a class we were. Come share friendships, laughs, cries and hugs as we travel down memory lane together. How many more opportunities do we have to get together as a class? The realistic answer is not many, that’s why this one is a special one and we ask that we all put our political views aside to secure a very special evening. So, if you’re on the fence about this event…jump off and come celebrate with us!

Editor's Note: Ted Urban posted this on the Hicksville High School page on Facebook and has granted us permission to repost it here.

The Hicksville High School graduating class is approaching 500 students. The PTA needs to pay for 100 apples, so every little bit helps! Please consider making a donation, and if your employer matches donations, be sure to leverage that as well. Go Comets.