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APRIL 17, 2025—We’ve done a few Alumni Spotlight stories before, but none quite like this.

For this edition, we went back to the beginning of the Palmyra-Macedon Central School District. We’re excited to share the story of 93-year-old Shirley Youngman, one of the district’s first graduates in 1951.

Youngman (then Shirley Doyle) attended Macedon High School, now known as the Intermediate School. She was joined by her sisters Helen and Jean, the latter of whom graduated alongside her.

Youngman remains a Macedon native to this day. We met at her home, where she is cared for by her family, deeply rooted in the community. With five children, 13 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren, all have attended or currently attend Pal-Mac schools.

Dressed in a Pal-Mac Red Raiders T-shirt emblazoned with “Established 1950,” Youngman smiled. “I was born here, and that’s all I’ve ever known,” she said. “I love the community and always have.”

Our interview focused on her senior year, the first under the Pal-Mac name. Voters approved the centralization of the Palmyra and Macedon school districts in June 1950, though students still attended separate schools at the time.

"We knew it would be better for the school system,” Youngman said. “At least, that’s what we were told.”

She recalled that Macedon and Palmyra students mostly kept to themselves but were cordial when they met. The “intimate” atmosphere of Macedon High School, where grades K-12 filled single classrooms, made her experience special. The Class of '51 only had 17 students.

To put this in perspective, the Class of 2024 had 147 graduates!

“You knew them very well, almost like siblings,” she said.

A copy of the 1951 Ganarguan yearbook highlighted this closeness. With fewer students, clubs and activities fostered tight-knit connections. Youngman participated in Band, Chorus, Press Club, Library Club, and Cheerleading. Organized varsity sports for girls didn’t exist then, so she played intramural basketball, soccer, and baseball during lunch.

“I could do a cartwheel back then, but I can’t today,” she joked.

Youngman vividly remembered classroom life, especially when answering questions from Pal-Mac Primary School students. They asked about subjects, school colors (then green and white), lunches, and more. She cherished her business classes and respected her teachers.

The 1951 yearbook humorously predicted her future: “Watch out for Shirley Doyle. She is an FBI worker tracking down the other ’51 members.”

Spoiler: She didn’t join the FBI. After graduation, college proved too costly, so she entered the workforce, briefly at Rochester Telephone Company before returning to work at Mobil in Macedon. There, she met her husband, Jim. They later remodeled homes into apartments while raising their family.

“Being a full-time parent was enough work,” she said.

As for tracking down classmates? “I didn’t need to. I already had Jean and Helen. We were very close.”

Jean died in 2018 at 85; Helen died in 2024 at 88. Jim, a former Palmyra zoning officer and Macedon mayor, died in 2016 at 82.

Despite decades of change, Youngman still attends Pal-Mac events, especially those involving family. When asked if she ever considered leaving, she replied, “No. I’m content here. At my age, I don’t have much choice, but I never thought of moving. I’ve always enjoyed living here.”

Reflecting on the district’s evolution, Youngman marveled at today’s opportunities—from sports to technology. Her advice to the Class of 2025 and beyond:

“Take advantage of your high school years. It’s a fun time in life, and you can never go back. Take life seriously.”

Shirley Youngman didn’t just witness history; she helped make it. As one of Pal-Mac’s first graduates, her story marks the beginning of a 75-year legacy. Through it all, she’s remained rooted in the community, proud of her past, and still cheering on the future.

 

Know an amazing alum who should be recognized? Fill out our form! Pictures and/or video can also be sent to Public Information Coordinator Andrew Hyman at andrew.hyman@palmaccsd.org