Update 11-30-04

Hi,

Just got back from walking the dog. It's presently colder in LA than in New York City. Who'd think I'd now get uncomfortable when the temperature drops to 50?
Also, almost Happy Hanukah. But first, a clarification from last week:

A question, from Judy Hartstone: Was the guidance counselor cautionary tale from you? Because it looked like a continuation of my preceding paragraph. I like it when you indicate a change of "speaker" as it were.

[Rich -- as I just wrote Judy: No, it wasn't me. I was lucky with guidance counselors. It was from someone who wanted to be anonymous, for the obvious reason.]

Judy continues: The guidance counselors at South were notoriously bad, if I remember correctly. The only good thing about leaving South my senior year was having a California guidance counselor. Of course, I knew it all and didn't listen to him, either. I applied to four schools and only got into the one that had to take me -- the University of California. But it worked out okay.
And if I send you some color photos from the Forest Road graduation, can you scan and post them? There are some great shots of us at Jahn's ice cream parlor, where my family, Nancy Garfield's, and Martha Morenstein's all shared a table.

[Rich -- yep, post 'em, I will. But I was late telling Judy that -- like two minutes ago. Kinda got busy with Thanksgiving and guests.]

More from Anonymous: Good job of positioning my words. You made them acceptable, while still retaining the basic vitriol -- and you created a mystery! Excellent.

Same subject, from Paul DeMartino: You struck a long buried chord upon the mention of our former "non-guidance" counselors. I had the misfortune to have been placed under the care of Pearl Young. Now there was a depth of knowledge about the workings of the world, if there ever was one. I had been a chronic underachiever through most of my time at South, but still managed to take some honors classes, and I had decent SAT's without ever preparing or studying. However, by the time Pearl Young came into my life, I was your basic C+ / B- kid, playing football, but with no clear career goals. I assumed, like so many of us, that I'd go to college and figure it out along the way. She was convinced, however, that I wasn't college material and suggested to my mother that I should go into the Army and maybe learn a trade -- and this while the war in Vietnam was building! Somehow, in spite of Pearl's dire prediction, I managed to graduate from college Magna Cum Laude and go on for two Master's degrees. You can count me in on going to the bonfire.

Similarly, from Fran Bellucci: Just a few thoughts -- does anyone remember Pearl Young? I had the unhelpful experience of her expertise. All she talked about was how senior year should be a "bubble year" -- no hard classes, just light undemanding fluff. When I decided that I wanted to go to college, she had me take all these psychological tests to determine what was wrong with me! Well, I "fired" her and went to talk to Mr. Willard. She wasn't happy about that and tried to get him in trouble for talking to someone who wasn't assigned to him. She'd be my nominee for "How not to counsel students."
About the scholarships: I agree that there are many teachers deserving of recognition, and know it isn't possible to give scholarships in everyone's honor. That said, I've always been impressed by the number of arts-related careers our class produced. Since we have theater and music awards, how about one for the visual arts? We had two good teachers, even if we did make fun of Henry Klock's hearing aid and Chas Donohue's Marine recruit approach to discipline. Anybody besides me willing to fund a third scholarship, to round out the arts?
One last comment: Can we have a better selection of wines at the cash bar this time? Since we are paying for our drinks, we should have a choice.

Unrelated, from Donald Faber: Don't know if anyone else noticed the almost peculiar connect-the-dots pattern within Barnet Kellman's posting on Ken Schwartzman the other day. Barnet mentioned that Lester Lanin's obit appeared on same page with Vaughn Meader's. That immediately led me to the most vivid memory I have about Ken, bass playing aside -- his lunchroom performances, circa 1961, featuring impersonations of JFK . These, of course, were directly inspired by Meader's best-selling "The First Family" LP.

And from Steve Cahn, Class of '70: Thanks largely to Booker Gibson, I've been in touch with many faculty members, some of whom are participating in our class website by agreeing to have their e-mails published. Many have even provided some newsy updates. Take a look at this expanded faculty section at: www.geocities.com/vssouth70
Also, for those of you who missed it last month, Rich Eisbrouch, Class of '65, let me reprint a touching piece on the passing of Vince Tampio -- longtime drama teacher at South. Vince was very special to me, although I think I had him as his interest in South was waning. I had a bit of an attitude when I was first in his class, and he took me aside and set me straight. He was brutally honest, but it was clear that he cared about me as a person. After that, I took a drama course every semester until he left. Although he showed no favoritism in doling out parts in the school plays, he always paired me with the prettiest girls in drama class for our exercises. Occasionally, he'd wink. I appreciated it more than he ever knew.

Finally, from Barbara Blitfield Pech, a note included with her $100 for the reunion: Never enjoyed writing a check as much as this one. Can't wait for August!

The reunion info:
When: August 5th, 6th, 7th (Friday night through Sunday noon)
Where: Hilton Long Island/Huntington, 598 Broadhollow Road, Melville, New York, 11747
Cost: $100 per person
Package Includes:
Friday night cocktail party with snacks and cash bar (7:00 PM -- Midnight)
Saturday night buffet with open bar & DJ (7:00 PM -- Midnight; Dinner at 8:00)
Lobby area with cash bar available both nights to continue parties
Teachers comped for both parties
Also: Hotel rooms available at $129/night
SEND: Checks to Dennis Shapiro. 495 Wateredge Avenue, Baldwin, New York, 11510. Please make them out to: VSS 40th Reunion.

Rich