Legacy of Denfeld class of ’55 continues

By Adelle Whitefoot awhitefoot@duluthnews.com

The class of 1955 is a legend around the halls of Denfeld High School. A plaque listing the graduates’ names hangs outside the auditorium. The plaque commemorates the $55,000 the class raised and used to create the Legacy Fund for the Greater Denfeld Foundation. The fund was created to help financially support the school and its students, Greater Denfeld Foundation President Jerry Zanko said.

Zanko, a 1969 Denfeld graduate, said the foundation solicits grant applications from teachers, coaches, advisers and other staff members. The proposals are then evaluated by a committee for approval.

The fund has helped pay for advanced-placement history books, graphic calculators, microphones for speech class, aprons for the culinary arts programs, microscope slides for biology, a computer for the robotics team and even shoes for the cross-country and track teams, Zanko said.

“The classroom things they purchase go a long way toward letting a teacher meet his or her obligation to teach their students in the best way possible,” Zanko said.

Teacher Angelo Florestano said the fund is known as the “Class of ‘55 fund” around the school, though it was never officially called by that name.

The Legacy Fund is now part of the Greater Denfeld Foundation Memorial Fund, which also includes the thousands of dollars raised every year from the Steve Anderson Legacy Golf Tournament.

Denfeld High School class of 1955 raised $55,000 to create the Legacy Fund for the Greater Denfeld Foundation to help financially support the school and students.

(Adelle Whitefoot / awhitefoot@ duluthnews.com)

Denfeld High School class of 1955 raised $55,000 to create the Legacy Fund for the Greater Denfeld Foundation to help financially support the school and students.

(Adelle Whitefoot / awhitefoot@ duluthnews.com)

Zanko said the memorial fund has received many donations over the years from alumni of all graduating classes. And one class of 1955 graduate, Harry Fisher, left a large sum to the fund after he died.

“It’s just really inspirational,” Zanko said of the pride Denfeld alumni have in their school.

That Denfeld pride was evident in the 1955 class song, which was written by two seniors, Mary Anne

Kertzscher and Marjorie Heckman:

“Our high school days are over, But we shall not forget Our alma mater, Denfeld, The many friends we’ve met. Much knowledge we have gained here, And victories we have won. The name and fame of Denfeld days Shall ever guide us on.” u