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Our Lady of the Angels (OLA) School Fire, December 1, 1958
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Our Lady of the Angels Family Photo Album
Pretty Margaret Kucan with her parents, Yola and Slavko and younger brother John, not long before the OLA fire. Tragically, Margaret was lost in the fire, leaving her family devastated. Two other siblings, Susan and Robert, were born after the fire. (Photo courtesy of Susan Kucan Musil) Cute Carol Gazzola at age 8, at the time of her First Holy Communion, five years before her tragic death in the Our Lady of the Angels fire (photo courtesy of Dolores Labuda). Charlene Campanale, who survived the inferno in room 210, in a portrait taken less than a month before the fire. (Photo Courtesy of Charlene Jancik)
Margaret Kucan and family Carol Gazzola Charlene Before The Fire
Young Charlene Campanale with her cousin (who was almost like a brother) in 1956. (Photo Courtesy of Charlene Jancik) Pretty Phyllis Cannello (room 208; class of '62) poses for her First Communion photo in 1957. Although she attended Ryerson Elementary, a public school, she took catechism classes at OLA and made her first holy communion along with the the rest of the children her age at OLA. For some reason, she was not included in the First Communion photo issued by OLA for 1957. (Photo Courtesy of Joe Cannello) Phyllis Cannello, sister of Joe Cannello, in May 1958. As Joe says, 'check out the Wild Bill Hicock outfit.' (Photo Courtesy of Joe Cannello)
Charlene and cousin Phyllis Cannello in 1957 Phyllis Cannello in 1958
Cute little Joe Cannello (room 108; class of '66) at Christmas time, 1959. (Photo Courtesy of Joe Cannello) Linda Stabile, Peggy Wentworth, and Sally Konley on the day of their First Communion in 1957. (Photo Courtesy of Sally Konley) Young Janet Gasteier, a tragic victim of the OLA fire, several years before the fire. (Photo Courtesy of Charlene Jancik)
Joe Cannello in 1959 Linda, Peggy, Sally Janet Gasteier
Seven year old Charlene Campanale taking her 10-cent pony ride, several years before the fire. (Photo Courtesy of Charlene Jancik) Charlene Campanale, survivor of room 210, a year and a half after the fire at age eleven, no longer wears the torso brace she wore for months (after three months in the hospital and seven months in a body cast). She is beginning to get her life back -- she even has a new boyfriend! (Photo Courtesy of Charlene Jancik) From a newspaper article, exact date unknown. (Photo Courtesy of Margaret Jane Akin, who is the girl farthest left in the picture)
Charlene Pony Ride Charlene & Boyfriend Msgr Cussen and OLA students
OLA Girl Scout Troop circa 1964. (Photo Courtesy of Vicki Tortorich) OLA Girl Scout Troop circa 1964. (Photo Courtesy of Vicki Tortorich) Joyce Peneschi, a survivor of room 107. She was a fourth grader the day of the fire. This photo was taken just months before the fire when Joyce was age 10. (Photo Courtesy of Joyce Peneschi)
OLA Girl Scouts OLA Girl Scouts (Very Large) Joyce Peneschi at age 10
Joyce Peneschi on her first tricycle, with her brother, Tom, holding the tire so she can't ride - a friendly sister and brother 'fight'. (Photo Courtesy of Joyce Peneschi) Clockwise from left are Anita ? ;Donna and Tom Peneschi; Jimmy and Christine DePhillips; Karen, Diane and Carmella. (Does any one remember Anita's or Carmella's last name? Also see class photo Room 104 1956.) (Photo Courtesy of Joyce Peneschi) Clockwise from left are Joyce Peneschi, Mary Ann, Camile, Anita, Donna, Tom Peneschi, And Jimmy DePhillips. (Photo Courtesy of Joyce Peneschi)
Joyce and Tom Birthday Party 1 Birthday Party 2
L-R are Donna (cousin of Joyce), Pat Guzaldo and Joyce Peneschi. (Photo Courtesy of Joyce Peneschi) L-R are Gene Fedenzo, Jerry Ramoska, Joyce Peneschi, Bob Ramoska (twin brother of Jerry), and Pat Guzaldo. (Photo Courtesy of Joyce Peneschi) Joe Karkoszka, survivor of room 101, is a civilian contractor for the Department of the Defense doing bomb disposal work in Iraq. “From Joe: Here is a quick shot of me and my guards here......Not the best picture in the world, but notice we are all smiling....'cause we know we got 'Saddam'” (Photo Courtesy of Joe Karkoszka)
Donna, Pat and Joyce Joyce and The Boys Joe Karkoszka in Iraq
Left to right are Lorraine Senorski, Phillip Maita and Christine Karkoszka on the day of their confirmation in 1956 or 57. All three survived the fire two years later. (Photo Courtesy of Phil Maita) Angelic (note the 'halo') Lorraine Senorski (now Lorraine King) in a 1953 first grade photo. (Photo Courtesy of Lorraine King) Standing (from left): Ed Berg's Mom, Frank Guzaldo's Mom, Frank Guzaldo, Jim Grosso's Mom, Mike Gallo's Mom, Pat Guzaldo's Mom, Pat Guzaldo, Pat Guzaldo's Dad; Kneeling: Ed Berg, Jim Grosso, Mike Gallo. Photo taken around time of OLA 8th grade graduation in 1962. (Photo courtesy of Jim Grosso)
Lorraine, Phillip and Christine Lorraine Senorski Jim Grosso and Friends
This is Edward Pikinski at the time of his first Holy Communion in 1955. Tragically, Edward was one of 12 children who did not escape from room 208 three years later on December 1, 1958. (Photo courtesy of Witold Szmyd) Edward Pikinski (left) and his half-brother Witold Szmyd in front of their Christmas tree in 1956 or '57. (Photo courtesy of Witold Szmyd)
Edward Pikinski First Communion Brothers Edward Pikinski and Witold Szmyd
If you have family photos of OLA students (or anyone involved with the fire) from around 1958 that you like to share on this site, please contact webmaster@olafire.com.

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