Some Families of St. Aloysius Parish in the 1950s and Beyond

	Vern and Mabel LaRusch Family: The LaRusch Family included Vern, Mabel and five kids, including Gloria, Norbert, Bucky, Kathy, and Sharon. Vern owned a dry cleaning business in Cheektowaga. Mabel was active in the Altar Rosary Society. The LaRusch's lived on Oelman Blvd. and Vern coached the CYO boy's basketball team. Top Left: Vern and Mabel LaRusch's 50th Wedding Anniversary portrait. Top Right: Mabel and Vern LaRusch received the Pro Deo Award Below Left: Bucky LaRusch Below Right: Gloria LaRusch

Dick and Ada LaRusch Family: Dick and Ada LaRusch attended St. Aloysius. They had one daughter, Janet LaRusch. Dick was a milkman for Sealtest.

Jack and Alice Troy Family: The Troy Family lived on Shirley Ave from 1952-1961 Jack Troy was a milkman for Sealtest and taught driving school at night. He also ushered at St. Aloysius on Sundays. Alice Troy belonged to the Altar Rosary Society. Both Jack and Alice were active in the CFM - Christian Family Movement Right: Jack and Alice with their children Sharon, Ken, and Kathy Troy in 1960. Bottom: The Troy Family home on Shirley Ave.

Sharon and Ken had the following teachers at St. Aloysius: First Grade - Sister Teresita Second Grade - Mrs. Ianne Third Grade - Mrs. Rosar Sharon also had the following teachers Fourth Grade - Mrs. Theobold Fifth Grade - Mrs.Hoffman Sixth Grade - Sister Caroline Marie The Troy family moved to Florida in 1961.

• ANDRUSCHAT FAMILY
  
  Tom Andruschat played basketball for St. Aloysius. The Andruschat Family lived next to the St. Aloysius convent and school.

• COLUCCI FAMILY

  
  The Colucci Family included Lenore and Anthony Colucci.

• DOWLING FAMILY
  
  The Ted and Marge Dowling Family lived on Shirley Ave.
  They had three children: Carol, Michael and Patricia. The family lived with their uncle, Frank Dowling.
  Shown here, Michael, left and Patricia, right,1957.

• HEINDL FAMILY:
  
  Frank and Terry and their son, James, lived at 5 Highview Court, across Cleveland Drive from St. Aloysius. Jim made his First Holy Communion in 1950 and his Confirmation in 1955. After graduation, Jim attended Cleveland Hill High School for grades 9 through 12 and then went on to college at Purdue University. Frank and Terry died in 1994 in Apopka, Florida but had their Funeral service at St. Aloysius and were buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

• PFOHL FAMILY

  
  The Pfohl's were very involved in the St. Aloysius CYO basketball program. Barbara and Judy Pfohl played on the girls team. Their father, Jack Pfohl, was an assistant coach. Their brother James "Jim" also attended St. Aloysius. Evelyn Pfohl is listed on sick list below in 1995.

Other families we remember, but don't have pictures for yet:


• BRAUNGART FAMILY
  The William E. and Anna E. Braungart Family lived in Cheektowaga in the 1950s when their daughter Joyce Braungart married Thomas V. Troy from St. Bartholomew's Parish. Joyce's older brother was William A. Braungart. Joyce's younger brother, John P. Braungart, attended St. Aloysius School,(class of 1961) as did several nieces and nephews, including William T. Braungart (class of 1981), Nancy Braungart, (class of 1983). Jason Braungart, and Tom Braungart.(both graduated late 1980s) who are the children of William A. Braungart. William E. Braungart died in August 1977 and Anna E. Braungart died in April 1978, and were buried from St Al's. (NOTE: Sharon Troy Centanne is also a niece of Joyce Braungart Troy and would have graduated from St. Al's in 1964 but moved to Florida). William E and Anna E Braungart died in 1978 and were buried from St Al's.

• BESANT FAMILY
  The entire Besant family went to St. Aloysius (some still do!). They lived on Meaford Road. There were two sisters, Michelle (Shelley) Besant now Palmieri and Jackie Besant (now Kilger). Jackie graduated about 1962, and an older brother Bob Besant graduated a few years before that......Jackie Besant and Michelle Besant were both married from St. Aloysius......the oldest brother Dick Besant also went to school there, however he passed away in 1990.

• BOYD FAMILY The Boyd family lived on Meaford Road. Their daughter Katherine (Kathy) Boyd was the class of 1964. Her father, Michael Boyd was very involved in the "Santa Claus Line" at the annual Christmas Fair!

• BUBAR FAMILY
  attended St. Al's in the 1950s.

  .

• BULGER FAMILYThe Bulger Family was active in parish events. Harriet Bulger and her husband John M. Bulger helped with the Dinner and Fashion show in 1973.

• CLABEAUX FAMILY
  Margaret Clabeaux, born 1907, and her father lived on Shirley Ave. Her father Robert John Clabeaux died July 9, 1954 and was buried from St. Aloysius. Her mother Mary A. Flynn Clabeaux died April 20, 1934 before St. Aloysius was established. Margaret had two brothers, Robert E. Clabeaux, born 1909 and Vincent G. Clabeaux, born 1911. Margaret's brother Vincent and his wife Alice SaGurney Clabeaux and their three children, Patrick, Theresa, and Michael lived with her for a while in the early 1950s when he got out of the service. Vincent and his family then moved to Texas Ave. in St. Gerard's parish. Margaret Clabeaux was a member of the Rosary Altar Society. She died in 1979. Patrick Clabeaux lived in the home on Shirley in the 1990s until his recent death in 1999. Margaret and Patrick were both buried from St. Aloysius Church.

• COGAN FAMILY
  The Cogan Family lived near Cleveland Drive, west of St. Aloysius. The family included twin boys, Patrick and Michael Cogan, and another brother Tim Cogan.

• COOK FAMILY
  The Cook Family lived in the apartment complex behind Cleveland Hill Plaza until their father was transfered to Denver, Colorado. Their daughter was Cynthia Cook.

• DANIELS FAMILY
  The Daniels Family lived in Buffalo on Hewitt Ave in a big green house with an apartment on the back. They had a daughter named Marilyn Daniels.

• DAUGHERTY FAMILY
  The Daugherty Family was one of the first families to marry at St. Aloysius in the 1940s. Kenneth F. Daugherty married Geraldine C. Reynolds on October 26, 1940. Their daughter is Sr. Barbara Daugherty of the Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio.

• DeVINCENTIS FAMILY
  The DeVincentis Family had a daughter named Mary Lou. Her father was Dr. DeVincentis who had an office on Lovejoy.

• DICK FAMILY
  The Dick Family lived on Dartmouth Ave. and moved to Eggert Road.
  The father was a fireman. One of their children was Susan Dick. Jane Dick was Program Chairman for the Rosary Altar Society in 1972.

• EYE FAMILY
  The Eye Family lived on Dartmouth Ave and had two daughters.

• FOX FAMILY
  The Fox Family lived in Cheektowaga, over near Harlem Rd. Their daughter Anne Fox was the founder and first president of The Bishop Sheen Mission Club which included girls from the class of 1964. There was also a brother named Dennis Fox. Mr. Donald Fox, probably the father, is on the sick list below in 1995.

• GALLIVAN FAMILYThe Gallivan Family was active in church events. Eugene T. Gallivan and his wife Marge Gallivan helped with the Dinner and Fashion Show in 1973.

• GAUDY FAMILY
  The Gaudy Family lived on Minnesota Ave. near Eggert Road, and was one of the first families to attend St. Aloysius. Their daughter Mary E. Gaudy was the first bride to walk down the aisle in the original wooden church building on August 31, 1940.

• HARK FAMILY
  Mr. Richard M. Hark and his wife Lillian Dingboom Hark attended St. Al's. Mr. Hark was a life member of St. Al's Holy Name Society, life member of 74/174 Veterans Association and St. Aloysius Senior Citizens. Mr. Hark died a widower in 1998.

• HOFFMAN FAMILY
  The Hoffman Family lived in Cheektowaga near Harlem Rd. Mrs. Hoffman taught fifth grade at St. Aloysius School. The Hoffman Family lived near the Fox Family. Mrs. Hoffman died in January 2007 at the age of 92.

• HOOVER FAMILY
  The Hoover Family lived on Shirley Ave. The children included Pat, Bob, and Mary Lou. The Hoovers moved to Tonawanda in 1957 when a younger sister was born. The parents were Robert Hoover Sr. and his wife Alice. Bob Hoover now lives near Atlanta, Ga. His sisters are still in the Buffalo area. Mary Lou is an ordained Episcopal minister.

• HORVOTIZ FAMILY
  The Horvotis Family lived in Cheektowaga. Their daughter was Suzanne Horvotis.

• IVERS FAMILY
  The Ivers family included a son named Michael Ivers.

• JENSEN FAMILY
  The Jensen Family lived on Winspear Ave. Their son Paul went to the University of Buffalo after his high school graduation.

• KEENEN FAMILY
  The Keenan family lived on Meaford Road. Their daughter Mary Ellen Keenan (now Leitten) went to St. Aloysius and graduated in 1964. The Keenan family lived next door to the Besant Family who also attended St. Aloysius (see above).

• LEWIS FAMILY
  The Lewis family lived on Meaford Road. Their daughter Karen Lewis graduated from St. Aloysius in 1965.

• MAHONEY FAMILY
  The Mahoney Family lived on LaSalle Ave. near Eggert Rd. Their son married a girl from St. Aloysius.

• MASON FAMILY
  The Mason Family lived on Allendale behind St. Aloysius in Cheektowaga. They had a daughter named Barbara Mason. Mrs. Hale Mason, Jr. helped with the Dinner and Fashion Show in 1973.

• MANFREDA FAMILY
  June Manfreda was a crossing guard at St Aloyisius for many years, probably 1960-1975. June was married to A. Richard Manfreda. Their three sons attended parochial school there from the late 50's through about 1970. They are Richard, Robert, and Ronald Manfreda and all now reside in the Hamburg/Eden area. They used to live at the corner of Harlem Road and Corey Ct just in front of Cleveland Hill HS. June Manfreda helped with the Dinner and Fashion Show in 1973.

• MATLOCK FAMILY
  The Matlock family lived on Shirley Ave. They had five kids. The father owned a truck with a merry-go-round and would give the kids in the neighborhood a ride for ten cents each. Three of their daughters were Sylvia, Mary and Faith Matlock. There were also two more children, probably boys.

• McCARTHY FAMILY
  The McCarthy Family lived in Cheektowaga, in the neighborhood east of St. Aloysius. They had a son named Dennis who was president of his fifth grade class in 1960. Mrs. William D. McCarthy was Treasurer of the Rosary Altar Society in 1972.

• McLAUGHLIN FAMILY
  The McLaughlin Family lived on Westminister Ave. They had a son named John. His McLaughlin grandparents lived on LaSalle Ave near Orleans in the 1950s.

• MERKLE FAMILY
  attended St. Al's in the 1950s. Miss Rita A. Merkle was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. John. She died Feb 2, 1998.

• NOONAN FAMILY
  The Noonan Family (or was it Nunan?) lived across the street from St. Aloysius. They had eight or nine children.

• NOTARPOLE FAMILY
  The Notarpole family attended St. Al's for church, and Mark went to school there from 1968-1977. They lived on Woodley Rd. Mark was an altarboy for 7 years, and attended school at St. Al's from kindergarten to 8th grade.

• NOWAK FAMILY
  The Nowak Family lived on Burke Dr. in a big house near the home of Mayor Pankow. One of their sons was named Tom Nowak.

• PLEGER FAMILY
  The Pleger Family lived in Cheektowaga. They had a daughter named Carole Pleger.

• PUCCI FAMILY
  The Pucci Family lived just south of Kensington Ave. They had a daughter named Anne Marie Pucci and a son named Mike Pucci.

• RITTER FAMILY
  The Ritter Family lived at 288 Oehman Blvd and attended St Al's church in from 1940 thru 1955. Their son Roger went to St Al's school from 1946 thru 1954, and then attended Cleveland Hill High. His father was Kenneth Ritter and his mother was Viola. His brother Ronald and his sister Donnalee who also attended St Al's. The pastor was Fr.Gonter. The principal during those years was Sr Mary Edward.

• RODGERS FAMILY
  The Rodgers Family lived on Cleveland Drive facing St. Aloysius. Their daughter was Patty Rodgers. Patty started school at St. Aloysius in about 1959 or 1960.

• ROLAND FAMILY
  The Bill and Tess Roland Family lived on Shirley Avenue. They had three sons: Myrle, William, and Jerry Roland. Jerry was one of the first babies baptised at St. Aloysius and one of the earliest students in the late 1940s.

• ROSAR FAMILY
  The Rosar Family lived on Eggert Road. Mrs. Rosar started teaching third grade at St. Aloysius School in September 1958 and taught for many years.

• SIMPSON FAMILY
  The Simpson family lived on Meaford Road. Their daughter Cathy Simpson graduated from St. Aloysius in 1965.

• SONTAG FAMILY
  The Sontag Family was one of the original families of St. Aloysius in the 1940s.

• SULLIVAN FAMILY
  The Sullivan Family moved to Dartmouth Ave.at Orleans in 1960. One of their three daughters was Lauran Sullivan and they also had a younger son who went by Dee Sullivan.

• WALTERS FAMILY
  The Walters Family lived in Cheektowaga. They had a daughter named Marilyn Walters. Mrs. Walters was a Girl Scout leader.

• WEBER FAMILY
  James M. Weber, Sr. and his wife Ruth (Reich) Weber. James was active in the Holy Name Society and Usher's Guild before his death in 1998.

• WILSON FAMILY
  The Wilson Family, Norm and Claire lived on Oehlman Blvd. in Cheektowaga.

• WEHRFRITZ FAMILY
  Herbert John 'Jack' Wehrfritz and his wife Marie (nee Warsitz) Wehrfritz. Mr. Wehrfritz was a member of the Holy Name Society at St. Aloysius before his death in March 1998.

• WUTZ FAMILY
  The Wutz Family, Jean and Frank lived on Oehlman Blvd. in Cheektowaga.

• ZAWATSKI FAMILY
  The Zawatski family attended St. Aloysius throughout grade school, mostly in the 1990s.

THE FOLLOWING NAMES WERE ON THE SICK LIST IN 1995:

Evelyn Pfohl, Lucille Marschall, Mildred Korst, Dorothy Belcher, Lena Chiarello, Brandon Young, Gordon Morrison, Carolyn M. Ledger, John Maroney, Florence Nunan, Hilda Becker, LaVerne LaRusch, Donald Fox, Dorothy West, Carly Scherer, Irene Porcella, Samuel Romano, Elizabeth McDonough, Agnes Kaye, Marie Menig, Cecelia Penders, Kay Schitter, Willaim J. Boye, Francis and Ethel McKernan, Florence Eberl, Mary Sperazza, Tessie Mussolino, Lee Uhrich, Jame Knoerl, Frances Propster, Jean Laird, Ed Hoppy, George Stillwell, May Fiegel, Mary C. Long, Robert Green, Joseph Darowz, Doris Feldman, Theresa Dziuba and Henry and Severine Zemryki, Berdan Luparello, Frank Smigielski, Edward A. Hein, Betty Ryan, Lucian Gallery, Clara Langan, Richard Hark, and Joan Wojcik.

NOTE: More families will be added soon as we collect and scan photos. If your family attended St. Aloysius, please contact Sharon Troy Centanne.

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