Alumni Profile: Judy Maassen DeJong (The Netherlands)

Judy Maassen-DeJong is pictured with her husband, Marc, on their daughter’s wedding day.

Submitted by Paul Heinrich for Manchester High School Alumni Association

It’s hard to believe that another year has passed so quickly; the Manchester Alumni Association is getting ready to host the 143rd Alumni Banquet honoring those who will graduate in June and all of those who preceded them. As always, the Association would like to honor someone who has graduated from Manchester High School; preferably a person from one of the classes being honored. The honorees this year are the classes of 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980.

As we reached out to the Class of 1980, one of the exchange students who attended the high school wrote a very nice letter telling about what a positive experience it was for her to attend Manchester and the lasting impact it has had on her. Thanks, Judy DeJong, for sharing your memories.

1979/1980 MY EXCHANGE YEAR IN MANCHESTER, MI

A Dutch girl at the home of the Manchester Flying Dutchmen, which I thought was funny and then discovering, that Manchester wasn’t Dutch at all to start with, but more German (Deutsch).

Right now I’m thinking: “Why is it called Manchester then?”

Manchester; a main street and a small town surrounding it. A bar with lots of international beers, which I couldn’t go to. Quite different from the city I call home. It took me some time to adjust, but in the end, I managed.

As it was August already (when I arrived), I needed choose my courses at MHS straight away. English, American Government and Phys. Ed. were mandatory, as I recall. Biology I wanted to keep up to date. So there was room for two fun courses; Typing and Chorus. I do hereby admit, that I hardly studied at all during my Senior year. Sorry to disappoint you! English and Biology weren’t new to me; I’d seen it all before at my own school at home, where I already had graduated from. (If I hadn’t graduated at home, you would have never met me; the one condition from my Dad!)

Memories: Ending up with a D- for a Biology exam one semester; now you all know why. Sorry, Astrida! Miss Pitt gave me an A? I’m not into sports at all, so I haven’t got a clue here. American Government a B? I think Mr. Korican just liked me. I never was into politics. An excellent, hardworking student? I just blended in, I suppose, and did what was expected of me. Mr. Marrison was surprised to hear my high soprano voice, while expecting me to be a tenor, being as tall as I am. Mrs. Vehar, who let me help out at the school play, as my acting wasn’t good enough to be on stage. She always complimented me on my English.

Mrs. Hardenbergh, the sweet librarian, always in for a small chat. Mrs. Miller, who taught me to sew. Miss Iott; I still know how to type properly after so many years. Having courses with Seniors and Juniors mixed was very strange to me. In the Netherlands, you take courses with your own class/peer group. Warm school lunches were new to me as well. I was used to taking homemade sandwiches and a drink to school for lunch.

I really had to get used to seeing 16-year-olds driving. Cruising by car around town; never heard of such a thing. Having to ride the school bus as an 18-year-old wasn’t by choice, but … I coped. I loved singing in the Varsity Choir with Tony Day, Theresa Ames, Doug Padley and all the others. Great memories of all the activities we’ve undertaken with Mr. Marrison! Many pictures as proof of good times. Sorry that only sport activities were a reason to get a jacket in school colors. No exceptions
for an exchange-student.

I do still have my typical American school ring. I loved the school pictures and the habit of exchanging them with friends and classmates with something written on the back–still have those as well.

I really enjoyed my stay and all the people I met! That was the most important and precious to me; learning about life in a town like Manchester, about different habits, about caring for one another in a small-town community, and much more.

Maastricht, the Netherlands, Judith Maassen–de Jong aka Judy Dejong

Please continue to check the Manchester Mirror for another student spotlight article in the near future. The Association wants the Banquet to be bigger and better than ever before, so please consider attending. Written invitations will be sent in early May to those who have graduated at least 30 years ago. If you have any questions, please feel free to email them to mhsdutchalumni@yahoo.com.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.