Update 7-19-05

Hi,

First off, notes from a trio of generous people:

From Marc Jonas: Inspired by Alan Finder's message and contribution, I am sending my check to Dennis, although regretfully, summer plans prevent my joining the party. May it be a great one for all attending. I look forward to the sequel.

From Jay Kinder: I am sorry that due to a previous appointment I am unable to attend the reunion. I also feel very sorry that, after all the hard work everyone has put in to make the reunion successful, you are coming up short on the money end. I will send a check for $100 to help support the reunion. Good luck, and keep up the good work.

From Zelda White Nichols: I was holding off until I heard more about my mom's knee. She is going to have to have it scoped at the time of the reunion, and I will be helping her out in Florida. But I will be sending a contribution to help out with the costs, and y'all will be in my thoughts.

[Rich -- as I've written Marc, Jay, and Zelda: "We'd rather have you at the party, but we certainly are grateful for your support." Marc wrote back, saying: "Had I the time, I would have sold student activity cards to raise $$$. I'll be with all of you in spirit(s)." I'd forgotten about student activity cards.]

News on the teacher invitations, from Terri Donohue Calamari: Martin Solomon said he would be happy to attend the reunion had our party been any weekend in August but the one we've chosen. Hy Rosov confirmed that, because of his wife's surgery, he unfortunately cannot attend. Toni Rea seems to be off on an extended vacation, because I can't get through to her, and I'm having the same problem with Ed Schmidt and Ginny Ressa Schmidt. My contact information for Joe Caruso seems out-of-date because I woke up an otherwise very nice man who said, "I never taught at no high school." And Rich says he hasn't heard back from e-mail invitations to Charles Messner, Donald Seaman, and Janet Porter Rylander. Meanwhile, as further rallying, in addition to bringing my Peace Corps- veteran daughter Trish to the party, I've invited my Navy-veteran son C.J. to meet Booker Gibson and Bernie O'Brien. See you all soon.

Further thoughts on the DJ, first from Linda Cohen Greenseid: My two cents worth: I agree with Allen Moss -- no DJ, and I could even go for Happy Meals if it would help. But you said that we were locked into hotel food. See you soon.

And from Barbara Blitfield Pech, who also seems to have loose change: Speaking of money, here's my 2 cents worth: I couldn't agree more with Allen Moss, for many of the same reasons and hopefully without sounding like a 57-year-old crank: DJ? No thank you. I gave them up 14 years ago when my son thankfully outgrew the bar mitzvah circuit. I really don't feel a need for some kid -- who, these days, is anyone under 45 -- playing records of the same speed while bantering over the "oldies" he has no real clue about. It's just round with a hole in it for all he cares, and he could be spinning a Krispy Kreme. Matter of fact, I'd prefer that.
Seriously though, if I am enjoying dinner, drinks, and conversation with friends, that's about all I need to keep me amused, not noisy flashbacks to the sock hop.

Further thoughts from Barbara: I suppose when you live as far from home for as long as we have, playing New York geography is a common pastime. While the expected response and turnout is less than earlier anticipated, and noting that many friends will be missed, nonetheless I am more than thrilled to be getting away for a very long overdue weekend. I'll be home, or at least close to my roots, with a few added perks: A mini- vacation; NO Miami, cooking, cleaning, traffic, phones, faxes, deadlines; YES sharing time, smiles, and catch-ups with the best hotel guests one could ever hope to run into. Sounds like planb to me. Pass it along if you think so too. '65 hugs to all.

Business news from Paul DeMartino: I've been making contact with people from other classes and have been urging them to contact their own classmates, but the results have been mixed. Many people unfortunately are not in contact with anyone from South anymore, while others could offer up only a name or two. From Dennis' list, you can see that we have managed to attract some attention from the other classes, but not enough to assure financial success. Yesterday, I spoke with the hotel's catering manager, and she is still unwilling to reduce our costs. If, however, a last-minute wedding party contacts her in need of a room, she will certainly call me. She did offer to upgrade our food menu, since we'll be feeding fewer than the expected number of people, so that will be nice. Another idea I urge all attendees to seriously consider is to bring along your spouse, significant other, child, relative, or friend. You can consider it an evening out, with a nice dinner. This will not only help us, it can also turn into a lot of fun. One good thing about the smaller gathering is it should allow us to actually get to talk to everyone. At the last reunion, I was only able to speak to about 50% of the people attending. Finally, Dennis Shapiro needs all the out-of-state checks in his possession by July 25th, in order to allow time for them to clear. The hotel wants a bank check, not a personal check from Dennis, so he needs to make sure the money's in the reunion account. And if anyone plans to come at the last minute to either the Friday or Saturday night parties, please pay in cash. That way Dennis doesn't have to worry about further checks. Thanks. See many of you soon.

From Steve Cahn, '70, representative of another class which knows where many of its former members are, but is always interested in contacting others: The new posting of the class website is up at: www.geocities.com/vssouth70 Please register for our reunion as soon as possible, and let me know if you have contact information for other friends from South. Meanwhile, enjoy your summer!
Also from Steve: Thought you might like to see this -- I scanned and posted a Southern Bell article from November of 1969 -- my senior year. The article was about the North-South game. It was a brief history of the rivalry and mentions, as perhaps the most exciting game, the game in 1965 when South beat an undefeated North in the final few seconds. I know that the fall of '65 is actually the class of '66, but I though you might get a kick out of it. http://www.geocities.com/vssouth70/index3.html -- and click on the second link down -- "Blast from the Past"

Further reunion thoughts and catching up, from Jerry Bittman: I do feel saddened at the thought that there could possibly be no more reunions, but I would like to bring up one point: When we had the reunion in 2002, there was a lot of talk about having another in 2003. I know I and others voiced our opinions and said having one the following year was too soon, and I'm not sure if having this reunion 3 years later is also too soon. But that doesn't mean someone won't organize one in another 10 years.
Meanwhile, I am looking with great anticipation to my trip out west. I am leaving on July 14th. (Isn't that Bastille Day? See, I did learn something in history class.) I'll be in Las Vegas for a week, and then in LA for hopefully several months. This is a business trip that I am anxiously pursuing. The initial part of the trip is for something that I have invented that will hopefully be sold first to the casinos and then to the public. One of my partners used the product last weekend at casinos in Florida and was approached by many people who wanted to know where they could purchase one. Secondly, I have developed a TV reality show. To be honest, I don't know how I came about doing this. However, the people who are familiar with the concept all sit there in amazement when it is explained to them. I already have spoken to a MAJOR US company about sponsoring the entire package, and as of now they are very willing. The show will consist of 7 episodes. When I explained to the sponsors that the initial episode will draw at least 17 to 18 million viewers, they sat there with skepticism. However, once the concept was explained to them, they really had a look of disbelief on their faces. I will reveal a little tidbit: There will be 101 contestants winning cash prizes, and the top two will both receive $1,000,000 CASH on live TV. So as Horace Greeley kind of said, "It is time to go west OLD man." Darn, I did retain more from history class than I thought. Whoever was my history teacher, thank you.

Robert Fiveson's latest untested Internet link, sent under the subject line "Class of '65 -- Of Thee I Sing:" http://svt.se/hogafflahage/hogafflaHage_site/Kor/hestekor.swf Enter at your own risk, for your own possible enjoyment.

Finally, in the Friar Lawrence Department, first from Helen David: Is it possible to send a message to Peggy Cooper Schwartz? Her father and my husband, Charles David, were school and college chums. Before moving to Valley Stream, we lived near each other in Stuyvesant Town, in Manhattan. When they moved to New Jersey, we really lost touch. Are they all right?

Next, from Helen David: Thank you for passing on the message, and sending us her e-mail address. At my age, one is afraid to ask directly if someone's parents are still alive. We were quite friendly with Owen Cooper and his wife through many years. Our generation was slower to relocate, but is it because of big business that moved so many of you?

From Peggy: Thanks for forwarding this. What a lovely surprise to get Helen David's note. I'm happy to say my parents are alive and well -- living in Boca Raton in the winter and New Jersey in the summer. I will forward Helen's e-mail to them. I also must add that Mrs. David was my 7th grade science teacher -- and she was one of my favorite teachers at South.

From Helen David: Many, many thanks for putting us in touch with our old friends, Peggy Cooper Schwartz's parents, Lenore and Owen Cooper. This was an odd offshoot of your newsletter, but one that has made us very happy.
Have a delightful trip to New York and a terrific reunion.

[Rich -- Actually, starting a free e-mail list for our class was all I ever intended to do four years ago. The parties, the newsletters, and the homepage were the offshoots. So I'm glad the original idea still works.]

The current reunion attendee, guest, and supporter list, alphabetically by their last names in 1965:
Joan Aries Cleven
Jay Berliner
Barbara Blitfield Pech
Thomas Booth '66
C.J. Calamari
Trish Calamari
Tom Calise
Linda Cohen Greenseid
Peggy Cooper Schwartz
Wendy D'Angelo Scully '68
Carol D'Angelo Tucci '67
Elaine DeMartino Maas '67
Paul DeMartino
Teresa Donahue Calamari
Rich Eisbrouch
Barbara Endy Ianniello
Ellen Epstein Silver
Carol Ewig Duran (donor)
Robin Feit Baker
Alan Finder?
Sherry Finkel '68
Henry Gabbay
Peggy Galinger Menaker
Booker Gibson
Steve Gootzeit
Neil Guberman
Art Halprin
Judith Hartstone
Marilyn Horowitz Goldhammer
Marc Jonas (supporter only)
Stuart Kandel
Rob Kelman
Barnet Kellman (supporter only)
Jay Kinder (supporter only)
Ralph Kramer
Theresa Margolin Bargman (Friday)
Ira Mitzner
Allen Moss
Lynn Nudelman Villagran
Bernie O'Brien (Friday)
Judy Peters Sylvan
Dennis & Benette Pizzimenti
Rachel Robinson Rizzo
Peter Rosen
Irene Saunders Goldstein
Dennis Shapiro
Robin Singer Taylor ?
Danny Stellabotte
Mark Yetman
Arthur Yngstrom '69
Zelda White Nichols (supporter only)

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.