Update 5-31-05

Hi,

Just in time for the unofficial start of summer, some good news on the reunion front.
From Paul DeMartino: A note to let you all know about the direction the reunion is taking. As you already know, we have opened it up to all South classes from the 60s. The response to our Newsday notice has been very positive, and I've heard from many people from other classes who are very interested in coming.
   Many have asked about the teachers and have expressed an interest in seeing them. Have you heard from anyone regarding a list, or can Booker Gibson act as our liaison to our former teachers? Of course, if we can obtain the teachers' addresses, we can contact them ourselves, and I think now is the time to do so. If anyone else can help with this, it would be much appreciated.
   My message otherwise has been for everyone to send their checks to Dennis Shapiro as soon as possible, so we can cover the hotel's next deadline in mid-June. Also, the hotel needs to get a handle on how many people from each class will be attending to determine if more hotel rooms will be needed.
   More soon.

[Rich -- Paul also forwarded a copy of the flier he's been circulating to the other 60's classes. It includes the information repeated at the bottom of this newsletter, plus: Please put your class year on check to Dennis Shapiro, or in an attached note, so that we can keep an accurate head count of how many people are attending from each class.
   In any case, that's great news, all around. As far as the teachers go, as I've mentioned before, through e-mail, we can contact, in alphabetical order: Gibson, Linkner, O'Brien, Porter, Rea, and Rosov. We can probably also reach Caruso, Margolin (Bargeman), and Solomon, through people who've stayed in touch with them since the last reunion. That's a start. But we need to figure out which teachers people most want to see, how to contact them, and how to comp them all. As Paul said, suggestions willingly taken.]

[Rich -- also -- The neat thing about making mistakes is that you get to correct them the following week.]

From Joanne Shapiro Polner: I was pleased to find my whole letter to Emily Kleinman Schreiber shared with all of you online. But please note that I am from the class of 1959, not '61. That was the second graduating class at South. There are many friendships and marriages across the first three graduating classes. When the first three had a reunion a number of years ago, it was incredible, to say the least.
   There is another correction that needs to be made, the spelling fault mine: Barbara Pincus Chehoski -- no W. Thanks.

Other news:

From Barbara Blitfield Pech: I found an extra two cents that I am tossing into the weekly news. In response to "Who is Ira Levy": circa 1952-53, in Miss Lewis' Brooklyn Avenue School kindergarten, Ira taught me a valuable lesson to be used years later. He was my first awareness of "time out." Having had a tiff with our teacher, and showing his anger verbally, young Mr. Levy advised Miss Lewis, that -- in his opinion -- she had erred in her ways and was therefore being awarded the title of "Big Chocolate Nose Mean Teacher." Mr. Levy was promptly directed to the corner in which he stood until a reprieve was granted by none other than moi. I advised Miss Lewis that Ira must not have cleaned his glasses well because I could not see any chocolate on her nose (probably because she licked it off), so he should not have to stand in the corner. And guess who replaced him?

On a similar subject, from someone again younger than most of us: I am appreciative of the piece on Ira Levy. I went to junior high with one of his sisters who died. We were in the seventh grade when that happened, but I still remember her as a very sweet girl. It was a huge tragedy, and a tremendous shock to us all. One day she was in class, and the next day she was not.

From Barnet Kellman: The good news is that I just got my schedule for next season, and I get to work in show business for another year. The bad news is that I start on August 1st in Los Angeles, so, sadly, I’ll miss the reunion. But please send my regards to all.

[Rich -- As I just wrote Barnet: Much as I'd like to see him in August, I'd rather have him working for another year. And I'll bet you all feel the same way.]

And from Liz King Giordano: The Gibson and Tampio checks arrived. Thank you for your prompt response. I will send you the program and the students' bios as soon as they are available.
Again, many thanks for your class' commitment.

The current list of people coming to the August reunion, listed alphabetically by their last names in 1965:
Joan Aries Cleven
Jay Berliner
Barbara Blitfield Pech
Tom Calise
Linda Cohen Greenseid
Peggy Cooper Schwartz
Paul DeMartino
Teresa Donahue Calamari
Rich Eisbrouch
Barbara Endy Ianniello
Ellen Epstein Silver
Carol Ewig Duran
Robin Feit Baker
Alan Finder?
Henry Gabbay
Peggy Galinger Menaker
Steve Gootzeit
Art Halprin
Judith Hartstone
Marilyn Horowitz Goldhammer
Stuart Kandel
Ralph Kramer
Ira Mitzner
Allen Moss
Lynn Nudelman Villagran
Judy Peters Sylvan
Dennis & Benette Pizzimenti
Rachel Robinson Rizzo
Peter Rosen
Irene Saunders Goldstein
Dennis Shapiro
Danny Stellabotte
Mark Yetman

The repeating reunion information:
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
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
Former teachers comped for both parties, and we're trying to attract as many of
our former teachers as possible.
NOTE: If you just want to come to the Friday night party, a $25 contribution per person is
requested.
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 hotel's Phone Number is: 631-845-1000. Ask for the Reservations Desk and mention our class reunion discount. Hotel rooms should be $129/night.
The home page: http://hometown.aol.com/vssouth65
Rich