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History of SHHS

“Quiet and Restful Above the Smoke, The History of South Hills High School”

          By Warren W. Ashburn and Janice Simmons Parker           

Here is one “history book” you won’t put down until you’ve read it through … maybe more than once.  The pictures alone, some we never expected to see of the school’s construction and unique features, make the book a delight to own.  No matter how well you think you know this school, you are bound to be fascinated and maybe surprised by the decade-by-decade story of one of Pittsburgh’s great old schools.  Researched, written, illustrated and published by South Hills High School graduates*, this book is obviously a work of love.  And with many personal stories submitted from past students of all ages, it is also just plain good fun.

This first-ever history of the school, 18 months in the making, will make delightful reading for every former student, former member of the staff or administration, current resident of the new South Hills Retirement Residence, neighbors of the school and lovers of good stories.  And, best of all, all proceeds from the sale of the book go to the SHHSAA and its scholarship fund.  Discover …

  • The original name of South Hills High School.
  • The strange story of the Liberty Tunnels and their connection to the school.
  • The first SHHS building and how it grew piece by piece.
  • The legacy of “Pops” Winner.
  • The years of powerhouse sports teams.
  • The several student protest strikes.
  • The day the “hippies” invaded Ruth Street.
  • The unusual clubs and activities.
  • The struggle to build an athletic field.
  • The truth about naked swimmers.
  • The birth of the “cages”.
  • The story of how the school sent from the largest student population in Pittsburgh to the decision to shut it down.
  • Some very noteworthy graduates, teachers and principals.
  • How the building was saved and reborn.

This is one book you’ll want not just for yourself but for family and friends as well.

Complete your  order and send it in!

History-BookDownload

* Written by:  Warren W. Ashburn (6’57) and Janice Simmons Parker (6’57)

   Illustrated by:  Charles Schmidt (1’57)       Cover Design, Published by:  John Taylor (6’58)

2018 Hall of Fame

William A. Aiken  ’51  –  Visual Arts

Marian Knight Fedak  ’64  –  Medical Science

Charles M. Gillespie  ’70  –  Business

Monsignor Ronald Lengwin  ’58  –  Humanities

Colonel Gerald Mocello  ’74  –  Military

Benjamin Robertson  ’60  –  Music Arts

Posthumous Award

Robert Kreinar ’55 aka Bob Babbitt  –  Music Arts

Teacher

Raymond Linkenheimer

2018 Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted April 29, 2018

Individuals

Ulna Calloway  ‘61
Ronald Gray  ‘54
Ed Heinsius  ‘57
Margo Hinton  ‘85
Robert Holmes  ‘61
Dr. Daniel Kanell  ‘57
Barry Pryor  ’64
Paul Rue  ’62
Ronald Wetzel  ’79

Teams:

1957 & 58 Tennis Doubles
Dr. John Krause ‘58 and Robert Stock ‘58
1959, 60, 61 Basketball Team

Posthumous

Nathaniel Clark  ‘61
William J. “Scrappy” Allen  ‘45

Coaches

Alice Walton Mansmann
Bruce Weston

2019 Hall of Fame

The 2019 SHHSAA Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement

Larry Anderson 6‘69
Patricia Ebeling Faloon 1‘47
Kathleen Paull Frost 6‘57
Michael W. Johnson 6‘69
John Kazlauskas 6‘63
Bruce Seiling ‘58
Justice Ralph Cappy ’61, Posthumous Award
George Cupples, M.D. ‘44, Posthumous Award
Earl Wild ’34, Posthumous Award

Class Champions

Marion Nelson Johnson ‘44
Jerry LeGrand ‘54

Teacher

Constance Griffin, English Teacher

All successful Class Reunions have at least one “Hero” who makes it happen.
SHHSAA has instituted this new Class Champions category of recognition.
Class reunions are dear to the hearts of many of us. It’s a place where we
express our respect for that time in our lives by sharing it with those who
experienced it with us. No one person pulls off a reunion but there is
usually at least one or two stars who rise to the task of keeping old friends
together over the long haul. As we announce the initial “Champions
Category” think about those in your class who deserve that official
recognition.

2019 Sports Hall of Fame

Thomas Bigley ‘52
Patrick A. Botula ‘56
George Bradford ‘70
John DeFazio ‘58
Don Elzer ‘73
Michael Johnson ‘69
Ron Laneve ‘54
James Lowen ‘58
Bill Zentgraf ‘58
George Cupples M.D. ’44, Posthumous
Russell Knipp ’61, Posthumous
Carl Wade ’61, Posthumous
Coach: Marsella DeMarco, Posthumous
Coach: Ray Hooper ’58, 1968/69 Football Team

1968/69 Cheerleaders**

Nancy Borland, Suzie Davey Generalovich, Barbara Delp Reddington, Anne
Evans Payling, Michele Gorczyca Naugler, Janet Hageter, Linda Roberts,
Roberta Schrenker Kosanovich, Toni Smith

1968/69 Football Team **

Ralph Banks ‘70, Michael Bogden ’70, George Bradford ’70, Ronald L. Brown ’69, Edward Cahill ’69, Anthony Colavecchia ’69, Rich Davidson ’70, Frank DePalma ’69, Charles Duncan ’71, Joe Foriska ’70, Charlie Gillespie ’70, Don Grainger ’70, Bert Griffiths ‘69, Gary Hayes, William James, Michael W. Johnson ’69, Ron King, George Karscig, Herman Knerr ’71, Donald McMurty ’69, Jerry Minsinger ’71, Anthony Miscimarra ’70, Wayne Moody ’70, Gary Moore ’71, Bernard Murhammer ’70, Archie Perrin ’69, Larry Purpura M.D., Thomas Reiland 70, Larry Slanovich ’69, Donald Stecyk ‘70, Henry Thomas ‘69, John Trent ’69, Doug Williams

2020-21 Sports Hall of Fame

2020 Athletic HOF Inductees

  • Charles Atwater ‘65
  • Michael J. Bogden ‘70
  • Bernard Botula ‘47
  • Jerry L. Minsinger ‘71
  • Roy W. Schaney ‘60
  • Nate Snyder ‘65
  • Warren Timmons 2’43
  • Herman Wade 6’51
  • Arthur Walker 2’54
  • Walter Craig 2’29, Posthumous
  • Steven Faloon 1975, Posthumous
  • Ken Wade ’62, Posthumous
  • Coach George Riley

1959, 60, 61 Swim Team

Coaches: Davis, Mazeski, Schmitt, Mgr. John Frobe, Asst Mgr Chronis

Ron Barneshan 6’59, Raymond Brace 2’62, Paul Bracken ‘61, Howard Bradley ‘61, Carl Brutico 2’61, Bill Buckley ‘59, Nathaniel Clark 2‘61 (broke city record), Bill Dattisman ‘61, William Davis 2’61, Paul Doss ‘62, Bob Foster ‘62, Bob Kassouf ‘62, David Kier ‘61, Tom Ladner ‘59, Dave Loadman ‘62, Tom Luffey ’59, Grant Mackannin ’59, Frank Mechura 2’61, Richard Miller ‘62, Gerald (Mike) Monahan ‘60, Herb Obenaur ‘60, Jim O’Donnell ‘59, John O’Donnell ’60 , Richard O’Donnell ‘63, Dennis O’Malley ‘62, Tom O’Mara, David Prepelka ‘61, Dennis Reynolds 2’60, Robert Reynolds ’62, Howard Russell 2’61, Ronald Saunders, Roy Schaney ‘60, Russell Skalyo ’60, Ron Tomasetti ‘63, Tom Tulenko 2’61

1960, 61, 62 Drill Team

Coach: Marcella Strutzel DeMarco, Ph.D 6 ‘41

Captains: 60-Joan Timmons Battista, 61-Mary Ellen Hirsch, 62-Donna McIntosh Sprandle

Antoinette Aiose Walsh ‘62, Pauline Barilla Iorilla ‘62, Bonnie Bertollini Miller ‘60, Helen Briggs Jackson ‘62, Patricia Brooks ‘62, Carol Buckley Sweitzer ‘60, Irene Burnett ‘61, Carole Calabria Shannon ‘60, Diane Cappy Stahoviak ‘62, Gwen Carpenter Stowell ‘60, Mary Ann Chervanek Callahan ‘61, Linda Craig Stocker ‘62, Sheila Cralle Osborne ‘60, RoAnne Dansevich Skalyo ‘61, Corinne DeConcilius ‘61, Jane Dunlap Gehringer ‘61, Carol Edwards Gerstacker ‘61, Kristine Forsberg Struba ‘62, Virginia Frazier Douds ‘60, Sue Freund Giglio ‘62, Edith Gasior Woods ‘62, Lorraine Goggin Baker ‘62, Bertha Hall ‘61, Rita Healy Linder ‘62, Marsha Hillgrove Cumer ‘60, Lois Hrabar Lieberman ‘60, Charmette Jones ‘60, Mary Jones ‘61, Rita Kopleman ‘62, Nancy Larsen Schaney ‘61, Joyce Leach ‘62, Alberta Lewis ‘61, Laura Lyan ‘60, Roslyn Lyle ‘61, Jo Ann Lyle Broadus ‘62, Donna Martin Beckert ‘62, Judy Martin Blackman ‘61, Margaret McShane Schmidt ‘62, Jeannne Meiser Chipps ‘62, Betty Miller Smith ‘62, Bonnie Miller ‘61, Karen Minsinger ‘61, Carol Oliver Verpalto ‘61, Cathy Oliverio Torchia ‘62, JoAnn Palombia Zantolli ‘60, Judy Pascasio, Roberta Patterson ‘61, Letricia Plummer Duncan ‘60, Kitty Price Van Horn ‘60, Barbara Reeves Christenson ‘61, Patricia Reeves ‘61, Dorothy Ring Obenour ‘61, Peggy Rollins Condon ‘61, Alberta Schessler Phillips ‘62, Judy Schmidt Volpert ‘62, Janice Smith Stein ‘62, Betsy Sphar Wood ‘62, Joan Wallace ‘61, Marlene Weber Valicenti ‘62, Gail Winkler ‘61, Claire Young Martin ‘61, Sharon Ziefel Green ‘62

2016 Hall of Fame

2016 Inductees to the SHHS Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame
The SHHSAA Hall of Fame committee is pleased that the following alumni were inducted into the SHHSAA Hall of Fame for their lifetime achievements on Saturday, April 30, 2016.  What a wide-range impact our grads have had!!!


Elsie Redmon Henderson 6’29, with a passion for the culinary arts, graced the kitchens of the Mellons, Kennedys and Heinzes; best known for her work as Fallingwater chef for the Kaufmanns; featured in “The Fallingwater Cookbook: Elsie Henderson’s Recipes & Memories” published in 2008; known in Pittsburgh as the “other Elsie.”

Jacob R. Minsinger 2’44, a city institution having served 55 years with the Pittsburgh Public Schools, grandson of one of Mt. Washington’s earliest original settlers; teacher and principal of several Pittsburgh schools; principal of Conroy Education Center, a then leading edge school serving students with special needs.

James B. Schmunk  2’46 D.Ed, impressive leadership, tireless, professional contributions in virtually every aspect of school functions; teacher, principal, Asst Superintendent, Project Director, Curriculum Director or Head of Educational Center in the Pittsburgh, Baldwin Whitehall, Carlynton, Churchill Area, Allegheny Intermediate School Districts; Chairperson Assoc. of Children with Learning Disabilities since 1984.

John R. Krause, M.D. 6’58, Professor of Pathology/Hematology Medical College of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia); Professor of Pathology University of Pittsburgh; Chairman, Department of Pathology, Tulane University Medical Center; currently Professor of Pathology Baylor University Medical Center (Dallas); teacher; published extensively

Bryant J. Salter 1967, one of greatest cornerbacks at University of Pittsburgh and All American in Track & Field; successful six year career in the NFL; prestigious United States diplomat US State Department of Foreign Service, founded international consulting firm – Business Diplomacy Consulting, LLC. 

Rania L. Harris 6’68, a high-energy local radio and TV personality; has her own “Cookin’ with Rania” show on KDKA-TV channel 2; One of Pittsburgh’s Celebrity Chefs, since 1985 has owned her own business, Rania’s Catering in Mt. Lebanon, serving lunch, featuring her own product line and conducting cooking classes.

Kirk M. Bruce 1971, a standout shooting guard as part of the famed 1973-74 Panthers in one of the greatest college basketball teams to come out of Pitt; drafted by Utah Stars – former American Basketball Association; University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department for more than three decades in both coaching and administration and day-to-day operations of several Olympic sports.

Philip A. Miscimarra  1974, one of five U.S. Senate approved members of the National Labor Relations Board; partner of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School; J.D. from University of Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania Law School.

2017 Hall of Fame

Lifetime Achievement Inductees

The SHHSAA Hall of Fame committee is pleased that the following alumni who were inducted into the SHHSAA Hall of Fame for their lifetime achievements in 2017.  What a wide-range impact our grads have had!!!
Ronald S. Laneve, Ed.D  6’54 –  football with Coach J. Reed Wehrle kicked off his college football and later head coaching and athletic director career in Maryland; received national recognition for his impact as Principal of the Mark Twain School cutting edge of the public school system serving emotionally disturbed students; founder of Mary’s House home for pregnant girls.  

Patricia Stacy Connolly Keating  6’57 –Health  and Physical Education teacher at SHHS and Brashear received the prestigious Cottrell Award for her dynamic leadership and outstanding contributions to the profession over a 20 year period; president of Allegheny County Association, number of state committees, the first woman selected to be PA State Convention Manager.  

Robert B. Stock  6’58 – major contributor to nation’s scientific advancement through high performance computing; Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center is one of five national centers funded by the National Science Foundation to provide services for the nation’s university, government and industrial researchers for unclassified research.  

Rolf R. Rohn 1’64 – world renown trusted liturgical artist, designer, educator, appraiser and construction consultant with over 2,500 projects in the US and Europe, including the historic Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in lower Manhattan; the scope and impact of his work is inspiring.  

Bonnie Reese, Ph.D  1974 – successful in multiple careers; nationally recognized anthropologist and archeologist; Curator at the National Historic Landmark Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, oldest site of human habitation in North America, located in Avella, Washington County, Pennsylvania.