Update 6-22-04


OK,

Let's catch up on some back mail before continuing the Vince/Booker awards news.

From Diane Fruzzetti, by way of Robin Feit Baker: Once again, I've heard from someone who got e-mails from a dfruzzetti@earthlink.net with a virus attached! Please alert everyone through Rich about this problem. I have sent a special e-mail to the Earthlink security department to see if they can help me. Meanwhile, please tell everyone not open any e-mails from dfruzzetti@earthlink.net. They are NOT from me!

From Janice Williams Teeuwe: Just a little note that Ellen Epstein Silver and I are getting together on Tuesday 6-15. I am picking her up at Denver International Airport and transporting her up into the mountains of Colorado where I live. I can hardly wait. We have not seen each other since 1965. Oh, boy, I hope that we recognize each other. I will let you all know how it turns out.
     PS I have also had big brown bears on my front deck already, and we have a mountain lion roaming around our area. Hope none show while Ellen is up here. Not sure if she would appreciate them, though I am just used to having them around.

[Rich -- Ellen's also due in LA, after Colorado. If she doesn't get eaten by a bear.]

From Ryki Zuckerman, '66: I will be seeing my brother Steve this week in Puerto Rico, at the wedding of his eldest daughter, Lynn, the beautiful, bright, kind-hearted nurse.

[Rich -- Congratulations, of course, to Lynn and the family.]

From Barbara Blitfield Pech: As always, I trust this note finds you well and enjoying all good things in life. I just wanted to drop you a few lines about my recent visit to Robin's Feit's Hamish Hacienda -- or now more comfortably referred to as "my northern home" -- Robin shares an equal place to hide out here, in South Florida. Needless to add, it is always wonderful going home, and Oceanside is almost as familiar as Valley Stream. We did the best of Seinfeld's nothing -- big plans that resulted in facials, lobsters, and a few vacation ice creams. But, more so, we spent time with ageless best friends, seeing Dennis Shapiro, his delightful wife, Julie, and a too-quick run into a very beautiful June Croton. Her beauty is inside as well as out, and her red hair is as warm as she is. Robin has had the pleasure of reknowing June for a year-or-two, and we were fortunate to be able to surprise her at her business, during one of our cultural shopping tours of the fair city. As the weekend was, as always, too short, we crammed as much as we could into as many waking hours as we tried to keep alert. Still much to do, and rake over, so plans for another quick trip are always on the boards. I will keep you advised as I travel, about who I see along the way!
     PS Also received, via e-mail, a photo album from Marilyn Weiner '66, including pictures of her beautiful new granddaughter. And special greetings to all, from the small world section of my life, that is my former Green Acres, and present Miami, neighbor Bob Speath. Again, his e-mail address is: survivor17@hotmail

From Allen Moss: For the newsletter, and you BETTER print this! Sorry, Rich, you are not going to get off that easy. Your interest ... no ... dedication ... to all of us in the class of 1965 is something that needs to be highlighted every so often. So be a "mench" and just graciously accept our need to recognize and thank you for your concern and efforts on our behalf. Best wishes to all for a great summer!

[Rich -- Once again, "You're all welcome," he said graciously.]

Now, back to Booker and Vince. First, a handwritten note from Steven Cohen, '64: Herein enclosed, a couple of programs from South's Award Ceremony. Well, the evening was very, very, very long. My sister Linda and her daughter Jennifer were there to honor Booker, and I was there for Vince and Booker. Also present: Robert Fiveson, Jay Berliner, and Robin Feit. And that was it. Ken Ulric called me to say he had to attend a board meeting at the last minute. So, I guess the Cohen, Kelman, Greenseid clan accounted for 50% of the '64/'65 classes of well wishers, though Booker did have other students offering congratulations.
     Just a thought for next year: it seems that someone should have introduced Booker, placing his contribution in some context, and then Booker could make his laudatory comments about the recipient of his award. On Wednesday, Booker said the Class of '65 honored him with this award, then he talked about the student, and presented the award. A few comments about Booker would have been appropriate -- mind you, just a few -- it's a very long evening. The Class of '65 deserves to be commended for honoring the contribution and legacy of these two splendid South High School teachers. I was pleased to be there and proud to be a Class of '64 contributor.

[Rich -- Yes, well, honor or not, I'm not sure Booker wants to sit through this long ceremony again, on those uncomfortable chairs, no matter how glorious an introduction we promise him for next time. One of the joys of seniority is being able to delegate things you previously found pleasurable, that now you don't. If you want to be there, Booker, you know you're welcome. And if you want to let Principal Lando present the award, I don't think anyone in the class of '64 or '65 would fight against you. If you do go, though, we could, at least, rent a comfortable easy chair for you.]

Next, from Nancy Nudelman and Richie Lobell: Mr. Gibson was a special teacher for so many of us!

And from Carole Ganz: I can only echo what my classmates have expressed so well. Mr. Gibson helped expand my horizons beyond rock & roll and create a lifelong love of music. I can still impress my kids by IDing many pieces heard in our 8th grade class, just from their opening measures. It's a joy to be able to thank him and pass this gift along.

The final list of this year's contributors for the Vince Tampio / Booker Gibson Awards: Mary Sipp Green, Nancy Nudelman / Richie Lobell, Carole Ganz, Jay Berliner, Carol Bunim Okin, Terri Donohue Calamari, Judy Hartstone, Barbara Peres Napolitano, Peter Shapiro, Axel and Gloria Norden, Robin Seader Cottmeyer, Marilyn Horowitz Goldhammer, Ellen Epstein Silver, Lynn Nudelman Villagran, Alison Altman, Carol Ewig Duran, Zelda White Nichols, Neil Guberman, Rich Eisbrouch, Peggy Cooper Schwartz, Marc Fishman, Dennis and Linda (Iaquinto) O'Hara, Joan Bouza Koster, Denise Frango Baxter, Jay Kinder, Linda Cohen Greenseid, Alan Finder, Robin Feit Baker, Robert Fiveson, Barnet Kellman, Ken and Laura (Waxman) Ulric '64, Nancy Garfield, Booker and Frances Gibson, Amy Lieberman, and Steven Cohen.
     The total raised for Vince: $825. The total for Booker: $1633. As mentioned before, most of Vince's award is being supported by annual pledges totaling $450. With a couple hundred dollars left after this year's award and plaque, that means we won't have to raise money for Vince's award for almost 5 years. Similarly, Booker's award is being supported by about $200 in pledges each year.
      With about a thousand dollars left after this year's expenses, that means we have over 3 years assured before we need to raise money in Booker's honor. I'll gently remind people of their pledges next spring, and I'll take additional contributions at the same time. But I'd really like to hold down the actual amount of money I have to hang on to year-to-year. I chose not to become an accountant after high school for a very good reason. Meanwhile, thanks again, everyone, for helping people remember Vince and for letting Booker be able to remind the folks at South that he's still very much full of energy.

Finally, Steve Cohen's sending me a copy of the Awards program let me count up exactly how many people and groups were honored that evening -- 67. Here are the awards from the first page. The other half next week:
David Henner Memorial Scholarship
Gerald L. Meyer Memorial Scholarship for Visual Arts
Gerald L. Meyer Memorial Scholarship for Computer Graphics
Robert Rachoi Memorial Scholarship
Peter Leonard Roller Memorial Scholarship -- Excellence in Music Award
Peter Leonard Roller Memorial Scholarship -- Excellence in Science Award
Paul Grammatico Memorial Scholarship Female Award
Paul Grammatico Memorial Scholarship Male Award
Peter Romano Memorial Scholarship
Valley Stream Knicks Baseball Club
Valley Stream Little League
Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce
Valley Stream Rotary Club
Valley Stream Kawanis
NEFCU Francis A. DeMita Scholarship
Muriel Jespersen Memorial Scholarship
Century 21 Fisher-Friendly Realty Scholarship
Di Re Formal Wear Scholarship
Caryn Luadtke Memorial Writers Award
Veterans of Foreign Wars Valley Stream Post 1790
B'nai B'rith David Hotchberg Citizenship Award
B'nai B'rith John M. Smith Music Award
American Legion Andrew Fatscher Citizenship Award
American Legion Andrew Fatscher Ladies Auxiliary Volunteer Award
Getnick Achievement Award
The Lee Family Community Service Award
Jewish War Veterans Jean Tint Memorial Brotherhood Program
U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar Athletes
County Executive Certificate of Achievement
Town of Hempstead Community Service Academic Excellence Award
What's NEFCU stand for?

The home page: http://hometown.aol.com/vssouth65


Rich