Edison High's first grads honor school with new cherry blossom tree
EDISON - Nearly 64 years ago, Edison High School (EHS) celebrated its first graduating class.
At the time, members of the Class of 1960 gave their new alma mater 10 cherry blossom trees to be placed around the Boulevard of the Eagles circle and two oak trees near the front of the school by the road.
At some point, one cherry blossom tree died. That tree was replaced April 18 with eight members of the Class of 1960 present.
Joe Russo, a member of the Class of 1960, had been advocating for the replacement of the missing tree. But Russo credits EHS Principal Charles Ross with making it a reality.
"The principal made it happen," Russo said. "He had a nice ceremony and then invited us all in for coffee and cake in the teacher's lounge. I just got my classmates to come."
Besides Russo, the members of the Class of 1960 who attended the tree planting were Ronald Pfeiffer of Hillsborough; Linda Roberts Bennett of Florida; Marlene Dechert of the Somerset section of Franklin; Doris Kauffman Rubin of Metuchen; and Rita Rogers Davids, Peggy Naroskie Alfonso and Patricia Deneleyker Hague, all of Edison.
"Even though we are 81 or 82 years old, I still recognize them all," Russo said.
Also in attendance were several current high school students.
"It was sad before. There was a big space where the tree was ? just a flat stump," Russo said. "This is the first time I have seen them all in bloom. It looked beautiful."
Edison High School opened in 1956 as the district's first secondary school. Currently, about 2,280 students are enrolled. Russo, now almost 82, recalls his class had about 305 students.
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Russo moved to the township just as the school opened.
"I remember we didn't have any football or baseball fields. We didn't have a stadium and had to play in Roosevelt Park and we were playing all the schools around ? Perth Amboy, New Brunswick, Woodbridge," said Russo, who was played right field or outfield as a member of the baseball team.
"I used to bring the equipment for games in my car. We were fledglings on all our teams. We weren't very good. We were getting our brains beat out. Now, I go there and in the lobby, there are showcases with all kinds of trophies ? but none from my class."
Some members of the Class of 1960 remained in their hometown raising new generations of Eagles and working in town. But many spread their wings and "scattered" around the country, Russo said. He likes to keep track of his classmates, marking life milestones in his crimson "Talon" yearbook.
Russo kept in touch with as many as he could, including his baseball coach and health teacher Dr. Chris Gussis, now 94. The last reunion for the class was held in 2018 at the Imperial Music Center in South River. Between 40 and 50 classmates attended, said Russo, while 75 more have passed away since then.
Russo is now looking to plan a luncheon reunion in October at the school. He has approval from Ross to hold it catered in the cafeteria.
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Many things at Edison High School have changed, Russo said.
"It's not like now," he said with a laugh. "It's very different. They have about 500-600 in each class. And there's a whole other high school too. Sometimes when I go up to the school, I see the kids in ripped jeans and pink hair ? it was nothing like that when I was in high school."
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Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [email protected] or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Edison High's first grads honor school with new cherry blossom tree
