Tribute to our Founder
William A. Tolany, Class of 1964

Bill’s presence can still be felt throughout Gorton, from the audio and visual equipment inside the school to the Never Forget Garden near the Bricks of  Remembrance. The Garden not only recognizes our veterans living and dead, but is part of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers centennial com-memoration—Gorton was the only school in the U.S. to participate in that historic moment in time. Bill would be there when classes held their reunions, reminding all to keep Gorton in their hearts and their hands on their wallets. No gift was too small nor underappre-ciated. He spoke of his love of Gorton and he spoke truth to power to city officials and school administrators. He advocated for the end of the city’s be-nign neglect to a nearly 100-year-old school  named after the school superintendent who ushered the city’s nascent school system into the 20th century. He didn’t win every battle. He couldn’t resurrect the Coal Bunker Theatre nor the school’s Gorton News. He would just dust himself off and continue to get himself in “good trouble,” sometimes winding up in the principal’s office arguing for greater student awareness of Gorton’s rich and historic past. However, his greatest legacy was the establishment of the CEGHSAA as a certified 501 (3)(c) tax-exempt charitable organization. As such, the Association is able to receive tax-exempt donations for special projects and lend support to Gorton's educational programs. Because of his foreseight, the Association lives on.

Andrea Cordero

Andrea Cordero graduated Gorton in 2013 and earned a B.S. in biology at the University of Connecticut. She received an MBA in Healthcare Management from Quinnipiac University and has been working in the healthcare industry for more than six years. She is a Clinical Project Manager at Alto Neuroscience.

Dan DeMatteo

Dan DeMatteo is a 1994 graduate of Gorton and a physical education teacher at Gorton. He received a BS at SUNY Cortlandt and a Masters at the University of New England. He was Gorton’s football coach from 2004-17 and head of the Yonkers Force in 2018-19 seasons. He is Gorton’s second-winningest football coach.

Toni DeNicola

Toni DeNicola is a 1964 Gorton graduate and a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with an MS from Columbia. She developed a primary health care practice at Lincoln Hospital and primary health clinics at two Yonkers schools. She is on Gorton’s Medical Advisory Board and a member of the Westchester Sickle Cell Organization.

Joan Lawless Kennedy

Joan Lawless Kennedy is a 1965 graduate of Gorton High School. She graduated from American University in 1969 and received her Masters in Education from Virginia Tech. She has lived in Virginia since 1977. She taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades for 25 years in the Loudoun County, VA, public schools system.

Diane Krusko

Diane Krusko is a 1973 graduate of Gorton and received a B.S. in microbiology at Penn State and an MBA from Pace University. Following an industry career, she became Director of University Alumni Relations and Development for New York Medical College. She is currently working with STEM students at SUNY Westchester Community College.

Alex Poletsky

Alex Poletsky graduated from Gorton in 1965 and attended Syracuse University and SUNY at Binghamton. He began his 40-year journalism career at The Herald Statesman and later served as managing editor for financial newswires, credit magazines and private investment firms. He is the managing editor of the Wolf Tales newsletter.

Yvonne Price

Yvonne Price is a 1965 graduate of Gorton High School. She graduated from Plattsburgh State University, where she met and married Greg, her partner of 53 years and counting. She was a teacher and school administrator for 23 years and has been enjoying retirement with her husband, children and grandchildren for the last 17 years.

Interested in joining the Charles E. Gorton Highschool Alumni Association Board of Directors, contact us today!