July 19, 2003 – Seaford High School – All Class Reunion

 

Hi, 

I’m Buzz Santini - Class of ‘58 - and I sure hope I’m not the oldest graduate here today! 

I see so many familiar faces, and I can tell you one thing, when my Mom and Dad told me that your high school years would be the best of your life, they weren’t kidding - and I’m sure many of you will agree. 

When my family moved to Seaford very late in 1949 from Brooklyn (someone once told me all good things come from Brooklyn), Seaford was virtually all farmland.  Housing developments sprang up throughout the fifties, and when you drive through Seaford today you realize just how nice our community really is. 

In the fifties – there was no Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway, no High School, in fact, the High School, Middle, & Manor schools were actually a dairy farm called Hendrickson’s - it was a place where we often played and really learned how to ‘watch our step’, and even learned the fine art of ‘cow-tipping’.  Across from where our High School now stands - in the path of the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway, it was all wooded - a literal forest, and even a small stream.  It was an area that we often explored and camped-out in.  Takapusha Museum was located in an old house on Sunrise Highway not far from Seaford Beverage (then called Bobko Beverage).  As we explored the woods, we often found Indian artifacts such as arrowheads and stone tools, which we brought to the museum and no doubt are on display right now in the “new” museum on Washington Avenue.  By the way, many of you might not know that the Expressway across from our front door was initially called the Wantagh-Oyster Bay Expressway – this name was found on signs, maps, and all, and our parents and whole community had to work very hard getting petitions signed and meeting with our local congressmen in order to change such a glaring mistake! 

During the mid fifties we watched with amazement the construction of our very own high school - with a marble entrance (but no pool).  The rationale was that we had Jones Beach at our doorstep, and since they were about to build a second pool at the East Bathhouse, there was no need for a pool in our High School.  Often sneaking into the High School construction site, we marveled at what the size of the auditorium and gym would be – and how the basketball court would be laid out.  Until 1957 we were playing our basketball games in the Seaford Avenue School gym and then in the Seaford Manor gym. 

The Class of 1958, approximately 75 strong, entered our new home here in September of 1957, and I must say that our High School looks greater than ever.  Prior to that, Seaford students had to go to Freeport, Amityville, and Wantagh, so it was truly a milestone to finally have our own High School.  It was a really great day in June 1958 when Seaford held our first Commencement Exercises – the grass-roots of our superb Seaford Pride! 

OK, enough reminiscing - at this time, I want to add my sincere thanks to your reunion committee - they worked tirelessly to bring this off - so let’s give them a hand.  Many thanks go to all the volunteers and business who helped to support this event.  Finally, I want to thank my wife, Bev, Class of ‘69, for all her efforts - weekly meetings since September and then some - and especially that Bev and the entire Reunion Committee was able to arrange such a wonderful day weather-wise!  

I hope you will enjoy the rest of the afternoon, and also that you all will stay in closer touch in the years to come. 

Now, let’s see, I still hope I’m not the oldest Seaford graduate here today, but I do know who is one of the youngest - Class of 2003 - Dustin Tamsen. 

Thank you.