yesterday Delbarton
The Archivist’s Corner
By Kent Manno, Delbarton Archivist
The Brotherhood Endures Frank Haynes ’48 and Jules Spada ’48, Delbarton’s Oldest Alumni Recently, I spoke with Frank Haynes ’48, and Jules Spada ’48 are the last two surviving members of Delbarton’s first graduating class. Jules Spada
remembers his time at Delbarton like it was yesterday. The Class of 1948 included twelve young men. Born in 1930, Mr. Spada grew up in Whippany, New Jersey where his father owned Whippany Soap Company, a fat and waste rendering plant. Spada was a freshman Delbarton in 1944, 5 years into the life of Delbarton School. When his parents drove him to campus, he was impressed with Old Main and the “peaceful serene environment.” The student body in grades 7 to 10 occupied Old Main, the Brother’s House, and Chapter Hall. Fr. Adrian and Fr. Kenneth coached football which scrimmaged other jay-vee teams in the area. Students attended classes 5 1/2 days a week. Two years later, in 1946 the school had enrolled enough students to field competitive sports teams. Fr. Stephen Findlay hired William O. Regan to head the first football program and oversee construction of regulation football field. Old Main basement was the locker room and the inexperienced team was outfitted in uniforms
resembling the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Coach Regan went on to create a 40-year Delbarton football legacy with a 236-83-10 record. In the 1947 season, all athletes played offense and defense for the
whole game. Spada #54, played left end and moved to left halfback in 1948. Frank Haynes #28, served as center and linebacker. Oratory and Mountain Lakes were great Delbarton rivals. Spada says Coach Regan was the “perfect guy.” “Nobody had any animosity or bad words towards him. He was just a good fair person.”
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