By Nicole Falco
The day's events began at 11 a.m., with an alumni reunion in the school library. A rededication ceremony was held at noon in the gym, immediately followed by a luncheon in the library. A benefit concert by students, current and former faculty members and alumni and a silent auction capped the day's activities. Building tours were also offered throughout the afternoon.
"The soul of this institution springs from the people and the community who bring it to life," said South Principal Dr. Stephen Lando in his opening remarks during the rededication ceremony.
The depth of the school's soul was evidenced by the standing-room-only crowd gathered in the gym for the rededication. Lando welcomed guests including much-loved former faculty and staff members like his predecessor Christine Cutting, music teacher Booker T. Gibson, biology teacher Irving Saffrin, Melissa Fiondella, granddaughter of South's founding principal, community leaders Mayor Edward Cahill, Sen. Dean Skelos and Assemblyman Bob Barra, and Board of Education trustees Dr. Frank Chiachiere, Bill Stris, Anthony Iadevaio and Paul DePace.
Lando, who became principal in 1998, compared the school to a "brilliant living diamond" that is continually polished and passed from generation to generation. As a representative of a past generation, Fiondella, whose grandfather, J. James Bergen, was South's first principal, was invited to unveil the first of two paintings - one of South as it looked in 1955 and one of the school today - by Edward Lee. Bergen served as principal of South until his retirement in 1977, when he was succeeded by Dr. Steven R. Goldberg. Prior to coming to South, Bergen taught at Central High School and served as assistant principal there.
"I'm sure some of you knew my grandfather Mr. J. James Bergen," Fiondella said before unveiling the artwork. "He was so proud of South High School -the students, the faculty who are part of this institution - and I am honored to be here today."
Later in the ceremony, Cutting, who served as principal from 1984 to 1998 and, prior to that, taught science, unveiled the second painting. She praised Bergen and the newly formed South High School Alumni Association.
Representing the association, which held its first meeting last fall, was the group's president, Emily Kleinman Schreiber, class of '61, who read a poem she wrote called "On South's Golden Anniversary," and went on to recall the school's past -cardigans worn backward, saddle shoes, the notorious rivalry with North High School, and some former teachers, including Gibson, who was in the audience and received a standing ovation, Clara Hoogenboom, who became the first female teacher at the school to trade skirts for slacks in the 1970s, and Saffrin. Kleinman Schreiber brought two biology notebooks filled with notes she took as a student in Saffrin's class. Following her presentation, the Long Island Connection and the Wind Ensemble performed South's alma mater, "Valiant Falcons."
Chiachiere was invited to celebrate the present and Andrew Karp, a member of the class of 2007, looked toward the future. Incorporating the themes of "opportunity, unity, trust, honor and service," Chiachiere applauded the school's more recent achievements, including being honored with a community service award in 1998 and raising $20,000 for tsunami relief. He noted that the anniversary concert and silent auction scheduled for later that afternoon were fund-raisers for hurricane relief and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Karp noted how students prepare for their future on a daily basis. "Every step of our preparation for adulthood and reality, we experience at South," he said.
"All you have to do is look at the alumni who are back today to know that [South] will always be a part of our future," Karp said.
Concluding the ceremony, Superintendent Dr. Marc Bernstein unveiled a rededication plaque and cut a ribbon heralding the school's next 50 years. He also recognized the alumni in attendance, and the men and women of the 50th Anniversary Committee, who planned the celebration.
Many of the same people who gathered for the rededication continued the anniversary celebration at the luncheon and benefit concert. During the luncheon, guests had the opportunity to preview an oral history video created by members of the school's Falcon Report and produced by advisor Ross Lipsky and students Peter Olson and Nicholas Thideau. The video was on sale that afternoon.
Guests also had the opportunity to reminisce and reconnect, like class of '66 graduates Ann Massa Garofalo and Arlene Ainbinder Lynn of Valley Stream, Bob Lieberman of Rockland and Dr. Maria Levada, who practices in Valley Stream. "It's brought back a lot of nice memories," Levada said of the day.
Another member of the class of '66 traveled from Florida for the occasion. "I think it's a beautiful thing that they are doing," said Marilyn Kugler Weiner. "I thought it would be interesting to see people I haven't seen in a really long time."
Dick Bentley, class of '58, traveled from Atlanta. For Bentley, a self-described history buff, the trip was well worth it, but he said he would have liked to see more of his classmates there. He did reconnect with at least one, Cindy Raitano Slater of Hampton Bays, whose grandchildren attend North High School.
"It's great to be back," Slater said, adding that she played '50s music during the car ride over to get into the spirit.
Comments about this story? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
