Update 12-13-11

Hi,

Some new notes, that long backlogged note I've been mentioning, and then I think we're even.

First, some sad news from Barbara Blitfield Pech:  I just read on Facebook that Marilyn Weiner Kugler, class of 1964, passed away last week.  I do not have any details.  Also, I'm in touch with the family of the late Bari Levy, if anyone wishes to contact them.

Happier, food-related news, from Arlene Ainbinder Lynn:  Attention Alumni.  The Alumni Association's annual holiday dinner will be held on Thursday, December 15th, at Paul Anthony's Restaurant on Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook.  We'll meet at 6:30 PM, and dinner is $30 per person.  Please RSVP to me if you wish to attend or for menu choices and details.  Thanks.  My address is: arl448 @ aol . com

Drink-related news from Barnet Kellman:  My draft number was 80.  Get me drunk at the next reunion, and I’ll tell you how I got out.

Address-related news from Lanie Statsinger Shahar:  Please replace my old Yahoo e-mail address with this one:  lshahar62 @ gmail . com   Thanks so much

A note from Eric Hilton:  I was wondering if there was a photo of Jimmy Lorey on any web site.  I remember him, but can’t visualize the face.  I was also overwhelmed reading about his dad being a test pilot and redirecting his aircraft to an unpopulated area.  What a brave and considerate pilot.  By any chance is there a way to find out any information about that incident -- what company he worked for, when, and where it happened, and what Jimmy’s dad’s name was?  When I worked for Sperry Gyroscope, I would go to military bases and photograph fighter jets, helicopters, and submarines.  But photographing equipment at Grumman’s, Republic, the McArthur Airport, and Westbury radar site (TRACON) just makes me want to know more about Jimmy’s dad and his experience as a test pilot. I find that story -- including the loss of Jimmy -- quite emotional and moving, and I am truly sorry to hear about his passing.
    Vietnam was also noted in an update, and I am not sure if I had mentioned it before, but one of our classmates, a very cool guy, and my friend, Richard Nelson, died the first week he arrived in Vietnam.

Another note, from Mary Sipp-Green:  In response to Marc Fishman -- I know there is a lot of craziness with the drug companies, but the pricing madness you write about is pretty extraordinary.  It's important to know what's going on, so thanks for the information, and good luck with your work.
    Also, I have an exhibition opening in Palm Beach, Florida in late December.  It's at the Wally Findlay Gallery on Worth Avenue, and if anyone is near there, please stop by.  These are the paintings I did from my travels through central Texas in the spring of 2010, before the drought.  The trip was amazing and inspiring, both because of the people I met there and the landscape.
    As usual, I hope you all are well.  Best wishes for the holidays and the new year.

One from Zelda White Nichols:  We had a tornado touch down near us several weeks ago. It killed three people, one family lost a three-year-old little girl and her grandmother, and thirteen homes were leveled.
    It was the same type of devastation as the California fire I lived through, only in a smaller area, and it brought back all my old traumatic stress syndrome problems. We donated our Christmas savings to the victims this year, helping to pay funeral costs, and to "Toys for Tots," and to a fund the newspaper set up. Nothing like this has ever hit this area before, and people don’t know how to handle any kind of disaster of this size.
    I met with the pastor of the church that services that neighborhood yesterday, and I took my book about the Cedar Fire that the San Diego Tribune had published back in 1993 to show him where I was coming from.  If you remember, I lived in Alpine, California, then.  Something good has finally come of that experience because I had many suggestions and ways of helping these people today.  It also turned out the pastor had lived in Carlsbad, California, about twenty years ago, so he was familiar with the town, terrain, and fires and remembered seeing this fire on the news.  He was already carrying out some of my suggestions, but a number of them were things he hadn’t thought of.
    I told him I’m not a psychologist so couldn’t offer that kind of counseling, but I knew people would need to talk, and I have a big shoulder.  He thought that was wonderful because people were already saying “No one knows what I feel like,” and now he can say that he knows someone who does, and he will give out my phone number.  There are so many emotions that I know people won’t experience now but will do so in the future, and in some cases I know how to help.
    I was prepared for evacuation back then, before the fire came, thanks to FEMA’s book “Are You Ready?” It was given out free to all the county residents, and I know I've mentioned it before, so this is just another reminder.  The book is available online, just search "FEMA Are You Ready," and the book will come up. It will tell you what to do before, during, and after any man-made or natural disaster, and it can save lives.
    Entirely separate from that, I hope everyone has a happy holiday season.  My husband and I will be spending ten days at our beach house in South Carolina this year.

Zelda also forwarded this caution:  Fox News reported that seventy dogs have died as a result of eating chicken jerky treats made from chicken that came from China.  "Kingdom Pets" from COSTCO is one of the brand names.  Also certain "Blue Buffalo" brand pet foods have been recalled for the same reason.  So please make sure all your pet-owning friends are aware of this.

Finally, the long-delayed note from Joanne Shapiro Polner.  After the filler piece from 1957, about the play Kind Lady being presented at South, Joanne did a little follow-up research about the cast. 
    Susan Sternhell [class of 1960] [married name Wolf; died 5/1988] Mary 
    Rick Reisch [class of 1958] Henry 
    Andrea Kerbel [class of 1960] Phylis 
    Ronald Plotkin [class of 1959] [cited living in Florida] Peter, 
    Joyce Wolovick [class of 1958] Mrs. Edward 
    Ira Kinder [class of 1959] [died 1/1999; legendary drama department head of Plantation Florida High School] Mr. Edward
    Carol Ann Ganz [class of 1960] Ada, 
    Ellen Stepner [class of 1960] Aggie, 
    Dave Herbeck [class of 1960] [cited living in South Carolina] doctor /Mr. Foster, 
    Pat Schaffzin [class of 1958] [twin of Susan] Rose 
    Jack McMullen [class of 1959] [cited living in Vermont] Gustav Roseberg. 
    The cast was chosen by Paula Baller [class of 1960] and student director of the play, Carol Lagin [class of 1958, married name Dolich]
    Mr. Charles Plumber [Plumer] directed the play.  See babylonbeacon . com/news/2000-06-14/Obituaries/12 . html   The Mr. Plumer of this cited obituary [died 5/2000] could be "our" Mr. Plumer.  The obituary mentions that he started his teaching career in West Islip, and was there for 25twenty-five years.  It wouldn't be first time -- I can attest -- that a South High teacher's career time was omitted in later biographical information.  Mr. Plumer probably came to South from Central, but does anyone know if that is true?  Or he may have been at South for only a year-and-a-half. 
    Mr. Elliott succeeded him in 1958-59 and remained for the graduating class of 1960.  He directed Antigone for the class 1960 senior play, but, as great as Mr. Elliott was in drama, he didn't last under Mrs. Clark, either, and I believe that he did not get tenure. 
    A couple of questions:   Could any class of 1961 member please look in your yearbook and tell me if Mr. Elliott is still listed in the English department in the 1961 yearbook, or if there is another English teacher whom you can recognize as your drama teacher?  Also, please look at the Senior class play for 1961, and look for the advisor/department director. 
    Also, Susan Sternhell played the title role in her junior class play, Curious Savage, in March 1959.  As an adult, did Susan participate in drama in any form, as avocation or vocation?
    Thanks.

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

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

As usual, please delete the spaces.


Rich