Class memento returned decades later

By Janelle Randazza

PEABODY—If it wasn’t for her grandson’s girlfriend, Donna Saxonis might have never remembered the ring in her jewelry box. Found 36 years ago while she and her aunt were walking on Lynn Beach, Saxonis put the ring in her jewelry box, with the idea that she would return it to its rightful owner, and never thought about it again. That is until her six-year-old grandson, Michael, found it a few weeks ago.
“He was poking through my jewelry box and asked me if he could give the ring to his girlfriend. I couldn’t believe I’d had it all that time,” said Saxonis.
The cosmetology teacher, who has taught at PVMHS for the past two years, took a look at ring, which had been worn down over the years it laid in the sand, and saw that it was a Peabody High School ring. It also had a few clues connecting it to its owner. The small women’s ring had three initials inscribed in the band: MAK, as well as the year 1954.
“I brought it with me to school the next day and the school librarian helped me find the yearbook. Right away there were only two girls to choose from: Margaret A. Kelly and Mary A. Karolides,” Saxonis said she prayed the ring belonged to Karolides. “Do you have any idea how many Kellys there are in the phone book? I figured I’d better start with Mary.”
As it turned out, both Saxonis and Karolides were in luck. Saxonis found Karolides’ daughter, Maura Smith, through her mother’s relatives and, according to Smith, helped close a long-open door in her mother’s past.
“My mother used to talk about the ring and how she always regretted losing it,” said Smith, who described her mother as very intelligent and very involved in her school and in the community. “It was part of her school history and I think it was hard for her to not have it anymore. Both me and my sister remember her talking about the ring and how sad she was to have lost it.”
Karolides, who married her high school sweetheart and is now Mary Maguire, was an honor student, class secretary and a member of eleven sports and clubs at Peabody High School. The 68-year-old grandmother of five looks back on those days as some of the best days of her life.
“I have such, such good memories,” said Maguire, who now lives at the Sunrise assisted living facility and said she is delighted to be reunited with her ring. “I can’t believe I have it back… It feels good.”
According to both Smith and Maguire, it’s little surprise to them that the ring was found on the beach. Maguire said she loved to hang out on the beach both during high school and when her children were young.
“I remember the boys all lined up in groups, standing on the beach,” said Maguire smiling. When her daughter asked if she liked to check out the boys Maguire, still whip-smart, cleverly responded, “I let them check me out… please write that I said that in ‘all modesty.’”
Both Maguire and Smith are delighted to have a token of a vibrant past back in their possession and Maguire says having it brings back a rush of memories. As for Saxonis, she is thrilled to know that the ring is back where it belongs.
“Those hands have been waiting years to wear that ring again. I’m so glad I was able to return it to her. I only wish I had found it sooner.”