Email some news about yourself and photos to mailto:stuart.schlitt@live.com that we can post on this page.
Debbie Stein writes from Atlanta:
How great to read about all of you! Denise sent me this site to get an update on the Class of '68. I didn't graduate with you guys, moved in my JR year...but I went to the last reunion because my heart & soul was with the people I grew up with...all of you. Can't make this one...but here's a quick update:
I live in Atlanta, I've been an RN for 30 plus years, my daughter is finishing up to be a nurse practitioner. Been married to the same guy for 31 years, who I am still nuts about! You'd all be able to recognize me, just 20 plus lbs bigger! I wish I could make the reunion...so...Denise, Nancy, Barbara, Ronnie, Elena, Charlene, Sue, Dale, Nicki D, Joey M, Todd, Joe R, Steve, Pete, Carl, Gail, BJ, and everyone else....when you toast that night I am with you and I joyfully raise my glass to all of you. Have a great time!!
With love and fond memories, Debbie
Janet Cowen writes from Maine:
Sorry I won’t be able to join you for our 40th reunion, but I send greetings from Yarmouth, Maine. After graduating from college I stayed in Western New York until the late 70s, not following any particular career path. I moved back to Westchester and decided to pursue a Masters in Library Science. I worked at Mt. Sinai for a few years, and then moved to Dallas for what I thought would be five years. Sixteen years later, in 2000, and not being able to stand another day of the Texas heat, I relocated to Yarmouth Maine, and am now the Director of Library and Information Services at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
The 150+ inches of snow we had this past winter didn’t bother me, I just had to remind myself of how wonderful the summers (and springs and falls) are here! The photo I sent was taken not far from my home … during a break at an off-campus meeting … life is good here in Vacationland (that’s what it says on our license plates). I enjoy camping in our wonderful state parks, and with apologies to those who it will offend, I’ve gotten very adept at preparing a great lobster feast!
I’m disappointed I won’t be able to attend this reunion, but because my Mom still lives in Ardsley, (in the same house from which I embarked on my first day of kindergarten, with Mrs. Ridings, in 1955), I’ve been back to visit many times in the last 40 years – and I usually make it a point to drive around the high school. With 4 brothers and a sister who also went through the Ardsley schools, there are lots of memories! I’m looking forward to our 50th, and hope to see many of you then. For now though, I do recall the handiwork of a certain group of feisty gals who painted “Class of 68 is Great” on the street just before the stop sign on Farm Road. Enjoy the 40th, I’ll be thinking of you!
Dave Anderson writes from Indiana:
Sorry, won't be there, too much going on here. Still live in western Indiana, still have a home medical equipment company that allows my social work mindset to advocate for and assist those who are not as well off as the rest of us. Will probably never retire.
I was sorry to see us lose so many of our classmates, but I am very comfortable with the idea of "death," despite "losing my religion." The prospects for scientific analysis of the other side are good, and commencing. I think that is a very, very good thing.
Only thing I can report that might be of interest to some is my two trips to Cuba. If one wishes to see the island, don't stay in hotels. Their version of bed and breakfasts is called "Casa Particulars" and if you wish, you get to spend the evening sitting around the dinner table talking politics and world affairs, albeit in Spanish. Cubans love America and all things American, except for the embargo, that they call the blockade. Uniformly, they all want change, especially economic change (they want to be able to buy a new car), but they want the change to occur slowly. They expect a Governor or other someone else, from the younger, more progressive generation, to eventually take the helm of state. Forty years of revolution rhetoric has run its course. They suffer from typical socialist overutilization of resources, which is why they only make (after benefits) ten to twenty dollars a month. With free, or nearly free, rent, utilities, transportation, healthcare, education, and basic commodities, there isn't a lot left over. They are cash-poor, but not impoverished. Unfortunately, the government there has not done a very good job of positioning them for the future. On my first trip, I intended to spend two weeks in Jamaica and two weeks in Cuba. I wound up spending three days in Jamaica, and three and a half weeks in Cuba. It is a fascinating place.
You asked about politics, and I can tell you that if I had known in 1968 what I know now, I would have sat down and cried. I believe in wave-form theory and pendulums, and it is disappointing to see how far the pendulum has swung in the last 25 years or so. Now we'll see if we can keep you-know-who alive. History turns on single events.
Teachers Can Make a Difference
This is a very nice email exchange between Jay Gouldon and Bob Jackson (with permission) -
. From Bob: Hi Jay, I was your English teacher long ago. Be tactful and don't say you have completely forgotten me. I was excited to see your name and wanted to write and hopefully get your life story.
. From Jay: - I most definitely do remember you. I have thought of you often over the years and very much appreciate all you did for me. This is the email I sent Stu when he distributed your email:“Would you please send me Mr. Jackson's email address? He was my favorite teacher and did a lot for me. I'd like to let him know.”
Jay’s Life Story: I know you got engaged while I was your student, and if I recall correctly, you got married our senior year. I’m happy for you things worked out so well. I’ve been similarly fortunate. I’ve been married for twenty five years to Sara, a teacher, and we’ve had two kids. Elizabeth graduates, cum laude, this Saturday from the College of Charleston. She’s my little hippy chick, with dreadlocks and wearing clothes from the sixties. Philip just completed his freshman year at the U. of South Carolina with a B average, and, unlike his dad, is going to pledge with SAE.
I majored in philosophy at Beloit, continuing the intellectual curiosity you instilled in me. I did well, but do not remember too much from those years. The attached photo from 1969 may indicate why. A couple of years after college I began law school at the U. of South Carolina and I have now been a lawyer for over thirty years. But, there is one bright spot in that.
This August I will begin my fourth year as an adjunct professor of law at the Charleston School of Law, teaching legal research and writing. Teaching has been the most professionally satisfying thing I have done in a long time. I get a sense of accomplishment that I don’t get from practicing law. In fact, I am hoping to do it full time. You can look me up on ratemyprofessors.com. The comments from my students may indicate how much I enjoy it. Leslie Beall writes from Ohio -
I am currently living in Ohio, near Cleveland. I have been here since 1972. I am a Registered Nurse, currently working in private practice administering chemotherapy. I married in '75 but I became a widow in 1986 and have raised 2 great kids. Last name now is Glavic. My oldest is my daughter, whom on the 16th of this month just had her 2nd baby! (both boys!) She is also a High School Science Teacher.
My son is stationed at Warren Robins Air Force Base in Georgia and plans to make it his career.
I have been a member of Classmates for over 3yrs now! I was contacted only once and that was by Ken Seeger(class of '64) who I was dating! We have been communicating and plan to get together soon!
John Mentha writes from North Carolina -
I was very fortunate. I've lived in rural NC, worked in Research Triangle Park, NC, and spent time as an expatriate director in England for Burroughs Wellcome pharmaceuticals before it was purchased by Glaxo and then Smith Kline Beechum. My choice of employer, evolution of my career, and severance opportunities all converged towards a positive outcome of a sustainable early retirement around Christmas 2003. We've lived north of Raleigh, NC, out on the edge of Wake County on 5 acres of hardwoods and pine, for the last 30 years.
The photo of Robin and me is from a few years back, taken at a Quaker wedding...we haven't changed much since then (we're not Quaker, just "in costume" to support our friends). The photo of Cassie is from her college graduation in May 2006. Although Robin and I married in 1971, when I was still an undergraduate student at Union, we didn't have Cassie until 1984. This summer we'll celebrate our 37th anniversary.
Cassie graduated from Meredith with a liberal arts degree, and then decided to go back to school at NCSU and study atmospheric science for a BS degree in meteorology. She's now taking the math and science courses she previously worked so hard to avoid. I'm her math tutor. We're in the middle of 3rd semester calculus, moving from iterated and triple integrals into vector fields in three dimensions... fun! This summer I'll tutor in physics (mechanics followed by electricity and magnetism). By next Christmas, after partial differential equations, I'll have fulfilled my second academic commitment and she will have only core meteorology courses remaining. I can then move on to other hobbies which are now on hold.
Robin and I purchased a house off Western Boulevard for Cassie to use while in school at NCSU. We spent most of 2006 as semi-resident renovators doing structural, plumbing and electrical repairs, followed by interior upgrades of cabinetry, tile, wallpaper, paint, etc. This year I am replacing all the original single-glazed windows with new sashes - double-glazing and low-loss glass. With my own construction and renovation projects here at CampMentha, some maintenance jobs at my parents home, and re-educating myself to assist with Cassie's program at NCSU, I'm "fully engaged".
Robin has been quilting the last few winters and has produced some beautiful bed coverlets and wall hangings. In the warm seasons she and I work the vegetable garden and ornamental flower beds. Last year we put a tall fence around the vegetable garden to keep the deer out and had a tremendous harvest. The fence was such a success that we planted our first winter garden and are still enjoying the kale and cabbage while waiting for the garlic to mature.
Life is grand... and very different than I could ever have envisioned when I lived in Ardsley!
Cheers, Hans
John (Hans) Mentha
CampMentha
Raleigh, NC
|
|
Mayor Names Veteran City Manager to Director of Administration Post
Richard Kerbel brings 34 years of experience in local government management
Mayor David N. Cicilline yesterday announced the appointment of Richard Kerbel to Director of Administration, one of the senior executive positions in Providence city government. Kerbel comes to Providence with 34 years of experience in local government management, most recently as Town Manager of Coventry, Rhode Island. Rich Kerbel is among the most experienced and highly respected administrators in the State of Rhode Island, said Mayor David N. Cicilline. He is perfectly suited to hit the ground running as we continue the critical work of reform in Providence city government.
Kerbel is best known as the longtime Town Manager of North Kingston, Rhode Island, where he served from 1993 to 2006. As the chief executive officer, he garnered two bond rating upgrades, won seven Government Finance Officers Association budget awards and managed $35,000,000 in school construction projects among many other achievements. He was awarded the Goodrich Distinguished Public Service Award for Local Government from RIPEC in 2002.
I am honored to work for Mayor Cicilline and join the excellent team he has assembled to serve the people of Providence, said Kerbel. The statewide budget environment is posing serious challenges to every Rhode Island city and town, but I look forward to working with the Mayor to protect the great momentum that has been built in Providence.
Kerbel came to Rhode Island in 1993 from the State of New York, where he served as Town Manager of Fallsburg, Director of Neighborhood Development for the City of Rochester, and Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Rochester. In Fallsburg he was recognized for restoring stability to city government after the conviction of three Town employees on corruption charges under a previous administration. He holds a Doctorate of Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Science from Tufts University.
Richs wife, Claudia, is an academic advisor at the University of Rhode Island Feinstein College of Continuing Education in Providence. He has two children. Allison, 24, is a graduate student in the Masters of Public Policy program at Brown University and works at the Clarendon Group, a communications and public affairs firm in Providence. Nathan, 19, is enrolled in the criminal justice program at Johnson & Wales University.
|
Ilene Berkowitz (Hoyle) writes -
Life is good but has had a few bumps along the way, including an acrimonious divorce, cancer, some very stressful times with my now fantastic 28 year old daughter, also some highs, my son Daniel is an angel — except to his frisbee opponents, I live with a wonderful fella, and he has taught me the joys of long motorcycle trips — happy to ride pillion and let him be in charge. I run my own consultancy company to charities, helping them raise loads of dosh, and helping their boards of Trustees play by the rules.
We live in the countryside, in Cheshire, south west of Manchester and near Chester and overlooking the rolling Shropshire hills. I brought my kids up in a town, but love country living. Went to my 35th college reunion last June, that was an experience.....
Still very attached to all sorts of music, Phil plays jazz drums and that's fun.
Good to hear from you, and send a big hug to all those lovely guys - Bob, Fred (who might tell you a very funny tale about his mother's wedding ring),
Have a great time at the reunion.
