Update 1-4-2005

Hi,

Promises of no politics or personal viewpoints aside, I can't start this without mentioning the tsunami disaster. It puts everything else into perspective.

On a more ordinary level, which is not to say from an ordinary person, word from one of our reunion's leaders, Paul DeMartino: Just a quick reminder that now that the holiday festivities are over, we still need our classmates to contribute their $100 so that we can guarantee the 40th Reunion will actually take place. We are still below the amount needed to meet the February 1st deposit, and once we pay that, we'll need everyone else to send in their checks and make their hotel reservations to guarantee that they have rooms. The hotel will open up more rooms for Friday if we can quickly book all 15 rooms currently set aside. As of now that hasn't happened. So, I repeat, now is the time for all of the Class of '65 to support your reunion and ensure its success. Send in your checks, and we will soon start putting out a list of everyone who is attending.

On another note, regarding the search for missing classmates, be assured that it is ongoing, but mostly frustrating. These people were the most difficult to find and/or establish positive contact with. In some cases, I spoke to a family member who assured me that he or she would pass on the information about the 37th Reunion, but were unwilling to pass on the telephone number or address to me directly. In other cases, I left several messages on answering machines and never heard back from the people. There are many blind alleys, duplicates, old addresses and telephone numbers, similar names, and, of course, current married names unknown to us. If you know how to contact some of the missing people who are listed on the home page, please help us find them and spread the word. You can pass my name and e-mail or telephone number to them, or just pass the information to me, and I'll contact them. My e-mail address is: PDEM070@msn.com and my phone number is: 516-799-1590. Thanks.

A follow-up to Paul's second point, from Zelda White Nichols: I have been trying to locate Erick Wohlgemuth and was thrilled when you listed his phone number. But please let everyone know that this is an incorrect number. I called it twice thinking I might have misdialed, and then I double-checked it against the number you had listed. Is it possible you typed it incorrectly?

[Rich -- my reply to Zelda, which echoes what Paul just wrote: Did anyone answer and say Erick wasn't there? Or did your dialing just get relayed to a recording saying it was no longer a working number? Paul DeMartino had a phone number for Erick three years ago, and, I think, he got an angry ex-wife who hadn't seen Erick for a number of years. But I don't know if that was the same number as the one Al MacLeod unearthed. Sorry you met with frustration.]

Zelda's reply to me: The first time I called, a woman answered and said I had a wrong number. The phone I was on didn't have a window that showed the number I called, so thinking I had misdialed, I called back. She answered, and I apologized for disturbing her again, explaining that evidently I had been given an incorrect number. She took off screaming that she was on a "Do Not Call" list. Having just broken my toe yesterday morning, falling over my cat, and having spent most of the morning cleaning up the mess from the recent storm -- we had 4 trees downed, though two were able to be up-righted again -- I was not in the best of moods and yelled back at her that it was not a solicitation call. She backed right down, said, "Oh, sorry," and hung up.
     If you get any more contact information on Erick, I would love have it. We went to William S. Buck together, and he was in my class. I wore glasses, had curly hair when everyone else's was straight, had a weird name, and my mother literally dressed me funny. Kids teased me, but Erick always stood up for me. He had a kindness that I never forgot, and I wanted to let him know how much I appreciated his friendship.

A cultural note from Robin Feit: Peggy Cooper Schwartz's acknowledgment of British director Sir Carol Reed in last week's update prompted me to share the following. He was the director of The Third Man (1949), a film classic in the Hitchcock style. It's certainly worth renting and just so happens to be a favorite of mine.

News from another class's reunion leader, Tom McPartland: I wanted to close out the year with a very special thanks to each and every one of you. Putting together the 40th year reunion for the Class of ‘64 was something that gave me tremendous pleasure. I cannot put into words how rewarding it was just reconnecting with so many classmates and teachers again. The past year was a little tough, but knowing you all enjoyed the reunion made all my efforts worthwhile. I’m definitely looking forward to the 45th, and I promise to be there. Meanwhile, if there are any “mini” reunions planned, I would love to know when they are. I am planning a “mini” reunion on Long Island for early this year, and I will let everyone know when it is scheduled. Until then, I wish you all the very best that life has to offer. We are still a very young Class of '64. Enjoy yourselves, and have a very happy and healthy New Year!

[Rich -- Those photos I mentioned last week are now on the home page. Go to Photos, then to Judy Hartstone's, Class of '64 Reunion, or William Buck, another sixth grade class.]

Finally, a note on my Singapore-based friends Melody and Ken Eckhart, who we sometimes hear from: They're fine. They were in Chicago at the time of the earthquake, so obviously didn't feel a thing, though Singapore was only 600 miles from the epicenter. But they did have vacation plans to be in Phuket, Thailand in early February for the Chinese New Year, and they're hoping to keep their flight reservations and do some relief work instead.

The repeating 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
Phone Number: 631-845-1000, during daytime business hours. Ask for the Reservations Desk and mention our class reunion discount. Hotel rooms should be $129/night.
Reunion 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
SEND: Checks to Dennis Shapiro. 495 Wateredge Avenue, Baldwin, New York, 11510. Please make them out to: VSS 40th Reunion.
Also: Since there are a limited number of Friday night hotel rooms being held, please e-mail Dennis Shapiro when you've made your reservations so he can lobby for more. His e-mail address is: dshapiro@optonline.net
The home page: http://hometown.aol.com/vssouth65

Rich