By Ken Hesselbacher
As high school seniors across Westchester County will be unable to attend their Senior Prom, we are reminded by Bronxville resident Ken Hessellbacher that there were other times in our history when some high school seniors didn’t have a senior prom.
In 2018, Hesselbacher wrote a story titled “Willam Foss and the 2018 Bronxville High School Senior Prom,” in which he watched as Bronxville High School seniors hopped in a Limo and headed off to their Senior Prom at the Surf Club on the Long Island Sound in New Rochelle.
“I would like to tell you about another senior prom that I hope you will enjoy. Although Bill Foss was 18 year older than me, our friendship was forged on the handball courts, which results in strong and lasting relationships. Bill Foss was a high school senior at the Theodore Roosevelt High School in the Bronx scheduled to attend his prom and graduate in June 1942.
Shortly after the tragedy of December 7, 1941, Bill and many members of the Class of ’42 were offered a special option: anyone who enlisted in the armed forces by April 1942 would not have to take final exams and would be awarded their diplomas.
Bill took the option and went to fight for his country. He joined the Navy and spent four eventful years in the Pacific theater. After the war, Bill came home to the Bronx, joined the NYC Fire Department, married, raised a family, and went on with his life.
Fast forward to 1992 which was the 50th anniversary for the class of 1942. Theodore Roosevelt High School decided that since so many were deprived of their senior prom, there would also be a senior prom included in the 50th Anniversary celebration. Bill Foss attended that reunion and prom.
I want to congratulate Bronxville High School class of 2018 and wish them well. And as we get close to Memorial Day, I want to thank and remember who gave and who continue to give so much for our country,” wrote Hessellbacher. (Note: Bill Foss passed away in 2014 at the age of 90)
Recently, Hessellbacher added, “Now it is April 2020, and how the world has changed in two short years. I doubt that any of the class of 2020 will be going to their senior proms any time soon. Perhaps they will have the prom as part of their 50th Anniversary -Reunion in 2070.
“And of course, a major news story concerns the Aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, which is under attack from the insidious COVID-19 Virus and other political problems. There could be high school graduates from the class of 2018 who are now serving on the USS Roosevelt.
“In such difficult times that we are navigating, I suggest that we look back to the example of Bill Foss, a member of the greatest generation, for support. As a member of the Navy, Bill was a patriot, as a member of the NYC Fire Department he was the first to run into a burning building, and for me, he was a great handball partner and a wonderful story teller. I am sure that he would want to tell everyone today “You will rise to the occasion and will get through this together.”
I also hope that he would say “That was a nice story Kenny.”
