Update 9-13-11

Hi,

To begin with, Barbara Blitfield Pech sent this from Facebook.  It was originally posted by Joan Diamond:
    Remembering those from Valley Stream who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  Our hearts go out to all the families and friends of those who lost their lives on that day.  In commemoration of the tragic loss of life on September 11, 2001, community members, political leaders and students of the Valley Stream High School District held a ceremony on September 11, 2002, to dedicate the permanent Memorial stone in front of the Central High School Auditorium.  Dr. Ronald Valenti, superintendent of schools, addressed those gathered saying, “This memorial that we dedicate today will forever stand as a loving tribute to those brave patriots and heroes.”  The names of the eleven alumni from Central, North, and South and the twenty-eight people from the Valley Stream community are:
    Carl Asaro  *  Scott D. Bart, VSN '91  *  Bruce Boehm, VSN '70  *  Robert J. Caufield, VSC '70  *  Robert Crawford  *  Joan Cullinan  *  Manuel Da Mota  *  Lee Fehling  *  Andrew K. Friedman, VSC '75  *  Edward F. Geraghty  *  Vincent F. Giammona  *  Jeffrey Grant Goldflam  *  Michael Hannan  *  James A Haran, VSN '78  *  Michael Helmut Haub  *  Brian Hickey  *  Thomas A. Hobbs, VSC '78  *  Paul Jurgens  *  Thomas E. Jurgens, VSC '93  *  Joseph Kelly  *  Ronald Kloepfer  *  Amarnauth Lachhman  *  Rudy Mastrocinque  *  Orio J. Palmer  *  Andrew Rosenblum, VSS '74  *  Adam K Ruhalter  *  Obdulio Ruiz-Diaz  *  John Sammartino  *  Mark Schwartz  *  Bruce E. Simmons  *  Lawrence T. Stack  *  Richard H. Stewart  *  Walwyn Stuart, Jr.  *  Madeline Todd Sweeney  *  Glenn Thompson, VSC '75  *  Garo Voskerijian  *  Raymond R. York Jr.  *  Joseph Zaccoli, VSC '80  *  John Di Giovanni, VSC '65 (lost WTC bombing 2/26/93)

[Rich -- September 11, 2001, on top of being a huge catalyst for the United States and the world, was also a tiny catalyst for our class -- and two-thirds of the 200 people who receive this newsletter every week are still from the class of '65.
    Previously, that summer, during July and August, Paul DeMartino and other former class members were determinedly adding to the list of 40 names I'd gleaned from the 60-or-so on Classmates.com.  I'd sent notes to those 60 in late June.  By the end of August, we had about 200 class of '65 names on our contact list, not all of them with e-mail addresses.  And that's I'd meant to create:  a free e-mail address list for old friends who wanted to be in touch with other old friends.  But September 11th changed that.
    Suddenly, people were writing in with their thoughts.  They weren't just saying, "I'm living here, and I'm happily married, and our kids are just out of college."  People were writing about how they felt.  And other people wrote back.  And still others people joined in.  I'll pass on some of those notes again in the next few weeks. 
    And slowly, there was a realization that a lot of us wanted to get together.  And we did.  And it was probably the best reunion we'll ever have.  The most emotional. 
    Maybe because we were all still comparatively young, yet had accomplished a lot of what we'd intended. Maybe because we were all still uncertain what was going to happen in the world, but were comfortable in our own lives.  Maybe each person's particular reason doesn't matter.
    But we came together.  And a lot of us have stayed together.  And others still continue to join in.]

And here's the newsletter from September 18, 2001, maybe the first one after September 11th:

Hi,

Just now, I'm kind of stuck for words. Fortunately, other people aren't.

From Paul DeMartino:  It is difficult for me to set down a few words regarding the worst tragedy I've ever seen up close.  No Hollywood special effects could compare to what I witnessed Tuesday.  My office is about 35 blocks north of the WTC, but we have an excellent view of it and the Empire State Bldg. which is a few blocks away.  I was at my desk early (as usual) when the first plane hit.  At that point all semblance of work came to an end.  I along with my colleagues watched in disbelief as the second plane hit and later as both towers came down.  I still don't think that the true impact has sunk in, and perhaps I'm in denial.  Yesterday I donated blood, feeling helpless and confused, wishing I could do more.  Tomorrow, I'll try to return to work and get back to "normal."  Anyway I just wanted to share a few thoughts with you without rambling on.

From Louise and Ed Albrecht:  Our prayers go out to all.

From Zelda White Nichols:  What happened is despicable.  The news on TV stated that the terrorists won this battle, but not the war.  They are wrong.  They might be terrorists, but even more, they are the worst cowards imaginable to use innocent people to kill innocent people.  They might have won the skirmish, but they will never win even a battle; what they have succeeded in doing is to unite the citizens of this country to stand behind our president.  They have united our country so that Democrats and Republicans stand together.  They have united all countries of the free world to stand together.  We are truly the United States of America and United Countries of the world.  God Bless us all.

From Bernie Scheidt:  I am glad to report that I was out of NY on the CIO conference on a cruise ship and the only hardship we encountered was being diverted to Boston.  Just saw Barnet Kellman on CBS being interviewed as part of a survey on what American's think we should do.

From Barbara Zingman Braunstein:  You can't imagine how the New Yorkers (the ones who live and work here) feel.  The feelings of vulnerability.  The outrage, like a rape victim must feel.  Except the whole world is feeling similarly.  Still, we are all experiencing our own torment individually.  Unfortunately, to a degree this is a shared experience and the pain is not ending.  That, perhaps, causes the greatest pain/fear of all.

From Lynn Nudelman Villagran:  I think it's good that we are all back in touch with each other.  At this horrible time, we all have to reach out to each other for comfort.

From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  As everyone, I share the shock, horror, disbelief, anger, pain, and hope for the welfare of our people and our country.  I pray that all of you have been spared the pain of loss in this recent tragic event.  As I am at a loss for words for what to think, feel, or do next, I hope to be able to share this:  I am unable to give much-needed blood, but I want and need to do something to make some statement that I haven't sat by.  While my ability to give financially is not as great as my wish to is, I will make a charitable donation in memory of all who innocently gave their lives for this great nation.  While I cannot help them now, hopefully my donation in their name and memory will someday help their families heal in other ways.  Perhaps you will, too.  God Bless you all.  God Bless America

From Linda Cohen Kelman Greenseid:  I was wondering if you would weigh in about this horror, but was also afraid to see a reunion e-mail from you for fear that someone we know had died in the attack.  We have been really lucky in that no friend or family member has been directly impacted.  I hope all is well with you. P.S. How strange is it that I have come to depend on your e-mails for news of people I haven't seen or spoken to in 35 years?

Finally, from Jerry Bittman:  Thank you so much for getting in contact with me.  I hope you are fine. Unfortunately, I am not.  I would love to get in contact with old classmates.  Are you planning a class reunion?  That would be fantastic.  Please get back to me as soon as possible.  I would love a list of everybody you have so far.


Rich