Update 2-26-08

Hi,

Ah, yes.  I stretched out for a nap last night before editing this, and the next thing I knew it was this morning.  Late Middle Age Finds Andy Hardy.
   
    First, more sad news, this time from Steve Cahn:  I learned from his brother Marc that our classmate Dan Silver passed away last Friday after a long bout with colon cancer.  Danny and I reconnected just before our class reunion, and we spoke a few times since then.  He was always “up” and seemed surprisingly OK with the hand he had been dealt, focusing on others, especially on his family.  Dan was a singer, and he wrote and performed a collection of songs he compiled on a CD.  Some of the songs are available for free listening.  That website address is:  http://cdbaby.com/cd/dansilver.
        Dan was very proud of the CD, and he sent me a copy of it some months ago.  If you remember, he was voted “best singer” of our class, along with Kathleen Roscher.  Dan was a physician, and he loved his work, so he understood his prognosis only too well.
        Surviving are his wife of 25 years, Rosann; his three sons, Brian, Michael, and Craig; his mother, Marion; and his brother, Marc.  Condolences may be sent to the family at:  41 Lexington Circle, Holden, Massachusetts  01520.  Dan’s obituary, along with a fairly recent photo is available here:  http://www.telegram.com/article/20080217/OBIT/802170345/1001/RSS01&source=rss

    Happier news, from Jean Cohen Oklan:  Hi, all.  Each week I read the newsletter, but I can't remember reading the exciting news about Eric and Gilda Hilton's daughter giving birth to a wonderful, and I'm sure beautiful, baby boy.  If my memory has failed me, I apologize.  In any case, congratulations to the newest class grandparents.

    [Rich -- Yep.  Yep, yep.  Yep, yep, yep.]

    A change of address, from Booker Gibson:  Hello.  I may have done something foolish by switching to VERIZON FIOS.  I had to make up a new e-mail address.  My new one is:  bookertgibson@verizon.net   Bye  now.

    Some school news about future class reunions, courtesy of the Alumni Association Bulletin and Emily Kleinman Schreiber:

    Not Planned Yet:
    Class of 1958 -- South’s first graduating class
    If there’s going to be a 50th reunion, no one's mentioned it yet.  North's first class is having one.  Are we going to let them out-do us?

    Kind of In Process:
    Class of 1968’s 40th reunion
    Date: ?
    Place: ?
    E-mail:  Freda Wagner Pflaum (FredaWagner@gmail.com) is not the organizer, but she’s willing to help.  Is anyone else interested in getting the ball rolling?

    Planned:
    Class of 1973’s 35th reunion
    Date: July 26, 2008
    Place:  Paparazzi in Westbury.  Rooms have been reserved at the Westbury Holiday Inn.  Invitations will be sent in April.
    Contact:  Cara Lebowitz Kagan  (cell phone:   631-687-1899; work phone:  631-422-2727)

    Planned:
    Class of 1977’s 30th reunion
    June 28, 2008, 4:00 PM  to June 29, 2008, 2:00 AM.  Outdoor event, rain or shine, at the home of Jerry Mackay, "on the water."  $75 per person.
 
    Finally, highlights from the Alumni Association meeting's minutes of December 6, 2007, as always respectfully submitted by Roberta Brill Birnel:
        Emily Kleinman Schreiber called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.  Present:  Joseph Anfora, Roberta Brill Birnel, Billy Gillespie, Karen Grimm, Eileen Howell, Arlene Lynn, Edie Mandel, Enid Koss Parness, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Ray Richford, and Irene Sundal.  Also present was South’s principal Maureen Henry.  Regrets received from:  Dennis Shapiro, Eric Spinner, Pat McGivern, Paul DeMartino, Barbara Madigan, Terry Kaiser, Laura and Ken Ulric, and Barbara Peres.
        Treasurer's Report:  Our balance includes four new members.  For those members who have not yet sent in dues for this year, please do so as soon as possible.  Remember that a lifetime membership is $100.
        Next, we discussed the scholarship forms that were used last year.  It was suggested that the school be encouraged to make them available earlier to students.  We also decided to change the title for the essay to “Why I Will Miss South High and Why South High Will Miss Me.”  We discussed and dismissed the suggestion to limit the scope of the scholarship to “non-academic” students.  It was also decided that there would be one scholarship of $500 awarded by the Association.
        Next, Eric Spinner reported that our website has been registered with the host Monster.  There is a two-year contract at $75 per year.  Eric has donated the money for the second year.  There is no annual renewal fee and no set up fee.  Hopefully, the site, http://www.vsshs-alumni.org, will be up and running by our next meeting.  Thanks yet again, Eric.
        On January 27, the Parents’ Club will hold a fundraiser at Governor’s Comedy Club in Levittown.  Tickets are $20.  Proceeds will be used for sports related items: a flag pole, goal posts, a portable scoreboard, dugouts, a press box, and a concession stand.
        In an update of Acts of Kindness, we learned that South is adopting a soldier for the holidays. Principal Maureen Henry said she would ask Patricia Antonelli to get us more information about this.  Eileen Howell has suggested that the Association donate a $100 phone card to a family of an alumnus in Iraq or Afghanistan.  Claire Brush Reinhardt made a motion to find a recipient.  The motion was seconded by Arlene Lynn, and so voted.
        Claire has volunteered to represent the Association at a school culture committee meeting at South in January.  She will let us know about that at our next meeting.
        Maureen Henry told us of some exciting happenings at South:
            • American Education Week – the kids were great.  South has a Westinghouse semi-finalist.  There was a movie – Animal Farm.  The chorus performed.  The Cultural Club conducted a line dance.
            • Upcoming concerts: Junior High next week; Senior High, in two weeks
            • Senior Drama Production:  Twelve Angry Men
        New business:  Claire suggested that we meet at the Irish Coffee Pub again to see Booker Gibson.  She also suggested that we have a “donation jar” for money earmarked for our scholarship fund.  Also, Irene Sundal has volunteered to become our fifth trustee, joining trustees Ray Richford, Eric Spinner, Claire Brush Reinhardt, and Irwin Kotcher.
        The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.