De La Salle's first coed class of 1993 has reunion

At the 25th reunion of the class of 1993 at De La Salle were: front, row, from left: Bill Hebert, AFSC; Peggy St. John, AFSC; Cindy Newman-Kensla, Dr. Warren Caire, AFSC;  Kathleen Calder, AFSC; and Francis Moises. Second row: Dale LaCour, Jessica Pinto Lawrence, Michelle Mancuso, Lorna Zeller Crevier, Monique Pitre Naquin, Norlisha Parker Burke, Mark Castillon. Third row: Ryan Rodriguez and Jimmy Swoop.

De La Salle's  first co-ed class of 1993 held a recent reunion with several members and former members of the faculty and the graduates reunited. The school became co-ed about the same time 25 years ago that  De La Salle’s principal, Brother Jeffrey Calligan, proposed to make the school co-educational since the Brothers of the Christian Schools had indicated that all their schools should become co-ed about the same time that Mercy High School and Holy Angels High School, both all-girls' schools, decided to close their doors..

“We can get girls across the board in all our classes,” he said, “and this would be good for these young women, many of whom have had fathers and/or brothers graduate from DLS.” The faculty agreed, and a spring open house was held.

On Aug. 21, 1992, 131 girls joined the boys to launch co-education at De La Salle. Three class of ’93 members helped organize the 25^threunion with a Mass and evening celebration. Joining DLS Development Director Ann Heslin, Norlisha Parker Burke, Mark Castillon, and Michelle Mancuso worked to create a special day for their classmates. Father Michael Schneller, school chaplain, was Mass celebrant, with class members Dale LaCour offering the first reading, Jimmy Swoop leading the responsorial psalm, and Titilayo Burke Bailey, Michelle Mancuso and Jessica Pinto Lawrence doing prayers of the faithful. The evening reception in the school lobby included a PowerPoint of memories created by faculty members Peggy St. John, AFSC, and Kathleen Calder, AFSC.  Other faculty in attendance included past President William Hebert, AFSC, Cindy Newman, Francis Moises, Donna Pizanie and Dr. Warren Caire, AFSC.