Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I found a piece of family treasure recently that knocked me for a loop.

I got up on the Sunday morning after Thanksgiving, had coffee and a piece of pumpkin pie, right out of the plate, no fork. I’m watching TV, typing with one hand and patting my emotionally needy cat with the other.

After a family holiday like Thanksgiving, I got to thinking about my mom who used to cook up a storm and loved having the family together. She passed in 1986, then we spent holidays with great hosts and chefs like Auntie Olga, Cousin Steve and Ann, and cousin Mary.

My immediate family all graduated from Somerville High, except for my little brother Joe who jumped ship and went to Boston College High. Dad, mom, Christine and me … classes of 1938, 1944, 1970, and 1971. This story is about my mom, Geraldine Artone DelPonte’s 1944 SHS yearbook.

After an emotional Thanksgiving Day, I started looking through my photo albums and came across my mom’s 1944 Somerville High School yearbook. I learned some new things about my mom who’s been gone for quite a while.

I have trouble looking at family photos sometimes because emotions and nostalgia often bring me tears. Seeing the yearbook was especially emotional since I still have some unresolved issues with my mom. I never got to say I was sorry for driving her crazy as a kid (and adult), growing up in the ’60’s,’70’s and ’80’s. I was much more than a handful.

I opened the old book and found my mom’s photo quickly since her maiden name was Artone. Right in the front. Her info read like this: Geraldine Artone, 7 Knapp St, Gerry, College, Portia, Debating, Radiator Reporter, favorite hobby, singing, Pet Peeve History, Future, Leland Powers School of Radio.

I was so surprised to see that my mom wanted to attend the Leland Powers School of Radio. It was located in Boston and produced some very famous and talented broadcasters. She had aspirations of being in the radio business where I enjoyed 23 fun filled years. I never knew it. Another unknown coincidence. Mom has been gone for almost 35 years and I’m just finding this out now.

She loved listening to music and was always singing around the house. She always supported my music and theater projects. She loved for me to play the piano for her friends. Angel of the Morning was her favorite song.

I also realized how much my mother looked like my sister Christine at that age. They are together in heaven now. So, you can imagine the feelings that consumed me. Tears and a little blubbering.

Not only did I discover things I never knew about my mom but I also found a lot of other interesting things about Somerville High School’s class of 1944. My mom graduated with an extremely talented fellow named Joe Antonelli. Joe was the first person I ever saw sit down and play the piano and hysterically entertain an audience of all ages. Joe was a natural comedian, pianist and entertainer. He was doing what I do … sit down at piano and let the silliness flow.

Joe’s son Jerry, is one of my oldest friends. He was my assistant music director for an original musical called Here’s Somerville back in 1977. We became pals as kids when our parents were in the Italian American veteran’s club called ITAMS. He’s a multitalented musician and much more. Also, my mom was Gerry and he was Jerry! The Antonelli connection was a highlight of things I discovered in the 1944 SHS yearbook.

Another gem was finding out that Somerville High School’s vice headmaster was Albert H. Giroux in 1944. He was still there as the principal (or headmaster) when my sister and I went there between 1967 and 1971. He had quite a career. We actually used to refer to him as “Mr. Ji-Rocks.” He was a good guy who never bothered anyone. When I was at SHS Mr. Joyce was his Vice Principal and strongarm man. We called him “Junior Ji-Rocks,” but never to his face, of course. I hold these two educators in the highest esteem.

I saw many familiar names in mom’s 1944 yearbook that were probably parents of kids my age. Maybe classmates and friends of mine just like Joe Antonelli’s kids. It was a very interesting and emotional look back at the time when my mother was a young schoolgirl in Somerville.

It’s amazing what you can find out about your parents by reading their high school yearbook. You realize that they were young once with hopes and dreams. Look around for your parent’s high school yearbook. It’s a very heart warming and interesting look back at mom and dad.