Saturday, May 2, 2009



Montclair Mounties Plead From The Pit
Friday, February 16, 2007




When this article was published two years ago there were breathtaking, heartbreaking and broken trophies...now this is no longer a reality, hence no pictures, just words.

Montclair High Alumna Grange Mahne-Haver-Mann (aka Peggy Rutan, '56) is fighting to keep the athletic achievements and traditions of the school alive. She is one of the alumni disgusted to discover a plethora of dusty old metal silver trophies unceremoniously heaped in the school's basement, known as "the pit." Grange writes to Baristanet that overcrowding in the school cases is not an excuse to lose a piece of history, and she's looking for help from all alumni to restore and preserve the memories of past glories, when Angelo "Butch" Fortunato and Clary Anderson brought athletics to a new high.

Although I was never an athlete at MHS, I treasure a picture taken down at Woodman Field when I was a junior, over 50 years ago, with Angelo "Butch" Fortunato.

These are my shots taken in THE PIT of the shocking reality of what has happened to Montclair High School's athletic heritage. I'm still not used to it...and I never even sat on the bench of Clary and Butch's Football team.

I am a Mountie born and a Mountie bred and when I die I will be a Mountie dead" - so just know what you are about to read will make every Montclair Mountie bleed BLUE.


I am not alone on this quest because I speak for the silent majority, the athletes up on the "Big Gig in the Sky" and everyone who ever watched the team that performed for the man of miracles, who came to Montclair in 1939. Short, stocky, and tenacious, he accomplished the almost impossible for his old Alma Mater. Montclair High School graduates still talk about "Clary" Anderson for all the many years for his feat of producing a Class A team from a squad that had been less than mediocre for two years. Anyone who graduated from MHS will be devastated at the reality of their heritage of constantly winning state championships, and being presented with beautiful trophies now rest in a place called "THE PIT."

It's a travesty of justice that "The Pit" is the formal home of the Legacy of Clary Anderson and Angelo (Butch) Fortunato. If it were not for Barbara "Fortunato" Hurley, Bill Kennedy and Vince Valenti, there would be at least 1,000 scattered pieces of what was once shiny - now dusty and forgotten - because Montclair's Athletic record was the best in the state. We need to refurbish their legacy so that today's students, who could care less because they are not displayed, will realize where they began. IF THEY DON'T REMEMBER US, THEY TOO WILL BE FORGOTTEN.

Grange is working with Bill Kennedy (class of '58) and Vincent Valenti ('62) to catalogue and find a home for the trophies. Vinnie Tango ('62) has unearthed old football game films and plans to put them on DVDs. If you want to help with time or money, contact Grange at alhaigbebop@aol.com. Read more comments in letters to the editor from Tom Russo, Peter Giuffra, and a concerned alum from Homer, Georgia. --photos courtesy of Grange Mahne-Haber-Mann.

Comments

can you say "garbage?"
| February 16, 2007 4:16 PM | Reply


Can you say Butch took away our ski team? Bah!
| February 16, 2007 4:40 PM | Reply


Finally something I can get worked up about... These old trophies do matter to the student athletes that achieved excellence back in the day. I remember the first time I saw an old Penn Relays plaque. It inspired me. I still have my grandfathers silver medal from the 1912 Goodwill Games (real sterling). I say build new trophy cases in the new Woodman Field House or in the old high school for all to see.
| February 16, 2007 4:52 PM | Reply


"I say build new trophy cases in the new Woodman Fieldhouse"

Gotta knock down a few trees 1st.
| February 16, 2007 5:05 PM | Reply


ski team was a bunch of stoners
| February 16, 2007 8:27 PM | Reply


I appreciate Ms. Peggy's (com)passion for her alma mater and the relics in The Pit!! Kudos to her for trying to bring reverence to a time forgotten.
| February 16, 2007 10:30 PM | Reply


We can always remember past accomplishments to ease the pain of examining present deficiencies. O glorious past!
| February 17, 2007 8:32 AM | Reply


How about designing a display area into the plans for revision to Clary Anderson arena? This would allow the trophies to be seen by many more people than just those who visit the high school.
| February 17, 2007 9:00 AM | Reply


Things change.
Get over it.
and what's with the 'Mountie bred'? Marine-corps-type personal self-subjection - to a high school team?
freak.
only the completely disconnected in a past reality would not know that they're changing to the bulldogs anyway.
| February 17, 2007 9:58 AM | Reply


Sic transit gloria mundi
| February 17, 2007 5:57 PM | Reply

They definitely should be displayed in the High School, along with any academic or other none-athletic honors that the school has won.
| February 18, 2007 5:45 PM | Reply


'what's with the 'Mountie bred'? Marine-corps-type personal self-subjection'

It's a quote from the MHS fight song - the tune of which is lifted from the UNC song, and probably most of the words as well.
| February 20, 2007 8:43 AM | Reply




Thanks to all on this project..Clary and Butch served as the "best" mentors and coaches and left a great legacy to those who played for and against them.They were ably assisted by Coach Norm Gaffney JVs and Fred Seelbach, Orange shirted Commandos in 10th grade. Never forget Coach Norm Mansfield's Track legacy of no lost dual meets in our 3 three years '53'54'55 plus three Div 4 State Track Champion titles. It was the BEST for MHS!
| February 25, 2007 10:16 AM | Reply


Thanks to all on this project..Clary and Butch served as the "best" mentors and coaches and left a great legacy to those who played for and against them.They were ably assisted by Coach Norm Gaffney JVs and Fred Seelbach, Orange shirted Commandoes in 10th grade. Never forget Coach Norm Mansfield's Track legacy of no lost dual meets in our 3 three years '53'54'55 plus three Div 4 State Track Champion titles. It was the BEST for MHS!
| February 25, 2007 10:17 AM | Reply


I was on the 47-48-49 MHS football team,winning the championship all three years(a coincidence)Butch and Clary were certainly great coaches but they were also great teachers. They taught us more then just banging heads. It's a shame that the trophies from all the years have deteriorated and the job Bill Kennedy and his very able crew are doing is commendable. Keep it up.
| February 26, 2007 12:16 AM | Reply


First of all, my name is not Haver-Mann. My husband is frustrated enough that I used my maiden name when it comes to all things Montclair High School.

Under the able tutledge of Chief of The Pit Crew: Bill Kennedy, and we stalwart Mounties: Vince Valenti (Class of 1957) who has the very first trophy out of The Pit for refurbishing, I want to say thank you to all of you who are reaching out and reconnecting from all over the United States. It doesn't get much better when I get letters of outrage at the reality that MHS, athletically speaking, was the best of the rest thanks to Clary and Butch, not just from athletes but from cheerleaders, program sellers, the school photographer...you name it, I'm on a high just thinking of how much all of you care. Tomorrow we have a meeting to get us on the road to reality and an address which will allow us to find a home for our MHS Heritage.

Early on, my hero was Aubrey Lewis, when he was president of the student council at George Inness. His Sister Myrna was my classmate and went on to become Building Inspector for the Town of Montclair; his spirit, even now inspires me.

Somewhere, somehow, being a Mountie made a difference in my life, and, from the letters I have been receiving, I know you feel that way too. Because, as Vinnie Tango, who wrote MONTCLAIR FOOTBALL, it's true, MOUNTIES BLEED BLUE at just the thought of THE PIT.

Peggy Rutan MHS 1956 Class Historian
| February 26, 2007 12:45 AM | Reply


I am a member of the class of '61. We all were very proud of our school and the accomplishments of its students both academically and athletically. It's a disgrace to think that all that history has been tossed away in a heap in some closet to be forgotten. It is in the best interest of every alumni as well as the present day students to join in the effort to resurrect these symbols of accomplishment and greatness. Hooray to Grange and her group. I'm on board!
| February 26, 2007 8:34 PM | Reply

Sandy Freyen Kennedy MHS Class of 1961