The Mirror 1931 from the New York Heritage digital Ilion Free Public Library Yearbooks collection. Link opens in new browser tab. (added March 24, 2021)

Now everything you wanted to know about the IHS Class of 1931 is at your fingertips....as published in the 1931 Mirror Class History.

Class Roster, Officers and Honor Students, as published in the 1931 "The Mirror" Yearbook, are available on the 1931 Class Roster page. (added November 22, 2021).

     Newspaper articles about the IHS Class of 1931. (added November 22, 2021)

      1931 Yearbook Art Editor Richard Comins was featured on the April 2022 cover story. Richard designed the first official seal for the Village of Ilion. (added April 30, 2022)

IHS 1930 alumnus, Albert Meehan, was among the graduates who pursued a career in pharmacy and were featured in the November 2020 Cover Story. His education, career and obituary were published as Meehan Pharmacists. (November 27, 2020)

Class of 1931 Valedictorian, Dr. John L. Brown, is featured in Georgetown University's library collection. He received a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College and a doctorate in history from Catholic University. Dr. Brown worked for the U.S. government in a number of capacities. During World War II, he was a publications supervisor in the Office of War Information and served with the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the CIA. From the late 1940s to the 1960s, he had various diplomatic and cultural postings with the State Department in Europe, including in France, Belgium and Italy. His career also included an accomplished academic tenure. He was a professor of comparative literature at Catholic University from 1968 to 1979, when he received emeritus status. Dr. Brown's papers are housed in the Georgetown University Archival Resources. Dr. Brown died of congestive heart failure Nov. 22, 2002, at his home in Washington.

Dr. Brown's son, Dr. John H. Brown, was also a career diplomat. He holds a Princeton PhD. He was a US diplomat for over 20 years, in Eastern Europe, and was promoted to the Senior Foreign Service in 1997. He is also affiliated with Georgetown University and he writes and shares ideas about public diplomacy. His blog is John Brown's Notes and Essays. He resigned from the from the Foreign Service, on March 10, 2003, "...because I cannot in good conscience support President Bush’s war plans against Iraq." (July 20, 2014)

Everett Wolfert was bat boy for the 1921 Sunset League Champions. His daughter-in-law, Lynn, provided the full size image for the team to the - Ilion Volunteer Hose Company #2 The public is invited and refreshments will be served. See Full Team Image (July 20, 2014)

Samuel 'Sam' Kovac, age 95 of Country Manor, Herkimer, formerly of 15 Marmet St., Mohawk passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2009 at Rome Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Sam was born on May 11, 1914 in the town of German Flatts, the son of John and Suzanne (Holovitz) Kovac and graduated from Ilion High School in 1931. On May 1, 1937, he was joined in marriage with Anne Sadlon in Trinity Lutheran Church in Herkimer, NY by Reverend Paetzmek. Before Annes passing on August 6, 2000, they were devoted partners for over 63 years in a blessed union and thankful members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Little Falls. Sam was employed by Remington Arms Co., Ilion for almost 37 years, retiring as a Foreman in 1976. He was a member of Remington Arms 25 Year Club and Herkimer County Chapter #1410 AARP. Sam is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Allen and Donna Kovac of Liverpool; his daughter and son-in-law Betty Ann and William Muir of The Villages, FL; his grandchildren, Lynne Kovac, Charles Kovac and wife Lori, Suzanne Cerio, Scott Muir and wife Jessica, Todd Muir; two cherished great-grandchildren, Halle and John Cerio; his sister, Evelyn Sweet of Mohawk and his brother Martin Kovac of Herkimer, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by three sisters; Suzanne Olyer, Amelia Strickland, Anne Reckeweg and a brother, John Kovac. Funeral services will be held at 10:30AM, Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Rd., Ilion with Theresa Grescheck officiating. Interment will be in Mohawk Cemetery. Calling hours are Tuesday, September 8, 2009 from 5PM to 7PM at the funeral home. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Sam or add to his online memorial may go to www.applegateandday.com on the internet. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 512 Gansevoort St., Little Falls, NY 13413 or St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 904 Vine St., Liverpool, NY 13088. Envelopes will also be available at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home, Ilion (895-7722), Don Applegate, Funeral Director. (Sept 27, 2009)

Robert H. Wood, age 91, formerly of Brook St., Ilion, died Monday, May 17, 2004, at Heritage Health Care, Utica. He was born on December 6, 1912 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Lesley V. and Anna Marie (Schoeneberg) Wood. Bob attended Morgan St. School and Ilion High School where he graduated in 1931. At one time, he was employed at Remington Arms Co., Ilion, and later was an assembler at the UNIVAC Division of Speedy Rand Corp. for 30 years, retiring in 1976. Bob was a member of Unitarian Universalist Church, Utica. Bob studied cello with Dudley Ely Rowland of Rome and Fred Miller of Syracuse University and played with the Little Falls Symphony Orchestra. He also studied voice with Dr. Frank Cavallo and John Wainman and sang with Herkimer County Chorus, the Utica Civic Chorus, the Utica Maennerchor, the Herkimer Maennerchor and was a soloist at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica. Survivors include several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, John W. Wood and James Wood; and his sisters, Catherine Sanford and Marie Good. In keeping with Bob's wishes, thereare no scheduled calling hours or services. Interment will be at Lakewood Cemetery in Cooperstown. All arrangements were prearranged and entrusted to Applegate and Day Funeral Home, 102 West St., Ilion. (May 22, 2004)

John L. Brown, IHS '31 Valedictorian, age 88, a professor of comparative literature at Catholic University from 1968 to 1979, when he received emeritus status, died of congestive heart failure Nov. 22 at his home in Washington. He had lived off and on in Washington since the 1930s. Dr. Brown, a native of Ilion, N.Y., received a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College and a doctorate in history from Catholic University. During World War II, he was a publications supervisor in the Office of War Information and served with the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the CIA. From the late 1940s to the 1960s, he had various diplomatic and cultural postings with the State Department in Europe, including in France, Belgium and Italy. In the 1960s, he returned to the world of academics and lectured widely on American-European literary and intellectual relations. Dr. Brown also was a published poet. He was a member of the Cosmos Club, the P.E.N. Club and the Modern Language Association of America. He also was a member of St. Thomas Apostle Catholic Church in Washington. His survivors include his wife of 60 years, Simone-Yvette Brown of Washington; two sons, Michel, of Great Barrington, Mass., and John H., of Washington; and two granddaughters. (January 12, 2003)

Elinor A. Ackler Cormia, age 86, of Ilion, passed away Sunday, July 30, 2000. She was born on June 7, 1914 in Ilion, the daughter of Roy and Carrie Mentz Ackler. She attended Ilion schools, graduating in 1931 and then went on to graduate from the Excelsior Business College in 1933. On Aug. 22, 1934, she married Conrad Cormia, Ilion. He passed away in 1998. Mrs. Cormia was employed by Remington Rand and then in 1954 she joined the Ilion school system as secretary to the superintendent, retiring in 1970. Mrs. Cormia is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Mary Cormia of Sunnyvale, Calif.; a daughter, Janet Cormia of Hingham, Mass.; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Richard and a daughter, Judith Cormia Schumacher. Friends are asked to consider memorial to St. Augustine's Church or St. Luke's Hospital as a special thank you to the fourth floor nurses. Arrangements are by Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home, Ilion. (August 1, 2000)

Mrs. Alice C. (Treiber) Sitts, 86, Forge Hill Estates, passed away on August 6, 1999, in St. Luke's Memorial Hospital, Utica. She was born, Dec. 28, 1913, in Little Falls, the daughter of the late Charles and Catherine Murray Treiber. She graduated from Ilion High School in 1931, and Faxton School of Nursing. On May 13, 1938, she married Clifton A. Sitts who passed away in 1968. Mrs. Sitts was employed as an account clerk with the Herkimer County treasurer's office. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, George Sitts and his wife Anna Marie Hutchinson of Oakhurst, CA, the Rev. C. Joseph Sitts ans his wife Margaret of Longwood, FL.; a sister-in-law, Urilla Brown of Ilion, three granddaughters and a grandson. She was predeceased by her brother, Andrew C. Treiber and a sister, Irene Treiber. Arrangements are by Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home. (August 8, 1999)

Dorothy Alexander Donohue, alumnus of Class of 1931, from Bradenton Beach, FL, died on January 3, 1999. Ms. Donahue succumbed to heart failure, at Kennestone Hospital, in Kennesaw, GA. Ms. Donahue was spending the holidays with her niece, Jane Spatol Smith, (IHS class of '60) when she was taken ill. Ms. Donohue resided in Springfield Center, NY and Bradenton Beach, FL after her retirement from Shell Oil Company. Dorothy is survived by her sister Ruth Alexander Spatol of Springfield Center, NY and Carrabelle, FL and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Betty Alexander Miller and two brothers Donald and Neil Alexander. (January 12, 1999)

Lydia S. (Smith) Howard, age 81 a resident of the Belvidere section of Lowell NH, for many years, died Nov. 27, 1996, in Brentwood, N.H. She was the wife of the late Woodbury Fiske Howard, an attorney and Lowell mayor, with whom she was married to for 27 years. She was born in Ilion, N.Y., on Jan. 18, 1915, a daughter of Burley and Margaret L. (Merry) Smith. She was a communicant of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Lowell, and was the first woman vestry. Mrs. Howard was a 1935 graduate of Vassar College, and was a 1935 graduate of Vassar College Alumnae Association. Prior to her retirement, she taught at Shawsheen School in Tewksbury, and was a substitute teacher in Lowell schools. She was also a PTA officer at Oaklands School (now called Leblanc School) in Lowell. Mrs. Howard was director for several organizations, including the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Lowell Art Association, Paint and Power Club, Lowell Day Nursery and YWCA. She was the first female trustee at Lowell City Library, where she served as vice chairman. During her tenure, she spearheaded the restoration of Memorial Hall and formed the French Department at the Library. Mrs. Howard was a board member of the Lowell Museum and its second president (1977-78), but the first president to raise money for its operation. She recognized the need to use the history and resources of the city as a foundation for the National Park, the Lowell Museum provided a gathering place for information and educational programs needed in the early days of the Park. She was also the past chairman of the Republican City Committee, going as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Miami (1968). Mrs. Howard is survived by a daughter, Anne Freiermuth and her husband Martin of Newmarket, N.H.; two granddaughters, Kimberly Bartula and her husband William of Merrimac, and Heather Anne Ashton and her husband Carl of Rochester, N.H.; a great-grandson, Zachary William Bartula; two nephews, Burley Smith, V, and Branson Smith. She was also the sister of the late Burley Smith, IV. (added October 24, 2001)

Ronald Farrington, Herkimer, NY, will not attending the mega-reunion as of today. (October 6, 2002)

Everett Wolfert, retired postal transfer worker, email LWOLF46@aol.com, from Rochester, NH, registered. (July 27, 2000)