Update 7-12-11

Hi,

Home again.  After 3 weeks, about 5000 miles flying, 1600 miles driving, 2 dozen restaurants, and visits with 36 relatives or friends, 12 of the last group from high school.
    Of the last group, I began with Jeff Levin and his wife, who I hadn't seen for maybe 20 years.  We were on the same campus one afternoon, 10 years ago, when they dropped one of their daughters off to college, but we didn't realize that till later.  Besides, I wouldn't have interrupted that afternoon.
    Next, I saw Alan Finder, as already mentioned, and then the next 8 people all at once.  Alphabetically:  Linda Cohen Greenseid, Paul DeMartino, Robin Feit Baker, Mary Ferranti Khan, Stu Kandel, Valerie Nelson Gillen, Dennis Shapiro, and Danny Stellabotte.  Mary's husband, Dennis' wife, and Robin's son were also there.  This was at a party at Robin's house, which would have been in her lovely backyard, around the grill, but, because of rain, was inside her lovely house.
    Finally, I saw Marc Jonas and Rich Sternhell, at the third restaurant we've explored together near Philadelphia.  There were also 4 near misses:  with Joanne Shapiro Polner and her husband Alex, on Martha's Vineyard, with Barbara Peres Napolitano, on Long Island, and, closer, with Arlene Ainbinder Lynn and Linda Tobin Kettering, in Green Acres.  Arlene let me know, by e-mail, that she lived a block from my mother's house, and I'd intended to call Linda, and then never found time.  I was mainly in New York to spend a week with my mother and to see some of my other relatives, and that I did.
    With every visit, there were funny stories, but you'd have to have been there to hear them.  Otherwise, it would be an invasion of privacy.  At Robin's party, Mary brought her '65 yearbook, so those of us who didn't really know her then could sign it.  Not surprisingly, many of the new entries began, "After 46 years..."
    In all, it was a great trip.  As I said a couple of times, I'd rather see people than places.  But a lot of people I saw have seen a lot of places.

There was some mail while I was gone, starting with a note from Emily Kleinman Schreiber, asking to remind people that Booker Gibson Night at the Irish Coffee Pub in East Islip is tomorrow, Wednesday, July 13th, starting at 6:30.  If you haven't already made reservations, you can probably just show up.  But I say that, safely, from 3000 miles away.

Next, a note from Ellen Sue Brody Pilger, which I think was meant to be shared.  If not, I apologize in advance.  From Ellen:  I really enjoyed your walk through Valley Stream and the city, with your observations.  I could picture it and sense the changes from years past, when we were all kids.  Thanks for the tour.
    I do get to play in Manhattan from time-to-time, when visiting our daughter who lives in the West Village. New York City is an amazing place to play and live, and the Southern California coast was our home for 36 years.  In part, both will always have our heart.  Now that we are in the big open space of Colorado, with so much sky, and we're getting reacquainted with lush, eclectic Boulder, against the lofty mountains, we are convincing everyone to come to us.  Friends are welcome, if you are ever out this way.

Two partly easy questions, from Eric Hilton:  Can you please give me the link to Mary Sipp-Green's paintings?  I'd love to see them.  And what medium was she using?
    The partly easy parts are: you can go to wallyfindlay . com, and I think these paintings were all oils.  But I don't know if Mary also has another web site, and I don't know if she works in other media. 

Rich Sternhell asked:  Does anyone remember the South fraternity named (I think) Gamma Mu?  Or any other South fraternities?  And when did they go away?

From Jerry Bittman:  Thanks for the memories. Mrs. Sussman was by far the best looking teacher I ever had.  Also, I  can't count the number of times that I stopped to meet Alan Finder at his house, and then we walked across the bridge to South.  I remember your house and Barnet Kellman's, across from the school, and Andy Dolich's on Forest Road.  Your mom should be named Mayor of Green Acres.

Finally, sadly, it was mentioned at Robin's party that our teacher, Robert Bigelow, had just died.  We had to go to Mary's yearbook for many of us to remember who he was because I think he only began teaching at South our senior year, 1964.  The picture makes him look like he was 22, but Paul and Dennis said the obituary mentioned that he was in his early 70s.  At South, I believe he taught health and Phys. Ed and coached several sports.  Apparently, he had a terrific career as a high school coach, and I'll try to find his Newsday obituary for next week, to share some of his experiences.


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

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

Please delete any spaces in links or e-mail addresses before using them. And remember the latest update is now also posted on Facebook, at Valley Stream South High School Class of 1965 -- Discussions. 


Rich