I took a trip yesterday … literally and figuratively. I journeyed 234 miles to stroll down memory lane from 50-plus years ago.
Don Bosco Tech, Paterson, NJ. It was my high school home from 1961-65. It’s been closed since 2002 after a 53 year Salesian run that transformed thousands of boys into young men. It was sold to Paterson Public Schools, who now run it as Don Bosco Technology Academy — a nice touch keeping the history — housing middle school ESL students from Schools 5 and 27. It is slated for demolition, possibly as soon as the end of the school year.
That brings us to the journey. Thanks to the efforts of Jason Velante (Class of ’95), currently an English as a second language teacher for Paterson Public Schools, a tour for DBT alumni was arranged for Saturday. I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
The school has certainly changed since the days I roamed the halls. Gone are the chapel, the third floor residences and Savio Hall — the technology building — is boarded up. But you could still feel the spirit of students as over 100 of us DBT alumni toured the halls, cafeteria and gym.
I was certainly the oldest, coming from the Class of ’65. The closest 
I could come up with was a couple of yearlings from the Class of ’69. The rest were from the 70s, 80s, 90s and up to 2002 when the school as we knew it closed.
I tried getting in the Linwood Avenue gate. The road was just a little more pothole — okay crater hole — pocked than the day. But the gate was closed and a portable building stood on the other side. Two additional portables buildings took up pretty much the rest of the senior parking lot where our days started and ended. It’s also where some students went to cram, blow off some steam and possibly sneak a smoke or two.
That’s my Dodge on the left
I started my parking experience with my mom’s 1962 Chevy Impala until I could afford my first car — a 1956 Dodge Coronet. Cars in the lot ran the gamut from clunkers to 
classics. One fellow senior, Tommy DiStefano — okay, his name was Frank, but I started calling him Tommy as a freshman and it sort of caught on from there — had the sweetest Lincoln and best buds Bernie Spirito tooled around in a mid-50s {56 I think} DeSoto and Carmen DeRosa an early 60s Ford Falcon (1960 I think). I can still all those cars in the lot. Oh, to have almost any one of them today.
As I walked toward the courtyard, I couldn’t help but remember the countless games of handball played against the gym wall. Of course, some of us pitched baseball cards or coins — until one of the brothers gently chided us about the evils of gambling.
We actually got to tour three floors of the main building at 202 Union Avenue. Most of it is pretty much the way I remembered it, with well-scuffed wood floors and classroom upon classroom. The memory may be a little fuzzy, but I’m pretty sure Room 4A– renumbered now to 214 — was site of my famous burger and shrimp snacks {an earlier post, https://wisdomfromafather.com/2013/01/07/heres-to-teachers/, Jan. 7, 2013 explains the escapade in a little more detail}. I vividly remember History Teacher James Boyle’s uncanny knack for hitting non-listening students with an eraser while his back was turned. Sure, there was always some collateral damage, but typically the target always had a badge of an eraser image on his shoulder.
I seem to recall brick walls, but today they were plaster. Unfortunately, the deterioration of the plaster along with missing ceiling tiles, leaks, windows that don’t close tight and exposed wiring were more of a testament the building has a date with the wrecking ball.
The first floor chapel is gone — more classrooms — as is the woodworking shop — also now classrooms. Ditto for the second floor library — although, remarkably, many of my fellow DBT alum, including myself, remembered very little of the library. It, too, is now class space, as was the priests and brothers residences on the third floor.
From the main building, we snaked our way through the kitchen and into the cafeteria, which, remarkably, has not changed all that much. One change was the wall separating the cafeteria from the gift shop is now gone, although you could tell where it was because of the different tile on the floor. I can still see in my mind’s eye the tables where we shot the bull, played finger games and, yes, even ate some lunch. I can still smell the hamburgers — my usual fare du jour. (Everyone knew me as Wimpy after the hamburger-devouring Popeye character).
Then it was into the gym, where a Paterson City League game was being played. It hasn’t changed much … the wooden bleachers, the balcony and most notably the DBT Ram emblazoned in the gym floor. It’s still there … 50 plus years later.
“Mary had a little lamb” chants John Hayes, Charles Scimeca, Harold Brucker, Charles Parr and Leroy Havekost
It was also where we were initiated as freshmen …
Man, all this for six seniors’ names!
… and initiated as seniors.
The pats, smacks and whacks were all in good fun and ultimately brought us together as a community.
We didn’t get a chance to visit Savio Hall — the Technical part of Don Bosco. I was on the third floor in electronics for four years, but the building also housed drafting, graphic arts, machine shop, print shop (where they actually taught students how to use a linotype) and auto shop. Ah, the memories from there. I could write a book.
As for me, my life was pretty ordinary at DBT. I don’t remember a lot, just fragments {hey, 50 plus years ago is a loooong time}. I was involved in cross country, baseball (as a freshman and manager), bowling (team captain), basketball (manager), altar boy, Savio Club, Student Council, National Honor Society, yearbook staff and debating team.
Notice the commitment … my running shoes
I wonder how many of our plans back in 1965 actually panned out? Mine certainly changed, with different twists and turns. I started in electrical engineering and ended up at newspapers … which is probably a good thing because electronically, if I engineered something the toilets would probably flush. My stint as a correspondent for basketball and baseball at DBT opened the door to the Sports Department at the Paterson News, then sports editor at the New Jersey Herald, then production manager/vice president at the Belvidere (IL) Daily Republican/BelRock Printing, then as associate publisher of the Toledo (OH) Catholic Chronicle, then as editor of the Washington (DC) Catholic Standard and now as publisher of the Reveille/Between the Lakes in Seneca County, NY
As I scanned my yearbooks, I remembered the characters of the Class of 65 that made us unique. Over the years, we lost touch. I don’t know how many of us are still around. I know we lost a couple of faculty members in the last year. It would be nice to connect again.
We chose the World’s Fair of 1964-65 as our graduating theme … “The fair adventure of tomorrow.” Our yearbook epilogue was: “Countless millions of hands have gone into building yesterday, and many millions more are required just to hold today together. Yesterday and today have been accomplished. We have seen their works, and learned their wisdom and their folly. But what of us? We will put our hand to tomorrow. Not alone as one hand holding back the wind, but joined to those of our fellow men in the enterprise of making tomorrow a day of hope.”
So, here’s our gigantic Class of 65: Joe Barrise, Danny Barteluce, Robert Beck, Andrew Bello, Dennis Besida, Rich Bottino, Harold Bruckner, Richard Connor, Rich Daken, Joe Dapassano, Carm DeRosa, Mike Dillard, David Dillon, Frank (Tommy) DiStefano, Larry Dolan, John Dowling, William Endres, Leo Fitzsimmons, Joseph Fusco, Jack Galoyan, Mario Gillio, Bob Glinka, Frank Goss, George Hamlin, Frank Hanna, Den Haraka, John Hayes, Bart Iurato, Dennis Kaczka, James Kelly; William Klein, Ray Konopinski, Ed Korczynski, Ken Korndorfer, John Leibrecht, Ray Leszczynski, Mike Maggi, Robbie Maimone, Bruce Matthew, Ed McBride, Stephen Menconi, Tom Murphy, Tim O’Brien, Tom Palinski, Charlie Parr, John Paul, George Raineri, Dan Rankin, Doug Ruland, Joe Sapinski, Matt Scheer, Ken Schroeder, John Scillieri, Charles Scimeca, Vincent Seminara, Dan Sheridan, Randy Shope, Al Simmons, Robert Simons, Leo Sopuch, Louis Spinelli, Bernie Spirito, Ray Tahan, Stephen Varcadipone, William Vogel, Michael Watson, Joe Wos, Jim Yamroz, Fred Zahn and, of course, yours truly. Hopefully we did our part in making our tomorrow a day of hope.
Yes, Don Bosco Tech as we knew it may be crumbling, but the spirit and camaraderie across decades proved Saturday the DBT spirit is alive and well … no matter what year you graduated. We all had “Remember …” moments.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.
The Light 
Hi Joe,
It is always great catching up with you through your writings, they are always enjoyable.
I remember playing in the Christmas Basketball tournament at DBT in my freshman year at PV, 1972?
Remembering how big it seemed as a freshman.
Enjoy your day,
Dave Seyer
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Thanks. How’s everything in south Jersey?
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Joe,
Just saw myself in the Freshman Initiation picture of the Conga Line. I’m the guy on far right with the birthmark on his left arm. Thanks for the memory. Bob Conklin USN (Retired) DBT 68.
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You’re welcome! Memories … we’ll always have them!
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Hi Joe,
Man, the memories.. getting sent back for ‘Squealing Wheels’ leaving the parking lot and Brother ??/ (Barrel chested Redheaded Irishman the ‘Dean of Discipline’).. He would stand behind the tall Cedar bush near Union ave and if he thought you were going too fast, would calmly walk out into the middle of the road behind the school and just with folded arms make you stop and return to the parking lot, turn off the motor, restart the motor and ‘leave like a Gentleman… Handball, detention on Saturday’s in the Auto shop *just a coincidence that the shop was full of ‘paying customers’ cars Really great memories!
We lost Fr. Jim last year,Brother Bernie not long ago.. Fr. Jim con-celebrated my wedding mass in 1973.
Thanks for the ‘walk’ down Memory lane. God Bless Them and watch over us ALL!
John Schulte DBT ’70
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Glad you enjoyed your stroll down memory lane. I was glad I went. Despite the span in graduating years, all of us mixed and mingled and shared memories of our four years at DBT. Names may have been different, but the spirit was the same.
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Ray Shupak – Class of 73′
Joe,
Between Grammar School and College if I had my choice to do redo any segment in my life over, it would be High School at DBT. I am so appreciative of that four years of memories and special times and friends. To see it on the chopping block for the second time kills me…. Glad to see and hear from alumni like you. God Bless you and all the many graduates of DBT!
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It was a special place. Always good to hear from alumni.
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Chris Garner Class of 1973
The great pictures brought back a lot of memories. Several years ago I went there before it closed with my son. We walked through the cafeteria and the gym. It was a great chance to share my history with him.
Thanks again.!!!
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Hi Joe – I was tolling around the ‘net and saw this. I went to DePaul in Wayne 1965-69, but before that, in 6-7-8th grade, my mom and some friends went to a lot of DePaul basketball games and of course, some were at DBT. Wow, lonnnng time ago! Anyway I seem to recall that DBT in your era had three male cheerleaders at the basketball games, a different thing to say the least in high school. Am I remembering that for real? Anyway … good wishes to you, sir.
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I don’t remember “cheerleaders” but we had a few character who would get the crowd going. That, of course, would be up to the 1964-65 season, my last year at school. It’s amazing when you look back at how many memories there were during those high school years. Best to you!
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Yes those must have been the guys. They were funny. I fondly remember those days … and in looking at your list of your class, I recall Iurato, Dowling, Gillio as basketball players? Man my mom and my friends and I loved going to those games before I entered DePaul in 1965. I also recall the games with the now-gone Saint Bon’s, John’s, Joseph’s and Mary’s. Thanks for the trip down memory lane! Best to you also … Nick
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Joe, It was a great place to find ourselves. An oasis in the tumultuous storms of life. DBT had a certain karma that exuded discipline and focus to follow Christ and the commandments that our Fathers emblazoned as truants to America. Every year I try to walk from DBT down past the Falls into a city that was so close but, yet so far. Thankful to all the faculty and Salesians that faithfully saw Don Bosco ‘s spark. Although some 13 years later I reveled in your story and gift to paint a picture. I do think your have a talent that carries electrical engineering, perhaps the pen is your current. All my brothers and sisters were sent to DePaul , I hailed from Totowa. Fulfilled and charged with lasting memories of Brother Suta in architestural drafting. Vaya con Dios Pisano, Jim
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Jim, Good to hear from you … DBT was a special place steeped in living history and the priests, brothers and staff were truly “saints” dealing with a bunch of testosterone-filled teenage boys and turning them into {mostly} responsible young men. DBT alumni have a lot to be proud of … whenever they walked the halls and toiled in the classrooms.
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Hello Joe, nice walk down memory lane at DBT. Love the pictures and the memories that have taken us back to those care free days. I was in the class of 66′ & remember you from the 65′ Basketball team that I was on with coach Deveney (check out page 27, Tradewinds, we are on the same page). I recently visited Paterson from Arizona in July, 2015 and always have to make a drive by DBT. Also met up with 2 DBT Alumni from our 66′ class to talk about the good times at DBT.
I hope all is well with you and thanks for writing this article.
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What a wonderful reminiscence. It brings back many fond memories from my years at DBT class of ’68. The spirit of the time lives on through stories such as yours. Keep up the good work, Joe!
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Thanks Walt. A special time … A special place.
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Just reading this article reminds me of the High School most Americans experienced, and that I was deprived of. Maybe you guys are just getting old or you just want block out your memories of a Nazi-like concentration camp called Don Bosco Tech.
Don’t you remember Father Jim and his sadistic ways?… he once had me count the bricks on Savio Hall because I touched the building with my finger while I was leaving school.
How ’bout Brother Tony with his fist clenched and ready to punch any boy in the chest if he found gum in his mouth. The process was, you put the gum in your jacket pocket and he would haul off and punch you in the heart as hard as his big fat pineapple face could throw. If that happened today, he’d be behind bars where he belonged.
Don’t forget Brother Suta, the drafting teacher who would sneak up behind you and say…”let me see your brush”…you would hand him your wood drafting board brush, hold out your hands and he would wack your knuckles as hard as possible. By the way, there was no rhyme or reason for this act of sadistic behavior. You didn’t know what you did wrong. He was a refugee from the USSR and was pissed-off all the time.
I have a thousand horrific stories of the first three years of HS. Thank God I transferred to public school where they had laughter, joy and girls. Get real guys DBT sucked….face it.
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You probably were thrown OUT! It’s a shame that people like you were even permitted to enter the school with your ATTITUDE!
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Sorry you had a bad experience. I didn’t … and I know hundreds of others who did not as well.
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Hi Joe, well I am not from the States but from a far off South Africa. Great man, I did that same journey a couple of times and I tell you that it took me back to when I was young and enjoyed life to the fullest. Fought in a war that was not mine to fight, made friends from all walks of life but my truest friend was and still be me.
God Bless
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Thanks for the visit. Sometimes you have to go back to move forward.
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There will soon be yearbooks for sale for this area on ebay for your viewing.
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Joe ,Mike Maggi from class of 1965 is trying to get a hold of you ..I’m a friend of his and he does not have your email .
His iemsil is : m777pluto225@yahoo.com
Thank you
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I’ll get a hold of him. Thanks
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Hi Joe, not sure if you ever got thru to Mike……he uses the Totowa library computer so he is not on it everyday. I will remind him to check. Anyway if you are ever in Totowa area let us know….We usually have Saturday morning breakfast at Falls Kitchen in Little Falls or a Friday night dinner at Dominicks in Totowa. He is a good friend of my brother and I join then sometimes. ok, take care and God bless
Lou 201-306-7169
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Joe,
Nice Feast Mass and breaking bread at Don Bosco Prep.
Not Paterson but, as usual 20 or so DBT guys from 60 to 90âs.
Thanks, Jim
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Glad to hear you had a good time.
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I will try to stop in next time I’m in the area. I sent Mike an e-mail and told him to call. We had some great times at DBT. Number is (607) 229-4977
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ooops…I meant to put my email verygood9919@gmail.com
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Don Bosco Tech came down today. Very sad.
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I know. At least part of it. Another piece of history gone.
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https://www.facebook.com/nvancheri/videos/1834057179941805/
Joseph sad to say the least. If I go bye today or next week , I will try to confiscate Bricks.
Like Yankee Stadium it was our house that the visionary Salesians built.
Shalom Brother
Jim Matthews `78â
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Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving
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Joe, I picked up a few Bricks. I hope to get more and sell them on E Bay….. Hardee Har Jim 78
History our home of special times of youth. Vaya con Dios Don Bosco Tech
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Happen to be reading the NJ News web site saw DBT Acad. mentioned then found your post , Joe. What a walk down memory lane. In the summer of 2002 my family and I took a trip from ST. Paul,MN to NJ I was so proud to show my wife and 3 kids DBT. You can only imagine my heart brake to learn the school had closed. I started my professional life as a shop teacher then spent 32 years as Teacher of the Blind here in St. Paul. Lost count of the number of times I thanked God for letting me attended DBT and now remember the priest and brother in my prayers. Thanks again Joe!
Thomas Godfrey ’66
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Thanks for the kind words. One common comment I’ve consistently heard has been the formation and preparation for life we received at DBT. Whenever I get back to Paterson I always drive by. A couple of weeks ago they were just starting to tear down Savio Hall. Brought the proverbial tear to my eye. Thanks for the comments. Merry Christmas, my friend.
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Another classmate from the class of ’65. My name is Bruce Matthew. Joe, I just happened to come across your website. Sure brings back many memories. Difficult to believe it’s been over 50 years since I graduated from high school. I was an operations manager for many years, and I thoroughly enjoyed my work life. I’m retired now, and I’m just relaxing and enjoying my retirement years.
Y’all take care Joe.
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Hey Bruce. Yes, it is. Did you work in NJ and are you still in NJ? I started a 52 year career at the old Paterson News, then went to Newton, Illinois, Ohio, Washington, DC and started my own newspaper in upstate New York. Retired to Maine about a year and a half ago and published two books. Let’s keep in touch. E-mail address is dadsiccardi@gmail.com
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Hi Joe. I went to college for a year, and then enlisted in the US Army for three years, Including a tour of duty in Vietnam. I moved to Florida, the Sunshine State, in 1970, and I’m still here. Now I have a Jersey accent with a Florida drawl….LOL.
I’ll send you an email later, and we can talk about the good ole days.
Bruce
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Stumbled across your well written article while checking the DBT name to see what was being said. I coached Freshman basketball there in 1965 and 1966. One of your pictures had Bill Kehoe in it and he and Father Chester Wiesneski hired me. Fond memories of people like Brother Wolfe and Brother Dave and many others. Have been out of NJ for over 53 years, but you brought back some fun times . Thank you for taking the time to do that.
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Glad you found it. DBT certainly was a foundation for my life … even if it took different directions. Sad to see it gone … but not the memories. Peace brother.
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Hello Paul. I’m another from the DBT Class of 1965, and one of Joe’s classmates. I stumbled across this website also, some time ago. It appears the St.Francis Elementary School, Don Bosco Tech, and the college I attended are all gone now. But they can never take our memories away from us. Y’all take care.
Bruce R. Matthew
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John L Beiswenger: I think I know you. I graduated in 1956. A Canadian teacher in Fr. Jim’s electronics class and I built that 30 foot tower on the new building in the photo below and installed a short-wave radio antenna on top. No safety equipment! I really enjoyed getting to know my senior-year classmates, even though I really didn’t fit in. Fr. Al Sofia taught Physics. He told me to sit in the corner a read a book – no questions! Fr. Paul Aronica was driving a bunch of us back from Haverstraw when he said, “We are making good time, but going the wrong way,” when he realized his mistake. Joe Egan showed me his switchblade knife one day. Joe Reza and I stayed in touch for a while.
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