Mt. Carmel Class of
‘64 Newsletter
Issue 2
December 2005
Editor
Diana Robertson Beaumont
16332 17th Ave
SE
Mill Creek, WA
98012
Click
here for Issue 1 (12/2004)
Last year,
fresh with enthusiasm from our 40th Class Reunion, we all helped put together a
newsletter. You might say it was a
class project! And like most
everyone, I was amazed at what we found to share, the high school secrets that
spilled forth, and the insights we drew from looking back over the years.
Now after an
eventful year, we all have stories to tell and wisdom to share.
We’ve all been touched in one way or another by various milestones,
whether it’s world events, storms, health, family, or related to work or
retirement. Hopefully, too, we’ve
had some light-hearted moments woven into the more serious ones.
Like last
year, we’ve had some “teasers” to jog our memories.
Andy Breslin, ever the clever one with words, supplied the term
“Geezer.” Our “Geezer
Teasers” included some fascinating material! And winners who guessed correctly will receive Honorable
Mention at the end of this Newsletter!!!
1. Does
anyone remember a student French teacher who got locked in the classroom closet
and why? Did it have anything to do with a small green creature in someone’s
shirt pocket?
2. What was
the name of the youngish glee club director who wore the low cut dress to the
first performance of the Christmas Pageant? She had no trouble getting the
attention of the boys in the glee club who were standing on a raised platform in
front of her?”
3. Who was in
the bathtub at Bob Menapace’s “Party” and why?
4. Who
remembers biology teacher Bugsy sucking on her fingers after giving out the
frogs to dissect...or sucking on her slip strap?
5.
Who would most likely have been inducted into the sports Hall of Fame: Mike
Chapel, Jose Gonzalo, or Bob Menapace?
As I compile
this second issue of our Mt. Carmel Class of ‘64 Newsletter, I think back on
our 40th Class Reunion summer before last when we made so many connections with
one another. Our contributions to
our newsletter about what’s new, or not, in our lives is an easy way to keep
that flame of connection alive!
In fact, many
Newsletter recipients sent comments throughout this past year, starting last
January.
Newsletter Tidbits:
Barbara
Backus Boger was the first to
reply. She said:
“Finally
got to read the Newsletter thanks to my techie son...it is wonderful!!
Here is some fodder for the next one: what guys had a “secret” place
in the woods on the west side of town?...till Kathy Yuskoski and I found
it and had to get away quickly on bikes due to the barking of my dog Max who
came with us...the boys dismantled the place after that!
“Who
remembers biology teacher Bugsy sucking on her fingers after giving out the
frogs to dissect...or sucking on her slip strap?
“Every
so often the memories of MCHS come flooding in…wait! Here comes more! Who
locked me out of my own house when my parents were away and we were having
another “party” (Diana thinks no one drank in high school)? I had to go to
the neighbors to let me crawl through a window onto a roof then get in my house
through another window...very funny, ha-ha.
“My
first legal drink was at Homiak’s...where was yours?
The dances at the Mine were the best…anyone have any pictures?
Do you remember the dances at St. Stephens?
“Who
was in the bathtub at Bob Menapace’s “Party” and why? I had my scrapbook
redone cause it had fallen apart and Alphie Santos was in my photos, always with
different girls...what does this tell you? I’d better quit now before more
memories come back...Babs”
Andy
Breslin was the next to comment:
“A
cold snowy night in the Berkshires. Good night to catch up on long overdue
notes. The newsletter was great – thank you – and I hope it can continue.
The Reunion really drove in the point that old friendships are so very valuable.
I hope you all have a good year. The tsunami has reset the bar for how to look
at everything. Andy”
Joyce
Palembas Eckrod also said:
“I
have been receiving your e-mails and am enjoying reading the info...keep them
coming. Year 2004 was not very good
for me, but hopefully 2005 will be a big improvement. Maybe I can add to the newsletter next time…. Ta, Joyce
(Palembas) Eckrod”
Carol
Cleaver added:
“I
got a very nice letter from Betty Senkowich (Wysocki). She is living in Houston, Texas, and works at Comerica Bank
as a Personal Banker. Last Friday I
called her and really surprised her. As
I promised her, I made copies of your newsletter, and the stuff we got at the
reunion and mailed them to her. Last year I reconnected with at least 7 people
that I had lost contact with. This
makes me very happy.”
And from Marie
Mudrick Scott:
“I
felt badly about not attending the reunion, but had personal business to attend
to. We did not plan on being in
Mount Carmel at that time, but we ended up being there that weekend due to a
family emergency. We don’t get
back to Pennsylvania very often - maybe once a year.
Joyce told me that you were working on a newsletter and I would love to
be on your list. Keep me
informed.”
Early in
February 2005, José Gonzalo wrote:
“I
just received an email from Mike Sarisky that told us about [the] newsletter –
I got to read
a few excerpts from it and all I can say is that it was great.
Please include my e-mail address to those that you have. Take care of
yourself. José Gonzalo”
Also in
February Pat Santos wrote:
“Mike
Sarisky emailed me a copy of the class newsletter.
It was fun to read. Yes,
Gloria, Sandy, Cimmie and I had some fun in Harrisburg many years ago.
Sorry
I didn’t have much time to talk to you at the reunion.
Speaking of photos, I wrote the photographer a letter telling him that he
should apologize for the poor, out-of-focus picture of us facing the setting
sun, and give us a refund. Never
heard back from him. Looking
forward to another class newsletter.
Regards,
Pat Santos (Juskiewicz)”
In April,
Pope John Paul II passed away, which occasioned the Newsletter editor to think:
“What
with the passing of Pope John Paul II this past week, I was reflecting on the
fact that we attended high school in a town steeped in religion and populated by
a Polish immigrant community. I
also recalled that the Pope visited Pennsylvania some years ago.
“I’m
not Catholic, but that makes no difference in my admiration for this charismatic
pope who seemed to be bigger than life. I
wonder how many of us have seen him, perhaps in Pennsylvania when he visited, or
during our own travels to Rome? Any
comments you’d like to share?”
Jean Lewis
wrote back:
“I
did not see the pope but I was in Rome and walked in St Peters square and was in
the Basilica. It was very moving to see the millions of people so moved by such
a wonderful person. I think he brought a lot of people back to the faith. Take
care. Jean”
Barbara
Backus stated:
“I
think Pope Pius XXII was the Pope when we were going to high school.”
Gloria
Unger, who is our “eyes and
ears” in Mount Carmel said:
“Last
week was very sad...this Pope was so special...truly the people’s pope.
I was in Mt. Carmel on Saturday and the door of the Polish church had a
cross on the steps draped in black.
By
the way, we lost another classmate...Ronald Hosgood. I notified Mike
Sarisky. Ron lived in Shamokin, was
married, [and] the obit said he died in the hospital after a short illness.
I wonder if it may have been a heart attack...?”
The NEWS
ITEM, ran the following article:
SHAMOKIN
— Ronald J. Hosgood Sr., 58, of 23 S. First St., died Sunday, April 3, at
Shamokin Area Community Hospital after being suddenly stricken ill.
Born
Sept. 16, 1946, in Ashland, he was a son of the late James Marshall and Mildred
(Butkiewicz) Hosgood. He moved to Shamokin in 1971, having previously lived in
Mount Carmel.
He
served in the U.S. Army from June 11, 1964, until his honorable discharge on
June 5, 1967. He subsequently transferred to the Army Reserve. He was awarded
the Good Conduct and National Service Defense medals, and earned an Expert
Marksmanship Badge for rifle.
Having
attended St. Joseph Elementary School and graduated from Mount Carmel High
School’s Class of 1964, he was employed as a die-cut operator at International
Paper, Mount Carmel Township. He was a member of Mother Cabrini Church,
Shamokin.
On
April 17, 1971, in St. Stanislaus Church, Shamokin, he married the former Marsha
Mroz, who survives.
Surviving,
in addition to his wife, are a daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Brian
Folmar of Reynoldsville; a son and daughter-in-law, Ronald J. Hosgood II and
Nancy Spinella of Shamokin; two brothers and a sister-in-law, James Hosgood, and
his wife, Shirley, of Evans, Ga., and Edward Hosgood of Linglestown; two
sisters, Janice Wetzel of Fall River, Mass., and JoAnn Graham of Erin, Tenn.;
and several nieces and nephews.
If
anyone wishes to keep track of local events, the NEWS
ITEM website is:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14286138&BRD=2311&PAG=461&dept_id=482258&rfi=6
Ron
Hosgood’s passing prompted Diana
Robertson Beaumont to observe:
“I’m
sorry to say I didn’t know [Ron] very well.
Which made me reflect on our high school days. I was so into myself and my own little circle of friends
then. Perhaps that was normal
adolescent behavior. But now, with
mature hindsight I regret not having reached out more to be friendly with those
outside my own circle.”
Rachel
Tucker Scholvin,
who had just undergone knee surgery and who goes by the tag name of “Ole
Hag” wrote:
“I
am so sorry to hear of Ronald’s passing. I really did not know him well either
and I hope his passing was an easy one. As for the OLE HAG, I AM HOME!!!! Both
knees were done on Monday the 11th, I came home on Thursday and now have to
fight to rebuild the leg muscles in my left leg. Other than being very SORE,
STIFF and BULL HEADED I guess I am doing OK for an OLE HAG.”
Here is Linda
Nolan Hearn, the person who read our Newsletter posted on the Mt. Carmel
website. Does anyone remember her?
“I
read your newsletter, it was excellent. I went to MCCHS. We also had our 40th
class reunion. I want you to know Pat
Kerdock died last year. She
went to Our Lady’s Grade school. Do
you know the whereabouts of Christine Biggio?
I went to school with her at OL. I am also good friends with Ronnie
Tanney and Vince Zanella.
I now live in
Illinois, across the river from St. Louis.
Mary Teresa Ryniak and myself did our 40th class reunion from the
Catholic HS. It was also the Class
of 1964. I went to grade school
with a lot of your classmates. George Sewell and Charlie Hodrick, both of them
have died. Joe Klaus, wonder
about him. Candice Costello
Greco was also a part of my class in HS.
I also went to nursing school at Ashland with Christine…. I grew up on
Locust Street, my brothers own Nolan’s Lumber Yard in Kulpmont.
Keep up the
good work, enjoyed reading about your classmates.
Thanks. Linda
Nolan Hearn”
Speaking of
our old neighborhoods and our growing up years, Michael Sarisky has some
memories:
“We
moved to Third Street when I was 5. My Dad lived in the house for 49 years.
There were 4 families in a row there, with 4 boys about the same age: Mikie,
Frankie, Bobbie, and Norman; a Slovak, a Pollack, an Italian and a Jew. We all
played together during grade school years, football, baseball, sledding etc.
Families used to picnic together. I learned a lot about Jewish culture.
We
used to throw crab apples at Denny Hamernick cause he was from Second
Street and we were the Third Street gang. That
growing up environment is sure different from the environment of the suburbs
where our kids grew up.”
The April
2005 edition of the Smithsonian Magazine
ran an article about “The Fire That Ate a Pennsylvania Town.”
Since my Dad was a geologist, he had a fascination with the underground
fire at Centralia, and so the article rekindled my interest (no pun intended!).
Then Andy Breslin suggested a book and that prompted some further
discussion among our classmates.
Andy
Breslin said:
“Thanks
for the news about Ron Hosgood, I did not know him well. Going back to
the yearbook makes me realize I remember my life then in color and the yearbook
is black and white. Regarding Centralia, there are two good books at least about
it, I had both but cannot put my hands on the second. One is Unseen
Danger by David DeKok, U of P Press 1986. Andy”
Diana
Robertson Beaumont wrote:
“Made
me think about all the times we drove through [Centralia] when we lived in Mt.
Carmel. When my husband and I were
at the reunion last August, someone suggested we take a drive by Centralia –
which we did. It had changed
vastly. Of course there were signs
posted all over the place about “don’t drive in here” “danger of the
ground collapsing,” etc. When
Michael sees a sign like that it’s like some kind of a challenge to his
manhood, so of course he had to drive us through. My knuckles were white from gripping the dashboard because I
expected at any moment the ground beneath us to open up some yawning pit
brimming with fire, like a real-life Hell-hole, and we’d never be heard from
again.”
So
Barbara Backus replied:
“My
parents had a grocery store on the main street in Centralia...I worked there
when I was needed. When my Dad and I delivered groceries...yes, you heard me, we
delivered...we would see the fires burning and think nothing of it.
Who would have thought the whole town had to move because of those fires
(except for a few holdouts). Stopped by a few years ago and you couldn’t tell
where the Centralia Superette was! Barbara”
And
Gloria Unger added:
“I’m
really enjoying connecting with ya’ll! Living
near the coal (ash) bank in Mt.C....do you remember how it would
smoke...especially after a rain? We
thought nothing of it.”
Carole
Sabol Olshefski Blair
remembers:
“Actually…I
do remember the fires on the sides of the road up the mountain.
[When] I rode up to Locust Gap I was so surprised to see the blue flame
along side of the road there. It
was a bit scary.
Years
later, there was an article in National Geographic about Centralia.
I was amazed by one of the pictures.
It was taken from the front porch of one of our friends from the class of
‘63. Golly, I can’t remember
her name; she was a really good friend of Joann Lustusky.
I can see her in my mind, but I don’t remember her name.
[Later]
we drove over to Centralia, and I couldn’t believe my eyes.
I had a hard time orienting myself because there is almost nothing there.
We did drive the road to the cemetery and was so surprised to see the
smoke coming out of the ground. It
was a sight that is so difficult to describe.”
The
following month, in May, Michael Sarisky wrote:
“Just
heard from Gloria Unger that Nick Kuzo passed away. Too many too
fast.” [Note: the Newsletter Editor was unable to locate an obituary for Nick.]
In
July, Michael Sarisky wrote again to advise about the Mt.
Carmel Area Athletic Alumni Association.
“Thank
you for the clipping on the Centralia fire.
What a fascinating chain of events on how it got started....
Attached
are two word files, which are scan-in’s of both sides of the letter I got. Not
perfect copies. I could not tell from this if this is just starting up.
I joined in the hope that it flies. A Mt. Carmel oriented scholarship was
good to me.
Among
the officers, you may not know Dan Ficca. He was in football in my
brother Tom’s time frame, 1955. He did play pro ball for a short time.
You may remember Ron Grossman, he was a year or 2 ahead of us.”
[Editor’s
note: details of the Athletic
Alumni Association may be had at:]
MC4A
P.O.
Box 272, Mount Carmel, PA 17851-0272
Questions:
Dan Ficca
(570)
373-5936 1 nyjet@evenlink.com
When the
Newsletter Editor sent out the message in November that it was time to start
compiling the 2005 Class of ‘64 Newsletter, the first to respond once again
was Rachel Tucker Scholvin. She
said:
“Oh,
no! She’s at it again!
Darn! Has it been that long already? I really am getting old. Guess the
old one will have to put on her Witches Hat and come up with something good for
you. My son was overseas twice, once to Jordon in the first round and then [was]
borrowed by the Army for a tour in Germany at their hospital. Now he was kept
busy during all the hurricanes deploying teams from the Air Force to the
disaster sites. Merlin [Rachel’s
ferret] and I are still getting into trouble as usual but then a Witch and her
familiar have to do something to have fun.
I
will see what I can remember from WAY BACK THEN and send it to you. It is nice
to have made contact with some of the classmates on the computer since you did
the letter. Take care and I shall see what I can dig up for you. Rachel THE OLE
HAG and Merlin The Great.”
Michael
Sarisky, of last year’s blown
gizzard, unfortunately lost his own personal one this year.
He wrote:
“For
me and mine, 2005 has been one wild ride. January brought news of my younger
son’s wife having epilepsy, which was brought under control by drugs. March
brought the passing of my wife’s father, not unexpected. April brought the
passing of my wife’s aunt, a very special lady and our friend. May brought
terminal cancer to my wife’s uncle, another very special person. July found
our older son and his wife heading off to Scotland for 3 years of postgraduate
work. August found me unable to eat for about 2 weeks and in and out of the
hospital until a surgeon removed the failed part of my digestive system.
August
and September also brought joy in the form of two baby boys to two of our
nieces. In October we visited
Scotland and had a very enjoyable time. It was a year of challenges, sorrow, new
opportunity, blessings and the joy of new life. However, this ride can slow down
any time it wants to.”
Jean
Horan Lewis
added her news:
“I
did some traveling in September to Ireland. We did a bus tour around the island
and it was beautiful. I lead a very uneventful life other than that I have a son
that just got married last August, and this July he got his Master’s Degree
from Villanova. He
did it at nights and worked days. Now I am waiting for them to make me a
grandmother.
I
still work at Sovereign Bank. I am not sure how long I will work. With the cost
of health insurance I will probably work till I can get Medicare.
The bank does not offer any thing like that with the retirement. I am a
personal bank rep. I do loans and open accounts and service the customers with
all kinds of needs. I love the people and my job is interesting. I do a lot with
the American Cancer Society like the relay for life and daffodil sales. I am on
the board for Montour County.
Thank
you for keeping in touch. I really like hearing from you about the class.
I keep in touch with a couple of the class through email now and then. I go to
Mt Carmel once in a while to visit my sisters, but they keep me in touch with
the news over there. Take care. Jean”
Claire
(Andrulewicz) Wirt Andrews
responded about the high school pranks and teasers:
“Nice
hearing from you. Obviously I was oblivious to those happenings during high
school. I guess I was too busy studying & being daddy’s little girl.
Don’t those days seem like a lifetime away? I can’t believe we are the Baby
Boomers & turning 60 next year. That
sounds so old.
I
really don’t have anything to report for the newsletter…trying to stay
sane...trying to mind my own business, still working part-time...& really
missing my mother, especially during the holidays. Enjoying my friends more than
ever. John (my oldest) turned 21 in
September & we celebrated when he came home for Thanksgiving…he couldn’t
wait to have his first Guinness at the local pub. It was lots of fun.
Barbara
Backus Boger was delighted to
report:
“I
am a Grammy again...my daughter Amanda has a new daughter named Ella (my Mom
would be so proud) who is almost 2 months old. I was born to be a Grammy! Now
have 3: Phalen, 16 years old (working on his drivers permit and is a hockey
goalie…my favorite goalie of course); Emily, 21 months and Ella. Now each of
my 3 kids has a kid!”
RoseAnn
Stabinski Viozzi is as full of
enthusiasm as she was in high school! And
into everything! She has memories
of Mr. Kuz and his physics class!
“Some
meanderings about my life: Currently living in Harrisburg, PA. Retired from a
Nursing and Health Care Administrative career. I love retirement. Time goes by
too quickly though. I lived in Maryland for 13 years, where I was an avid
Orioles fan. I married Frank Viozzi in 1985. He is a physician, Rheumatologist,
and he is also retired for the past 5 years.
I
have one daughter who will be 29 years old on 12/09. No grandkids or son-in-law
yet! My husband and I have several hobbies, which include fly-fishing and
hunting, primarily for whitetail deer and wild turkeys. We have a home and
property in the mountains, in McKean County, PA.
Besides
being a baseball fan, I am devoted to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and I am
an active volunteer for them. My daughter is an insulin dependent diabetic. We
are active members of the Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick, in Harrisburg. We are
also active in the National Wild Turkey Federation, NRA, and Trout Unlimited
organizations. Can you tell that we love the outdoors! We are particularly
interested in educating youngsters in outdoor activities. We have an English
springer spaniel puppy who is spoiled rotten.
I
really do not go to Mt. Carmel, except on rare occasions. I still have some
cousins and aunts who live there. But I still get my kielbasi
from Lazarski’s every year for Christmas and Easter…old Polish tradition. I
follow the Mt. Carmel Tornadoes progress each year and go to the championship
games in Hershey, if they make it that far.
I
am extremely proud of my coal region heritage and often will tell folks who ask,
that I would not trade my upbringing in Mt. Carmel, for anything.
We had lots of fun, traditions, role models, and basic values instilled
in us. Regarding High School, I am still scared of Mr. Kozlowski. I dreaded his
physics classes. Mr. Semicek liked to call Kathy Yuskoski and I, Stosh and Yosh.
I had a crush on Mr. Diminick, like everyone else. Was I naughty, of
course…but can’t tell and print it! Well, I have been chatty enough. Merry
Christmas to all and a blessed 2006! RoseAnn Stabinski Viozzi”
Andy
Breslin
“Thank
you for undertaking this project. It is fun to find out what is going on, but
more fun to find out what went on while we were in our own little worlds.
Pam
and I are still trying to get in trips while we are very mobile and will save
the more sedate for our dotage. We got in some snorkeling on Bonaire in March
and also a great island for biking. Pam is chair of the international program at
her boarding school and as such is encouraged to visit areas that send girls to
the school. This summer we spent a few weeks in S. Korea, a real eye-opener.
Amazing how progressive and education-driven the country is. Present and former
students spent days showing us their world. Looking across to N. Korea was
otherworldly.
Late
summer we were packed into the Wind River area of Wyoming and left to ourselves
with 3 friends, 10 days later we hiked out. Kind of Outward Bound for early
geezers! Saw a Mountain Lion approach camp – one stealthy cat.
Got
back to Spain in October with our boys and caught up with tapas
and wine. We are both still working full-time, no desire to retire (rhyme). My
veterinary practice has three younger vets who provide us with ample time away.
Biking,
kayaking and cross-country skiing still dominate our leisure.
I cannot understand golf. I dusted my 23-year-old in a big local road
bike race, much to his chagrin but a good-natured competition.
The
world situation and our response to it continues to depress me. Talking to
people in other countries makes me realize how far we have fallen in the
worldview. Tom Friedman’s, The World is Flat made for great reading. After seeing Capote,
I picked up In Cold Blood and read it again after 30 some years – what a great
book.
All
in all we are fine, our 2 boys are happy and healthy. I always look forward to
reading the news from everyone. My only contact with Katrina was thru’ Pam’s
brother Pete who set up a program to receive the displaced at Fort MacClellan in
Alabama only to have it mired in a huge FEMA snafu. We have treated a few dogs
that made it this far north via various organizations, many health problems.
I
hope this finds you happy and healthy and ready to face another year, my best to
all. Andy Breslin”
After hearing
about bathtub antics and people locked in closets, Diana Robertson Beaumont felt
compelled to wonder:
“So
am I the only classmate who was so square, so prim and proper, that I didn’t
know any of these things? Was there anyone else like me who was so colossally
straight-laced?”
Rachel
Tucker Scholvin offered some
reassurance:
“NO
you weren’t. Heck between BAND PRACTICE, Choir Practice, homework, housework,
Luther League, babysitting and sleep I was as bad as you. OH I forgot my
accordion lessons and practice.
Hey
the OLE GEEZER thing sort of hits home. There are times I feel much older. AND
there is no Shamokin chapter of Red Cross.
MS DOLE in her supposed wisdom did away with the small poor chapters when
she was the head of Red Cross.
Does
anyone remember a student French teacher who got locked in the classroom closet
and WHY???? Did it have anything to do with a small green creature in
someone’s shirt pocket??
Or
what about a chemistry class who had a table sort of INCREASE the mixture of
gunpowder ingredients and then hit it with the hammer so that the fire company
from across the street came over. Not to mention a few teachers and a principal.
Oh
well what can I say – I was in the B section with the football players!
Go figure!”
Anne
Condron Howerter replied:
“I
guess I was in the same boat as you were back in those days. I can’t believe I
was so naive and shy. It seems the older we get the more hectic life is. I long
for the day when I do not have to be somewhere or have something to do. I think
they call that ‘Retirement.’
There
hasn’t been too much going on with us except for the birth of two new
grandsons. My husband’s son had a baby boy in April and Eleanor & Mike
Stebila, Len & I became grandparents in October of another grandson from
our kids. Remember, Eleanor’s daughter Michelle and my son Jason are married.
He is just the cutest little thing.
A
sad event that happened a few months ago, Ruthie Bordell lost her brother
to terrible motorcycle accident.
Our
combined families have a Relay for Life team and we are starting our
fund-raisers for the New Year. If no one has ever come in for the Relay (which
is held June 16th & 17th at the Stadium), they should try and attend. It is
such a fun day and an uplifting time seeing all the cancer survivors together
showing their strength and courage. We have a lot of great stands with some
wonderful homemade foods, music all day long and fun events for the kids. It is
not just walking around the track. The lighting of the luminaries in the evening
is absolutely heart stopping. Such emotions run through you the whole day.
You
might want to mention something about it in the Newsletter; perhaps some
classmates would like to come in for it. Well, I hope you and yours have a very
Merry Christmas and thanks for keeping in touch. Anne (Condron) Howerter”
Denny
Hamernick surfaced long enough to
recall:
“I
know of one bathroom incident.... As far as nicknames for our teachers: the
obvious: CT, Jazz, Miss Schicc, Mr.B. How
about “Marble Mouth,” and just plain Leona?
Then in Junior High there was: Coach, The Bull, Olive Oyl...and who/what
was “Mabel”? I’m stumped on the other goodies.
Merry
Christmas & Happy New Year! Denny (Hammer)
Carol
Cleaver has survived Hurricane
Wilma and gives us a first person account:
“I
have been living in Florida since 1972 and never went through a hurricane.
They either fizzled out or went north.
Well, Hurricane Wilma became my first. While enjoying a wonderful fall
vacation in New England, I was greeted with the news that Wilma went from a
tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane overnight.
As
always when a hurricane is forecast, the TV is on. That Monday morning was no exception. The weatherman said that the strong bands of wind would be
arriving within an hour. Thank God
the hurricane shutters were all up, extra water on the kitchen counter, the
refrigerator turned up as high as it could go.
Of course the bathtub was filled, so that the toilet could be flushed if
we had no water, (which did happen) and the flashlights were handy. I also found
a landline phone to use, as a cordless uses electric.
Shortly
after 8:00 am the winds started and then the light began to go off.
That was it for power for us for the next 9 days.
The winds got very strong but we were unable to see outside because of
the shutter. Looking back I’m
very grateful that we couldn’t see the damage that was happening all around
us. Of course with everything
closed the house became very hot and stuffy.
Around
11:00 am I opened the door to the garage and immediately called to my partner to
come out quickly. The winds had
shifted and were now coming from the north and the 2 garage doors were in its
path. We each took a door and
braced ourselves against them to keep them from blowing in with each gust.
We stayed like that until after 12:00 pm when the radio said that the
last strong wind band was leaving Broward County.
If the doors had blown in, I can’t imagine the damage that would have
been done.
When
we opened the front door to go outside, the first thing I noticed was the lack
of trees. So many trees were ripped
right out of the ground, branches broken off.
The stop signs were bent over or just missing.
We had a power line lying over the top of our car.
It took over a week before we found out that it wasn’t live, the other
half was in the neighbors pool. A section of our fence in the backyard blew down
on the west and east side. The pool
had 3 inches of leaves and twigs. But
you know what? We were alive, the house was intact, the pets safe; the rest can
be fixed.
Living
without power for 9 days reminded me of the Amish. Walking around with a battery powered lantern, going to bed
when it got dark and getting up at sunrise.
Showering in cold water, even in Florida was not pleasant. Of course
everything in the refrigerator had to be thrown away and we had to boil water
for 10 days as a water main did break.
I’m
very grateful for the little damage we had and that now everything is back to
normal. I always decorate the house
for Christmas, but this year I wanted a little more to help brighten up the
spirits of the people who are worse off than I am.
Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!
The very last
news item to arrive, just under the wire for our Newsletter, came from José
Gonzalo. He writes:
“I
was recently inducted into the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports
Hall of Fame for the work that I have been doing for over 30 years with the high
school football team and sports in general.
I thought that an interesting trivia question would be: ‘Who would most
likely have been inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame - Mike Chapel, Bob
Menapace or Jose Gonzalo?’
I
am still working and will continue to do so for a while – my youngest will
graduate from Hershey Medical School in May so the light at the end of the
tunnel is near. Good hearing from
you and keep up the good work! Jose”
I guess the
Newsletter Editor shouldn’t be exempt from adding her bit, and so Diana
Robertson Beaumont says:
“After a career in dental hygiene and then running a travel agency with
my husband, we are now semi-retired and live north of rainy Seattle, Washington,
where I enjoy skiing and hiking – yes, even in the rain.
Having had breast cancer nine years ago, I volunteer with several breast
cancer organizations to help women who’ve just been diagnosed or who are in
treatment. I am thankful every day
that I am still here!
I like to write – can you tell? What began as a simple little task of
finding out about my husband’s ancestry has led to a series of books – no,
not best-sellers, but the sort of scholarly stuff that would make most
people’s eyes glaze over: the History of the
Working-Class Beaumonts of Yorkshire, England. We’ve had four books published and will soon begin work on
a fifth.
In my old age I’ve taken up playing the Celtic harp.
I play mostly for my own enjoyment, since I’m plagued by mind-numbing
stage fright. A far cry from the
girl on a Mt. Carmel stage with a Chiquita Banana costume and a Brazilian
guitar!
Some of my very best memories are of my years at MCHS, and in that spirit
I wish all my classmates only good things in this upcoming New Year!”
…And now
– the brilliant winners with astute memories who correctly guessed our
“Geezer Teasers” are:
1st Place
for remembering the name of the student French teacher who got locked in the
closet goes to………Denny Hamernick!
He wrote:
“As
far as the question [of who was locked in the closet]...it has to be Charley
Mole, but I can’t remember the actual why…with the frog.
Keep the letters coming! It’s great!
Until next time...Denny (Ham)”
Rachel
Tucker Scholvin seems to have the
whole story:
“His
first name was Charles and I am not sure of his last. It started with M…
Moleski or something like that. It was the B section (the one I was in) that
locked him in the closet. French was our last class of the day and Ed
Morrison had brought a little green snake (Irving I think was his name) to
school that day. He was in all of our classes and even in the library, no less,
and we had no problems till French class. Every teacher knew the snake was in
school [but Charley Mole] stood at the teacher’s desk so that Ed had to side
step to get past him, and as he did the snake popped up out of the shirt pocket
and brushed Charley’s nose. Needless to say he started with the riot act and
some of the “LITTLE” football players picked him up and put him in the
closet and locked the door. BOY was he pissed off when the fellows had to leave
him out. Straight to the office he went and wanted us all expelled.
No one said I was an angel in school!”
1st Place
for remembering the youngish glee club director with the low-cut dress goes
to….it has to be split four ways between Denny Hamernick (again!),
Pat McClosky, Ben Heil, and Carol Cleaver!
Pat
guessed: “Last name was Mervine!”
And Denny
had the rest of it: “...that would be the ‘SuperFox’…Mrs. Mervine
(Peggy, I think).”
Ben Heil
chimed in: “The teaser answer was ‘curvy Mervie’ but I can’t remember
her first name XXXXXX Mervine.”
Carol
Cleaver remembers: “Peggy Mervine was my neighbor and if they thought what
she wore at glee club was something, they should have seen her washing the
car!”
[Editor’s note:
No wonder the boys sang out of tune!]
1st Place
for the astute memory on the “bathtub incident” goes to…Ben Heil!
He says:
“The ice bath of the football player (alias Elvis, AKA DH) was at the Atlas
home of another football player, who’s parents (lets call them Jake and Lena
for fun) arrived before Elvis had sobered up enough to be removed from the ice
bath. Needless to say, the party was terminated early, even while there was
still beer in the keg.”
And 1st
Place for brilliant perception
about the Sports Hall of Fame inductee goes to…
Michael
Sarisky, who reasoned:
“OK,
this is a good teaser! Since Mike Chapel and Bob Menapace were on several sports
teams in high school, it is not likely them.
It must be José cause he did so much in support of Football since high
school. He put together a book of the school win/loss record going back to
something like 1899. A heck of a piece of work! Congrats to José!”
The Editor
would love to be able to post a copy of this newsletter off to all our
classmates by “snail mail,” but fears the cost of postage would be
prohibitive. So instead, for those
who do not have email, she has made arrangements with Jeff Kanezo, Class of '71
and webmaster of the Mt. Carmel website, to post our newsletter there. If you know of any classmates who don’t have email, let
them know that they can go to their local library and access the site at: