Update 7-28-09

Hi,

First, a note from one of our fearless former teachers, Hiram Rosov:  In reading the positive and negative comments about Ralph Foster, I began to think of my colleagues at South during my almost thirty-year stint there as an English teacher, adviser to the Legend and the Southern Bell, and coach of the junior high soccer and basketball teams.
        I have always reflected on the philosophy of "Smelling the roses before I die."  I am sure there are a number of teachers at South who your classmates can remember with positive and complimentary thoughts, and those who had a profound influence on your lives.  From a teacher's point of view, I can think of a few:  Nancy Russo, Marty Solomon, Terry Bargman, Charlie Baker, Joe Argenzio, Bernie O'Brien, Herb May, Chuck Donohue, Ina Luadtke, Booker Gibson, Denis Kiely, Bob Brenner, Chuck Messner, Vinny Benevento, Adrian Biagioli, Lou Aiello, Maxine Vogel, Toni Rea, Tom Franza,  Eileen Duffy,  Bob Parry, Clara Hoogenboom, Ed Schmidt, Irv Saffrin, and Joe Caruso. 
        These were my friends, and a finer group of teachers you will never find in one school today.  Why not reflect on any one of the above group and let them smell the roses while they are still around to appreciate the aroma.
   
    [Rich -- Larry Rugen and I have kind of been talking about the same thing.  I think part of the reason people remember their bad teachers is a variant of the old "squeaky wheel and the grease."  But what Jean Cohen Oklan wrote seems far more apt, and, as I wrote Larry:  "Parents seem a lot more active in schools than they were when we were kids, so maybe they'd intervene immediately if a teacher like Ralph Foster pulled something like that stunt with the pulleys.  But I think the very good point of Jean's story is that lessons can still be learned from mistakes made 40 years ago.]
   
    On an entirely different subject, Robert Fiveson writes:  Bernie Scheidt may find this of interest -- Jay Tuerk and I have decided to finally have the surgery.  We are to become conjoined twins.  We are being cosmetically joined at the hip.  I have already sold the documentary rights to Discovery Health Channel.  Finding clothes will be an issue, but the rest we can deal with.
   
    Moving away from Robert (and Jay), a note from Barbara Dorin Hayden:  My brother, Phil, class of '66, and I, '67, were discussing carpooling to the Los Angeles lunch next Thursday, but, unfortunately, we'll both be out of town.  Phil lives on the west side, in Rancho Park, and I live in Silver Lake, Fiveson's old neighborhood.  I hope there will be another get-together soon, and I'll coax Betsy Fels, Jackie Drucker, and Leslie Weinberg to join us.   Meanwhile, best to all.
   
    [Rich -- It would have been nice to see Barbara and Phil, but there will be other occasions.  Meanwhile, there's one coming up in Florida.]
   
    From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Ellen Epstein Silver will be in Boca Raton, Florida, August 20th to 26th.  Ellen, Hy Rosov, and I have exchanged e-mails about tentative plans to get together, and we are hoping that other people in the area can join us.  If you're interested, please contact Ellen at:  alan.silver@tx.rr.com or through Facebook, and we will copy everyone on notes.
   
    And if you need to dance in Los Angeles, here's some of the updated schedule for Billy Valentine, sent by Amy Lieberman:
        Two Wednesdays, August 5th and 19th, Casa Del Mar Hotel, Santa Monica.
        Friday, August 21st, Cafe Cordiale, Sherman Oaks.
        Saturday, August 29th, Spazio, Sherman Oaks.
        And Saturday, September 19th, at the Mark Taper Foundation Amphitheater in Coldwater Canyon Park.
   
    [Rich -- Amy said she might also be able to join us for part of lunch this Thursday, since the restaurant's near where she lives.]
   
    That's:  Robin Singer Taylor, Paulinda Schimmel, Paul Zegler, and I.  1 PM.  Thursday, July 30th.  Marmalade Cafe, 14910 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks]
   
    Larry Rugen also writes:  So where do you all travel?  What place is or was your favorite?  For a family trip or just for plain beauty?  What trip was the best?  The most fun?  The best cruise?  To date, the best vacation for my wife and me was last year, when we drove from the Tetons to Portland, Oregon, via Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.  And, yes, we did see bears.
   
    According to the photos in Facebook, Barnet Kellman just saw Argentina.
   
    And happy birthday, Naomi Stein Miller and Jeff Levin.
   
   
    The South '65 e-mail addresses:  reunionclass65.blogspot.com
   
   
    Rich