WPHS Alums Class of 1961 Then and Now

Introducing...Marjorie Helene Rokta
Marjorie will take courses in drafting and secretarial work at Orlando Junior College. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rokta, 5086 Lake Howell Road. A D.C.T. student, Marjorie was vice chairman of membership this year and is employed by the Telephone Company. Her hobbies are dancing, skating, sewing and sports. She will graduate from Winter Park High School with the class of 1961.

Rokta, Marjorie Helene Jacqueline . . "Margie" . . . attended Middletown Township High School in New Jersey before coming to WPHS. Her favorites are all water sports, roller skating, swimming, dancing, having fun, sewing, having fun, Jack, broccoli, blueberry wine, hot tea and having fun!!! Philosophy of life is take things as they come/always keep a sense of humor. Future is to continue working for the telephone company in Winter Park and become a volunteer worker in a hospital. . . . then get married and own a ski lodge in Maine or a farm in Virginia.
Source: WPHS Senior Salutes, 1961.

<- Betsy Lee Rolland
Betsy Rolland Waldron ->

Photograph
Wanted

Introducing...Betsy Lee Rolland
Betsy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Pfieffer, 1461 Sunset Drive. Her activities at Winter Park High School include Tri-Hi-Y, Future Nurses, Future Homemakers, Spanish Club and Homeroom officer. Her hobby is sewing. Following her graduation with the class of 1961, Betsy will attend Webber Business College for secretarial training.

Rolland, Betsy Lee . . . comes from Clifton Springs, NY . . . favorite sport is chasing boys . . . favorite hobbies are sewing and chasing boys!!! Most memorable event at WPHS was the Christmas formal when she slipped and fell flat on the back of her lap. Future includes college in New York and then work.
Source: WPHS Senior Salutes, 1961.

William Robert Ronay
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Bill an e-mail!
Website

Introducing...William Robert Ronay
Bill is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry Ronay, 360 Strathy Lane. Following graduation from Winter Park High School, Bill will take college preparatory courses at Orlando Junior College. He is a member of Latin and Science clubs and Backstage Technicians. His hobbies are music, cars and good food.

Ronay, William Robert . . . "Bill" comes from Norman, Oklahoma. He likes baseball, basketball, cars, music and girls. Who is Linda? His most memorable event at WPHS was the day he became a senior. Don't worry . . . is his philosophy of life. Marriage and college are included in his future. Additional comments: "Actually, I'm a loveable soul. It's just that nobody understands me."
Source: WPHS Senior Salutes, 1961.

Bio: Orlando Junior College, 1961-64...it's a long, long story. Georgia State University, Atlanta, 1971-73. BA, journalism/sociology. Sergeant, US Army, 1964-67. Banking/finance, 1967-76 (mostly). Professional artist, 1976-89. Publisher,1987-present. Vice-President, A Step Ahead, Ltd. After a short, first marriage, Camille and I were married in 1972. In the mid-70's, I developed a few handcraft skills. To my pleasant surprise, I found my work was quite saleable. My work then evolved from crafts to art, and participation from local events to regional and national festivals and exhibits...Chicago, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Tulsa, Pittsburgh, Austin, and San Francisco to name just a few. Early in 1987,we published our first issue of what was to become The Ronay Guide series, listings of arts and crafts shows, fairs, and festivals throughout the southeast. During the past five years, our readership has grown to over 30,000 and we have expanded our services into "brains-on" seminars, consultations, judging, jurying, planning and critique workshops, etc. Small world ...little did I know that when we were asked to help the artists set up their easels in the spring of 1959 for what was to become the nationally known Winter Park Art Festival, my wife and I would be sought after as experts in the arts and crafts industry! The two of us really make an unbeatable team at what we do.
Future plans and goals: Future plans and goals include growth and continued success in our publishing business. Looking forward to passing the fifty-year mark, and then seventy-fve, with a grin on my face. Science and medical technology give me confidence that Camille and I will possible see 2050. Can you image a 75th WPHS Reunion? Now, that's a thought!
Source: 30th Reunion, 1991

<- Josephine Ann Ross
JoAnn Ross Giannini ->
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JoAnn an e-mail!

Introducing...Josephine Ann Ross
JoAnn is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Ross, Maitland. She plans to study Spanish, Economics and Government at Centre College after her graduation from Winter Park High School next week. JoAnn was president of both her junior and senior class; a Student Council representative, JV Cheerleader and member of the swimming team.

Click HERE to read more from JoAnn.

<- Doris Ann Rossell ->
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Dodie an e-mail!

Introducing...Doris Ann Rossell
A member of the 1961 graduation class at Winter Park High School, Dodie will attend Florida Presbyterian College where she will study music, organ, church music and religion. She is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish and Latin clubs, Annual staff and Tri-Hi-Y. Her hobbies are the piano and music. Dodie is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eaton L. Rossell.

Rossell, Doris Ann . . . "Dodie" . . . from Westchester, New York . . . favors tennis and swimming along with volleyball as her favorite sports. As her hobbies she listed the organ, piano, and choir. Her favorite food is cole slaw along with cokes. The person she would like to be ship wrecked with is John Delgado. Future includes marriage after college.
Source: WPHS Senior Salutes, 1961.

Dodie Rossell is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (UPUSA), a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Group Psychotherapist with American Group Psychotherapists. Her academic education was at Eckerd College, B.A.; Presbyterian School of Christian Education, M.C.E.; and Union Theological Seminary, M.Div. Specialty areas are group psychotherapy, marital therapy for building communications skills, depression, gay and lesbian issues, anxiety disorders, and supervision, Her orientation is insight-oriented psychotherapy with an affective focus. She is a lover of classical music and sings with the Richmond Symphony Chorus.
Source: VIPCare

<- Karen Lorene Rothrock
Karen Rothrock MacMillan->
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Karen an e-mail!

DID YOU KNOW? (as of 2005) 45th Reunion Update
I most likely still hold the following two "after graduation" class titles:
      1) I married not one, but two of our esteemed gents from the Class of '61. The first marriage ended in the blink of an eye, which goes to prove that kids cannot get married when they are kids. (Hey, Neil, if you are out there - send in your picture and participate in this great website). The second marriage has us marking our 42nd anniversary next. (Bruce, if you are out there - update your bio and picture).
      2) At the 20th reunion, Bruce and I were awarded the prize for being the most prolific of the group - he was given a zipper and I received birth control pills. Who said we weren't a classy group?
      If anyone can claim these distinguished class records, please come forward and take the baton! I also remember saying that I would return to the 50th class reunion because it seemed like a zillion years away.
      In the years since the 20th reunion, we raised and educated five children and have successfully evacuated them from the nest, with five grand babies now in tow. We also built the big house on forty acres and then sold the big house on forty acres. Health was taken totally for granted until the first of 2005, when out of the blue, the Mayo Clinic Rochester diagnosed me with type 1 diabetes requiring insulin. That was followed five months later with a grand mal seizure and the diagnosis of epilepsy. Both ills, I am happy to report, have disappeared but the events surely got my attention. It also reminded me that the past is the past and cannot be changed and not to sweat the future for which I have no control. Instead, I enjoy the possibility of each new day knowing well that time gives us no guarantees now.
      I am sending Wildcat greetings to each of you and I look forward to seeing you all at the 50th!

Happiest memory: Mrs. Blickman's English class - best teacher I ever encountered; Bob Finfrock (not necessarily in that order).
Bio: Colorado real estate license - 1979. Colorado real estate broker - 1980
Future plans and goals: Retirement with as little travel as possible.
Source: 30th Reunion, 1991

David Turner Rowlands
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Dave an e-mail!

Wi-Pa-Hi-Sc dated Thursday, February 23, 1961:
NEW STUDENTS -- Dave Rowlands hails from Rantoul, Illinois. This 5'10" SENIOR boy likes all sports. David finds that the subjects at WPHS are harder, but likes the friendliness of the boys and girls here.

<- June Laverne Saltzer
June Saltzer Carroll ->
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June an e-mail!

Photograph
Wanted

Saltzer, June LaVerne...Junebug...born in Cleveland, Ohio... attended Brecksville High in Ohio... favors swimming, walking, roller skating, badminton, music, painting, reading, boys, and talking on the phone. June's pet peeve is people who think she is younger than she really is. Future plans are to go to Miami and go to an airline training school and then move to Ohio and get a job at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
Source: WPHS Senior Salutes, 1961.

<- Tonyia Jean Sayre
Tonyia Sayre Gibbons ->
Click HERE to send
Toni an e-mail!

Introducing...Tonyia Jean Sayre
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Allevato, 1642 North Lakemont, Tony will graduate with the class of 1961 from Winter Park High School. She plans to major in Psychnology at the University of Florida. Tony was a member of Tri-Hi-Y, Campus Crusaders, GAS, Spanish and Pep Clubs.

Sayre, Tonyia Jean . . . "Toni" plans to attend the University of Florida after graduation. This auburn-haired senior miss hails from Parkersburg, West Virginia. Her favorite sports are baseball, football, bowling and fighting. Toni's secret ambition is to tell Mr. Gordon he has dandruff.
Source: WPHS Senior Salutes, 1961.

Happiest memory: Mr. Creech's Problems of American Democracy class - iinspiring and thought provoking - gave me realization that I had opinions and thoughts and that they mattered.
Funniest/weirdest coincidence: So many wonderfully funny and weird things have occurred throughout my life, I can't really select any one in particular.
Present work and/or activities: Brevard County Schools - hearing specialist. Brevard Psychological Associates - psychologist/biofeedback therapist (private practice).
Bio: University of Tampa, BA, psychology, 1965. USF, MS, audiology, 1972. Nova University, MS, psychology, 1983. Nova University, EdD, education, 1990.
Future plans and goals: To work in a foreign country, preferrably Nepal.
Source: 30th Reunion, 1991

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