Update 4-29-03


Hi,

Couple of fast social notes:

Andy Dolich's Distinguished Alumni Award presentation.  Wednesday, April 30th, 9:30 AM at South High.  I'll bet you still know how to get there.  Tell Arlene Hinkemeyer at hinkemea@vschsd.org that you'll be there, and show up at 9 AM if you want coffee in the principal's office.  No hall pass required.

The 38th reunion, mini-style.  Saturday afternoon, May 3rd.  Robin Feit Baker's house.  BYOB.  Chip in for pizza.  Contact Paul DeMartino for details and directions at PINA_1@msn.com

And some letters:

From Andy Dolich:  Already received an e-mail from Jerry Bittman.  He is calling for a recount.

Question from Robert Fiveson, on Andy's saying, "Now our class has two."  Answer:  Barnet Kellman got the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994.  There's a picture of him with Martin Solomon and the former Theresa Margolin on our homepage under Current Photos.  (Well, the photos were kind of current when we were first getting back together two years ago.)
           
From Hy Rosov:  As Andy's former English teacher and Legend mentor, I could not have been happier and more proud to have learned of his recognition by South High School.  He was one of my favorite students, and I  personally sent my congratulatory message to him and the principal of South.

From a half-dozen people:  saying they didn't care where the drug-prone John Belushi died, or that he was dead.

From Jerry Bittman:  NEWSFLASH # 1 -- Congratulations to Andy Dolich.  Andy and I have been friends for 50 years. Damn, we are old.  Andy and I were the only kids in America that did not own Mickey Mouse ears.  We did not need them -- our own ears stuck out enough.  Andy is a great guy, but his only drawback is that he is too honest.  For two years, I have been trying to convince him that the Grizzlies should pick moi in the first round -- and I would split the multimillion dollar signing bonus with him.  But he says he has a reputation to uphold.
      NEWSFLASH # 2-- I was sorry to hear that Robin Feit had her Mrs. America crown taken away when it was discovered that she is, unfortunately, no longer married.
      BULLETIN-BULLETIN -- Last week, while having dinner in Los Angeles, Robert Fiveson and Paul Zegler met with a medical researcher.  He informed them that the Chinese virus will hit Southern California in two weeks, and he also said that one of the safest places to live is in Nebraska.  So now, Hiram Rosov and myself are going in business.  For only $250,000, we will get you a beautiful house here in Kearney, Nebraska.  And to make you feel as if you did not relocate, Mr. Rosov -- who is really Claude Monet, reincarnated -- will paint either ocean or mountain scenes on your house windows.  Also, we will put a yellow taxi in your driveway, with the horn blaring 24/7.  And, for you ex-New Yorkers, we will dump garbage in front of your house three times a week.

Finally, the letter postponed from last week, from Eric Hilton:  The impact of last year’s reunion still lives on!  What started out as just another school reunion became a reacquaintance of the best friends and memories that I have ever had.  Since last year, I now get together and speak with classmates who have now become close and dear friends.  I don’t know if the reunion has had the same effect on others, but I can’t stop thanking everyone involved in bringing us together.
      A few months ago, my wife surprised me by inviting Gayle Ulrich to spend two wonderful days with us, helping us at an educational event, and sailing at the Sarasota Wooden Boat Festival.  Two weeks ago, my wife Gilda and I drove a few hundred miles to Boca, just to spend a few hours with one of my dearest teachers, Hiram Rosov, and his wife.  As soon as he came to the door, years of wonderful and warm memories came rushing back into my head -- except the one where Mr. Bergen suspended me for a week.  Mr. Rosov reminded me of so many things I had forgotten:  my band; the electric guitar I built and won a shop award for; but mostly how wonderful it was to grow up in Valley Stream and at South High.  I can honestly say that I never experienced or heard of any of the anti-Semitism at South that some of my classmates have written about on this site.
      I grew up learning about people’s diverse religions and customs.  Even though I was Jewish, I would sometimes accompany Danny Stellabotte to Holy Name of Mary --as his cousin -- and sit in on his class.  Also, if I remember correctly, Ira Levy’s father was my Hebrew teacher, and I was his terrible student.  Hebrew school was such a hard chore for me.  Being somewhat Dyslexic most of my life, and seeing numbers and letters backwards, Hebrew should have been a breeze for me.  But, when anyone would ask me a question about the Jewish religion, I would make things up, which is why I wrote this:
      “My Jewish Heritage”
      While growing up in New York, many of my non-Jewish friends asked me why I couldn’t eat pork or have milk with meat.  When I asked my parents or Hebrew school teachers, they just told me, “Because we can't.  That’s why!"  Not accepting that as an acceptable answer, and being taught by my Jewish heritage always to ask questions, I decided to visit Israel and ask the Grand Rabbi in Jerusalem.  As I approached this spiritual 108-year-old world leader, I knelt at his bedside, held his head in my hands, and said, “Oh, Rabbi, would you be kind enough in all your wisdom to enlighten me as to the reason Jews are not allowed to eat pork or drink milk with meat?"  And with his dying breath, the rabbi leaned over to me and said ... “We’re not??"
      Go figure!
      I already sent in a photo of Hy Rosov and myself, which Rich promised to post when he gets the space.  And I just wanted to say that I hope everyone had a happy and healthy Passover and Easter.  I also want to thank every one of my classmates for making my years growing up at South such a memorable experience.  Hope all are well.

The home page:   http://hometown.aol.com/falcons1965a


Rich