Update 4-4-06

Hi,

Short this week.  Some business.  Some classmates.  Some South news.  And a piece of topical silliness that's swamping the Internet.  The business first, three pieces;
   
    First, the alumni association has decided to wait until at least next year to add the Booker Gibson and Vince Tampio scholarships to its responsibilities.  The report from the meeting last Thursday was that the association is still too new.  I mentioned that my concern was that these scholarships continue past their current ten-year guarantee and not get lost when the association is creating new scholarships.  The association seems very supportive of that point of view.  I also assured them that I could continue coordinating the scholarships for up to the ten year proposed run if necessary.
   
    Second, as I mentioned, we have enough money already stashed for the Booker Gibson scholarship this year, and I now still need about a hundred bucks for the Vince Tampio scholarship.  I've heard from three of the people who've pledged money, and I'd like to hear from several others before I have to contact you.  The democratic going rate for this year, no matter what people have previously promised, is a mere twenty-five bucks each.
   
    Three, about the class website.  Yeah, it would be nice if I updated the bios, since most of them date from Spring 2002.  But the problem is both time and knowing where to edit.  Some people have sent me new information -- well, two people have sent me new information -- but they haven't indicated how they want it combined with what's previously there.  So I've simply stalled.  It's also less risky than offending someone.  So if you'd like your online bio updated, please send me exactly what you'd like it to say, and I will cut and paste.  Thanks.
   
    Next, alumni news from Joanne Shapiro Polner:  Alumni togetherness also means remembering deceased classmates and teachers.  This last week in March, in my search for schoolmates, I found out that in 1983, Joseph Hempfling '59, passed away from leukemia at the age of 43.  I spoke with his son Joe.  Joseph's brother Frederick, who may have graduated from Brooklyn Tech in 1957 -- can anyone confirm this? -- is well and is married to Carolyn Endicott '60.  They live in Nebraska.
        As self-appointed, volunteer class secretary for 1959, I have been on an intensive search for my co-alums.  I am still locating them, but not as quickly as before the March Anniversary Open House at South.  What shocks me is that I have only accounted for several more than a quarter of my class of 168 people, and eight of them are no longer alive.  It gives one pause, and I honor the departed by naming them.  I know that many have siblings not noted here, since I have no information about them, at present:
        Frank Bruendl '59  died 2003  (sister Hilda Bruendl '60 is well)
        Joan Dooley '59 died summer 1993 lupus (brother Thomas Dooley predeceased her)
        Broni Harris '59
        Joseph Hempfling '59  died 1983 leukemia (older brother Fred is well)
        Peter Shapiro '59 (a twin)  died before 1994; (sister Susan Shapiro Offenberg '59 is well)
        Howard Tarter '59
        Roger Treinis '59  died 1986 (sister Lynn Treinis Stecklow '66 is well)
        Ira Kinder '59   died January 1999 cancer (brother Jay '65 is well)
Two in other classes:
        Stephen Kain  '58  died 2001
        Walter Roedel '61 died 1999 cancer Vietnam vet
        I frequently go off on tangents during my almost daily Internet searches for classmates and discovered that information about teachers is virtually nonexistent.  I came across a New York Times obituary about Clara Hoogenboom, published March 2, 1997.  It read in part, "she had a positive influence on countless students, many of whom remained in contact with her following graduation."
        As a Queens College graduate myself, I am thrilled to find out that I am Hoogie's co-alumna, even though I graduated twenty years later than she did.  Anyone else graduate from there?  I wonder if I ever told her I was going to school there.  The Alumni Office is always willing to receive memorial donations.  Please contact the Director, Joe Brostek, alumni@qc.edu
        Also, does anyone have a list of teachers who have died?  Evelyn Roedel Read '59 added some names to those I knew.  Can anyone add to the list, adding dates and corrections?  Vincent Benevento, Anne Clark, Clara Hoogenboom, Thomas Hurley, Robert Leist, Robert Lichtenstein, and John Sykes.
 
    From Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  The Silent Auction and the Benefit Concert brought in $2,800.  That will be split between the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.  These donations wouldn't have been possible without the more than three hundred and fifty alumni who returned to South on that beautiful spring day several weeks ago.  Thank you all so much for your support and exuberance.
 
    Finally, from Barbara Blitfield Pech, Fran Bellucci, and just about everyone else on the Internet:  On Wednesday this week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 AM, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.