SHSW Class Of '75 Commemorate 40th Anniversary

Trees to Remember

Smithtown High School West’s Class of 1975 recently celebrated their 40^th reunion, and decided that as the first graduating class of High School West, they wanted to commemorate the occasion by planting trees where their seeds of learning were cultivated. 

Using funds collected from their reunion celebration, the Class of 1975 agreed to donate three trees, planted in front of the HSW campus, along with a plaque, which was unveiled before homecoming. A donation was also made to the Smithtown Library to purchase children’s books. 

“West had, and continues to have, a great staff of teachers who were supportive and had such a positive influence on all of us,” said Janet Gambrell Bernabeo, a Class of 1975 graduate who now works for Smithtown School District. “We graduated in 1975 with 412 students. We have a strong alumni connection and plans are in the works to reunite again. We were proud and honored to be the first graduating class of High School West.”

Photo Caption: From left: Members of Smithtown High School West’s first graduating class in 1975: Jill Murman Payne, Nicolette Pumilia, Margherita Fanera Schneider, Janet Gambrell Bernabeo and Debbie Myers March in front of the three trees they donated.

Photo courtesy of the Smithtown Central School District