Update 5-24-11

Hi,

A collection of almost completely unrelated notes, in the order they came.

First, Marry Ferranti Khan is celebrating her 20th anniversary, so congratulations.  And this is about the 55th anniversary of my still not being able to spell anniversary correctly on the first try.

Second, from Peter Rosen, responding to Linda Cohen Greenseid's pondering:  I ended up at Cornell’s Industrial and Labor Relations School and then on to law school.  I was initially a lawyer but moved very early in my career into Human Resources, where I am still today.  My work continues to use a lot of the foundation I built in college.
    On another note, I’m heading off in 2 weeks to get a bionic hip.  This is my second one, so if any of you out there want to chat, send me an e-mail at:  peter.rosen @ hrsas . com

[Rich -- I asked Peter if this was an additional bionic hip or a replacement for his first one.]

Peter replied:  It's my other hip.  The first one was replaced 18 years ago, is doing great, and I’ve been running, playing some basketball, and golfing after the first, so I’m actually looking forward to this second operation.  I should be walking with help the next day and playing golf again, though not better, in 2 to 3 months.

[Rich -- That seems to answer the question I saw online today, questioning how active people in their 70s with these kinds of replacements are really going to be.]

From Jay Berliner:  I believe that I have all the newsletters from day one in a folder.  If you would like, I could forward them to you.  It might take a week-or-so, as I just returned from China and am trying to dig my way back into my office.

[Rich -- I wrote Jay:  if you have the first year of the newsletters, that would be great.  That's the batch I lost;  it follows how we reassembled the class and has all the comments on 9/11 and the resulting surge to the 37th reunion.  As I mentioned, I'm not sure anyone ever needs to read these newsletters again, but it would be nice to have the complete collection.  Still, there's no rush:  it's not like I'm about to catalogue them or anything.]

But Jay wrote back:  I apologize, I have from 1/8/03.  I didn’t think they were that far back.  He added:  I was in China for 13 days.  In that time, I hit 7 cities and about 30 suppliers.  As you can tell, it was a real relaxing trip.

From Barnet Kellman:  I was saddened to hear of Robert Leist’s passing.  I remember him well and very fondly.  He introduced me to so much music, and his energy and passion in band and orchestra were infectious.  South High music was not the same after he left.  I only saw him once after he transferred further east on the Island, and I am sorry not to have kept in touch with him.

From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  First, for Marilyn Eisbrouch -- I most certainly am Neil Blitfield's sister.  How many Blitfield's could there be in one school and not be related?  LOL.
    Second, in response to Linda Cohen Greenseid -- I have been fortunate to have found my "fashion passion" early in life, useful, as my math skill were also less than steller.  (At 58, I discovered the word dyscalculia, which gave me the validation that I wasn't an idiot, just a tad l.d.)  Nonetheless, I graduated from F.I.T., went into corporate  buying for Sears and for Susies' Casuals, and morphed into design, where I am still happily spending my days in the schmata trade. 
    That's not exactly a literal translation, as many of the men reading this might be wearing me on your back -- I am part of the design team that does private label golf wear, polo shirts, banded bottom shirts, and sweaters under the Palmland Label for JCPenny, Haband, and many of the Mart chains.  Woo-hoo!  Hit the runway, fashionistas!  Still, I can't retire because I haven't figured out if I can afford to, algebraically speaking.

From Judy Hartstone:  Sad news.  My sweet little miniature poodle Sadie died on Friday, after suffering a minor stroke on Thursday.  I rescued her nine years ago, when she was about eight-years-old, so she had a good long life and brought me immeasurable joy.  She was just a fabulous companion.  She filled my heart and I miss her enormously, but it was her time, and she didn't suffer.

[Rich -- I saw Sadie a few months ago in Ventura, when Judy and I had lunch.  Sadie was a very sweet dog, and I know she'll be missed.]

From Robert Fiveson:  Please take a moment to share with me today's accomplishment.  After months of
labor with my pal Mike Holloway, the new and improved Jungle Jet flew the pattern today for the first time. 
Hope you like the video.  Just give it a few moments to buffer.  www . youtube . com/watch?v=WjioHIz06mY

From Ken Ulric: I've been in touch with Paul Ianniello, the first recipient of the Vince Tampio Theater
Scholarship, in 2004.  Following is his note to us, but, first, here's what I wrote back to him:
    Thanks for responding and bringing us up to date.  It's great to hear that you've been successful in theatre, and, more than that, that you're happy.
    I know I speak for everyone involved with the Tampio Award when I say that we are pleased to know that Vince Tampio's legacy, which figured so heavily in our life choices, has been transferred to another generation of South graduates.  We wish you continued success.  Best wishes.

[Rich -- That's terrific, and it would be good if we could hear from some more of the Tampio / Gibson scholarship recipients.  Unfortunately, we got through to Paul -- as mentioned -- because his mother works at South.]

From Paul:  My name is Paul Ianniello.  I am a graduate from Valley Stream South High School, and the 2004 recipient of the Vince Tampio Award.  My mom is still an employee at the school and heard from Liz King-Giordano that you were wondering about what has happened to some of the graduates since they received the award.
    First, I would like to thank you again for the opportunity this award presented me and how it encouraged me to believe in myself.  I always thought of theater as just a hobby, but receiving the award was one of the moments early on in my life where I started thinking seriously about how I could actually make a life for myself doing what I love.
    Since graduating from South, I went on to study Music Theatre at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York.  I was able to receive a Bachelor of Science in Music Theatre as the first person ever to have studied music theatre at my college.  I was the pilot student.  The program started out with three of us in my freshman class, however, the other two students dropped out before freshman year was over. 
    I learned a lot at my college and received the training and skills I needed to try and achieve my musical theatre goals.  Since college, I am happy to say I have been able to support myself with my theater career.
I have done a world premiere tour of Rockband, Live! (RWS and Associates and MTV), where we traveled around the country for three months.  Prior to that, I was part of the International CringeFest in New York and did a small, one month touring show of A Christmas Carol, which was performed in the tri-state area and in Maryland.  After Rockband, I was on a small hiatus, but through auditioning, I was able to book my first ArtsPower tour of Madeline and the Bad Hat.  It was a four-month run, where we drove around the country in a big white van.  I can officially say I've stepped foot in 35 states!  It was a great joy to be bringing live theater to groups of children who otherwise would never get the opportunity to experience it.  Presently, I'm looking forward to my next project, Songs for a New World, at the White Plains Performing Arts Center (www . WPPAC . com) where I'm getting the chance to perform with a 30-piece orchestra.
    I hope I haven't bored you too much with this lengthy e-mail.  Thanks again to you and to everyone involved with the Vince Tampio Award for giving me the opportunity to pursue what I now know I was meant to be doing with me life.  All the best to everyone.

From Emily Kleinman Scheiber:  It's interesting how the newsletter takes new turns.  An article I wrote appeared in Newsday on Sunday. I'll attach it now, in case you want to take a look at it.  Also, please tell everyone that the Alumni Association web site is in the process of being updated.  Thanks.

[Rich -- I don't have the direct link to Emily's article, which is very nice, but if I don't find a link, I'll run the article next week.
     Finally, there's something going around Facebook about Rose Agree, the Forest Road School librarian in the 1950s and 60s.  That article claims that Rose Agree is the oldest living female porn star.
    There is a possibility this is true, the math could work out, but the Social Security Death Index lists at least two other Rose Agrees who have died, one in Michigan in 1983, and one in New Jersey in 2001.  Either could be the former Forest librarian.
    The picture of Rose Agree -- taken around 1957 and visible on Tommy Holocek's Facebook posting on one of the group pages called "I Grew Up In Green Acres" -- shows a scowling Rose Agree. The picture of old and naked Rose Agree that you can find through Google shows a scowling woman.  The scowl may be the only connection.  You may decide.]

A couple reminders:  Remember to delete any spaces in links listed here before trying to use them.  Remember the updates are now also being posted on Facebook -- Valley Stream South High School Class of 1965.  And remember not to take candy from aging librarians.

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

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


Rich