Finding a good birthday gift is hard.
It’s especially tough for someone who’s turning 80 years old. By that time in life, you’ve pretty much gotten everything.
But this 80-year-old was Bill Klemish. He lives in Florida now, but still remembers the 1950 Staples football team. He was captain, and they were undefeated.
A quick note to Dan DeVito — president of the Staples Gridiron Club — was all it took. Dan sent a Wreckers sweatshirt, and a nice note.
Bev Breault (Staples Class of 1952) presents Bill Klemish with his Staples football sweatshirt.
The guests at Bill’s party — held at his daughter Marilyn’s home near Sarasota — could certainly relate to Staples. Their names read like a Who’s Who of Westport: Marge Santella, Bev Breault, Carole Maddock, Ann and Don Rully, Barbara Allen Yamnicky, Bunny Maier, Jack Lauterbach, Bob Duffy, John Hastings; Bill, John Michael and Mary Kate Klemish, Florence Dohanos, Linda Gilchrist, Jenny Walton, Bill and Mary Ann Stirling, Althea D’Aiuto, Jessie Huberty and Ardela Whortley.
Ray Maddock was there too. He and Bill have a lot more in common that Staples football. They’ve been friends since kindergarten in Westport — 75 short years ago.
