Update 11-2-04

Hi,

It should be an interesting evening. In fact, either way, it should be an interesting four years.

From Jerrie Clamp Rachoi: I just wanted to thank everyone for the condolences on this site. My mailing address is: 145 Canterbury Gate, Lynbrook, New York, 11563, and my e-mail address is: myjrussel@yahoo.com
Robin Feit and Paul DeMartino came to the service for Karen. I was very touched to see them both. My daughter Karen was a beautiful 33-year-old woman, about to be married two weeks after she was diagnosed with leukemia. She put up a courageous battle, but I guess God needed her with him. If anyone is interested in making a donation to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society in her name, it's Karen Rachoi.
Thank you all again, from Mickey and me.

From Paul DeMartino: We've got the ball rolling, set up a reunion checking account, and are awaiting the final contract. I've spoken to the catering director, and it "should be sent to me soon" -- her words. Regardless, the date is firm, and that's what counts.
There is one slight problem though. We are still a bit short on the money required to meet the deposit. So if a couple of people could send a hundred bucks each, it would be appreciated. Also, I'd like to emphasize that in order to meet our other deadlines on time, everyone should be encouraged to send in the $100 as soon as possible. I know that saying that will not result in an avalanche of checks appearing at Dennis' door, but at least the hope is that we will always have an adequate cushion to meet the second and final deadlines. The final push will be in late spring when the balance is due, and that total will likely be around $8,000.
Also, please make the checks out to: VSS 40th Reunion, and send them to Dennis' address -- 495 Wateredge Avenue, Baldwin, New York, 11510. Another thing: if any teachers reading this plan to come to the reunion, please let us know as soon as you can. And if you can contact other teachers, please have them write us, too. Finally, we'll let South know about the reunion, so if any of our classmates or teachers contact them, the information will be available. Thanks. Best to all.

From Gary Davis: When is the $100 due by? Also, please forward a list of people who are going so far. And how about updating that every month if possible?

[Rich -- As Paul just wrote: there's an immediate deadline for the deposit, and two other follow-up deadlines, one on February 1st, and the other on June 15th. If you know you're coming to the reunion and can send the money to Dennis now, it would be appreciated. And I'm sure that if you suddenly discover in mid-July that you can't come to the party, something can be worked out for a refund -- as long as all hundred of you don't do it at once.
Also, as with the 37th reunion, once we get within a month-or-two of the party, we'll start posting the attendance list. No point getting too excited too quickly -- and there are other things to think about in the next 10 months.]

From Booker Gibson: Hello, Class of '65. Last Thursday, October 21st, the day after my 74th birthday, I was invited over to South High to see and pose with the Vince Tampio and Booker T. Gibson plaques. They are very prominently displayed opposite the main office. Liz King had the school's photographer come and record it. Besides taking shots of me next to the plaques, she asked him to do a close-up so the entire scripts can be read. I tried to take a couple of shots with my digital camera, but I'm counting on the photographer's capturing it perfectly and sending it to you. The plaques are really awesome!
A big Black student was standing there observing all of this. I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to talk with him before he left. This was about 4:00 PM, so I was also invited into South Hall to watch some of the rehearsal of the junior high musical. It was a lively version of the show Annie. You may know that these shows can come with a complete recorded swinging orchestra. With the extended stage apron, the kids seem to move right out to you.
Liz King also said plans are already being made for the South High 50th Reunion. I hope to be there, and, meanwhile, at your next reunion, I plan on being there to thank you again and again.

[From all of us: Happy Birthday, Booker!]

From Liz King Giordano: I’m sending you photos of the plaques, and Booker Gibson was kind enough to come in and pose. I hope the photos are clear. Enjoy!
Booker, it is always a pleasure to see you, and you're always wearing a contagious smile. Rich, thanks for the check.

[Rich -- I'll get the photos online as soon as possible.]

Speaking of photos, from Barbara Blitfield Pech, attached to a photo from her recent breast cancer research rally: Thanks to all of you for your continued strength and support. Love and Pink Hugs.

[Rich -- I'll get this photo online as soon as possible, too.]

From Donald Faber: I saw this piece this morning and after reading it, I felt compelled to pass it along. It is one of the more insightful articles I've read about the 1960s. Not THOSE 60s; it focuses instead on the early-to-mid-60s period that we -- at least, I -- tend to routinely dismiss out of hand as being somewhat meaningless whenever my thoughts turn to the past. The author, Bruce Bawer -- author of Room at the Table -- casts a sharp and very insightful light not only upon the genesis of our current political polarization, but he also delves into a fascinating historical overview of the years we all spent at South. After reading the article, it made me feel genuinely lucky to have been able to grow up during the time when we did! Sharp, insightful fun -- a good and worthwhile read, with just enough nostalgia. But if you plan to read it, print it out the pages -- it's far TOO long to read on a computer screen.
The link: http://wwics.si.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=68646

[Rich -- totally unrelated, and probably just 'cause I haven't mentioned photos for at least two minutes: Driving back to LA last week, I saw the lunar eclipse while standing at the edge of the desert just east of El Paso. Clear sky. Great viewing. But too far away for my limited camera, so no online photo. Check Time or Newsweek.]

More from Tom McPartland, Class of '64: It has been a while since I had an opportunity to send out an update to you all. First of all, thank you again for the wonderful get well cards, calls, e-mails, visits, flowers, and the list just goes on. I hope you are all fine and enjoying the fall weather. This is one of my favorite times of the year -- seeing the trees and the leaves as they change colors. It always reminds me of another new year at South, the football games at Firemen’s Field, and being another year closer to getting a driver's license. Even after all these years. But it was good times.
Working on the reunion was a labor of joy and love. Just knowing that all of you had a wonderful time really helped me get through my surgery and recovery. The pictures on the Internet, the group picture, and the many pictures that were sent are just priceless. I have the reunion plague on my wall at home, and I will treasure it always.
As most of you know, I was rushed to Southside Hospital in Bayshore, on Friday, September 10th, with a tremendous headache. It was diagnosed as internal bleeding or a blood clot on the brain. On Tuesday evening, September 14th, I was transferred to North Shore Community Hospital for further tests, and surgery was performed on September 16th. The surgeons opened up my skull in two places to drain the blood clot. North Shore had a terrific team of doctors, and, after I recuperated at home, I returned to work last week on a limited schedule. I'm feeling fine, and the doctors are very optimistic that this condition should not repeat itself.
I also spoke with Mr. “Irv” Saffrin this past week, and sent him a copy of the video that Ken Silver took at the reunion. Mr. Saffrin just returned home from having surgery to relieve the pain and problems from his sciatica, but he sounded great and loved the card and video. I've also spoken several times with Bernie O’Brien, Hy Rosov, Booker Gibson, and a few others. What a great bunch of teachers we had.
If anyone is planning any mini-reunions, please let me know. Meanwhile, my sincere wishes to you all, and please stay healthy and safe. Hoping to see you all again at the 45th Reunion. I promise I will be there.

Related, from Linda Cohen Greenseid: the Rich in the earlier Class of '64 Reunion note was Rich Wyeroski.

And, conveniently, from Rich Wyeroski: Hi, Class of '64 (and others) -- if anyone is interested, we are planning to have a dinner at Tom Lolly's Restaurant in Brightwaters on Long Island. November 6th is good for Ellene and Tom. I know we all cannot go, but if you find yourself on Long Island on that date, come over to Tom's restaurant between 7:30 and 8:00 PM. If you can make it, please e-mail me for more details. My address is: rwyerosk@suffolk.lib.ny.us. Last time we did this, we had about 25 people and a good time. Warmest regards to all.

From Allan and Carol Bendel: Our new e-mail address is ancbendel@isp.com Regards to all.

Finally, from H. G. Wells -- yeah, he came back just to send us this: "Human history," he wrote in 1920, "becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."

Rich