Had an interesting couple of days talking with far flung classmates who had a somewhat more circumspect attitude about high school, reunions, and classmates. The first was Geneth Piechota, who didn't remember me (not that everyone should). In a big class, in a big school, it was easy to keep your head down and plow through the days. There were days that I certainly did that. You saw the faces going by you, but only insofar as you wanted to make sure you didn't back smack dab into someone. Geneth wasn't sure she wanted to participate in anything based on a phone call from someone she didn't know. So I referred her to the class website and my blog to prove that I was innocuous and not diabolical. It's okay. Paranoia is a sign of the times. I suppose if I were more paranoid, I wouldn't have had to replace my debit card a couple of times in the last ten years (although I suspect out of town sales clerks more than anyone. It seems to happen when we get back from a vacation).
I also talked to Chris Ellicott. Now I know she wasn't missing, and based on what she told me, the reunion committee knew where she was, since she hadn't moved in quite a while and had just gotten her invite. I didn't have the benefit of knowing her contact info and had to find it myself. I just wanted to see how she was doing because I always liked her in school. We had classes together, and shared a lot of fun times. Remember, I'm not just finding folks; I'm not just asking for participation in the directory; I'm reconnecting at the same time (with Linda chomping at the bit while I chit-chat). As it happens, I am just delighted at the way things turned out for Chris. She also asked me about Paul Wagner. I wish I had more to tell her.
Last night I talked with Joanne Taylerson, who was among the not located. I think she wanted it that way. She was incredulous that I had gone through the trouble to find her, and at first, I think she was a little stand offish, but I shared a memory of her from the 20th reunion that surprised her that I would remember, and then we had a great conversation. That one memory had haunted me for 24 years and I always regretted that I hadn't been more supportive then. We first met in 9th grade at Anthony Wayne JHS. We ran against each other for Student Council President. I won, in a squeaker, by the way, beginning my glorious career in public oratory, the highlights of which includes doing a welcome at our graduation, a speech for which I do not have a single memory; delivering eulogies for people I never knew, and too many I did; and emceeing a high school reunion for a school I didn't attend. Anyway Joanne said that her experience at the 20th was so negative (my memory snapshot was of her toward the end of that event) that she really didn't want to associate herself with high school, that she had achieved her personal peace and found her place in life and space and I respect that. She graciously declined my offer to put her contact info in the directory or even share her email address (not tech savvy and doesn't check it much) but did say that she'd welcome a visit the next time we're in that part of the country (which will happen next year) and I look forward to that, greatly.
Finally, I got an email from Karen Arnott Perkins offering help with confirming locations for local Wayne folks since she still lives in town. I promptly replied and probably overwhelmed her with an enthusiastic "YES!" and lots of questions, not the least of which was a location for Marlene Zachok who is still not located but appears to have been a bridesmaid at Karen's wedding. In a round about way, Karen had already provided help, via Cathy Labazetta Statler, about Kathy Falato. So I am looking forward to the help with great anticipation. Chris Ellicott asked me about Jill Rapp too (listed as Leslie J. Rapp in Embers).
Even as this project gains momentum, I am not so vain or foolish as to think that people will flock from Facebook to my Facebook page or from the internet to my email in general to offer their contact information for the directory based simply on a Facebook posting or Blog entry. This is a grand outreach project and personal contact, whether by phone or email, is the only real way to confirm the whereabouts of our class which has broadcast itself all over the country. For those that haven't, now there's some local help. One thing remains certain: The only way to make sure everyone is included is to look for 'em.
I also need to call Sharon Halpin again. She was juggling two phone calls and my cell phone signal was breaking up and she couldn't hear me.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
A Personal Project Defined
Perhaps it is time to take stock and make things even clearer than I have made them in previous blogs, for the benefit of whomever chooses freely to read this little monologue of mine.
What is it exactly that Milton is trying to accomplish by contacting his high school classmates?
Milton believes, while there are enough of us to use it, that our class needs a complete directory that provides contact information for every classmate that chooses to participate in it, with their high school photo, a current photo, contact information of their choosing, and a short biography.
A secondary purpose is to memorialize our classmates who are gone, far too young.
This is a personal project, not sanctioned (as though such a project needs any such sanction) by the Reunion Committee. My sole task for them is a subset of the directory - finding people whose location is completely unknown to them.
Milton is doing this because over the years, he has often thought about his classmates, wondering where they got off too, wondering if they are as happy with their lives as he is, wondering what it is they finally ended up doing. And he went to the class website only to find out that the information that he knew was available, wasn't. He knew he couldn't be alone. And based upon his contact with classmates in his search for those not located previously, he knows that he isn't.
Additionally, since he and his wife have done this for the Evansville FJ Reitz High School Class of 1967, he knows that such a directory has the power to revive a class and transform it into what it once was, a community of diverse personalities all tied together through a common purpose - to become distinct unique individual adults and to graduate from high school. We all came to Wayne Valley as children, and left as new adults, not yet complete, but malleable, ready to be finalized by time and experience.
So this is the official invitation to participate in a grand adventure of exploration and discovery. With no guide but a tattered copy of Embers rescued from the boiler room at school to replace my own copy, burned to embers in a housefire, and two outdated directories from the last two reunions, borrowed from a classmate, I invite my classmates to be listed in this directory so they can do as I am doing, reconnecting with old friends, and making new ones, ones perhaps that I should have made many years ago, but am 44 years late in doing. Well, better late than never. I have been lucky to reconnect several pairs of old friends, but a directory like this gives you all the ability to do the same thing.
I am not doing this for money. I am not doing this to sell information. This is my personal class project. I am not a 3rd party looking to make a killing. I am your classmate. I was your newspaper editor. I was your Student Council President (more mentioned as a reminder than any particular noteworthy achievement). The point is that I am one of you. I walked the same halls, listened (sometimes less than attentively) to the same teachers. I laughed at the same jokes, danced at the same dances, watched the same sporting events, took the same tests and got handed that same leatherette folder at the same ceremony as you did.
I will be distributing this directory as a PDF file that can be printed out if you so choose or viewed on your computer. It will be updated as people move. It is a dynamic document that will change as long as I can do it.
The directory will give you the ability to do the same thing I am enjoying so much as I am creating it: talking to old friends and remembering why we became friends in the first place; talking about common memories; sharing memories of classmates gone too young; forging new friendships that will continue as long as I do.
So if you see this, let our classmates know what Milton is doing, and drop him a line, either by email (milton.yuan@gmail.com) or on Facebook, or by comment to this blog, to join in this grand adventure. He will be contacting everyone that he can locate, hopefully with your help, alone if not. I am soliciting information, not self-serving praise; I am looking to create something for everyone in the class because class information is the property of everyone in the class. Join me.
As an afterthought, I don't usually talk about myself in the 3rd party. I'm not that weird......yet.
What is it exactly that Milton is trying to accomplish by contacting his high school classmates?
Milton believes, while there are enough of us to use it, that our class needs a complete directory that provides contact information for every classmate that chooses to participate in it, with their high school photo, a current photo, contact information of their choosing, and a short biography.
A secondary purpose is to memorialize our classmates who are gone, far too young.
This is a personal project, not sanctioned (as though such a project needs any such sanction) by the Reunion Committee. My sole task for them is a subset of the directory - finding people whose location is completely unknown to them.
Milton is doing this because over the years, he has often thought about his classmates, wondering where they got off too, wondering if they are as happy with their lives as he is, wondering what it is they finally ended up doing. And he went to the class website only to find out that the information that he knew was available, wasn't. He knew he couldn't be alone. And based upon his contact with classmates in his search for those not located previously, he knows that he isn't.
Additionally, since he and his wife have done this for the Evansville FJ Reitz High School Class of 1967, he knows that such a directory has the power to revive a class and transform it into what it once was, a community of diverse personalities all tied together through a common purpose - to become distinct unique individual adults and to graduate from high school. We all came to Wayne Valley as children, and left as new adults, not yet complete, but malleable, ready to be finalized by time and experience.
So this is the official invitation to participate in a grand adventure of exploration and discovery. With no guide but a tattered copy of Embers rescued from the boiler room at school to replace my own copy, burned to embers in a housefire, and two outdated directories from the last two reunions, borrowed from a classmate, I invite my classmates to be listed in this directory so they can do as I am doing, reconnecting with old friends, and making new ones, ones perhaps that I should have made many years ago, but am 44 years late in doing. Well, better late than never. I have been lucky to reconnect several pairs of old friends, but a directory like this gives you all the ability to do the same thing.
I am not doing this for money. I am not doing this to sell information. This is my personal class project. I am not a 3rd party looking to make a killing. I am your classmate. I was your newspaper editor. I was your Student Council President (more mentioned as a reminder than any particular noteworthy achievement). The point is that I am one of you. I walked the same halls, listened (sometimes less than attentively) to the same teachers. I laughed at the same jokes, danced at the same dances, watched the same sporting events, took the same tests and got handed that same leatherette folder at the same ceremony as you did.
I will be distributing this directory as a PDF file that can be printed out if you so choose or viewed on your computer. It will be updated as people move. It is a dynamic document that will change as long as I can do it.
The directory will give you the ability to do the same thing I am enjoying so much as I am creating it: talking to old friends and remembering why we became friends in the first place; talking about common memories; sharing memories of classmates gone too young; forging new friendships that will continue as long as I do.
So if you see this, let our classmates know what Milton is doing, and drop him a line, either by email (milton.yuan@gmail.com) or on Facebook, or by comment to this blog, to join in this grand adventure. He will be contacting everyone that he can locate, hopefully with your help, alone if not. I am soliciting information, not self-serving praise; I am looking to create something for everyone in the class because class information is the property of everyone in the class. Join me.
As an afterthought, I don't usually talk about myself in the 3rd party. I'm not that weird......yet.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Check and Double Check
A correction is in order. It was kindly pointed out to me by Nancy Gaestel Jasinski that Maggie Erdman, while gone, had been so for many years; that Wayne Hills Auditorium had been dedicated to her memory and that Betty Singer had attended the ceremony. So first, I thanked Nancy, and then called Betty to get the details. Betty said that it had been a long time ago and wasn't sure about the date. I went back to the archives to double check my facts, something I usually rely on Linda to do, but didn't on this occasion because I was upset thinking that I had missed an opportunity by only a short while when in reality, the chance to see Maggie again was long gone. Ned Soleau had mentioned this to me a while ago but it had no impact at the time. I think I'll call Doc and Dot Piaget while I still can........
Needless to say, when Gordon Albro messaged on FB and asked me if I knew anything about Bernice Alexander and Joe Brophy, I was a little more circumspect and after a double check with the DVA (Department of Veterans Affairs) on line database, we found his burial location in Totowa along with the death dates. Bernice's dates were registered with the Social Security Death Index. I called Gordon back, because bad news should always be delivered as close to personally as possible. An email or FB message just didn't seem right. Gordon also gave me his current contact info for the directory.
I'm waiting for confirmation of a story told to me that Louie Lotz is a pastor. I have emailed the church in Michigan that displays a photo of their pastor on their website that bears a striking resemblance to our Lou Lotz. Do you think this looks like Lou? If so, Lou isn't just a pastor. He's a lettered theologian and a widely known, prolific author.
I'm still calling folks to confirm locations by phone in the early evening and considering time zone changes. Despite Linda's best efforts, I have given up trying to keep it short. So far the best I've done is 30 minutes. There is always so much catching up to do. Talked to Doug Itjen last night and had to compliment him for raising a son who looks really sharp in a Wayne PD uniform. Chip off the old block, you could say.
By the way, if I do post something that flies in the face of what you know for fact, let me know right away. I'm not infallible by any means. My friends and Linda take considerable delight in pointing this out to me on every possible occasion. When wandering through the foggy past, it is easy to make missteps along the way. Collective memory has got to be better than my memory. I used to remember all my clients' phone numbers. Now I just remember the numbers and have no idea who they belong too. Isn't that why we all have smartphones now? Now I can't even call anyone without using the thing. When you don't need to remember, you don't. Eventually, we'll just Google everything and there it will be. That would make finding everyone easy. Unfortunately, we're not quite there yet.
Needless to say, when Gordon Albro messaged on FB and asked me if I knew anything about Bernice Alexander and Joe Brophy, I was a little more circumspect and after a double check with the DVA (Department of Veterans Affairs) on line database, we found his burial location in Totowa along with the death dates. Bernice's dates were registered with the Social Security Death Index. I called Gordon back, because bad news should always be delivered as close to personally as possible. An email or FB message just didn't seem right. Gordon also gave me his current contact info for the directory.
I'm waiting for confirmation of a story told to me that Louie Lotz is a pastor. I have emailed the church in Michigan that displays a photo of their pastor on their website that bears a striking resemblance to our Lou Lotz. Do you think this looks like Lou? If so, Lou isn't just a pastor. He's a lettered theologian and a widely known, prolific author.I'm still calling folks to confirm locations by phone in the early evening and considering time zone changes. Despite Linda's best efforts, I have given up trying to keep it short. So far the best I've done is 30 minutes. There is always so much catching up to do. Talked to Doug Itjen last night and had to compliment him for raising a son who looks really sharp in a Wayne PD uniform. Chip off the old block, you could say.
By the way, if I do post something that flies in the face of what you know for fact, let me know right away. I'm not infallible by any means. My friends and Linda take considerable delight in pointing this out to me on every possible occasion. When wandering through the foggy past, it is easy to make missteps along the way. Collective memory has got to be better than my memory. I used to remember all my clients' phone numbers. Now I just remember the numbers and have no idea who they belong too. Isn't that why we all have smartphones now? Now I can't even call anyone without using the thing. When you don't need to remember, you don't. Eventually, we'll just Google everything and there it will be. That would make finding everyone easy. Unfortunately, we're not quite there yet.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
The Beat Goes On
We found Keith Schneider yesterday. That's the good news. I first met Keith when I came to Wayne at the beginning of 7th Grade at Anthony Wayne JHS. He lived in Minnisink, I lived in Mountain View. Bike distance down Parish, hang a right past the golf course, past the old dairy, past the airport, past Two Guys, over 46. Try that nowadays and take your life in your hands. Long summer days collecting junk on which only 7th grade boys place any value. Expeditions into the city on the bus to visit Times Square junk stores before gentrification. Lots of pocket knives and such. Well, Keith is in Seattle, essentially doing the same thing. He's in the antique and antique toy business. Been there since 1969 or so. Still gets back to Wayne every now and again. He'll be there next May. He'll be in the big directory too. He didn't know he was lost either. He also said that he attended the 10th but it doesn't show on the website.
I also finally connected with Bob and Kathy (Reed) Sherger, who are still well connected with that magical championship football team. I got a lot of great information from them in the process of catching up and also confirmed that Mike Calderone had indeed passed away from cancer. Bob also said that he had attended all the reunions but the last one. That too is missing on the website.
It seems like there is a critical mass being achieved. The more people we locate, the more people we seem to be locating from information we are collecting in drips and drabs from the located. Every little bit is a clue; a step toward that telephone "Yup, that's me!"
That's the end of the good news part of this post.
If you'll recall, I speculated about asking teachers to attend the 45. So I got to thinking about the teachers that I had. That line of thought brought me to the bad news part. I have every reason to believe that Maggie Erdman passed away in March of this year. For those of you who did not have the good fortune to have her for either Theatre Arts or a sophomore Public Speaking semester, Maggie was more than just a teacher. She was combination All-School Production producer/director par excellence; social worker, guidance counselor and reader of souls. She had a presence and an incisive insight that at times could be almost frightening, but at the same time was whimsical and devastatingly engaging. A remarkable woman for a remarkable time in so many of our lives; most certainly in mine. Here's a photo of her at her best; looking over her reading glasses, waiting for enlightenment to dawn. Sometimes it was a long wait! (photo credit: Embers '64) She was the only teacher I came back to visit after graduation. It was at her urging that I went to Yale. Well, not all things turn out the way we think they will when you're fresh out of high school.
I also finally connected with Bob and Kathy (Reed) Sherger, who are still well connected with that magical championship football team. I got a lot of great information from them in the process of catching up and also confirmed that Mike Calderone had indeed passed away from cancer. Bob also said that he had attended all the reunions but the last one. That too is missing on the website.
It seems like there is a critical mass being achieved. The more people we locate, the more people we seem to be locating from information we are collecting in drips and drabs from the located. Every little bit is a clue; a step toward that telephone "Yup, that's me!"
That's the end of the good news part of this post.
If you'll recall, I speculated about asking teachers to attend the 45. So I got to thinking about the teachers that I had. That line of thought brought me to the bad news part. I have every reason to believe that Maggie Erdman passed away in March of this year. For those of you who did not have the good fortune to have her for either Theatre Arts or a sophomore Public Speaking semester, Maggie was more than just a teacher. She was combination All-School Production producer/director par excellence; social worker, guidance counselor and reader of souls. She had a presence and an incisive insight that at times could be almost frightening, but at the same time was whimsical and devastatingly engaging. A remarkable woman for a remarkable time in so many of our lives; most certainly in mine. Here's a photo of her at her best; looking over her reading glasses, waiting for enlightenment to dawn. Sometimes it was a long wait! (photo credit: Embers '64) She was the only teacher I came back to visit after graduation. It was at her urging that I went to Yale. Well, not all things turn out the way we think they will when you're fresh out of high school.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
One Person Leads to Another
Well, the uniqueness for today is dual. Sue Stumpf-Hebert, is doing computer work in the Boston area and is one of those dual citizenship people who lives and works in one place, but recreates and will probably retire in another, i.e., Tucson. The same is true of Paul Borden, between Medford, NJ and the San Diego area. While this is great for them, it is certainly confusing to people looking for people unless you are able to figure out which one is the actual contact point! Anyway, it was great catching up, and Sue told me that she is regularly in touch with Sue Mustaleski Eck. You all may remember Rick Eck, from the class of 1966. I know I do. I'm sorry to report that Rick passed away this past February. Sue is on Facebook. I know it can be a bit awkward under these circumstances, but do friend her. Having experienced what she is going through, friends do often help. On Facebook, Sue is the Susan Eck from Tucson who is holding a grandchild.
It was a good day yesterday on the search front. We were able to contact Joan Lloyd as well in Weaverville, NC. Joan reminded me of times gone by spent idly in Pines Lake with mutual friends both before and after graduation, and my mind's eye transported me back to those days, for better or worse. Joan is actually much more aware of a lot of class goings on than I expected, and once again, I spent more time than I had previously alloted to reminisce. I don't know why I keep setting these arbitrary phone call limits on myself since I know that once we begin, the conversation will end when it ends, either quickly, if its a Quinn, as I've come to call contacts who are aggresively not interested or in a typical gab fest. Actually they've all been gab fests except for two calls out of dozens, and I owe Bob and Kathy Reed Sherger a call back after they returned my call. If you read this folks, my apologies, I'll call - honest, I will.
Quite frankly, Linda can locate people faster than I can contact them for verification. It's just so hard not to stage another gabfest.
It's also time for me to send another list of found and/or verified folks to the committee. If you visit the website, you'll see a lot of little red asterisks. When you see them, you'll know we've been at work. If you actually want to contact them however, you'll have to contact me to get contact info. When I hold my almost daily gab fests, I always ask about sharing contact info. I've yet to have someone naysay sharing. In fact, usually it is quite the opposite. And why wouldn't it be?
Who will we find tomorrow?
It was a good day yesterday on the search front. We were able to contact Joan Lloyd as well in Weaverville, NC. Joan reminded me of times gone by spent idly in Pines Lake with mutual friends both before and after graduation, and my mind's eye transported me back to those days, for better or worse. Joan is actually much more aware of a lot of class goings on than I expected, and once again, I spent more time than I had previously alloted to reminisce. I don't know why I keep setting these arbitrary phone call limits on myself since I know that once we begin, the conversation will end when it ends, either quickly, if its a Quinn, as I've come to call contacts who are aggresively not interested or in a typical gab fest. Actually they've all been gab fests except for two calls out of dozens, and I owe Bob and Kathy Reed Sherger a call back after they returned my call. If you read this folks, my apologies, I'll call - honest, I will.
Quite frankly, Linda can locate people faster than I can contact them for verification. It's just so hard not to stage another gabfest.
It's also time for me to send another list of found and/or verified folks to the committee. If you visit the website, you'll see a lot of little red asterisks. When you see them, you'll know we've been at work. If you actually want to contact them however, you'll have to contact me to get contact info. When I hold my almost daily gab fests, I always ask about sharing contact info. I've yet to have someone naysay sharing. In fact, usually it is quite the opposite. And why wouldn't it be?
Who will we find tomorrow?
Monday, August 1, 2011
Every Day is a New One
This little quest of ours is certainly making sure that the days are distinctly unique. I know that every day is different, but sometimes the differences can become muted so that they start to blend into one another. Here in Indiana, we are in our 19th straight day of plus 90 degree heat. But the one thing that makes each of our days unique is that just about every day, I get to speak to a classmate. The other day it was Bill Gullone. Now Bill is not among the not located, but remember, that although his picture does not bear a NOT LOCATED label on the website, unless we confirm he is where he is, we can't be sure. Without the class database from the committee, I am just going down the list from the yearbook Besides a lot of the info from the 40 attendees is different now anyway. Linda finds 'em, I contact 'em and so it goes from there. If you went to the 40, the chances are better but not certain that you will be where it says you are. If you went to the 30, less likely, and so on. Even for the 40, it's by no means a foregone conclusion. I also don't know too many people who include contacting the reunion committee as part of your moving kit of address change notifications either. I'm just as guilty as most.
Anyway, Bill ended up being a cabinet maker and is about now 50 miles west of Corning, up north of the Pennsylvania border sitting in the middle of 100 acres. We talked for about 45 minutes during the time I was supposed to be contacting about a half dozen more Wayne Valley folks. Well, sometimes it just works out that way. There is a vacuum for class news. Everyone wants to know about someone and everyone knows something about someone. Facebook is a reasonably good place to have those encounters but not everyone is on FB and not everyone knows everyone from the class that is. We try to send every facebook classmate suggestions for the others, but sometimes for people who are new to the format, getting 60 or 70 friend requests is like moving into a new home and finding 60 or 70 representatives of the welcome wagon knocking on the door while you're trying to unpack.AAAArrrrgggghhhh. We did that to Ted Dobson and Scott Shepard. Oops. Since then, we've tried to take a less enthusiastic approach.
Dave Spae, who I remember from the Anthony Wayne Days of 7-6, I was in 7-3 and we both had Al Piaget and Dorothy Tunis for BLOCK, asked me for a list of everyone who had passed away. I told Dave that I wasn't sure we were done finding everyone but that I'd send him a list of what we had so far. It's 55 so far. It was 54 when I sent the list to Dave. Then I had to write him back to let him know about Cliff Recanzone, who all indications point to having died in Daytona Beach back in December of this past year. If you exhaust all your normal sources of information and you don't find any record of anyone after a particular time period, it's time to head to the SSDI (Social Security Death Index). I hate it when that happens, and it disrupts my life every time we find someone else who has died. There but good fortune go............After chiding him, Dave changed his Facebook picture from the sad dog to one from a happier time. Even though I know what he looks like now, when I see him in my mind's eye, he's still wearing black jeans and a leather jacket. And he's still sitting in the back of the bus cutting up. and probably smoking, although no one smoked in the back of our school bus, did they?
Quite by accident, as part of our research, I saw photos of the induction of a younger version of Doug Itjen into the Wayne Police Department. He was the spitting image of our Doug who was in one of the photos.
Oh, and by the way, despite what my snit of righteous indignation caused me to blog the other day, after all this work, I would be a fool not to go to reunion to reap the rewards of the work and see you all in person. I still hold to the rest of what I said though.
Anyway, Bill ended up being a cabinet maker and is about now 50 miles west of Corning, up north of the Pennsylvania border sitting in the middle of 100 acres. We talked for about 45 minutes during the time I was supposed to be contacting about a half dozen more Wayne Valley folks. Well, sometimes it just works out that way. There is a vacuum for class news. Everyone wants to know about someone and everyone knows something about someone. Facebook is a reasonably good place to have those encounters but not everyone is on FB and not everyone knows everyone from the class that is. We try to send every facebook classmate suggestions for the others, but sometimes for people who are new to the format, getting 60 or 70 friend requests is like moving into a new home and finding 60 or 70 representatives of the welcome wagon knocking on the door while you're trying to unpack.AAAArrrrgggghhhh. We did that to Ted Dobson and Scott Shepard. Oops. Since then, we've tried to take a less enthusiastic approach.
Dave Spae, who I remember from the Anthony Wayne Days of 7-6, I was in 7-3 and we both had Al Piaget and Dorothy Tunis for BLOCK, asked me for a list of everyone who had passed away. I told Dave that I wasn't sure we were done finding everyone but that I'd send him a list of what we had so far. It's 55 so far. It was 54 when I sent the list to Dave. Then I had to write him back to let him know about Cliff Recanzone, who all indications point to having died in Daytona Beach back in December of this past year. If you exhaust all your normal sources of information and you don't find any record of anyone after a particular time period, it's time to head to the SSDI (Social Security Death Index). I hate it when that happens, and it disrupts my life every time we find someone else who has died. There but good fortune go............After chiding him, Dave changed his Facebook picture from the sad dog to one from a happier time. Even though I know what he looks like now, when I see him in my mind's eye, he's still wearing black jeans and a leather jacket. And he's still sitting in the back of the bus cutting up. and probably smoking, although no one smoked in the back of our school bus, did they?
Quite by accident, as part of our research, I saw photos of the induction of a younger version of Doug Itjen into the Wayne Police Department. He was the spitting image of our Doug who was in one of the photos.
Oh, and by the way, despite what my snit of righteous indignation caused me to blog the other day, after all this work, I would be a fool not to go to reunion to reap the rewards of the work and see you all in person. I still hold to the rest of what I said though.
So who will make my day unique later today when I start working the phones again? I'll tell you tomorrow.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Let a 1000 Flowers Bloom.......
Without waving a little red book, Milton says let a 1000 flowers, well at least 600 bloom on Facebook, which has become a defacto meeting place for the class, with dozens of classmates present. Now I'm not a Facebook junkie, except for hunting for classmates there, two sets actually, I don't post every little thing I do; sometimes my days are just boring, and why would I want to bore everyone else and just increase the burden on the Facebook servers straining to account for every proud grandparent photo (I'm a little guilty on that count) so the rest of the family can see, etc., etc.
Now I know that some of the Facebook pages of classmates are constructs created by their children and grandchildren. "Grandma, get with the program. Everybody has a Facebook page!". And little by little, people get dragged in, and then they start worrying about privacy, wondering if an identity thief is hiding behind those male or female silhouettes that they show if you don't post a profile picture. Conversely, they friend the friends of friends who suggest friends and pretty soon, you've got 1200 friends of whom you actually know 15. Eventually the pendulum stops in somewhere in the middle. The really tough thing about classmates and Facebook is marriage. If the maiden name is not embedded in the name, it can be tough unless you're up on your old friends' marital (blissful or otherwise) status. Or like someone we located recently, you have a very common name.
Earlier this week, or was it the weekend, I was talking to Rich Burgess, in Nashville, about an old friend of his, John Tuttle, who provided a support network for him during the war years. Well, in the course of events, we found John in a different place than on the listings we had, operating a marine supply in Vineland. I had John friend me, since there was only one of me and many John Tuttles. There was also a John Tuttle who passed in 1978. After my shock in discovering the tragic death of John Chichin in 1975, I actually hesitated a day or two to call the contact number I had for John Tuttle because getting confirmation of his passing would have been tough back to back. But my relief quickly overspread that anxiety and John was aware of this other Tuttle (not related). So its good news on two counts; first everyone is okay and John and Rich are reconnected; two, both will participate in the directory.
The other thing Facebook simplifies is getting decent recent photos. With the exception of Dave Spae who has the cartoon dog as his profile pic. That is an important part of this crazy monster directory I'm talking about. So if you're on Facebook, part of the Wayne Valley Class of 1967 and I don't know about you being there, invite me to be a friend, I'll friend ya. Enrich my life again, and be a part of the directory too.
Now I know that some of the Facebook pages of classmates are constructs created by their children and grandchildren. "Grandma, get with the program. Everybody has a Facebook page!". And little by little, people get dragged in, and then they start worrying about privacy, wondering if an identity thief is hiding behind those male or female silhouettes that they show if you don't post a profile picture. Conversely, they friend the friends of friends who suggest friends and pretty soon, you've got 1200 friends of whom you actually know 15. Eventually the pendulum stops in somewhere in the middle. The really tough thing about classmates and Facebook is marriage. If the maiden name is not embedded in the name, it can be tough unless you're up on your old friends' marital (blissful or otherwise) status. Or like someone we located recently, you have a very common name.
Earlier this week, or was it the weekend, I was talking to Rich Burgess, in Nashville, about an old friend of his, John Tuttle, who provided a support network for him during the war years. Well, in the course of events, we found John in a different place than on the listings we had, operating a marine supply in Vineland. I had John friend me, since there was only one of me and many John Tuttles. There was also a John Tuttle who passed in 1978. After my shock in discovering the tragic death of John Chichin in 1975, I actually hesitated a day or two to call the contact number I had for John Tuttle because getting confirmation of his passing would have been tough back to back. But my relief quickly overspread that anxiety and John was aware of this other Tuttle (not related). So its good news on two counts; first everyone is okay and John and Rich are reconnected; two, both will participate in the directory.
The other thing Facebook simplifies is getting decent recent photos. With the exception of Dave Spae who has the cartoon dog as his profile pic. That is an important part of this crazy monster directory I'm talking about. So if you're on Facebook, part of the Wayne Valley Class of 1967 and I don't know about you being there, invite me to be a friend, I'll friend ya. Enrich my life again, and be a part of the directory too.
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