Update 10-23-01

Hey,

After what Paul DeMartino wrote last week, about a fall reunion, he and I have been considering something, and we've listened to several other people's thoughts on the matter.  Finally, though, this needs to be put to a full vote---and a rather fast one.

What if we have a simpler party, relatively soon, rather than try to coordinate something more complicated in the spring?  We're thinking about something similar to the '86 reunion:  An afternoon gathering in a restaurant.  A reasonable cover charge.  Open buffet and soft drinks.  A cash bar.  A 60's DJ, not too loud so we can all hear ourselves talk.  The advantage of this reunion over the last one is we know in advance how to contact each other through e-mail, so can made arrangements for smaller, evening or Sunday get-togethers as well as the reunion.

We've been considering several dates, all tied to traditional visiting holidays.  The first is Friday, November 23rd, the day immediately after Thanksgiving.  The second is Saturday, November 24th, obviously, the Saturday immediately after Thanksgiving.  The third is December 30th, the Saturday immediately after Christmas, but enough before New Year's Eve so people could still get home for that.

The point underlying all this is almost half the people on our contact list live in the New York City area, and the party would probably be on Long Island.  We have just over 200 names, but 14 people have unfortunately died, 4 have declined, and another 8 have never gotten back to us after I blind e-mailed them through Classmates.com.  So 80-or-so people would just have to drive an hour-or-two to get to a reunion (okay, I'm politely underestimating New York traffic).  But you wouldn't have to get on a plane, or be near an airport, and deal with that kind of danger or delays.  And some of us will fly in from anywhere, either because we're fearless, or foolish, or just figure we've lived long enough.  (In my case, with all the present international complications included, I still have a better chance of getting killed in daily L.A. traffic than any other way.)
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So here's what we need to vote on:  1.  Yes or No, for the fall.   2.  If Yes, the date. 

The complication, of course, is when we have votes, only about 30 people answer.  That's not bad:  I only reach 150 people by e-mail; so 30 is 20%.  (I was a Math major, and can still do simple finger-figuring.)  So I'm thinking, let's vote this week, next week I'll report, then we'll see what happens.  And those of you in touch with people without computers, can send in their votes as well.

No pressure here.  I'm not saying we should have a reunion sooner than the spring.  I just want to know what you think.  (See, now this is why I wasn't gonna get involved in this part of the reunion---it requires diplomacy.  And I was only granted a thimble-full.)

On to simpler things (whew):

Linda Cohen and Rob Kelman's son Jamie got married last weekend.  Peggy Cooper's daughter got married last month.  Nancy Garfield's birthday is tomorrow---I always remember because it's United Nations Day, though almost no one remembers that.

From Robin Feit:  So nice to hear we are planning a reunion.  I would certainly love to be a part.  I really enjoyed catching up with all the correspondence on the home page and actually found myself laughing out loud several times!  I was so shocked to see those pictures from my 13th birthday party that Barbara sent.  I only regret that everybody else saw them too!  (Rich:  Nah, Robin, now we all owe you presents.)

From Robert "Ike" Eichinger:  I just returned from the longest flights of my entire life -- from Miami to Honolulu.  Who said they made those airline seats bigger?  I can certainly get to New York by plane, train or car.
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From Paul DeMartino:  I had drinks last night with Dennis Shapiro and his wife, and we had a very nice evening.  Next time I'm bringing my wife.

From Jane Wolff Katz:  I've been working at Fannie Mae for the last 13 years, but will be doing an Executive on-loan program with Habitat for Humanity International this year -- focusing on international housing finance.  Guess we were all touched in some way by September 11.  My daughter had done a brief internship at the Pentagon last spring, though luckily no one we knew there was affected.  My company had been working closely with the firm Cantor Fitzgerald (which suffered significant losses) and I had been up there for a tour/meetings not that long ago.  In addition, to loss of lives, they were collectors of Rodin sculptures -- and had a massive collection of artwork lost.

Also from Jane:  My aunt ran into Jane (Altschul) Starr down in Florida. I'll try to find out the number where she can be reached. I saw her a few years back -- she has 4 daughters and one of them graduated from the University of Maryland.  She'd been living in New Jersey, then moved back to Long Island, but I visited with her when she was down in Maryland to visit her daughter.

From Robert Fiveson:  I think I can safely say that whether we are seeing a social paradigm shift, entering a Brave New World, or just becoming more in touch with the fragility and brevity of our time as players on this stage (wasn't it John Lennon who said something like Life is what happens while we're making other plans?) I think it's great that we have this reunion to get excited about, want to look pretty for, and that conjures (moreover) great and pleasant times.
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From Andy Dolich, who passed this on while I was trying to find out how our grade school Phys. Ed. teacher spelled his last name:  Al Stevens,  9840 Lake Drive, Apt. 1604, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29572.

From Barbara Endy Calvacca Ianniello:  I have been reluctant to respond to "vote" on a site for reunion. Frankly, I really did not recognize many names -- my yearbook was lost in one of my moves.  I recently flew to Colorado to attend Linda Vicinanza's daughters wedding.  We spoke about the reunion.  I recognized a few names recently -- Audrey Olsen, Paul DeMartino, Bob Fiveson -- what a nice surprise!  I did not start in South until 9th grade -- most friendships were formed in elementary school.  I have lived in NYC and Westchester and after my husband's death, I returned to Valley Stream.  It is wonderful to be near my children and grandson.  I have had many adventures, most recently owning 3 restaurants in NYC.  After my husband died, the restaurants were sold, and I am now entering my third "life."  I remember many friendly faces from high school and it is good to hear everyone is doing well.

From Ellen Epstein Silver:  They banned travel at Raytheon again and sent an e-mail around saying to heed the FBI warnings.  I hate that our way of living has been altered to this degree.  Alan feels that even though they have beefed up security at the airport, there is still the problem of the luggage in the cargo underneath, and we are putting ourselves at risk.  I saw that newsreel from Afghanistan recently, telling Muslims to avoid skyscrapers and flying as there will be another attack in the next few days, and it's unnerving.  Our lives have certainly changed.

From Zelda White Nichols:  I have just been in contact with Marion Wachtel, and we could have talked all night.  We already had our reunion.

From Janet Hernandez:  I think it is a nice idea putting the states next to the
e-mail addresses.  I have lived here in Florida for about 17 years.  I would like to make it to a reunion, but right now I am taking care of my Mom, which is more important to me.  I must say she is ill, and it is not a good idea to leave her at this time.  Right now, I like keeping in touch with others through e-mail.  I saw the list of people who you are looking for -- a long list.  It would be nice to find out where these people are because I do enjoy reading about different people after all these years.  Not much to say about me, but I am working and doing ok in my job.

Finally, when Robert Fiveson wanted to thank me, publicly and somewhat effusively, for all my work---which I assured him was easier than the crossword puzzles I used to do, especial the ones created by Richard Silvestri---he compared me to one of Santa's unseen elves, Setting out cookies for all the little children.  I'm too tall for an elf, Bob.

Fast Address Link: http://hometown.aol.com/reunionclass65/myhomepage/profile.html

Home Page Link: http://hometown.aol.com/falcons1965a/myhomepageprofile.html


Rich