Update 11-30-10

Hi,

Some sad news and some happy news, both from Ryki Zuckerman.

First, from Ryki:  With heavy heart, I am informing you that my dear friend, Doreen Solomon, class of '66, passed away late Wednesday night.
    In high school, Doreen took classes on Saturdays at Pratt, painted and drew, played piano, and was always an avid reader.  She graduated from Northeastern with a double major, philosophy and early education, and lived for a while in California and then New York City.  In the '70s, she journeyed to India and lived on an ashram, and she studied and lived on a kibbutz in Israel.  Later, she worked at a slew of jobs even after she got multiple sclerosis.
    At first, it was just a limp, but as the MS progressed, she never complained, even after she had to be in a wheelchair.  She adjusted by getting a car with hand controls and a mechanized wheelchair fold-and-store machine.  Doreen was a kind, gentle soul, always attentive to the needs of others, and always putting herself last.  She worked or volunteered as long as she could.
    Arlene Ainbinder Lynn and I attended the services and funeral yesterday, on Long Island, and Joan Kass Lipson, class of '66, drove in from Connecticut.  Doreen's sister, Marla, and brother, Mark -- all South High alum -- and their grown children, Doreen's beloved nieces and nephews, were all there, along with her mother, who had cared for Doreen throughout the long, difficult years as MS stole more and more ordinary capacities from her daughter.  There were also many friends and family members.

The happier news from Ryki:  While down in Valley Stream, I also attended a baby shower with Arlene, for Maria Levada's daughter, Ariadne.  Maria came to Valley Stream from Greece as a little girl and lived with her older sister, Dr. Lapakis.  Maria was in my second grade class at Forest Road School, and now she's a doctor!  She's still a beautiful and gracious person.
    I was standing in the kitchen of Maria's house when a woman walked in, looked at me, and said, "I know you!"  She was Laura Littner, class of '65, there with her husband, and as we caught up, she bemoaned the fact that her class had never had any reunions.  I happily corrected her on that, filled her in a little, and promised to send her e-mail address to you for the newsletter list.  It's: lauralfulton@yahoo.com   And that's Laura L. Fulton, not a typo.

And while people are sleuthing, from Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Please add Sue Atkins Westmeyer to the weekly update mailing list, and let's hear another round of applause for Facebook Search.
    I hadn't spoken with Sue for way too many years and had lost her last contact information.  Needless to say, one quickly typed name and less than a minute later, "Woo Hoo!  There she was.  Life is good."  Her e-mail address is:  suzanne96@comcast.net 

Barbara also notes:  About Booker Gibson's blackboard erasers -- there must have been a flying eraser epidemic at South because Mr. Reilly caught it, and most certainly used it on any and every unsuspecting head that was half-asleep, window gazing, or just turned in social chatting while he was teaching.  As my son jokes, "The huge manatee of it."

Barbara also forwarded this invitation from Eileen Gunderson Gelet and Joan Kass Lipson, class of '66:
    Greetings.  We are pleased to be sending you this quick note to let you know that plans are in the works for our upcoming 4th mini-reunion.  It will be held in the Boca Raton area of South Florida on Saturday night, January 29, 2011.
    While the date is set, the location is still to be confirmed, so more information will follow.  In the meantime, with the date firm, you can mark it on your calendars and make your plans to attend.  Please let Eileen or Joan know if you are anticipating joining us.  Eileen e-mail address is:  egelet@verizon.net.  Joan's is:  jlipson@optonline.net.  We look forward to hearing that you will be coming.  Meanwhile, best regards.

Stu Mlot, from the class of '71 is also planning a party, and he writes:   If you haven't already mentioned it, the Class of '71 is planning its 40th reunion for Saturday, October 1, 2011.  The party will be in New York City, and for more information, please check the Facebook page that has been set up.  That link is: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_169091733116085.  Thanks.

Indirect news of another planned party, from Joanne Shapiro Polner:  I just returned from a Thanksgiving week, Tuesday to Saturday, in Massachusetts with our daughters and their families, so I am just now reading the 11/23 Update.  I was going to send you Judy Sarazen Perine's e-address for Arlene Ainbinder Lynn, but it seems you already have it.
    Judy was my South High '59 classmate, and I am the volunteer keeper of our class list.  I will share that information with the next class of '59 reunion organizers when they begin to plan the South Florida reunion for the winter of 2012.

And a follow-up about Joe Perine, from Steve Cahn:  Joe Perine was a high school English teacher during the mid-to-late 60s and perhaps into the early 70s.  He was very young, had blonde hair, and all the girls swooned over him in his corduroy 3-piece suits -- yes, in those days, teachers wore suits.  He rode a motorcycle to South, and I think it was an "Indian," which, even then, was a rare bike.
    Joe and I worked together one summer as swim instructors at a day camp in Oceanside.  Some little kid was placing his hands all over the Indian, and Joe hopped the pool fence in his bare feet and swim trunks, and said to the kid in a voice that could be heard for blocks, "You can touch my money. You can even touch my wife.  But NEVER touch my bike!"  As you see, I still remember that.
    Joe Perine attended South as a kid, and I think he still holds the track and field record for long jump --known then as the running broad jump.  I also used to compete in that event at South, and Joe -- jokingly -- threatened to fail me if I ever broke his record.  I don't think he coached a sport, but I remember that he was the advisor to the weight lifting club.  I heard he later became a middle school principal in upstate New York, and I think also in Virginia. 

A new birthday wish for Booker Gibson, from Peggy Cooper Schwartz:   Thank you for starting me on my life-long love affair with opera.  How great is it that we can all  now see "Live At The Met" performances at our local movie theaters?  I wish you many more musical years of happiness.  Bravo Maestro!

A reminder that Barbara Brill still has a photo exhibit running at the Great Neck Library. Titled "Peoples of Papua New Guinea," it's open every weekday evening until 9, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons until 6.  The exhibit continues through the end of December, and the library's address is: 159 Bayview Avenue, Great Neck.
 
There also should be an Alumni Association meeting coming up, but please contact Emily Kleinman Schreiber for confirmation.  Her address is:  cre8em@aol.com

The South '65 e-mail addresses:  reunionclass65.blogspot.com

The South '65 photo site:  picasaweb.google.com/SouthHS65


Rich