Classmates Located: 253 (40%)
** Coming to the 40th Reunion (115 as of Aug11)
9Aug01
Trudy Renken was located in the nick of time and WILL be coming to the Reunion.6Aug01
With days to go we welcome Roger Gruber and Jack Sebor to the list. Roger is living in Israel and will not be making it to the reunion. That makes Florida look close.29Jul01
With two weeks to go we have crossed 40% with the addition of four more classmates: Sam Barnhart, Robert Buff, Linda Tofalvy, and Rebel Tomlin.14Jul01
We're closing in on 40% with the addition of three more classmates: Caryl (Kubinciak) & Douglas Sickul, Marybeth (Lewis)Lang, and Stephanie (Ffrench)Carpenter.Tom D'Angelo has generously offered to run a really open bar. But what to where???
HI!
WAS JUST THINING OF YOU THE OTHER DAY,AND WONDERING
HOW THINGS WERE GOING.
WE WILL BE COMMING TO FRI & SAT, NOT SURE ABOUT
SUN.IF
YOU NEED A DEFINATE ANSWER ON SUNDAY,NO.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE STICKS SO LONG,THAT I DON'T KNOW
WHAT UALL R WEARING TO THESE SHINDIGS.
MA,OR "MIMI" IS STARTING TO GROW THE COTTON FOR A NEW
SACK.SHE DOSEN'T KNOW IF SHE SHOULD TIE DIE IT OR
LEAVE IT
NATURAL"RIGHT OF THE VINE".
IT WILL BE NICE TO PRACTICE MY ENGLISH WHEN I COME
UP.ALSO
IF YOU LIKE WE CAN BRING THE VAN AND BREW THE STUFF
FOR FRIDAY NIGHT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE JOINT!
STAY WELL,HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
P.S. SHE REALY WAS WONDERING WHAT TO WEAR TO ON SAT.
TOM
A followup:
HI BARB THANKS FOR THE INFO. I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO LIVES IN WEST ISLIP.VIV CUOMO,IS HER MOTHER.I WILL BE STAYING IN BAYSHORE WITH LOU DERONDE WHO GRADUATED WITH US.HE KNOWS ABOUT THE REUNION BUT CAN NOT ATTEND. WE'LL BE UP THERE ABOUT A WEEK.I HAVE SOME COUSINS UP STATE NY AND WANT TO TRY TO SEE THEM.ONE LIVES IN WASHINGTONVILLE. ALSO PLAN TO DO SOME MORE FISHING.DOWN HERE WE HAVE A VANDERBUILT MANSION,SO WILL TRY TO TAKEMIMI TO SEE THE ONE ON THE NORTH SHORE. HAVE A GREAT WEDDING,SEE YOU SOON SAY HELLO TO PAT AND PAUL. TOMAnd a recent update:
I WAS TALKING TO MIMI THE OTHER DAY,ABOUT THE COTTON. IT'S BEEN SO DRY DOWN HERE THAT THE COTTON ISN'T DOING TO WELL. SHE MAY WHERE A MINI DRESS. DON'T PUT IT PAST HER THOUGH TO PULL OUT THE OLD BIB OVERALLS. SEE YOU ALL REAL SOON. TOM25Jun01
Two more classmates have been located and added to the list. Over the weekend Barbara spoke with Denee Baldwin who, unfortunately, is going away for the summer and will not be able to attend the reunion.A big thanks to Marilyn Hayes who contacted Judy (Henkel)Johnson. Judy graduated with our class though her picture is not in the yearbook. In addition, Judy's sister, Joy (Henkel)Racanelli '60, will also be coming to our reunion.
News Flash <STOP> 40 Years Ago Today: <STOP>
Sixth Annual
Massapequa High School
Commencement Exercises
Class of 1961
(It will be up to each of us, in the privacy of his or her own thoughts, to decide if this is good or bad news.) 17Jun01
Three more of our classmates have been located. Grace Schultz responded to our posting on Classmates.com. Tip of the hat to Dick Schneider who put his shoulder to the wheel and contacted Ray Restaino and is trying to contact Janet (Larsen)Fabian at her last known email address.12Jun01
Paul and Jan Franklin have been located and added to the list. Paul has been wheeling and dealing in the Silicon Valley, and if you knew Paul, you will not be surprised to find out that he has had an "explosive" time.
Barbara / Pat: Thanks to Richard Schneider you found another lost sheep! I have only been back to the neighborhood a few times but missed previous reunions so I am looking forward to this one. Please send me info on registration. A quick update:
Just got married again after 18 years of bachelorhood, so things are pretty hectic as my wife Jan and I are both selling houses and moving into a new one. I have a 30 year old son, Brian, and he has a 4 year old daughter, Alexis; Tara, my daughter, is 27 and also has a daughter Ashley, seven. Yes I am a Grandfather! Twice over!
Jan and I share a love of the outdoors, hiking, skiing, XC-skiing and I am into mountain climbing and fly-fishing. Did a trek to Mt. Everest a few years ago, a dream come true! Jan and I also love to travel and escape to our place in Tahoe as often as possible.
In 1963 I moved to Scottsdale, Arizona attending ASU and continued my love affair with chemistry.( Only blew up one lab.) In the process my heart was swept away by solid state physics, specifically semiconductors and my first wife.
A workaholic at Motorola, I realized Silicon Valley was where it was happening and so I jumped at the opportunity to move and do a start-up, MMI.
We went public and life was good! So I did it again, Actel, and then again, S3. Sonicblue is the new name for S3 which I have been at almost since the start. I now head up Business Development and Investments and previously was President of our Multimedia Products Division which we just sold off. We are presently acquiring two more companies, Replay TV and Sensory Sciences. So I am off the streets at night!
Click here to check out SONICblue.
Looking forward to seeing old friends, reminiscing and catching up!!
Warmest Regards, Paul FranklinClick here to send Paul email.
And click here to see a map of Paul's hometown of San Jose, the heart of the Silicon Valley. We'll have to wait till the reunion, however, to find out if he really left his heart in Massapequa.3Jun01
The pace has picked up a bit as we add two more classmates, Kristine Anderson and Barbara (Peterman)Boissonnas, to the list.
28May01
Today we add Bill Molloy to the list.
20May01
John Cloughen writes from the land of the rolling blackouts...Hi Barbara,
Thanks for contacting me. Good to hear from you and about the reunion. I'm excited to hear about it and will do my best to get there.
It was wonderful reading the e-mails you posted from classmates. I recently received an e-mail from Kathy Grandia. I enjoyed reading Dariel and John Thompson's messages and can totally relate to her not playing her oboe any longer. I have fond memories of them, Mr. Rauscher and Mr. Martin. I played in band and orchestra with them and likewise dropped my french horn after college. I really miss my MHS yearbook. I would love to be able to place a face with a name as I read through all the alumni information you have gathered. If you know of a way to get a copy I sure would appreciate knowing how.
After graduating MHS I attended Farmingdale College and degreed in electronic instrumentation. Hired on right away with Grumman Aerospace in Bethpage, and worked on the Lunar Lander program. Got married to a graduate of Amityville High School, had two children and attended night school for four years at Hofstra U. in Engineering Science.
I eventually got burned out on aerospace, night school, and New York, and got the "Go West Young Man" call. I took a job with Mattel Toys doing something totally unrelated to my training, but loving every minute of it. I moved to Southern California in 1971 and went to work for Mattel as field engineering manager. We had another child in California and then, unfortunately, as with so many other MHS alum, I went through a divorce.
Next became a Realtor and did quite well at that until the bottom fell out of the California real estate market. After all the years of technical training it turns out that sales is my forte. I've been working for 7 years now as Southern California Field Representative for A Beka Books, the publishing division of Pensacola Christian College. I sell curriculum to Christian Schools in Southern California and Nevada.
I married again to Linda, a California girl. We are the classic "Brady Bunch," her's, mine and ours. We have a total of six children and two grandchildren. We have one child left at home and we homeschool him. We live on an acre in Wildomar (click here to see a map) , a little semi-rural town, and really enjoy the weather and being away from the hustle and bustle. In my spare time I enjoy woodworking, the computer, and my tractor. Click here to send John email.
Warmest regards to all
John Cloughen
11May01
Richard Schneider is the latest addition to the list.
6May01
Lorraine (Smaldone)Whitaker writes from Florida with some sad and some good news.Hi Paul,
I don't think I will be making the reunion, as the opportunity for me to go back to Italy for a vacation in August with my brother and sister came up. I will miss you all. I'm not going to close the door yet, if I can make it I will certainly do so.
Just a little story of my life. I married Todd Whitaker from the class of 1960. We had two children, Mark and Kimm, and one grandson. Todd and I had a very full life. We did lots of traveling and enjoyed every minute of it. When my children were in H.S. I went to school to become a Nurse R.N. Todd and I lived in Smithtown for 25 years, then moved to Florida after Todd was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. He was on a lung transplant list at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, but he didn't make it and passed away in January 1998.
I am still in Florida and live on Boca Ceiga Bay in a little town called Madeira Beach. Click here to see a map of Madeira Beach. Madeira is a barrier island like Fire Island. I have a little boutique shop with a friend of mine and really enjoy it as I do the beautiful Florida sunsets, walks on the beach, and the dolphin watching.
I'll end by saying that I hope to see you in August, but if not, I'll be thinking of you all. If anyone would like my email address, please share it. Click here to send Lorraine email.
Best Regards to All,
Lorraine (Smaldone)Whitaker
18Apr01
"Locating" slowed up for awhile, but Barbara and Pat are at it again. Today we add Steven Kanner, David Lebowitz, and Frank Tufariello to the list.
12Apr01
Three more classmates have been located: Robert Cooke, Sandy(Murdock)& Ed Macri, and Jim Reardon.
27Mar01
Gerry Ryan and Jack Cooper are the latest additions to the list.
17Mar01
Sam Mascia sounds like he is having a great time in Florida.Just to say hello from South Florida. I am one of many transplants who made the move. I came down to a little town called Jensen Beach in 1983, and started a tow co. and body shop in Port St. Lucie (click here to see a map) (the home of the New York Mets spring training). I sold the tow co. in 1999 and kept the body shop, Port St. Lucie Auto Body Inc.). It is a direct repair facility for several insurance companies, that specializes in classic car repair, as well as heavy collision frame and painting.
Life has been good. I am still married after 34yrs, have 2 daughters (both married to New Yorkers) and 1 grandson. I have just finished building a clone of my 1961 red Impala 409, 4 speed positraction rear end. I used to belong to a car club in Massapequa called the Pequa Cams for those of you who remember. We all had names on the cars and mine was called the Roam N. Chariot. My wife and I are having a ball going cruising, just like we did with the original car.
I also won a platinum award, 992.5 points out of a 1000, at the Classic Chevrolet Winter Nationals for top restored muscle car. Needless to say we were a little overjoyed. I felt like 40 years never existed. I hope that those us who that make the reunion can have the same feeling that my wife and I had that day.
Sam & Carol Mascia
p.s. The only time I had that same felling was with the birth of my daughters and grandson.12Mar01
Today I am catching up with short Bios and interesting tidbits of emails that have arrived since late January. Get some chips and a soda - this is not a quick read.
The first is from Kathy Grandia.
I will be coming alone and plan to attend all 3 events. I'd like to find John Cloughen, Carol Lawless, Peter Kirk, Barbara Peterman and probably many more. Delighted to see those names that are on the list so far!Here's a little about me. I went to Bellevue School of Nursing in 1961 but got my Mrs. instead of the hoped for RN and became the mother of Christine in 1963. I lived in Chicago for 7 years and worked in reservations for Northwest and then Alitalia Airlines and wound up in New York City for a year before rejoining my folks in York, PA in 1971 (where I was born). I've worked for York Hospital (now WellSpan Health) ever since.
I went back to school and became a Liscensed Practical Nurse (for 17 years). When Chris was a senior in college I started at York College in Nursing, graduating in 1990 magna cum laude with a BS in Nursing. I am in the International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma Theta Tau) and am certified in Oncology Nursing (thus the OCN). I am the president of our PA Capital Region chapter of the Oncology Nursing Sociey.
Now I work with clinical research trials to help find better treatments and outcomes for cancer patients as well as cancer prevention trials! It is very exciting work and I consider myself very fortunate. I am divorced for a long time. My daughter is a Spanish and "English as a Second Language" teacher with a master degree from NYU.
Thanks for doing all of this. Looking forward to hearing more, Kathy Grandia Mosso
The next item is from Kathy (Cooney)Maino. If you've always wanted to know where avocados come from, read on...
I can't believe how much those little houses on Harding St. are worth........who would have thunk it? Both of my parents are dead now too. My brother Kevin is a retired Reuters Correspondent and lives in Thailand and my sister Chris lives in Florida. I see and talk to Bunny a few times a year and her mother, but other than that have not kept any contact with anyone from Massapequa. [that may be about to change, Kathy. See below-PM]
Pat La Rose Paquin sent me a nice letter, thanks for sharing my address with her.
I have two boys 23 and 20. We live in Fallbrook, Ca. (click here to see a map) where most of the avocados come from. I'm a Nurse Anesthetist and currently am the Assistant Administrator of a very big Dept. in San Diego. I raise thoroughbred horses and Jack Russell Terriers as a hobby. I live out in the country and commute 50 miles each way to work every day.........out here long rides are the norm.
I'm divorced, feisty, and live a very nice life. It will be good to see all of you again.
Bye for now, Kathy
PS- please share my e-mail address, if anyone asks for it. Click here to send Kathy an email!
The next item is from Linda (Prochilo) Remes Landgraf.
Barbara,
My daughter has been kind enough to keep me up to date at her e-mail address; you can now send it directly to me. I am Linda Prochilo Remes Landgraf. I was a member of the class of 1961, although I graduated in August of 1960. I lived in Massapequa for many years after graduation. I graduated from SUNY Farmingdale in 1972 (took time off between high school and college to get married, have 2 children and get divorced!). I worked at Central General Hospital, in Plainview for 25 years, as did my husband Lance. We actually attended the 20 year reunion.In 1994 I received an excellent offer for career advancement at Carolina's Medical Center, in Charlotte, NC, as I was ready for a change and knew I did not wish to work for North Shore Hospital (hope that doesn't offend anyone), my husband and I decided to make the move. It was not easy for him to leave Sayville, where we lived, as he had grown up there. However, we really enjoy living here in Clover, SC, a small town about 30 miles from Charlotte. I would love to know if anyone lives nearby.
All of my father's family is still on the Island, including my brother, Paul, who lives in Hampton Bays. My Dad lived with us for several years, after having a stroke; but, he now is in a Nursing Home not far from me. I wish I could commit to the reunion at this time, but am not sure we will be able to get up there in August. Click here to send Linda an email.
Arlene Retzlaff writes from an area of Vermont unlike any in Massapequa:
I moved to Vermont from Long Island in 1991. We have a small farm (50 acres) with many animals - cows, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, etc.
First marriage in '62 - 3 children. Ken 37, Danielle 34, Kristen 30. Divorced and remarried to Donald horn since 1977. Three stepchildren - Peter, Doug,Stacy and 11 grandchildren. Went back to school after children and became a nurse. Not working now. Now farming! [Hmmmm? I thought farming was REAL work-PM]
I keep in touch with classmates Lauri Amarando, Maureen McCarthy, Gigi Vittoria, and Sue White. Also, my cousins Mike Angstreich ('60) and Merry Angstreich ('62) and good friend Lynne Broderick ('62).
Dariel (Osmun)Thompson writes with the best signoff I've yet seen:
This does seem strange, doesn't it... getting in touch with people we haven't seen or heard from in decades... but John and I are enjoying it immensely. We had a lovely time at his class reunion last summer. Marie Zere and committee did a super job! Anyway, John received an email from Marie that you were trying to contact us.. so here we are. John and I do plan on driving down for the reunion next summer. We look forward to seeing everyone then.
with fond memories of Massapequa High School, Dariel Osmun ThompsonAnd in a second email, Dariel adds:
Paul,
I just spent twenty minutes enjoying the reunion website you have created. The music is a lovely touch. It was neat to read through the lists of classmates that have been contacted... there were a lot of names that I recognized... and some that I didn't ( we did have a large class!)Am so glad that you intend to contact Mr. Rauscher. I remember three years of grabbing lunch and then running to orchestra. Somehow I managed to be in band, orchestra, and Acapella choir - all three, every day! I no longer have an oboe ( couldn't blow it if I tried!). John's oboe sits unused, but his computer is used a great deal. Life changes and so do we. I was interested to find out you have a seven year old. Our three children are all grown with families of their own. In fact, John and I have six grandchildren!
If I seem slow to answer e-mail at times, that's because I usually only check it about once a week. Only checked it today because of the snow day. I'm a teacher... seventh and eighth grade math. John is an engineer, thus deeply involved with computers.
Thanks much for the Massapequa updates...that's a nice picture of the high school. [Taken by Jack Blomquist '60-PM]
Dariel Thompson
From Florida, Betty (Cobb)Sarkis tells of her plans to be here in August. And, she is bringing a chemistry teacher as well! Read on...
Dear Barbara
Thank you for all the work you are doing for the 1961 class reunion. My husband, Vahak, and I plan to drive up from Florida a few days before August 10 and will be staying with my sister Evelyn, class of 1959, in Stony Brook. My maiden name was Cobb and my husband taught chemistry at Massapequa High 1960-1961. His unshortened name was DeSarkisian. He's excited about seeing all the students he taught that year. Enclosed is my check. Hope it's not too late. See you in August.
Betty Sarkis
Ed Pesce contemplates some serious golf in his future.
I am married to a lovely lady, Lynda. We have five children. four boys and one girl. They gave us five grandchildren so far (3 girls, 2 boys). Two of our sons & granddaughters live in Raliegh, N.C.
We will be moving to Mrytle Beach, South Carolina within the next year and half. We own property in a community called Legends and will be building a house soon. I will be trying to improve my golf game.
I have been working for Citibank for the last twenty years. I currently work in in Englewood Cliffs New Jersey as the AM Item Processing Manager for Citi banks National Check Processing Division.
Hope to see everyone real soon.
Ed Pesce
Last, but certainly not least, is Marie Cronin. Marie is the reason there is music on this site. It is arguably the most popular feature. Marie began with a short stroke, followed by a seemingly simple request.
Unfortunately, it was not clear from her email address who was writing...
Hi Paul Good job but how about a little music?
The mystery was solved a couple days later...
Hi Paul
Yes, I am a 1961 graduate. Marie Cronin. I just thought some music would be nice. How about some music from the late 50s or what about Old Lang Zang. I really don't remember you from school and you probably don't remember me but I'm looking forward to seeing you. MarieFinally, the zinger - THE dreaded three-letter word tempered by an uplifting thought for all of us...
Paul
It's fun checking the web site. I have to dig out my yearbook as I read the names I think do I know them and I'm sure when I get my book I will remember. Yes, I did notice the black print (In the Mood). Glad your having fun. I keep looking at the first page and can't believe it is 40 years - that's depressing. I guess we are getting old [getting older!!! We're still at five letters folks. Aren't we?-PM]. Peter Pan had the right idea.
The list is growing, it should be fun.
Best Regards, Marie
End of the March 12 Bios 11Mar01
It seems we are slowing down a bit, but still, here are three more addtions to the list:
Bob Zavasnik
Elaine Bevilacqua
Marion (Hodder) & Al Gross
25Feb01
Today we add five more classmates to the list:
Carolyn (Klopfer)Birkhoff
Agnes (Fay)Bowman
Jack Lutz
Charles Muller
Dwayne Dyste
21Feb01
Barbara and I got together a few days ago to compare her master list of names with my public list. As chief gumshoe and banker, Barbara works on computers at home and at work and lives in a blizzard of emails and phone calls. And that's just for the reunion. My task, fortunately, is not nearly as intense, but I've been known to lose a few things, too. In fact, my wife claims that she can't find anything in the maelstrom known as my computer room. But as my friend Ron says, if she doesn't see me until the wee hours of Saturday morning she doesn't have to wonder where I've been all night - does she?!
We knew there were some discrepancies. We were NOT disappointed.
The result is a healthy 22 names added to the public list.
William Baker
Carol(Berger) & Bob Ruth
John Cloughen
Don Craddock
*Richard Fellman
Maureen Frichette
Terry (Giovenelli)McSherry
Nancy Kraus
Bruce Mason
Maureen (McCarthy) & Alex Rendon
Linda (Rauch)El-Koury
Ed Ruby
Mary Lou (Solliday)Kozma
Susan (Trotter) & Andre Morin
MaryAnn Agnitsch
Paula (Alfano)Banseggan
Lynne Clayton
Donna Giaquinto
Diane (Kluberdanz)Reiff
William Kuhle
*Billy Ram '62
Karen (Wollstadt)Sullivan
10Feb01
A serious sprint the last few days as we welcome more classmates to the list:
Peter Hutcheon
Flo (Renne)Crouch
Neal Gumbman
Nicholas Bambino
Paula (Cuminale)Dunne
*Ray Anderson
Ed and Karen (Semft '63)Mullins
Sheila (Hutcheon)Barr
Carol (Aubel)Lawson
Janet (Colfer)Carlsen
8Feb01
The beat goes on as we add Bruce Bauer and Lois (Schmidt) Lundergan.
5Feb01
Today's additions should fill a table or two at the reunion. We are adding Marilyn (Sittler)Nicholson, Sherry (Horton)Storf, Peter Micelli, Joann Castagna, and Patricia (Carleton)Capone.
2Feb01
Today the list grows with the addition of Dariel(Osmun) & John Thompson('60) and Allen Kaden.
Marie Cronin recently suggested that I add some music. So..........away we go.
However, be aware that there could be a problem - you might not hear it. Since that gadget in front of you is a computer, and you've owned it for more than five minutes, you probably know there could be all kinds of reasons for not hearing any music. But, if you got this far, it likely did not cause a problem. Some people even say that silence is the best music. There are certainly times I believe it.
On the bright side, if you have a request, or even better, a favorite midi file and a suggestion where it might best fit, please click here to let me know.
30Jan01
Tim Butts is added to the Classmates list.
29Jan01
A few more days like this and we'll need the WHOLE Huntington Town House. We are adding Ann (Martin)Guerrera, *Jane (Powell)Goett, Linda (Willard)Barrett, and Bill and Dawn Seneschal.
28Jan01
Today we are adding Richard Dizinno and Peter and Karen Weber ('65). The New York Giants failed to add another Super Bowl ring. A perplexing day Big Blue will long remember though wish to soon forget.
25Jan01
A good day for Barbara as we add Lorraine (Hudik)Lucken and Richard Warnke.
24Jan01
Denis Tyras says he looks forward to seeing the old MHS crew again. One of the tyrannies (sorry, Denis) of English? How did 1961 become the "old" crew?
23Jan01
Isidore Rizzo joins the list.
22Jan01
Bob Broz and Rick Wood have been found and added to the list.
21Jan01
Ron Legotti and Joe Rivera were added to the list today. Louisa Rivera ('62), Joe's sister, will also attend our reunion.
Jim McMillan. Mentioned that "three-letter word" when we spoke. Boooooh! Still, it was great talking to Jim again. Been awhile... Jim and I split fifth period between lunch and orchestra for several years. We discovered that we are both still doing lunch. His violin is on the living room wall, mine is...somewhere.
Two more additions today: Doug Caufield and John Gyulay.
Doug is still a local boy, as are quite a few of our classmates.
John didn't actually graduate with our class, but hey, it wasn't his fault. Like, how can parents do that? Well, read John's amusing and historically informative email:
"We're coming - John Gyulay and my lovely wife Debbi. We presently live in Valley Stream, just 1/2 mile east of the Green Acres shopping center. South of Sunrise Highway.
I didn't graduate from Massapequa. In April of 1961 my family moved to Selden, New York. I graduated from New Field High School 1961. I still keep in touch with most of my friends from high school (Massapequa). Some of them will be there. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of my old classmates. The last reunion I attended was the 30th class reunion. I attended Massapequa schools from the 4th grade at the firehouse on Hicksville Road, then the Mole annex until we moved to Unqua Road School. Then, in April of 61 - I moved. I'm almost twice the man I was in high school. Much heavier - also with a lot less hair."16Jan01
If Barbara were getting points for people she locates, she would be an NBA star this week. By my count she has contacted, or been contacted by, eight people in less than a week. The latest additions are are Andy Copely, Flo Pond, Maureen Slattery, and Bob Lembo.
15Jan01
Barbara has contacted Nancy (Lane)Hensel and Tom Hallam and they too have been added to the ever-growing classmates list.
13Jan01
Marsha (Barbanel)Elser has contacted us and will attend the reunion.
Barbara spoke to Charles and Diane Althoff who are added to the list of located classmates.
Does this email from Kathy Grandia sound enthusiastic? "I was delighted to hear that there will be a 40th reunion! I was too far away for the 5th and 10th and there really haven't been any since then! I moved away from Massapequa in 1962 and settled in Chicago for about 7 years. Now I'm in York, PA (home of York College of PA where many people from Long Island attend college!! Also my college alma mater). Please send me more information. I definitely want to attend!! I am making vacation plans for this now."
2Jan01
Maryellen and Billy Wall both attended Massapequa High School but left before being able to graduate with us. They are planning to "rejoin" our class next summer.
Dick('62) and Janey Fulton have contacted us and will attend the reunion.
Barbara was able to contact Buddy Keefer's daughter-in-law and regrettably discovered that Buddy died about ten years ago. Shortly after, Barbara spoke with Buddy's ex-wife, Margie Heagney('62). Margie said that she and Buddy went together in high school and that many of their friends were from the Class of 1961. She and her husband, Ira Schwartzberg, will attend the reunion.
Bob Spruck.On Merrick Road in Nassau Shores there is a dentist named Donald Spruck. That name rang a bell. So when my daughter needed dental work and went to a dentist in the same building, I asked my wife to ask the dentist if he had a brother named Robert.
Bingo!
Bob Spruck is now on our list and though he's in Georgia, sounded really serious about making the reunion. In addition, Bob has provided leads to other classmates.
Mary Ellen (Cooke) Nicholas contacted Richard Davy about our reunion and Richard knew this was an offer he could not refuse (you'll know why shortly). Richard and wife Carol have been added to the Classmates list.
Richard and Carol are no strangers to the Huntington Town House, where we plan to have the 40th reunion. They had their wedding reception there in August of 1964. A doubly sweet 40th year high school reunion and 37th wedding anniversary in the same night! One of the immortal Yogi-isms seems appropriate here, "Thank-you for making this day necessary."