My parents bought their home on Wheeler Road in Ashby before I was born. I was the third child. My sister Donna was born in 1944 (June 30) and my brother Bobby was born in 1946 (March 27). I guess the expression Irish Twin explains my birth. I was born 11 months to the day after my brother Bobby's birth. I weighed in at 9 pounds 9 ounces. It has been always interesting to be the same age as my brother for one month each year. My mother told me that I was a very quiet baby and I did not seek attention. My mother was 25 years old with a 2 1/2 year old, a 11 month old a new baby. The back of my head is flat - probably a combination of Finnish heritage and my mother being very busy with two toddlers and being thankful for a quiet baby in the crib. I have very few (2) baby pictures and no picture of me alone. My sister and brother are always there. About 20 years ago I made a decision to get my own baby picture and I had a copy made with my brother and sister cropped out. I was the baby of the family for 10 years before my brother Jeffrey was born. My mother had at least 1 (maybe 2) miscarriages after my birth. I was an extremely shy child who was easily embarrassed with my face turning very red. I had a problem with bed wetting that last until I was 7 or 8 years old. I tried so hard not to wet the bed but it would happen time and time again. My Aunt Irma would take care of me and my brother when my mother was in the hospital. I remember my cousins coming into the room and asking my brother and myself to go out and play. I had wet the bed and didn't want them to know about it. My aunt was very kind and would clean me up and clean the sheets. Bed wetters have a lot of issues and I remember being very embarrassed when my mother would hang the bed sheets out on the clothesline with evidence of stains.
My elementary school years were spent at Ashby Elementary School. My first grade teacher was Mrs. Heikkala and my memories of her was she was kind except when she would enter the boy's bathroom or when she made every child eat all of their lunch. In grade 2 we had Miss Day who would twist your ear if you did something wrong. The next few years were teachers with limited memories for me. I do remember Mr. Keaveny in 7th and 8th grade. He took an interest in me and I had many future meeting and talks with him. Mr. Keaveny had very strong hands and he would crush your hand with his handshake. He also would startle a class with a slam of his hand on a desk to get your attention. I attended Notre Dame High School for my 9th, 10th and 11th grades. I never enjoyed my time there for I was not an outgoing person (still extremely shy) and made only a few friends but these friendships were only at school because we all lived in different towns. Living in Ashby isolated me from school friends and distanced me from the kids in Ashby. My brother Bobby created some difficult times for the brothers(teachers) at Notre Dame. He was asked to leave his Senior year with about 8 weeks to go before graduation. I took the opportunity to ask my dad if I could go to Ashby High (Lyman School pictured above) for my upcoming Senior year. My first day at Ashby High was interesting because the homeroom teacher Mr. Ganong was extremely stern and cross when he first met me. His behavior lasted for about two weeks until he stated that he thought he had to deal with another "Bobby". I enjoyed my Senior year and played varsity soccer (goalie), basketball (center) and baseball (pitcher and third base). I also happen to meet a special person at Ashby High School. There was a very cute junior girl who expressed an interest in me. I was soon off to college at Fitchburg State.
My elementary school years were spent at Ashby Elementary School. My first grade teacher was Mrs. Heikkala and my memories of her was she was kind except when she would enter the boy's bathroom or when she made every child eat all of their lunch. In grade 2 we had Miss Day who would twist your ear if you did something wrong. The next few years were teachers with limited memories for me. I do remember Mr. Keaveny in 7th and 8th grade. He took an interest in me and I had many future meeting and talks with him. Mr. Keaveny had very strong hands and he would crush your hand with his handshake. He also would startle a class with a slam of his hand on a desk to get your attention. I attended Notre Dame High School for my 9th, 10th and 11th grades. I never enjoyed my time there for I was not an outgoing person (still extremely shy) and made only a few friends but these friendships were only at school because we all lived in different towns. Living in Ashby isolated me from school friends and distanced me from the kids in Ashby. My brother Bobby created some difficult times for the brothers(teachers) at Notre Dame. He was asked to leave his Senior year with about 8 weeks to go before graduation. I took the opportunity to ask my dad if I could go to Ashby High (Lyman School pictured above) for my upcoming Senior year. My first day at Ashby High was interesting because the homeroom teacher Mr. Ganong was extremely stern and cross when he first met me. His behavior lasted for about two weeks until he stated that he thought he had to deal with another "Bobby". I enjoyed my Senior year and played varsity soccer (goalie), basketball (center) and baseball (pitcher and third base). I also happen to meet a special person at Ashby High School. There was a very cute junior girl who expressed an interest in me. I was soon off to college at Fitchburg State.
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