Photos by Kim Moss

By William Tauro 

You just couldn’t ask for a better evening than what took place at the 2016 Somerville High Career and Technical Education Awards Senior Banquet that was held at the Eugene C. Brune Field House on Thursday evening May 4th. The evening was full of Somerville Pride with over 100 students receiving awards as their proud parent’s, elected officials, Superintendent Mary Skipper, Mayor Curtatone, Headmaster John Oteri,and Director Leo DeSimone, watch with pride. .A wonderful tribute was given to Ellie Blute in grateful appreciation for her commitment and dedication to the Raymond Izzo Scholarship fund.
The highlight of the evening was the guest speaker,. Mayor Emeritus Eugene Brune addressed the over 400 attendees with some heart warming remarks as to his feelings for Vocational, Technical Educational and also how it is so important to continue to expand it’s programs.
Brune stated that he always had an affinity for the Somerville Vocational/ Technical High School for a couple of reasons that was important to him. His younger brother Jerome attended,and was a member of the 1949 graduation class of The Somerville Vocational. After serving as a Platoon.Sergeant during the Korean Conflict. his brother came home, got married and became the father of a little girl. Later his wife gave birth to a little boy and at the same time his brother got diagnosed with lung cancer and in six months he died. He was only 33 years old. .His brother Jerome love The Somerville Vocational School, his instructors and his classmates.

  Another reason for the Former Mayor affinity is that in the late 1960’s he and his committee attempted to open a boys club in Somerville. They got their first break when Former Mayor Ralph told Alderman Brune that they could have the use of the old police station on Bow Street if the committee could raise the needed money to make all the repairs to the building. Brune raised the money and he met with, at that time, the Director of Vocational Ed. Walter Scruble and ask if he would allow the instructors and students to help with the necessary renovations. Thanks to the work of the Somerville Vocational instructors and students of the Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing and Painting Departments Brune and his very dedicated committee opened the doors of the first Somerville Boys Club where children could go and grow.. Brune ask Former Mayor Ralph to build a new Vocational School.but the money was not just their at that time. When Brune became Mayor he with the help of the school committee, and the school administration as well as his building committee agreed that a new wing would be attached to the high school and it would be called “The Somerville Comprehensive High School”. Brune always felt that there should only be one school, one sports program, one prom and one graduation. All high school students under one roof. Brune ended his talk by telling the students that to always be proud of what you do, work hard, learn your trade to the very best you can. Only you can chart your own course, only you can reach your destination, only you can dream your dreams and only you can make those dreams come true. Former Mayor Brune received a standing ovation.