How West Side Story Got Its Name
by
Charter Members: Joel Saren, President #5, and David B. Fite

When Rotary West began we were mostly young business leaders in the Nashua community. Very quickly we all became good friends.  Our wives also became close friends.  At Rotary West events, it was like a family event without the family turmoil (LOL). 

Members and wives all participated in all the events.  We played co-ed softball games against the Old Man’s Club (Nashua Rotary).  We also played softball men vs women.  Women won.  Men had to bat opposite.  (If you were righty, you had to bat lefty.)  We had Rotary West t-shirts for all.  Even some of our kids played in the game.  I recall that Dr. Robin Guthrie, (OBGYN) played and so did his wife, Mae as well as his son.  We enjoyed each other’s company very much.  We socialized with other Rotary West members.   We even chartered a bus to take us all to the Boston Garden to see the Celtics.  Members, wives, children and friends came. 

I remember on the drive to Boston, I sat next to (Charter member) Paul Munroe.  I didn’t know Paul all that well, except that he worked for 1590 Broadcaster and WSMN radio.  During the drive Paul and I chatted about all types of things.  I asked Paul about where he was before he came to Nashua.  Paul began to reveal his background and time in Hollywood, California.

He told me that he had worked on many early TV shows: Specifically the Morey Amsterdam Show, and the Jerry Lester Show.  He shared stories about many Hollywood stars, I had only read about.  Hearing about his background was amazing and so interesting.  The bus ride ended too soon as we talked about his time in Hollywood and the people he knew, the TV shows he was involved with, and the plays and movies he collaborated on.   At some point Paul just stopped recalling those days and said, “You know Joel,” West Side Story” would be a good name for our newsletter.   So Paul should get the credit for coming up with the name “West Side Story.”  The name “West Side Story” has survived the test of time.  

Prior to the wonderful and appropriate name “West Side Story” we had experimented with other chided names.  At first we tried to tease the Nashua Rotary and their newsletter – “SMILE” so we called our first newsletter “SMIRK.”  Eventually, our Board of Directors approved the name “West Side Story.”  That’s how our West Side Story got its name.

Footnote about Paul Munroe.  Paul had his degree in engineering, but that was not readily known.  At some point he left his job at WSMN and took a job SWEEPING FLOORS at Nashua Corporation from midnight to 8am.  Paul told me that one day, one of the Nashua Corporation owners was walking the shop floor and saw fellow Rotarian Paul sweeping the floor !!!!   Mr. Carter (Nashua Rotary) asked Paul why he was there sweeping floors.  Paul said he needed a job.  Mr. Carter put Paul to work in his field of study as an engineer.

Joel Saren and David Fite

Part III, The first Board of Directors meeting, dealing with growth.

Part IV, How Spaghetti City got its name

Part V, 1976 bi-centennial celebration

Part VI, The Balls in the Mall