It
is a simple idea: A special night for a girl to have a "date"
with her father (grandfather, godfather or favorite uncle).
On February 10, 1963, Sr. M. Daniel, SS.C.M. and the FHA hosted 187
couples at the first Andrean Daddy Date Night. Carol Vician was general
chairman and Barbara Spicer headed publicity. Sr. Daniel recalls the
comments before the first event: "Daddy Date Night! Who ever
heard of such a thing?" "Take my dad? No way!" "What
are we going to do? Dance?
He can't dance." |
| After the event
the skeptical tone of the comments disappeared. "Boy, did I get
the Devil! My dad said the men at the Mill were asking 'Why weren't
you there?' Are we going to have it every year?" The answer to
the last question was yes, every year for over forty years and hopefully
forty more. |
In 1979-80 Sr Daniel, the one
"who started it all" has a new idea. Under her direction
the Business Club hosts the first Mother Son Night on October 28,
1979. Bittersweet provides the music for both moms and dads this year.
1963, Sr. Daniel could not have realized what a “gift” she
would be giving the Andrean Community. We all thank her, Sr. John
Vianney, Gerry Wamsher, Fran Crary, Judy Hevel, Cora Smith Bosak (77),
Sue Wolozanski and Charlotte Spence (72) for keeping the Date Night
tradition alive. |
| History
of Andrean's Date Night Tradition through the years |
| 1960-61
Andrean's second year of existence. Sr. M. Daniel, SS.C.M. joins the
Andrean faculty as a sewing teacher and FHA moderator. The Andrean
FHA (Future Homemakers of America) is established in February of 1961.
Over the years the club sponsors many social and service activities.
Without a doubt the most popular of those activities is Daddy Date
Night. |
| 1962-63
The first Daddy Date Night is held February 10, 1963. Sr. Daniel and
the FHAare responsible for this tradition which has out lasted the
club itself. |
| 1963-64
Sr. Daniel moves to the Business Department and remains FHA sponsor.
|
1964-65
Sr. John Vianney, SS.C.M. becomes the new FHA moderator. Andrean's
enrollment is at an all time high (1604). Daddy Date Night is so popular
that it is held on two separate nights. Juniors and seniors have ballroom
dancing; freshmen and sophomores have square dancing. Among the evening's
other activities is the peanut rolling contest. |
1965-66
The tradition of honoring "Four Year Dads" begins.
At the end of the school year, Sr. Daniel leaves Andrean for another
assignment. |
| 1966-67
Daddy Date Night is rescheduled because of the Blizzard of '67. The
theme is "Yankee Doodle Daddy" |
| 1967-68
In addition to Daddy Date Night the FHA sponsors a Halloween Costume
party for moms. |
| 1968-1969
activities included the Bunny Hop and Musical Chairs. The FHA sponsors
a Mother-Daughter supper. Sr. John Vianney, sports a new veil as the
nuns modernize their habit. |
| 1969-1970 Daddy
Date Night is postponed because Sr. John Vianney is in an automobile
accident. Sr. John Vianney's dad attends daddy Date Night. Dads play
"Twister" |
1970-71
Girls square dance with dads. FHA sponsors a Mother's Mass,
"Mother's Day in October." |
| 1971-72 Sr. John
Vianney spends her last year at Andrean. Daddy Date Night is in its
10th year. |
| 1972-73
Mrs.Gerry Wamsher takes the reins as moderator of the FHA.
|
| 1973-1974 Daddy
Date Night is held on St. Patrick’s Day |
| 1974-75
Andrean no longer has an FHA. The Home Economics Department led by
Mrs. Gerry Wamsher and Mrs. Fran Crary hosts Daddy Date Night
|
| 1975-76 It's a Bicentennial
Daddy Date Night. Four daughters later, Mr. Bill Smith receives a
plaque for attending 14 consecutive Daddy Date Nights including the
first one in 1963. After escorting Sally '66, Mary Kevin '70 and Char
'73 his date this night is Nora '76. His record still stands today.
After square dancing, Andrean dad Dick Candiano ( Kay ‘69 and
Carol ‘81) and the Continental Orchestra take over for more fun. |
| 1976-77
Mrs. Gerry Wamsher, Mrs. Fran Crary and the Home Economics Department
put on a Daddy Date Night with a Valentine theme. Dick Candiano returns
and wows them with the Hokey Pokey. |
| 1977-78 Mrs Crary
moves to the English Department full time. Mrs. Wamsher presents another
Valentine Day theme with music by Bittersweet. |
| 1978-79
Sr Daniel returns to Andrean. Bittersweet provides the music for another
Valentine theme Daddy Date Night |
| 1979-80 Sr Daniel,
the one "who started it all" has a new idea. Under her direction
the Business Club hosts the first Mother Son Night on October 28,
1979. Bittersweet provides the music for both moms and dads this year.
|
| 1980-81
Sr Daniel's Business Club again hosts two date nights. Once again
Bittersweet is the band of choice. |
| 1981-82 Sr. Daniel's
last year as head of date nights. Could she ever have known in 1963
that she was starting two of the most well attended Andrean traditions?
Daddy Date Night is in its 20th year. Among the Mother Date Night
guests this year are Mrs. Mirabella and her triplet sons John, Peter
and Jim. |
| 1982-83
Home Economics teacher Mrs. Judy Hevel takes over the Date Night reins.
Entertainment is provided by Andrean's own rock star/art teacher,
Sammy Listro and the band Abbey Road. Twins Mike and Mark Lesch have
a night out with their aunt Mrs. Aydelotte. |
| 1983-84 Tickets
$17.00 Abbey Road wows them at both date nights. The tradition continues,
dinner in the cafeteria followed by dancing in the main gym.
|
| 1984-85
The "Four Year Mom Award" tradition begins. Tickets $18.00
|
| 1985-86 Sammy Listro
and Abbey Road return. |
| 1986-87
Abbey Road continues to be the band of choice. 25 years of Daddy Date
Nights |
| 1987-88 Abbey Road
supplies the music and tickets are $20.00. |
| 1988-89
Abbey Road seems to be taking over as the most popular entertainment.
Tenth year of Mommy Date Night. |
| 1989-90 Date Nights
held at new locations. After 10 years the boys move out of the gym
and cafeteria to the Hellenic Cultural Center (Greek Hall). Girls
celebrate at Ditka's. Abbey Road follows the couples to their new
sites. |
| 1990-91
The Greek Hall is the new location for both date nights. |
1991-92 Cora Smith
Bosak '77 joins Judy Hevel as co-organizer of the Date Nights for
the nineties.
Sam Listro has left Andrean for Robert Morris College, but Abbey Road
makes a return appearance for date nights. 30th Daddy Date Night
|
| 1992-96
Date Nights are held at the Elks Club in Hobart. Abbey Road continues
to entertain. |
| 1996-97 35th Daddy
Date Night. |
| 1997-98
Entertainment is provided by DJ's. |
| 1998-99 20th Mommy
Date Night |
| 1999-2000
Mrs. Judy Hevel organizes her 18th and last dual Date Nights assisted
by Cora Smith Bosak '77 |
| 2000-2001 Daddy
Date Night 39th year. Mrs. Cora Smith Bosak '77 now takes on the role
of lead organizer for Daddy Date Night and Ms.Charlotte Spence '72
organizes Mommy Date Night. |
| 2001-2002
Fortieth Anniversary of Daddy Date Night organized by Cora Bosak assisted
by Suzanne Wolozanski. Herb Schumann attends his 19th Date Night with
daughter Bridget |
| |
| |
| Dads
and their dates! |
| Herb
Schumann attended his 19th Daddy Date Night on November 4, 2001. his
dates over the years were, Margaret '82, Pamela '84, Lisa '85, Lynette
'89, Sandra '95, Cathleen '97, Bridget '02 |
| Anthony
Dauro attended 18 Daddy Date Nights with Sally '69, Mugsy '71, Cheryl
'72, Toni '76 and Andrea '78 |
Marv
Argenta (18yrs) Mary '68, Ruth '71, Toni '72, Jan '75 and Debbie '83
Mr. Argenta was named "King of Hearts" in '72 |
| Dennis
McGuire attended 15 date nights from 1983 -1998 with daughters Peggy
'86, Annie '87, Eileen '89, Sarah '93, and Denise '98. 1994 was the
only year between 1983 and 1998 that Andean didn't have a McGuire
girl enrolled. |
| Joe
Buergler appeared at 15 date nights in 12 years. He attended two a
year when the freshman and sophomores went one night and the juniors
and seniors on another. His dates were daughters Linda '68, Shirley
'70, Nancy '73 and Betty Ann '81. Shirley remembers his date's also
included Linda's classmate Anne Gulyassy. Joe attended his last Date
Night at age 71 in 1981 with Betty Ann. |
| Bill
Smith holds the record for attending the most consecutive Daddy Date
Nights (fourteen 1963-76). He attended the very first event in 1963
with daughter Sally '66 and then continued with Mary Kevin '70, Char
'73 and Nora '76. |
| Jeff
Cogelja attended thirteen consecutive Daddy Date Nights (1969-81)
with daughters; Debbie '72, Beth '75, Carol '78 and Cyndi '81. Cyndi
is trying to get her local high school in Australia to start a Date
Night Tradition. |
| Sam Phipps
also has thirteen consecutive dates under his belt with Jane '74,
Laura '76, Mary Kay '79, Nancy '81, and Karen '83. |
| George
Modrak attended thirteen Daddy Date Nights with daughters; Gina '70,
Janine '72, Rose '77, Therese '79 and Tina '81. 1973 was the only
year from 1967-81 without a Modrak daughter at Andrean. Mr. Modrak
sat out the 1976 event because he was recovering from back surgery
(too much wild dancing George?). Tina tells us all of the sisters
made an appearance for a group picture at Daddy Date Night in 1981. |
| Michael
Poncsak attended thirteen times (1963-76) with daughters; Margie '66,
Irene '68, Terri '73, Carol '74 and Kathy '76. He missed in 1969 only
because he didn't have a daughter at Andrean in 1969 (son Bob '70
was not an appropriate date). Irene remembers her dad was "always
thrilled to go. I think he liked to show off his daughters." |
| Isidore
Marcotte (13yrs) Mary Ann 65, Jane 67, Eileen 68, Barb 74 and Nancy
76. When there were two Marcotte girls attending the same year, Uncle
Jim Mulloy. escorted one of his nieces as the extra dad. He might
be the only father who attended 6 Daddy Date Nights never having raised
a daughter, but putting four sons through AHS (Pat 67, Jim 70, Tom
72, and Marty 75). |
| George
Smith checks in with eleven consecutive dates (1963-73). He attended
the very first event with Susan '65, then continued with Linda '67,
Carol '70 and Janet '73. Linda, a former FHA president, points out
"he often had two dates and he loved it." |
| Richard
Tucker attended ten date nights. His dates were Ellen '79, Geralyn
'90, Julie '90 and Laura '92. In 1989 and 1990, he had the distinction
of escorting three dates. Our guess is Mr. Tucker didn't get
to "sit out" any dances. |
| William
Krienke attended ten date nights (1982-92) with daughters Ann '85,
Mary '88 and Janet '92. Janet says " I have two sisters and two
brothers ( William '87, Thomas '93) who also graduated from Andrean.
My parents made a point to attend each Daddy/Mommy Date Night. Two
weeks before Daddy Date Night my freshman year my father had a heart
attack and my older brother had to take me to Daddy Date Night My
father was very upset that he could not go to Daddy Date Night that
year...my father did not have a nine to five job, so chances were
that he had to rearrange his work schedule to go to Daddy Date Night."
Both parents worked long hours to finance their children's education.
Janet sums it up for many of us when she says it "just means
so much to me that I was able to spend one evening a year with just
my father." |
| Ron
Tomecko (9yrs) Amy '85 , Suzy '87 Nikki '90. |
| Bill
Van Cleef (7yrs) Debbie '72 , Dianne '75 |
| Dick
LaMere (7yrs) Mardee '82, Aimee '83, Carrie '85 |
| Becky Elliott-Kotsinis
'94 wants to recognize her uncle, James Kopko, for escorting her for
all four of her years at Andrean.years. |
| Moms
and their dates. |
| Kathy
Krienke (8yrs) - Bill '87 and Tom '93 |
| Janet
Rezak Kosinski '70 (7yrs) - Robert '98 and David '01 |
| Cora
Smith Bosak '77 (4yrs) - Brad '97 |
|
