March-April 2020 Dear Class, After the emails were compiled and posted here, a number of those who posted sent additional comments. To include these additional comments, they've been added as addendums to their original posts. —Don EUGENE CONSOLO — ecc8176@comcast.net Hi to All, Just a short note to say hi along with a little forward thinking. Based on the current environment, it is not likely that we will have a gathering this year. Assuming that this is the case, I thought we could at least have an electronic session to see how we are getting along. I will begin. Laura and I are focused on complying with the rules of engagement -- No traveling, no close contact with friends, etc, and all the other "NOs" that will help to contain this current epidemic. Fortunately, we live in a beautiful place where we can walk in the sunshine every day. And, we have many activities that help bridge the gap during this time of isolation. We do a lot of volunteering.to help those less fortunate than we are and technology in this current world allows us not only to continue that work, but to stay in close contact with family and friends. So here we are. Hopefully, you will tap the Reply All button and respond to the Rest of our Class of "55". We are all interested in your well being. Warm Regards, Gene ________ DON SWAIM — donswaim@verizon.net Dear class, I'm gathering all of your great comments into a single file and will post them in a few days on a single page on our own AHS website: HERE. In the age of Covid-19 it ain't a bad thing to do. Our site doesn't have much activity but, as class webmaster, I'm still keeping it together -- thanks to Eugene. Let me know if I've left anyone out who has posted or if I made any errors. Don ________ EUGENE CONSOLO — ecc8176@comcast.net Don Swaim made a point that I want to expand upon; i.e., the AHS website. On June 6, 1955, the Class of 1955 wore their graduation robes and was sent into society to make their mark. On June 6, 2020, the Class of '55 will celebrate our 65th anniversary of Graduation Day. That even causes me to pause and reflect. However, we also probably have one of the oldest websites of any that I can recall. So lets get ALL Classmates to respond. Right now our count is (I think) 17 responses. Encourage any classmate you know to respond. Then we will have a truly amazing memory for all of The Class of '55. So take some time out of your busy schedule, CLICK THAT REPLY ALL BUTTON, and tell us about your life's journey. Warm Regards, Gene ________ BETTY ERWIN GERTNER — bettygertner37@gmail.com Thanks Gene for this idea! I thought I would raid my cloud of photos and let y'all figure out who is whom? :-) Oh my, what time hath wrought/rot! These photos [below] were April 2018 in Pgh . We are all still around! I spend winters in Frisco, TX with daughter Sandy and family. Up until this past wk I was enjoying the activities and friends at a Sr Living Community. I have now moved/temporarily to Sandy's house. I go back to WI May-Oct but who knows what this year will look like. My oldest daughter, Marcia, lives 2mi. from me there so I have the best of both worlds. Son Eric and family live in Charlottesville, VA. Will's death in 2015 left me in a place I could not imagine. 55 yrs with a companion and best friend has caused me major adjustments and I still don't like it. Takes some of us a long time to understand we are not really in charge of life! These weird times we are living through are testing us in many ways. I hope and pray we will come out of this healthy, content, and with a new appreciation of what we have and have had, not what we have lost! Take care and be safe! Love, Betty Erwin Gertner ________ REGIS KANE — steelers1122@yahoo.com I don't care for keyboards, no matter the size. I'd rather call everyone by phone, but Gene threatened me with bodily harm if I didn't comply to his wishes. We've been living in Florida since 06, and loving every minute of it. Present conditions make it a little difficult with all restaurants and bars closed. All golf courses and pickleball courts are still open, so we should survive. Our family is scattered across the country with a Son in Jacksonville, a Daughter in Sarasota, two Daughters in Chicagoland, another Son in Indiana and another Daughter living with us. All fine and doing well. By the way, my wife, Mary Ellen and I are fine and trying to stay out of harm's way. I hope all of you are the same. I loved the picture sent by Betty. Four attractive ladies. My best to all. Regis ________ MARJORIE MORCOM HARTSOCK — mhsock@comcast.net Hi Class of "55." I've been enjoying reading the messages of all who have responded so far to this great way of keeping in touch. Our class has done better than most by having reunions through all these years thanks to Babs, Gene, Carrie, Don, Bob, & the Lodge brothers & so many others who kept our communication going. Our family is following the social distancing rules & plan to as long as is necessary. Bob made masks for us out of some large shoulder pads that were still around. Don't laugh! They work! At present, we're enjoying the daffodils, crocuses, & forsythia in our yard. We are hoping that by the end of August we can safely go to Hilton Head with the family. All three of our sons live in Pittsburgh & our grandchildren also. We're so happy to have them close by. Our grandson was married in September & our one granddaughter is in her first year at Pitt Dental School. The other granddaughter has started a job that she likes. Everyone is working from home. Aren't computers & texting wonderful? On second thought, maybe their "cons" outweigh their "pros." Bob & I are "still vertical" as he likes to say, but actually in good health for our ages. Weren't we all lucky to have lived during the wonderful years that we have? I think this virus reminds all of us how blessed we have been! I truly believe our class of "55" was an outstanding group! Hope to hear from more of you &, in the meantime, take good care of yourselves. Love to all! Margie Morcom Hartsock ________ SALLI HAMRE LODGE via MARJORIE MORCOM HARTSOCK — mhsock@comcast.net Hi all! Gene asked me to check with Salli Hamre Lodge and send her message to everyone. Her reply is that she sends her love to everyone and to please take care of yourselves. Salli has recently recovered from a fall & is living in a lovely senior high rise with meals provided which is quite close to her home. She is hoping to get back to living at home, but her children don't want her going up & down steps at this time. Her children & grandchildren have given her a lot of support since Buzz's death on August 27, 2018. She has adjusted well to her new surroundings with visits (before Corona) from friends & neighbors. Salli Greulich & I have visited her & are happy to report she's the "same old Sal", which is a good thing. Take care! Margie ________ VELMA HOFFNER — velma.hoffner@gmail Hello to all, Gene comes up with some great ideas and this is a really good one. So nice to see what folks are doing. My husband Orde and I are hanging in there. He was just in the hospital two weeks ago with pneumonia, but fortunately got out just before everything started going crazy. He was in the hospital where I've been volunteering for 20+ years, but of course, we have been told not to come in at the present time. Not sure when the volunteers will be allowed back. Our three children all live in the area, but we are not seeing each other at the present time. Our daughter Becky works for a cardiologist in Buffalo and is still working with restrictions, youngest son Karl and wife Sally are working mostly from home, and our oldest son Dan was working on a job in PA but got shucked out as they didn't want anyone from out of state working there. Who ever would believe we would have times like these? Orde and I try to get out walking in the neighborhood sometimes twice a day, weather permitting and in the evenings we play board games, cards etc. We are still campers and hoping that we will be physically able as well as legally able to continue this summer. Did any of us ever think we would even still be here in our 80s? Whoopee, aren't we all blessed? Keep safe everyone. Velma ________ THOMAS J WARD (LYNN BENNETT) — thomasjwrd@yahoo.com Gene and Company: With some assistance from husband Tom, herewith our contribution to the status reports from classmates far and wide during this stressful time. First, I'm happy to report that the sun is shining in Bethel Park, PA, a welcome sight indeed. Like the rest of you, we are coping as best we can, in no small part because of the help of daughter number two--Janice--who came to live with us a couple of years ago, and who has recently been functioning as our principal connection with the outside world, e.g., grocery and pharmaceutical resupply, while we try to maintain compliance with all the new rules. As for the rest of the family, elder daughter Chris lives with her husband (fittingly) in Eldersburg, MD; eldest son Tom is in Oklahoma City; next in line Jim (and two of our grandchildren) is relatively close by out in Moon Twp, PA; penultimate son Jeff is in New Hampshire; the youngest, Matt is about ten minutes away, and since he, like all the rest, is now working from home, he avoids outside contacts except for joining us at dinnertime. Eldest grandson and his family--including two and four year old great-grandchildren (who are in contact via some electronic means or the other virtually every day) are in Frederick, MD. Grandson #2 is in Kensington, MD and last but by no means least comes our elder granddaughter who is living the life in Nashville. Having attended to the personnel list, let me just say that I'm anxious to get puttering in the garden; Tom can't wait for baseball (and football and hockey) to start or resume, and we both hope fervently that all that we're now confronting is long gone in time for our annual family vacation at the beach. Many thanks to Gene for initiating this venture. God bless you all, and stay well. Lynn Bennett Ward ________ DON SWAIM — donswaim@verizon.net Dear Class, I was born in the midst of the Great Depression, so I was unaware of its catastrophe among those less fortunate than myself. When WW2 broke out, I was a child but was secure in Ohio within a nation that saved the world with its power and moral authority. I was conscious of the malignant danger of the nuclear age after the A-bomb destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I also knew that the Cold War unleashed the possibility of nuclear annihilation, but didn't fully fear, not communism, but the threat to liberty posed by communist witch hunters. During the confrontation between the USSR and the US over Cuba, I naively bought a pocketknife to protect myself. I was shocked and sickened at the assassination of JFK, and perplexed over the last-gasp of the racist South to protect its traditions from the scourge of human equality. I saw my nation become a war criminal by its invasion of Iraq and its embrace of torture. I've observed with my own eyes the peril of climate change denied by the blind in power. As a low-tier journalist, I worked on, if only to type a decent lead, the major events of the last several decades -- more than enough for any reporter. Now, I hunker in solitary in a house in a corner of semi-rural Pennsylvania, ordered not to leave my premises because of a pandemic, the extent of which no one is yet sure. It's one of the few stories in my life I've not set words to. And my tequila is again running low. Don By the way I published a novel the year before last, a little thriller about the Art Deco years, if anyone's interested. Our Bob Grimes gave it a good review on AMAZON ________ BOB GRIMES — bob.grimes@verizon.net Gene - Great idea. We need communication and connections at this time. Marlene and I are holding down the fort in Pittsburgh. Trying to go for walks, etc., but you remember how the Burgh can be very gray at this time of year. Unfortunately, our daughters' families are in SC and CO. The good part was that in visiting our daughters I drove back and forth. We would take our time and stop to check places off our bucket list. One item on the list that I checked off this last year was to get my ham radio license back again. I originally got it while in HS. I remember Miss McCrumb allowing me to cut algebra class to go down town to take the exam. I was able to get my old call sign back and have been "rag chewing" on the radio when I have time from Marlene's "honey do" list. We are getting lots of things done around the house and getting back into the family genealogy. The German reference materials that Carolyn recommended are really helpful. Regards and (at this age) keep moving and stay vertical, Bob G ________ CAROL THALIMER (DAN) — dan-n-carol@comcast.net Hey Gene, good idea so here's a brief update on the Thalimers. Carol and I live in Cumming GA, about 20 miles north of Atlanta. We have 5 acres of heavily wooded land which we share with a number of Springer Spaniel rescues (currently 6). The back 2.5 acres are fenced with a doggy door so they can come and go as they please. All in all quite pleasant. I finally retired a few years ago so the current crisis doesn't cause us a great hardship other than getting in food without unnecessary contact with the virus. Our 4 children (3 girls and 1 boy) are scattered around the country. One girl in San Jose with 2 boys -- one in the 5th grade and the other in Jr. high school. The school where she works is running via internet except for her going in a couple of hours a week to take care of needed paperwork. Another girl lives in Houston. She and her airline pilot husband (no kids) are good so far. The third girl teaches at a small college in Oklahoma that is on spring break but how the rest of the term will work out is a question mark, Her grown kids are both working at the Univ of North Carolina (one for the IT dept and the other at the library. We can just wait and see how UNC deals with the virus.) Our son lives here in Atlanta and has 2 girls who are home schooled. He can handle his work via internet so they are fairly safe so far. That should be more than enough for now. Everyone stay safe. Dan ADDENDUM Don, Good to read your piece. I didn't think AHS produced any/many Left Wing/Pinko/Raving Liberal/Commy graduates (our sons label for my wife and I) besides me and the rest of the family. Are you aware of CCL (Citizens Climate Lobby). If not, you might be interested in checking it out -- we can always use more membership and because we are non partisan we even have some conservative member who care about our earth. Stay safe, we need your voice for the upcoming elections. Dan ________ JAY LABARTHE — jlabarthe@tda-architects.com Gene -- many thanks for initiating this interesting conversation. Like Adrienne, Carroll and I are in a CCRC -- we moved into Longwood at Oakmont about a year and a half ago. I'm sure all such communities are responding to the situation similarly -- common activities are suspended including meals in a common setting. We have our dinner orders delivered so shopping for breakfast and lunch is it, unfortunately. Since, like Don, our gin and wine supplies are dwindling because Governor Wolf doesn't feel the state stores are essential businesses. We share Pittsburgh's gray weather with Bob and others. Our years in FL during the winter ended when we came to Longwood -- we may rethink that. Many years ago I bought the Great Courses lecture series on "Change and Motion -- Calculus made Clear" and planned to visit them when I had time -- now is the time. The only thing I remember about Calculus is that I passed it -- haven't had occasion to use it although there undoubtedly were times it might have had application if I had a better understanding of it. I'm still working on several projects which I hoped would be completed by year's end. That isn't likely to happen because of a halt to construction and some foundations deferring grants due to market contraction. Probably will hang on until they are done although colleagues have essentially taken the projects over on a day-to-day basis. Best to you all -- this has brought back fond recollections and I hope the communication continues. Jay ________ CHARLES L. PERRIN — cperrin@ucsd.edu What a nice idea Gene had, to stave off loneliness! We are managing fine, with a well-stocked fridge and freezer. Every day we walk in the neighborhood, and our garden abounds with camellias, nectarine blossoms, and loquats. Salk Institute, the university, and my lab are shuttered, so we try to do some work from home. All classes are now online, but fortunately I'm not scheduled to teach until fall. We Skype or FaceTime with sons, grandsons, neighbors, friends, and former students. Spring trips to Vancouver and to southern Italy were canceled, and my participation on a PhD oral exam at Pitt will be done online, but when the situation returns to normal, perhaps some of you will come visit us. Best wishes for a safe year, Charlie & Marilyn ADDENDUM To echo Don Swaim's liberal comments, which would have been rejected in the Aspinwall of our schooldays, where 90% of the 1936 vote went for Alf Landon, where I was one of only two to vote for FDR in our second-grade mock election, and where we had to read from the Bible and recite the Lord's Prayer every day: Now I support the ACLU, American Humanist Association, Americans United, the Anti-Defamation League, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, People for the American Way, Planned Parenthood, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. I think that global climate change is the biggest danger facing humanity, saddling our grandchildren with sea-level rise and inundation of vast areas, oppressive heat events, devastating floods and hurricanes, and mass extinctions. It was a grave mistake to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, because the US must lead in reducing CO2 emissions. (The Keeling Curve is a contribution from my university, showing the increase in atmospheric CO2, a greenhouse gas) Best wishes to all for safely surviving this crisis, Charlie Nectarine blossoms from Charlie's garden ________ ROBERT ARTZBERGER — robertartzberger@yahoo.com Hi to All, I enjoy reading the emails. It is good to hear from all of you. Stay safe. Bob Artzberger ADDENDUM Hi to the Class of '55; Glad to hear from so many. The family and myself are fine. We are shutting down the office and two drilling rigs today. This was a hard decision to make, but we must protect our people. Houston shuts down tonight for a week. Hope everyone stays well. We are in it together and we will get through this. Bob Artzberger ________ EDWARD HELFRICH — edhelfrich@verizon.net Hi to everyone. Glad to see so many are answering Gene's message. Nice to hear from everyone. Mary and I are still in Hershey Pa. we have a few additions to our family. My grandson and his wife are the proud parents of twin girls. And my other grandson and his wife just had a new baby boy. Everyone is doing well. We are hunkered down like the rest of the world, but manage a walk here and there. I had foot surgery a few weeks ago, so I'm learning how to walk again. It's surprising how long it takes. Hope the class of "55" are all doing well and protecting themselves during these trying times. Our prayers go out to all. Thanks Gene for giving us the forum to keep in touch. Ed, Mary Helfrich ADDENDUM I would also like to add the following. We do not live in a democracy under the current administration. We live in a dictatorship and what they have done to the environment so we can let the rich get richer is a sacrilege. Twenty years from now what will our grandchildren think of for what we have done. Shame shame, Ed ________ CAROLYN CARI THOMAS — western37@cox.net Hi Class of 55ers, Great idea, Gene, and thanks to all of you whose updates have traveled from the East Coast to me in the West Coast and now going back again. Dave and I have been on our own since our front door stopped revolving in 1994. Happily, we have a daughter and son-in-law, a grand daughter and grandson-in-law living near us in Santa Barbara. Our only grandson, his wife and our two great-grandsons (3 ½ yrs and 1 month old) live 2 hours drive up the 101, in Atascadero. Our younger daughter, her husband and our twin granddaughters (18 yrs this month) live in Tacoma, WA. So, for Dave and me, the governor's orders to become ("isolated" seniors) have not caused extreme problems. That's pretty much how we've been since '94. I'm sure glad, though, that there are no orders prohibiting walking throughout our neighborhood. Church (closed per governmental orders but services available via the internet), genealogy (ever fascinating, but often frustrating), and family keep us reasonably active and still enjoying life, putting one foot in front of the other. To all of you....thanks for being such a grand bunch at a wonderful school during those formative years. Hope the chance comes around to see you all again. Take care, Cari ________ RACHEL RAVEY JOHNSON — hemlock@email.com> Oh my . . . so wonderful to talk to you. Please stay safe and take all the precautions. Weren't we feeling safe back at dear AHS so many years ago? We also live in the woods and can be out in Nature, which our family appreciates. My husband, Carl, is a pastor who currently can't attend church; and I am a Certified Master Naturalist who can't teach; but we are currently well and basically fortunate. I still canoe, swim, kayak and run around with the top down on my little convertible (white hair flying!) As I read your names above I still remember each of you -- SOOOOO young and maybe not imagining ourselves being 82-83 !!!!! Thank you for still being here. To be remembered always, Rachel ADDENDUM We are a dangerous species and we must clean up our act more-than-immediately. Climate change is real and caused by us since the Industrial Revolution. We have faulty leadership, and perhaps our society created the monster. War, pollution, and over-population are immensely destructive forces that may well lead to our extinction. What angers me most is that we will take down all the rest of Earth's entities with us, despite their innocence. The virus could be an expression of the planet's disgust with humanity. Well, what more can/should I say?!!! Humans are over-riding the natural and healthy functioning of our planet. Other species are dying as we over-populate and massively consume its resources. Please consider these facts as you make life choices. These are challenging times and emotions run high. But I do feel that this IS a time for sharing who we are NOW. . . real thinking adults with concerns. Our discussions should NEVER be allowed to cause hurt and separation. BUT there is terrible damage being done to humans and the Earth, and truthfulness seems to have fled. If no one speaks out, the evil will manifest. So, without rancour, I am speaking out that we must NOT allow the present course of our leadership to continue. I pray for a true, honest STATESMAN to arise and lead us into a caring, just, and sustainable future. At present, I see our government as dangerously inept at the highest levels. An extremely valuable paraphrased quote: All it takes for evil to prevail is for a few good men to do nothing. I would suggest a civil discourse among those of us who shared the excellent Aspinwall High School. It taught us to have values, and honor relationships. Peace, Rachel ________ SKIP — 12skip89@va.metrocast.net Hello One and All, Just a short note to wish everyone well and good health. We like most are more or less Shelter-in-Place here in Virginia. Like Eugene we are privileged to live in a place that makes this quite easy. First of all, I would be remiss if I did not apologize for not keeping in touch with everyone. Please know that I do think of you often. Both of us are in good health (so far) and enjoy working for and with our friends in the community. One of our regrets has been that we have been so busy with our children (Middle aged adults), grandkids and great grand kids and the community that we have been unable to attend the annual get-togethers. Gene, I do look forward to your updates on what is going on. I would like to thank you big time in keeping Lois and I abreast of the group activities. Rachel, I think about you every time we pass Lexington on the way to my oldest daughters home in Anderson, IN. Have thought of giving you a call when passing by on several occasions but alas it has not happened. To one and all, good health, and sunny days. Charles (Skip) Kramb ________ BARRY MONTGOMERY — CBM@willmont.com Greetings Classmates. Gene, thanks again to you for keeping that great AHS Class of '55 together all these years. Brief update: I continue to actively run the law firm I founded in Chicago way back in 1967. Our office is in the Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, most of which is currently shut down due to Covid-19. As a law firm we are exempt from the Illinois governor's Order requiring most businesses to have their employees work from home. Strange times. We live in Trump Tower Chicago, but are currently holed up at our home here in North Palm Beach, Florida. I join in wishing all our Classmates good health and an early end to this terrible pandemic. Barry ADDENDUM I respect both Don and Charlie's comments and political views. I will not respond other than to say this is liberal left politics, which is not what our class members are seeking now. We have not been asked our political views. Let's just be proud of the great education we received at dear old AHS and that we are all alive and well. Hopefully, this pandemic will be behind us and we can all vote in November and express our political views. Thank God for that. We are still a democracy. A wise person once said: At class reunions you don’t discuss politics, religion or your old girlfriends. Good advice. Barry Montgomery Class of '55 ADDENDUM Don, I still remember your drawing cartoon of a cave man holding a lighted Zippo lighter captioned "Invention of Fire." Brilliant! Stay well. Barry From Don: Barry, I still have my art folder dating to Miss Lovette's art class at the old elementary school (I stopped drawing after high school). Couldn't find the specific cartoon you mentioned, although it sounds like something I would do, but I did find this: click to enlarge ________ ADRIENNE RODEWALD — asrodewald@comcast.net Thanks Gene, this is a great idea! I'm living in a CCRC community about 12 miles north of Princeton, NJ. Family all ok....my life involves walking in nature and being part of this community and church activities. Life seemed a bit slow, soooo I purchased a King Charles Spaniel at 4 months of age. It is like having triplets, 9 months old and walking. What was I thinking...! Our faith that "all will be well" is so important during this difficult time. "We are all in this together." Adrienne ________ THE RICKLEYS — grrickley@verizon.net Hi all, Gloria and I are fine. She is quilting and I get to restore my CJ7 Jeep. Our daughter, retiring this year and has relocated here in upstate New York from Los Angeles. Our son is a truck driver keeping the communication companies supplied. Stay healthy all. Ray Rickley ________ NANCY HANNIGAN — hannigan123@comcast.net Thanks to Eugene for his post. I am doing well and am grateful for modern technology that enables us to keep in touch. Stay in and keep the faith. We need to believe that God is at work in the world today more than ever before. ADDENDUM It's so good to hear from all. I am well and living in a condo community that is usually very active and fun. Pretty quiet now. I have three children and five grandchildren. Most live near, in the Pittsburgh area, but my youngest son lives in eastern PA. I retired from teaching 22 years ago and am enjoying life. Hope all are staying safe. God bless! I want to thank Gene for his continued efforts to keep us all connected. I have enjoyed hearing from all. I still live in the Pittsburgh area (Cranberry Township). I retired from teaching 23 years ago and am living the good life. I have three children and 6 grandchildren. My two daughters and their families live in the Pittsburgh area while my son lives in eastern PA. I live in a condo community where there is lots of fun and fellowship. In this time , when we are all staying home, I'm catching up on some house cleaning and reading. Stay safe and God bless. Nancy ADDENDUM Re: Ray Rickley checking in. So good to hear from all. I retired from teaching 22 years ago and am enjoying the good life. I live in a condo community with lots of fun things going on. My three children have blessed me with five wonderful grandchildren. Stay safe and God bless! Nancy ________ J LAMPERSKI — lamperski1415@comcast.net Hi to All, My family and I are doing well during these difficult times. I have one son and family living in Mission Viejo, CA another son living in Pittsburgh and two Granddaughters. All of us are staying at home, and practicing the social distancing protocols. I traditionally spend the month of March in the Villages, Florida due to the pandemic I've had extend my stay until the end of April. The Villages being a retirement golfing community with all the Seniors here they have COVID-19 free testing and so far only two residents have tested positive! Unfortunately, the seriousness and the expected longevity of the virus has me seriously thinking about early retirement! Be careful and be safe, Best Regards, Joe Lamperski ________ ROBERT FERRIS — fepco@hotmail.com Howdy Class of '55! Sorry to be late reporting in, but Sue and I have been swamped getting our activities shutdown due to the virus. We have been together the last couple of years since losing our spouses after 50 years of marriage. Together, we have 4 grown kids and 11 grandkids. Our family is spread from New England to Oregon/California, Montana to Texas, Peru to Spain. We are currently under compulsory shutdown orders in North Caroline since Tuesday and Florida since today (Thursday). Sue is an owner of a glass manufacturing company in North Carolina, where she also has founded two 501(c)(3) charities, so we have a home in the Blue Ridge Mountains i.e. Mount Airy, NC - home of Andy Griffith (Mayberry) and the equally famous Siamese Twins. I had founded a 501(c)(3) charity in south-eastern Florida so we have a home on the barrier island immediately north of Jupiter Island/Palm Beach and adjacent to Stuart, FL. In order to bounce back and forth between NC and FL, we have a twin-engine airplane (a third of the flight is over the Atlantic Ocean, ergo a twin). I have been flying for over 50 years, but Sue, amazingly, decided to get her private pilot's license and has recently qualified to fly twin engine planes. We are devoted (rescue) dog lovers, and are building a beautiful dog park as a gift to the city of Mount Airy. Construction had to be shutdown this week, but we hope to get it finished by end of summer. We spent the past year visiting existing dog parks and talking to local citizens and public officials to insure we got it designed right. This park will be unique, as we have commissioned the chainsaw artist from Dollywood to carve about 10 dog sculptures into trees throughout the park. There will also be a Memorial Garden adjacent where folks can enshrine their pet's memory (no burials, however). As you might guess, we also fly rescue dogs to new families along the east coast. So that's my excuse for being late reporting in. With some obvious tough moments, life has otherwise been pretty good to us. During our individual business careers (Sue was an executive with General Motors, (PhD Engineering-University of Michigan) we both traveled and worked over most of the world. After retiring from engineering (Chemical Engineer-Penn State) and business (PhD). I taught Chemistry at our local college. However, we both have cut our daily attachments and decided to spend our remaining time with family and friends. The airplane is a great way to get around to the folks within the US. We have a gazillion frequent flyer miles, so we have recently made several international trips to visit former close colleagues in Romania, India, China and Russia. Some of these folks we had not seen in 25 years, so we have had a ball! Now, we are trapped inside the house. We chose to spend the next few weeks (months?) in North Caroline since it's summer and the days (and nights) are incredibly beautiful in the NC mountains. Things might get worse, but at the moment, we are hunkered down and very optimistic that the USA can come out of this with its head held high!. God bless the Class of '55. Bob and Sue Ferris 336-710-8490 ________ CAROL LINDER ZELTNER from GEORGE ZELTNER — gczeltner@att.net I have been receiving your emails and I am sad to report that Carol Linder Zeltner passed away on Aug 31, 2019, due to a very aggressive cancer, which was only detected one month earlier. Some may remember that Carol was one of the two leading roles in the Junior Class play -- and this photo appeared in the Pittsburgh Press on April 27, 1954. ________ SALLY BOLLINGER GREULICH — sallybgreulich@comcast.net Gene and fellow classmates, These certainly are strange times, but we will do what we can to help others and our loved ones. I and my family and dear friends are all well, thank God. We are hunkering down and hoping this will be over in a few weeks. We are offering many prayers for all of the unfortunate ones who are infected with the virus. It's pretty hard to imagine how difficult some people have it when we find ourselves untouched. Take care everyone, stay positive and this too shall end. Blessings to all, Sally ________ LOWELL FRAUENHOLZ — misty60@atcnet.net Hello to All - Mary and I are still in the high mountain country of central Idaho. We just returned from our first trip south as "snowbirds" escaping the fierce winter of our state where we have two seasons: Winter and the 4th of July. Living at 6000 ft adds to winter. The snow that fell in mid-November is still stacked against the north side of my garage on April 4th and will be there a few more weeks! We are as healthy as old people can be; I had back surgery last year that keeps me on a cane. And of course, COVID19 has us under house sequestration. We ran away from the winter 11/20/19 and returned 3/12/20 to the six more weeks of winter the groundhog predicted - 20 degrees last night! Our trip south included a looping tour pulling our 34 ft 5th wheel trailer through Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Lots to see and do in those areas. We decided that next year we will make Tucson our 'home port'. Mary has no kids (lost her only son some 15 yrs ago). My son Doug is a golf cart guy in the San Francisco area, and Diane is the Script Supervisor on Hawaii 50. Doug's son Brett and wife Alicia have given us two great-grand daughters, 2 yr old Audrey and 3 month old Brie. Diane and Brad in Honolulu have no kids. Your letters have been great to read; so good to see so many still active - and Gene - this idea was BRILLIANT!! Thank you. God bless all of you - live long and prosper... Lowie Frauenholz PO Box 269 Mackay ID 83251 208-227-6665 ________ ARLENE REITZ — watwarlene@hotmail.com Good to hear from you, I am still living in Guatemala as a missionary. Doing well and extremely blessed. We are in a shut-down here too. The Living Water Teaching Campus where I live is all under a quarantine. All ministry functions have been cancelled, schools are closed all malls are closed with only pharmacies, and few grocery stores open and allowing only a few people in the stores at a time when they they are open. We have a strict curfew in place now, from 4 PM to 4 AM, we are not allowed on the roads. Only emergency vehicles, police, and food carriers and servers. To enter any store they are now requiring masks and gloves to be worn. We have plenty of paper supplies such as toilet paper, but there are signs in place throughout the stores limiting the quantity of purchases So no hoarding here! And the stores are only open from 7-7:30 in the morning till 1:00-1:30 in the afternoon. The doors close at 2 PM sharp. Things have been tightening as we go here, so tomorrow it might be more restrictive here. Last report we had only one death in Guatemala City. A man who had traveled to Spain and back. The President shut down our airports immediately as soon as he was diagnosed. Some others were infected from him, but we have only had 20 cases so far that were infected, four were hospitalized and the others are being treated at home. None here in Quetzaltenango where I live. Most are around Guatemala City or an entry port near there. The people here used to men carrying guns guarding the banks and stores etc. But there are more stationed around the city to make sure people abide by the law and stay in and stay safe. I am thankful to live on this beautiful campus in little house with my doggy, Victoria, safe and secure. But more than that I am thankful that I have a blessed relationship with the Lord Jesus. He is my refuge and my help in times of troubles. We have been through so much together and He has never let me down. He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I trust Him and I trust in His Word. I am praying Psalm 91 for my family and friends and myself, but also for all. I believe that we will get to the other side of this and we will be stronger for what we have endured and learned, if we take the Word of God seriously and let it be our guide, and apply it to our lives. I pray that God will keep each of you safe and close to His Heart. That through this you will look to Him for His Wisdom and Peace. That you will be strengthened by Him, and that His Mercy and Grace will fill your lives and your homes and be extended to each person in your sphere of influence. Praying for those who are already suffering because of this virus that they will quickly recover, and that those who are out of work will receive prompt provision and protection. That you will know Jesus as Lord, Redeemer, Healer and Savior. And that Jesus will be the Center of your hearts and homes. (Psalm 27: 13 I would have lost heart if I didn't believe I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.) Stay safe, be strong, and let God be God! Arlene Reitz, Missionary in Guatemala ________ GEORGE BUCHA — belle217@comcast.net Just chilling. Nothing else to do. Everyone be safe out there. This response is from George Bucha, Former Chief of Police for Blawnox for 40 or more years. He recently retired. ________ JOY HELBLING BARTH — jhbarth@outlook.com Hi Everyone.. Gene asked me to resend my update since there was some glitch along the way. ....lost due to "operator error" no doubt. My family still lives in Pittsburgh. My son Greg, lives in San Diego, my daughter Becky, sadly passed away 5 years ago... Have been living 20 minutes south of Princeton for 14 years now...its a great location for an artist the vibrant arts community of Philadelphia and Bucks county in PA..the exposure and involvement with art consultants, galleries, local museums...perfect for my needs. So interestingly in these difficult times with fewer distractions I'm in the studio even more than before. The museums and art organizations have cancelled on site exhibitions of course and now virtual juried exhibitions are happening on line...to my surprise a bit of progress on organizing poetry as also started to happen too. So take care, be safe make good choices for yourself. I look forward to hearing all about next years installment..this has to te one of the best ideas ever. ADDENDUM The path we walk takes many turns before we arrive at our position each day so it's not easy to know where to begin, so I will start when I moved to the Princeton with my then husband and two children, Becky and Greg. We loved it immediately... quaint, vibrant, and culturally diverse. I began a new position as Art Therapist, then later single, affiliated myself with several galleries, starting exhibiting more regularly. It was then that I was one of 6 artists to participate in an artists exchange with the Soviet Union. That was in 1991, an event that influenced and struck us all emotionally, the deprivation of these generous and talented artists who welcomed us into their lives like we were old friends. The exhibit we shipped there was to be shown in Moscow. One of our colleagues drove art work from the ship through what was left of the Berlin Wall. I see the news clips now of the long lines of people deprived of food supply in my own country and it's like being there again. We all came home feeling somewhat guilty for the excesses of merchandise available to us here, how we take it for granted... not so much now, I think. Over the years my work evolved, became more abstract, more experimental. They were aimed awards, galleries. My work included in individual and corporate collections including Pennsylvania Bank and Time Warner. An old back injury slows me down now, but I'm still very much involved, even winning 2 awards in the last year. In 1980 I purchased a kayak, and then began sailing at places like Annapolis...then other venues around the US and one abroad in Turkey. Sketchbooks are full of those wonderful sails and the travels I shared with that sailing club. Now I only sail with my son in San Diego, but I don't trim the sails or charge around barefoot on deck anymore. It's a young man's game but it's a thrill to venture out into the Pacific, watch for dolphins, and feel the tug of the sea. Some twists in the path are more difficult than others, the passing of my daughter Becky is one of those. Always athletic in school she lived nearby, remained a sports enthusiast to the end, named her cats after sport figures, and never hesitated to travel the 5 hours to Watch the Steelers play in Pittsburgh. There's a little rock garden planted by my deck in her memory. We converse regularly and spring isn't that far away. Here's to staying the path and discovering the paths you've traveled is something I'm look forward to very much indeed. Please stay well, Joy Helbling Barth ________ PAT MUELLER SCARBOROUGH — pms27glen@gmail.com 65 YEARS! WOW! Gene, you done a great job of keeping the Class of '55 well in check and I must say I have enjoyed reading about everyones lives over the 65 years. I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Jan. 1959 and married my college sweetheart the day after my last exam. We lived in NJ for 11 years. We moved to MA in '69 where our girls grew up. I became a school library manager. It was an ideal job as We all had the same daily schedule. After the girls graduated from college, they all married and soon made Dick and myself grandparents to 5 grandsons and a granddaughter. These years have been some of our best years. They range in age from 32 down to 11 and live all over the country. (Pretty normal in today's world.) We bought a vacation home and gathered there often as a family. But Dick died of COPD in 2005. By that time we had moved into a retirement community. It is great security for me and I have the independence I want and the security I need. I go to the lake, travel and visit the kids a t my leisure. Nancy Gunther and I have kept in close contact over the years (as did Lynne Morrison until she died). This past Sept. we met in Pgh. For a weekend I had not been back in about 26 years. The changes are fantastic! At the moment we are in quarantine. It has been 10 weeks so far with no end in site. Fortunately, we have not had any fatalities amongst our residents or staff. The rules are strict but logical, but for our ultimate benefit. My best to everyone and keep up the good lives. Sincerely, Pat Mueller Scarborough ________ BARB MOROFF SPARKS — bsparks62@live.com My husband and I are in Scottsdale, AZ living in an apartment and doing well. It's not a senior place so we have all ages. All of our facilities are closed and we are staying hunkered down in our place. We walk around for exercise and our younger neighbors volunteer to do anything we might need. Our daughter and husband check with us. We feel blessed. ________ JOHN McRANDAL — via Marjorie Hartsock I spoke with John McRandal's good friend, Julie, and am happy to report that he is doing well health wise and is staying away from the virus with the help of his two daughters who make sure he has plenty of home cooking. He & Julie talk daily and look forward to "life" getting back to normal. If we can plan a get-together in 2021, John & Julie are sure to attend. ________ NANCY GUNTHER — gunthern@aol.com Thanks for keeping us connected. All fine here in North Carolina. ________ SHIRLEY A. BRUSCO — sabrusco@aol.com Dear Classmates, it has been great hearing news from all of you! Thanks for the idea, Gene! My nephew Ricco and I have been homebound now for seven weeks. He's a programmer working from home for Highmark Health Systems. I've been enjoying cooking with my air fryer, baking and exercising. I even made chocolate candy for my family for Easter! Hopefully, it won't be too long before we all can get out and back to normal living. Until then, stay well and keep safe! Fondly, Shirley A. Brusco ________ BOB RACKI — frracki@verizon.net It has been great hearing from the class of '55. Thanks Gene for all your efforts. Norma and I still live in the same home in O’Hara Township for the last 55 years. We enjoy gardening, cooking and relaxing with our daughters, grandchildren and wonderful great granddaughter who all live nearby. Hope everyone is well. Bob and Norma Racki ________ JAMES KING — capekings@yahoo.com Good to hear from you. I actually responded to one of your inquiries months ago, but it must have gotten lost in transit. I am presently living out on Cape Cod in the winter and I spend a great deal of my time in the Adirondack Mountains at my cabin in the summer. Our little town on the Cape swells from about 9,000 in the winter to over 30,000 in the summer. Not fun at all. We call it the time when you do not make left hand turns! I was lucky enough to retire in 1993 and devote more time to my hobbies. One was the restoration of a 1929 Ford pickup that went well until my knees went. I sold it to a doctor down in Mississippi who finished it. I now have a Chevy El Camino as a 'driver.' I am careful about the whole Virus thing, but not to the point of being obsessive. I still meet with close friends and feel very comfortable doing that. I am too old to live in fear and will not do it. By the way, did you really have to mention that it has been 65 years? It is bad enough when I look in the mirror in the morning and wonder who that old man is looking back at me. As you know, I lost my Carol after 59 years of marriage and it is still a hole in my life. I don't know if I covered what you wanted covered or not, but that is it for now. Jim King ________ CLASS OF '56 WILLIAM F. MANIFESTO — wmanifesto@wfmlaw.com Although I was a member of the class of 1956 and not 1955 I was delighted to be included. I hesitated to respond for fear of being the sole outlier but after the recent reference to the non-responders I gathered my courage hence this email. I retired from the practice of law a few years ago. It was readily apparent that after over 50 plus years of litigating it was a young person's game and I no longer qualified as "young" chronologically or physically so I retired and happily never looked back. I do miss my associates and the comradery that we developed but not the long days and weekends preparing for trial or juggling schedules etc. I am happily retired on a "gentleman's farm" in Sewickley with a few quarter horses, a well-equipped wood workshop and all of the tractors and equipment needed to maintain the homestead. It seems there is always much to be done. I was surprised that shortly after retiring the day of the week was no longer relevant. There was no one I needed to answer too and no schedule to keep. I was busy every day but when asked what I accomplished in the prior week I had difficulty recounting exactly what I did. It really didn't matter if I was reading a book, cutting pastures or grooming a horse. I was busy at my own pace and I selected the task. Being in control of one's own time and activities proved to be a welcomed breath of fresh air. Now that my retirement is comfortably established I am a happy camper. My first wife died of cancer in 1986 when our two children were 12 and 15. That was when I truly appreciated how much wives/mothers do to maintain a family's equilibrium. I was completely unprepared but somehow survived as did the kids. Beth and Gregory both live in the area. Greg deals in real estate and lives on Eastern Avenue in Aspinwall with his wife who is a lawyer. Beth is also a lawyer and lives in Slippery Rock with her husband a real estate developer. Ellie Siegal and I have been together for the past 15 years. Ellie is an accountant and an accomplished quilter who made protective masks for us using material from a couple of my white dress shirts. My mask is monogramed with my initials directly over my nose. I though it a bit pretentious but it got positive reviews at the supermarket so it was worth the price of the shirts. We had planned to visit friends in Italy at the end of April but canceled for obvious reasons. We also planned to visit friends and family in California and New Mexico this summer but with the pandemic those plans are on hold until the all clear is sounded... For the past two years Ellie and I have been active is the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters "Fair Districts Project" to educate the public of the scourge of Gerrymandering and how it robs citizens of their vote. It isn't a red or blue issue because whichever party controls the state legislature uses Gerrymandering to draw the electoral district lines to maintain their control and power. States have begun passing referendums to remove it from politics by placing the drawing of electoral district limes in the hands of an independent non- political commission. There is legislation in Pennsylvania to accomplish the goal in spite of roadblocks from both political parties. I believe it would be a step toward making legislative and congressional elections fair and give each vote equal weight. I am cognizant about not getting into politics and I agree but since Gerrymandering is practiced by both political parties I did not feel constrained. I do believe that regardless of political affiliation we all want fair elections where each vote counts so we are given the opportunity to elect individuals who are professionally prepared, intellectually informed, possess a moral compass and are temperamentally fit for office. Stay in good health all and Gene thanks for including me. Has it really been 65 years? William F. Manifesto 139 Willow Ridge Road Sewickley, PA 15143 ________