Glen School Class of 1967 - Ridgewood NJ

The BF/GW Reunion!

2011-11-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

Less than 2 weeks to go before the BF/GW reunion. I love the fact that I will see people that I haven't seen since the day I graduated! We have a special class to say the least.

We're a unique group and one that is not bothered too much with impressions and accomplishments.

When we were in junior high and high school, we were just kids - kids with confidence, kids with none - kids wondering what the hec they were gonna do with themselves when they grew up and kids that already had a plan. The bottomline is that we all seem to genuinely like each other despite - in some cases - not even knowing each other! How cool is that!?

Anyway, this reunion is a special one and it will lead to our big 40th. Its funny, I always looked at people's 40th reunions as a bunch of old farts getting together for cocktails - but I'll tell you its just not like that, its not what it used to be - at least not in the case of the Class of 1973! Just look at Annie and Cara and Katie and Karen - seems like it should the 20th reunion!

BF-GW reunion Saturday November 12, 2011! It will be held at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton in Woodcliff Lake NJ Saturday Nov 12. Cocktail reception 7-8, dinner 8-11pm. To make room reservations call the Woodcliff Lake Hilton 201-391-3600 and mention that you are reserving under the Ben Franklin / George Washington Junior High Schools reunion November 12.

Found An Old Valentine!!

2011-09-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

Remember Valentine's Day in school? When we were kids in Glen School - at least up until the 4th grade, it was a pretty cool day of the year. The guys would make like it was really no big deal except for the party and the refreshments which WAS actually a big deal - the usual great mom-homemade stuff! But there were the cards too - always the cards! Don't kid yourself - we all couldn't wait to get a card from someone we liked! The beauty of it was that no one got left out - regardless. Everybody was expected to buy their annual Valentine cards and take the time to fill one out for each kid in your class and your teacher.

When we were in first grade and probably even second grade we even made elaborate boxes that we would drop all our written cards in and they'd be "delivered" to our desks by our classmates - "one for you, one for you......".

I bring this story up only because it made me remember an innocent time and made me smile. When my mom passed away, she had a bunch of my papers and things among her own. My mom would sometimes salvage things after I threw them away as I got older. Now please don't laugh, among the things that I found was a Valentine card I had saved as a kid - I placed it on my mirror and it remained there for a long time. Now believe me I realize this sounds really silly to most people but if you're even the slightest bit sentimental (I say that a lot!) you'll get it. Over time I forgot about the card of course - you're so busy living your life.

The valentine was from Karen Eide - even when I was little I didn't pretend to think it was anything more than 1 of 30 cards Karen may have written to each one of us - but it WAS from her and so it held a prominent place in the edge of my mirror. To find this among my mom's papers was the coolest thing - my mom knew what it had meant to me at one time and finding it just brought a smile to my face. There was a small packet of other Valentine's from everybody which was rubber-banded but Karen's was loose on top and I immediately remembered when I was like 8 or 9 or whatever sliding it into my mirror!

Going through a parents papers and things after they have passed away is not easy - you stuff a couple of boxes in the attic and say "One day I'll go through them" - well the day came and it is like revisiting the times when you were younger. My mom's and dad's love letters, letters mom got back from my uncle in World War II - I mean really special stuff. It's as if she was saying "Rick, you don't want to throw this out - you'll be happy you have it one day!" She's right - some things you just can't part with! She knew it would make me smile!

The innocence of one's childhood is special and the importance of this card to a little kid (me) I remember like it was yesterday! Growing up is sometimes difficult - always bumps in the road at almost every age it seems - but one's life is also filled with great memories. I remember how difficult it was to ride my bike around Karen's neighborhood and I already mentioned how I would never knock on Karen's door at Halloween despite going to every house in her neighborhood (can you imagine?) - but Karen was one person I never wanted to find out didn't like me - never wanted her to not say hi.

How great that life brings special friends back into your life - Artie understood it - he never stopped remembering while he was living for today. Like I told Cara, we're all like brothers and sisters. What saps we are sometimes but it doesn't matter - I stopped caring what people thought some time ago! Sorry Karen - hope this didn't embarrass you!

Show Me the Way To Go Home - From Glen School!

2011-09-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

At Glen School - most of us walked to and from school. We also went home for lunch. I'm guessing I walked back & forth to school 5,000 times!!!!! Is that possible? Well generally, we walked to school 2 times a day and home 2 times a day - 7 years (K-6) - 180 days of the year!

Above - Salem Lane - this path was taken by tons of kids who lived on the other side of Van Emburgh Ave, E Glen Ave, Allison Court or Gateway Road.

There were 3 paths we took for the most part. There was Salem Lane which Cara, Linda, Artie, Beth P, Jennifer, Betsy and so many others took home most of the time.

Above - the cement steps that lead to Westbrook Road. Merrill, Vukov, Rehe, Koper all took this way to get home. I too would sometimes take this route home talking with friends along the way and taking a half hour or more to get home!

Above - the same steps to Westbrook Rd. All the Salem Ridge kids would go to the right to Eastbrook, Norgate, Roslyn Rd and many others.

Then there was the West Brook Rd / Quackenbush routes. If you took a right when you got up the steps or simply walked across the baseball field toward the little tree in the corner - you were headed to Roslyn Rd, East Gate, Norgate, Eastbrook, Arrow Lane, etc - Margaret Silvers, Karen Eide, Chic Voorhis, Ann Rimmer, Katie, Hank, Doug and many others would take that route. If you went up the steps and headed straight you headed for Quackenbush, North Rd and E Glen Ave.

Above - the long, narrow macadam path I would usually take to and from school.

Then there was the long macadam pathway that led to E Glen Ave - this is the route I took most of the time but I also took Westbrook to Quackenbush if I happened to be walking home with Gary Vukov, Ken Merrill, Jan Koper - they lived along the way. For me, taking that route was not a long distance but it would take me longer to get home because I would get side-tracked trading baseball cards or talking with friends or exploring the woods or the field by the Breitweiser's!

Going home for lunch was great! You had basically an hour and you'd get home pretty quickly. I would often run home if there was a new song I liked on the radio - WABC-AM radio in NY tended to play their popular songs at specific times! Otherwise you'd watch a favorite rerun of a tv show then take the walk back to school.

When you got to ride your bike to and from school that was even better!

When walking along those 3 paths today - they really haven't changed and they bring back a lot of memories of running home to catch the end of a World Series game on the radio or if it was the fall, getting home to play football while there was still enough light!

The Glen School Checkerboard!

2011-08-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know this is a fluff story - but I was at the school recently (passing through as usual) and taking photos. Roamed around behind the school and saw that the checkerboard is still there - well kind of. It's a bit over-grown. The original (I think) alternated between cement (white) and macadam (black) and had a corner that was filled with sand - the sand is still there too but grass has filled in.

Above a photo of Glen School just before it opened in 1959 as construction was winding down. You get a great view of the checkerboard as it looked when new! We probably played some sort of game incorporating the boxes. The large white box at the top corner was sand. The perimeter has now filled in with trees and brush over the years.

The perimeter that has a little slope used to be wide open and led to a small creek where we used to hang out looking for salamanders and turtles. The perimeter has been completely covered now. Like all things, our playground seemed so big back in the day but is pretty small - it was a lot of fun though! If I remember right we had an amazing swing set, a well-made, colorful slide, see-saws and monkey bars. Just about every good weather day would be spent out there!

Above is the checkerboard as it appears today (August, 2011). I was psyched to see it still there despite being over grown.

Above the back of Glen School from the checkerboard. The three doors you see represent our first, second and third grade classrooms (left to right).

Above the checkerboard during the winter - photo was taken in December, 2008.

Grace Hensley: A 1st Grade Class Update!

2011-08-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

The blogosphere - there are so many blogs out there - some for politics, some to talk about one's interests. Then there's this kind! I'm not saying this is the best kind but I started this almost 3 years ago and never expected much from it but selfishly it has brought a lot to me. I mean imagine my excitement when my first grade teacher - Pat Mercer emailed me back in early 2009 and said "This is Pat Mercer" - whoa!

Well the good things keep coming! This next story is one of those you wouldn't think would happen but hoped would. It's an update to an earlier story about our first grade class - you can find the original story about our class using the search box on this blog.

Grace Hensley - born Grace Mulligan - she probably would've given anything to be a teacher but for one school year - Glen School 1961-62 - she was just that! She was my first grade teacher's right hand that year.

You have to understand our first grade class was huge - 32 kids in all and Pat needed help! Well as luck would have it this was the year Grace - age 50 - was looking to go back to work and applied at the Ridgewood, NJ Board of Education. They immediately sent her to Glen School.

Above is our first grade class - Pat Mercer is on the left and Grace Hensley on the right!

Above photo: back row l to r: Raleigh Hensley's sister-in-law Bertha, Grace's husband Raleigh Hensley, Grace's daughter Jane, Grace Hensley. Front row l to r: Kathy's cousins Sally and Jimmy, Kathy Hensley. This was about the same time Grace would have been assisting Pat Mercer in our first grade class.

I regretted not having enough information about Grace and as with other favorite Glen School teachers who have since passed away - I always hope a family member will Google their mom's name and find the blog and that's exactly what Grace's daughter Kathy did!

With the help of Kathy, here is a wonderful and heartbreaking update to the Grace Hensley story.

Grace Hensley was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ and graduated from Dickinson High School. Grace always had fun telling everyone that she attended school with Frank Sinatra - which she did, though Sinatra was younger.

Above is Dickinson High School in Jersey City, NJ as it appeared shortly after it was built - this is where Grace graduated. A truly impressive building.

Above is Dickinson High School as it appears today - gone are the rolling grassy slopes and in it's place - parking lots of course!

Grace met her husband Raleigh at an Uncle's house and they were married in 1943. Raleigh was from Kentucky and was in the Army at the time. He was stationed in Paramus, NJ (he manned a searchlight for an anti-aircarft group - yes in Paramus, NJ!)

Above is Raleigh Hensley in the Army.

Upon getting married, Raleigh was shipped off to Europe where he served in the war.

As a young wife, Grace came to love interior decorating - much to Raleigh's dismay. At least he got to paint - but then Grace started hanging wallpaper (which she was quite good at!)

Grace also loved to cook and entertain family and friends - she loved her family more than anything.

Grace and Raleigh would settle into domestic life and had 2 daughters - Jane born in Jersey City, NJ in 1948 and Kathy born in Ridgewood in 1952.

The Hensley's would reside in Jersey City (Grace's hometown) for a while after Raleigh's return from the war until Raleigh was discharged from the army.

The Hensley's would move to Ridgewood, NJ in 1950 and bought 108 Circle Avenue! Can you imagine the cost of that house in 1950? $9,000!!!! It's just crazy what our folks paid for their homes in those days! Anyway, Grace and Raleigh truly made this home their own and Kathy recently took a picture of it when passing through during her reunion weekend in 2010.

Kathy's own 2 children would be born in Ridgewood as well despite the long trip from Vernon, NJ which is where they lived!

About being assigned as a teacher's assistant Kathy's says of her mom:

"....I know she loved her job.....as I said, that first year was the best. What a wonderful way to get back into the workforce.......to have a job she adored!"

Above is the Ridgewood, NJ Board of Education offices where Grace worked from 1962-1977. The 1961-62 school year would be the only one that Grace would be in a classroom, but she would remain with the Board of Education in Ridgewood as a secretary until her retirement in December 1977 when she and her husband Raleigh left Ridgewood for Hamburg, NJ.

Above Raleigh and Grace Hensley.

After she moved away from Ridgewood, Grace kept in touch with the many friends from work - she truly missed working there.

Kathy also says: "What she did miss the very most was being in your class and working with Pat."

At the age of 9, Kathy remembers her mom talking about our first grade class - telling stories about us painting with straws and Pat Mercer's classic, funny ways to get us to remember things like the order of the planets! Pat's way always made Grace smile and laugh - she loved it!

Pat and Grace got along incredibly well and Grace would often refer to Pat as her "third daughter".

At the end of our first grade school year, Pat married Rennie DiLauro. Kathy remembers this about Pat's wedding:

"I remember at the end of the school year when Pat & Rennie got married and my parents went down to Margate (NJ) for the wedding. I don't remember my mom ever looking forward to a wedding as much as Pat & Rennie's!"

Kathy also recalls Grace - having returned to the Board of Education - hearing about Bruce Cuneen's passing (he was a young boy in my class who was sick and passed away at a very young age) and the untimely passing of our principal Art Linden and his wife Mary and how sad she was about it.

Kathy fondly remembers babysitting for 2 of Pat's 3 kids - Joanne and John when the DiLauro's lived on Spring Avenue in Ridgewood.

After Grace and Raleigh retired they enjoyed their 6 grandchildren - daughter Jane would have 4 children and Kathy had 2 - Taryn and Patrick. It truly breaks my heart to write that Kathy's beautiful daughter Taryn was killed in a drunk driver accident in 2004. I just don't have the words Kathy................Grace too would pass away in 2004 and Kathy took comfort in knowing that her mom never knew about her granddaughter's accident.

Above, Kathy's beautiful children - Taryn and Patrick.

Above, Kathy's daughter Taryn.

Grace was 92 years old when she passed away. Grace & Raleigh were able to celebrate 53 years of marriage together. Kathy and her sister Jane are graduates of Ridgewood High Scool - Jane was Class of 1965 and Kathy Class of 1970.

Above: a stunning Kathy Hensley - Ridgewood High School yearbook photo - 1970. How many yearbooks did she sign!

I am very grateful to you Kathy for going out of your way to contact me. Kathy recently got together with our first grade teacher Pat DiLauro. I hope you can crash one of our reunions!

Grace Hensley contributed so much to our first grade class and the combination of her and Pat as a team are a major reason why that class is so memorable.

Kathy in front of 108 Circle Avenue in Ridgewood, NJ 2010 - where she grew up!

The "Can't Get Lost In Bergen County" Signs!

2011-08-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

Remember when you got your permit - your license in Ridgewood NJ? It was exciting to be sure - for me being so young I didn't turn 17 until November of my senior year but when I got my license - whooo - had wheels with my girl!

I was driving around in a '65 Rambler which looking back was actually a pretty cool car - though I didn't think so at the time. I remember when Paul Adamo got me a "good" deal on an 8-track tape player - I hooked it up under the front seat for some reason - I guess to keep the radio untouched.

Driving around Bergen County - I knew my way around pretty good - but Bergen County towns had these great signs - they were at every major intersection - they would list 4 towns - all different directions, sometimes not - you would look quickly and say "Oh, yeah, just go this way". You could not possibly get lost in Bergen County.

Whoever came up with that idea - thank you! Many late nights the signs bailed me out!!

They used to be black & white but recently I was down in Ridgewood (trying to find Jill's house) and I was pleased to find one of those classic "can't get lost in Bergen County" signs (now green & white) - happy to see they still do them!

You Gotta Come to the BF/GW Reunion - Here's A Growing List!!

2011-08-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hey I'll post an ongoing list of who's coming to our reunion - we don't even know cost, etc yet but it will be at a hotel in deference to those flying in.

Please check out the BF/GW blog for current details and the list of who's coming - you can find the blog at http://bfgw1970.blogspot.com/

Details will be posted everywhere so you can't miss them. Also we'll set up a temporary BF blog so you can check the details and maybe a couple of stories - I will also search for BF teachers - Rusty I'll need your help!

Saturday November 12 is the date - mark it down - awesome people are coming! I will make personal appeals to everyone in the next week! Beth Perdue, Diane Coleman, Jan Potdevin(!), Daun, Appleton, O'Connor - you've all got to come -

Who's Coming So Far:

Me!
Ann Rimmer
Katie Knight
Karen Eide
Cara Worthington
John Wescott
Terri Dimodugno
Penny Ward
Ken Merrill
Maryanne Vaz
Margaret Silvers
Gayle Allard
Cathy O'Neill

You wanna have a great weekend - come to this!

More Glen School Candids!

2011-08-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

Here's some more candid Glen School era photos! Thanks everybody! Be sure to click on the photos to enlarge!

Above is part of my class during a field trip to the Central Park Zoo. Photo courtesy of Katie Knight. From l to r: Lisa Faeth, Suzy Nunno, Carl Vrabel (ready for lunch!), Beth Perdue, Penny Ward riding the statue and Jill Neandross peeking in from behind!

Above from l to r: Ricky Flannery, best friend Melanie Teasley and Skipper Hartman in my backyard.

Above is a photo of Margaret Silvers' 1966 birthday party. Mags didn't get the opportunity to celebrate her birthday at home too often because her family always left for Maine. I will add the names later but that's Margaret first one on the left in the first photo and that's her in the second photo. Photo is property of Margaret Silvers.

Above from l to r: Virginia Flannery and Cynthia Pomeroy (Cindy's mom!) at a bar-b-que at the Menghin's house.

Above me in my bedroom - folding my pants??? - the box in the photo on my dresser is filled with good baseball cards!

Above photo is of later Glen School kids programming the Commodore PET 2001 computer - what an antique. There are actually clubs where members own and get together to talk about and use their Commodore PET computers - wow!

Reflecting ----- Again!

2011-07-31T21:09:00.000-07:00

So I'm looking at myself and wondering "Why do I still write this blog?" - honestly, how much can one say about an elementary school - about one's life when they were a preteen?

It is fun but it is like thereapy I guess - I loved that time (growing up) - I loved my teens - I love my current life - yes, I have fitfully progressed! There have been sad times but I never tried to dwell on those, yet life can be cruel sometimes - like when my dad became ill suddenly. He loved to golf - he never had much time to do it but he loved it. When I was a teen I was embarrassed to be with my folks - they didn't understand me, etc - it's not true of course, its just what I was thinking as a teen in search of myself. Embarrassed about my parents(!) - can you imagine!!?? How terrible and how incredibly patient were my parents to let me ride it all out. I would be crushed if my kids thought that about me!

Well when I finally broke out of those teen years - I saw the light. I was in retail before changing careers and I thought, "Gee, Dad is retiring, how cool would it be to meet up for lunch every 2 weeks or so and golf together once in a while" - to laugh about our lives together - to say sorry without saying it but showing my dad this was the real me - to hoist a drink together. Then he got sick - it was devestating.

Maybe this (the blog) is a way for me to revisit a time when my folks were around and I was psyched about it - not embarrassed - who knows.

Am I really becoming this deep - me of all people!? Most times in my life have been incredible - truly. My own family - having children, wow! There have been the tough moments to - losing my folks obviously - a friend who lost a young child to a freak accident - worst wake I have ever been too (love you Sally) - losing uncles and aunts, some whose lives were cut too short - Carl Vrabel's dad (it took me a while to get over that) - Jan Potdevin's mom - Jim O'Brien - how did I never say anything to you about losing your dad so young? There have been difficult moments for others and some I won't share here but I have thought of you - but yes during all these bad moments I felt terrible - in fact that's why for me I DID feel so selfish about Jan Potdevin showing up unexpectedly at our Glen reunion - what an unexpected special moment - the best kind - I know she didn't want to do it - but she did it - all by herself - an hours drive not knowing what to expect - I understood but how happy I was when Terri said "Guess who's here!" - I didn't even get to say thanks and goodbye to Jan that night....Gayle Allard - man, some of these people didn't know me well - but I knew them - and seeing them every day, being around them - something I will always remember.

I would write this blog even if I thought people wouldn't read it - but knowing that people you've grown up with might read something you wrote - is both liberating and somewhat nerve-racking - they might see an honest and sometimes heart-on-your-sleeve expression of yourself. I can't imagine doing this in any other format - blogging gives you license and allows you to be yourself - as Annie once said a year ago or so "You're like the confessor" - I swear I don't get lost in this stuff - but I truly am who I am as a result of so many things not the least of which was attending Glen School.

I also struggle at times that I still haven't reconciled Artie's death - it is truly the most inexplicable thing to me. How can you go from such a high to such a low so quickly? Yes - it is selfish of me. My reconnecting with him and losing him just as quickly - was crazy. How can you not see someone for so many years and feel like this is family that has passed away(?) - how is it possible that losing someone like Artie can effect you in such a way? Artie's family had scattered mementoes of Artie's life in the rooms where his wake was held and had asked us to feel free to take one in his memory - I so regret not taking one of Artie's mementoes - you feel funny at the time but.........

In 1993, when Artie grabbed the mike at our 20th high school reunion and asked all the Glen School students present to gather for a picture (there were 14 of us there) - we did it automatically and we thought wow, yeah this is cool. You know, you graduated high school with so many people - but the kids you went to elementary school with - it's different, its more intimate and here was someone else being the first one to express that (you wouldn't do it for fear of seeming corny). About gathering for the picture, it was so much better (at the reunion) than trying to make fake talk with people about what you're doing, where you're going, where you vacation, etc (all the things that make reunions such a drag). I honestly didn't know what to expect at that particular reunion - almost didn't go to it in fact - I didn't want it to be "this is what I'm doing, what are YOU doing" - I wanted it to be special - and it was. Karen's hug was perfect....perfect (don't laugh) - it made my evening, it convinced me that this was a reunion I couldn't miss - she was the very first person I really saw from the Class of '73 and it was the best. Is it why I hung out almost exclusively with Cara Worthington (whom I was crushed for that night - her husband had just passed away) and Karen Eide that night - I felt so comfortable with them - don't get me wrong - it was incredible seeing everyone I graduated with - then you leave and continue with your life but it was nice ya know? It's a bond - Artie couldn't explain it and neither can I and therein lies the beauty of it. My wife Caryn had come with me in 1993 - she understood and was so accomodating to me - thanks......

Fast forward to the 2009 Glen School reunion - when Artie signed on early as a blog reader and as a booster for all this stuff, complete with his utterly unreadable text messages(!) - I was psyched! Wow - here was a guy I loved growing up - he never knew it though - but here he was signing on to what I was envisioning because he felt the same way - hell he always felt the same way. "A Glen School reunion Artie, but at the school!" "Yes!" he would say - "We can make that happen!!"

When I read about Margaret Silvers' and Doug Terhune's successful attempts at gathering their old Glen classmates AND Mr. McFall - I was hooked - that was also in 1993!

Maryanne Vaz told me recently - you were so quiet in school - indeed I was, painfully so sometimes - it's tough when you're trying to fit in - its so difficult when you're younger and I was in some cases almost 9 months younger than my classmates. But here we are - at this age writing so fondly about one's time growing up - and I demanded that Maryanne come to the reunion (You just have to come!) and she did (all thanks to Rusty Wescott) - how cool is that - Maryanne Vaz - who would have thought it possible to find her - thanks John! No apologies - I got probably more out of it than anyone.

Just want to say thanks to all who understand and who share this special affection for one's class.......looking forward to the BF reunion and absolutely can't wait for the RHS 40th reunion.

Coming Soon: Life in Salem Ridge!

2011-07-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

I've put together some great stuff about growing up in and around Salem Ridge thanks to Else Ege and Margaret and others. That will be coming soon!

Summertime at Glen School!

2011-07-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

The Endless Summer - it was a great surfing movie but it's also how we all felt as summer was about to begin during Glen School! These days its all about Block Island for me - a little heaven on earth as far as I'm concerned, but when I was little the summer was everything!

As we approached the last day of school each year, we'd clean out our flip-top desks - the windows in class would be wide open with the breezes and the smell of the summer air and it would be near impossible to concentrate on anything but the 2 1/2 months of fun that lay ahead!

Above is our actual 2nd grade classroom as it looks today. Each classroom had an inside door to the hallway and a door that led directly outside which is the door we used for recess and to leave for lunch and the end of the day. The windows were huge and I remember cutting myself once on the sharp metal corners. There was no air conditioning like today. We'd sit and daydream about the summer while our teachers would try and make those last days interesting!

Starting with our last day of school each year, my garndfather would take me and one of my cousins to Palisades Park where he'd let us do whatever we wanted - we went on everything and spent a lot of quarters. Then usually a couple of days later another cousin (Carolyn) and our families would go to Palisades Park and do it all over again. What a blast - we must have done that for 5 or 6 years in row.

Above is a photo of a busy Palisades Amusement Park.

At Glen School, I was in the summer recreation program for several years - you know, we made things - tons of things - pot holders, laniards and popsicle stick-whatevers. Lots of games and sports. It was definitely a lot of fun.

Karen Eide when asked if she was in the Summer Recreation Program recalls: "Yes! How many laniards, pot holders and popsicle stick creations did my mom endure!?"

Ken Merrill remembers: "......every year - enjoyed it very much! Lots of arts and crafts and sports!"

Beth Daly too remembers: "Yes I remember summer rec - my mother had boxes of things made from popsicle sticks! All of us (there were 6 kids in my family) went to it at one time or another. There is nothing like that here anymore but what a bonus for our parents!"

Above - we would do a lot of the art stuff here under the overhang in the courtyard when we belonged to the summer rec program.

Above is a sampling of the classic potholders we all made!

There was camp at the YMCA in town which included swimming, archery, games and great hikes.

Above from l to r: Ricky Flannery, Randy Sharp, Kent Meneghin and Bruce Meneghin on the first day of camp.

My friends and I would bike all over the immediate area around Glen School and when I got a little older we even rode with our canteens and pocket knives to Saddle River and Woodcliff Lake!

When I was 6 and 7 there were annual trips to the circus with the neighborhood kids!

Above - my dad took us all to the circus twice. We all got dressed up for it! From l to r: Randy Sharp, Kent Meneghin, Jimmy O'Brien, Ricky Flannery and Bruce Meneghin. This was Spring 1962.

Another big event of course was the Fourth of July - Dad marched in the parade. Ridgewood always had the biggest parade around and like Artie Brierley I would count the fire trucks - there was an endless line of them - the coolest part was the simultaneous sound of all the sirens at once - it was awesome! I'll never forget too - just like my sister Ginny - going to Vets Field for the fireworks with friends and seeing family and relatives - "OMG really - must I sit here? What if someone sees me?" - I'm trying to be cool ya know! The things you do when you're young.

Above l to r my uncle Ralph (Carolyn's father - my favorite cousin!) and my dad after marching in the parade!

There was also a memorable trip to Lake George one year when we went to just about every childhood theme park in that area including Frontier Town, Storytown, Gaslight Village, Magic Forest, North Pole among others - I remember our station wagon was covered with cardboard bumper stickers that they'd put on your bumper with metal wires. I remember the motel we stayed at showed first-run outdoor movies by the pool at night and one night we got drenched in the middle of the movie!

Above my sister Ginny and I at Frontier Town - for a few years I lived in my holster!

There were weekly crossings of Route 17 to Grand-Way to buy model kits, records and trading cards. Can you believe as little kids the amount of times we'd cross a busy highway like that - and we did it when we were really young because in 1967 they built an overpass which made it safer to cross but by that time we were 10 and 11 years old!

One year I went camping with the Meneghins which was a great time!

Above the Meneghins and I somewhere I think in Pennsylvania - it was a lot of fun!

We'd go fishing at Hall's Pond, Saddle River and the Duck Pond.

Above Ricky Flannery feeding the ducks at the Duck Pond!

Bar-B-Ques at the Menghins or the Flannerys - Cindy Pomeroy would usually be there too!

Above is a bar-b-que at the Meneghins. Cindy Pomeroy is there. It was probably a year later that I asked Cindy to go steady and gave her my id bracelet which I gave to her between throwing the baseball around on Auburn Ave! My Winnie Cooper! I remember playing spin-the-bottle once in a friend's tent and Cindy and I would redirect the spun bottle to hers or my direction - yes it was fixed and all inocent too - there always seemed to be a crowd around us!

We'd swim whereever there was a pool and we always joined Graydon every year. My sister would be on the grassy or "cool" side and me on the sandy side! Lessons in the early morning when the water was at its coldest - blue lips and all. We held our breath under water, learned the "dead man's float", kicked a lot and floated on our backs non-stop for 40 minutes or so.

Above Graydon Pool at sunset - photo is from the Ridgewood Blog and is the property of "Alan" (there was no last name). Photo was taken in 2010.

Above, me and my best friend, my cousin Carolyn. We were like glue for nearly 20 years!

The Meneghin's and Jimmy O'Brien and I would play never-ending board games, we'd plan bike trips, sleep outside in each others yards, play baseball, football, kick the can at night. I would cut the Meneghin's lawn when they went to the Cape and get paid for it and they would do the same for us.

We'd probably go to 5 or 6 drive-in movies every summer at the Paramus Drive-In or the Route 17 Drive-In in Upper Saddle River. That was so much fun especially when you're little. Pajamas, pillows, snacks, 2 movies, intermission to allow you to que up at the refreshment stand and seemingly all the time in the world! 2 minutes till showtime!

Above is an actual shot of the Paramus Drive-In. Its from my personal collection.

Then there was the Jersey Shore. We spent many summer vacations at Long Beach Island when I was little. You couldn't wait to hit the Parkway - the anticipation always so exciting!

One year when I was in 7th grade we went to Chadwick Beach which is the same island as Lavellette and Ocean Beach among others. Vacation does something to you - it gives you confidence you don't normally have at that age - people don't know you but you're all on the same page when you're away. On that vacation I remember seeing a girl on the beach during the day - you know, you're like 11 or 12 and you're with your family - I'll never forget asking her quickly if she would meet me at the beach that night - she said yes and we met at around 8pm on the beach - it was wonderful! My parents were great about it and ultimately knew what I was doing but allowed me this wonderful shot at independence. We just sat on the sand and talked about what else - our families, school, where we were from - then a simple kiss goodnight - wow enough to make you sail through the rest of the summer - we wrote for a little while, but you know, your life goes on - you don't forget these things though! Vacations always allowed you the freedom to just be yourself.

The Jersey Shore was also where I first discovered head shops where I bought black-light posters, beaded necklaces and bracelets and I would always stock up on a supply of Archie comics on vacation too! I wanted to surf in the worse way - but never gave it a try.

Above Ricky Flannery on one of the many beach vacations we took in Long Beach Island - circa 1962!

The ice cream trucks today play the silliest music but when we were little the Good Humor guy rang these loud bells and you could here him coming in the distance as soon as he turned onto your street. Like clockwork he would come during the dinner hour - mom or dad would give up a quarter and you'd run outside, see everybody else coming out their doors, try to be the first one in line, get your ice cream and put it in the freezer for after dinner!

Above - an american classic - the "Good Humor Man". He was the most popular guy of the summer and nothing would get you out of your house quicker than the sound of those bells!

We also went for family "rides" - this was such a baby boomer thing - it meant driving all over the place - to no place special! We'd seemingly visit every town in Northern NJ and NY State - "Oh look that's where Major Andre was hung for treason during the Revolutionary War!" - but we'd always end up at Terwilliger's for ice cream - lines out the door but worth the wait. (Now that's another thing, can you imagine telling poor Major Andre "Hey, 200 years from now people will drive by your monument, look and then go for ice cream!) Van Dyk's was our baseball ice cream place and I'm psyched that they're still in town - I was sad to see T&W's close - my accountant's office is right door to where it used to be.

Above - the counter at T&W Ice Cream - circa 1950's.

And then there was Labor Day weekend - this was always the last weekend of "freedom" before returning to school. The week leading up to Labor Day you'd go "back to school" shopping and always try to get clothes that made you look cooler than the year before - or in my case not! I'll never forget my first attempt at trying to look Mod - wow!

Summers are a wonderful time of year and probably the one time of year when you make the most memories but now I look forward to spending them with family, coaching and watching my son Ricky play baseball! It all goes way too fast and THIS Labor Day weekend, instead of trying to buy "cool" clothes we'll be taking my daughter Jennie up to URI for her freshman year - and that's near BI!

BF Reunion Coming in November 2011!

2011-07-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hey the BF reunion is coming in November. It looks like it will be held at a hotel for more "quality" time with everyone. We will know more details shortly. It will probably be November 12.

Hope everyone can make it! Then its 2 years to the big one!

Girl Scouts at Glen School!

2011-07-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

Among the outside activities many of us took part in at Glen School was the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts or as Artie Brierley used say (regarding the Cub Scouts) - "the boys in blue".

By the time the girls at Glen School reached 2nd or 3rd grade, a lot of them would join the Brownies. Being with your firends and the chance to make new friends made this a fun experience for many. Brownie life was made up of meetings, dues, refreshments, games, baking, crafts and trips to nursing homes and more.

Above is a classic photo courtesy of Judy Wilson Glen School Class of 1969. It's Mrs. Cook's class - probably 1st or 2nd grade. You can see some of the girls in their Brownie uniforms which told you they had a meeting after school. While I can't make out everyone, Barbara Demick is first in the front (l to r), Kim Vukov is just behind her, Breitweiser, Janice Avery, Judy Wilson, Margaret Silvers (with head turned) and Karen Stewart I think. Help me if I'm wrong Mags!

The Brownies would work to earn their merit badges badges for a variety of tasks. The badges would be awarded and sewn onto their sashes.

If a girl kept going, after 2 years they would become a Girl Scout. As a scout they would continue earning merit badges for somewhat more difficult tasks.

Above Ridgewood Girl Scouts being honored.

The Brownies and Girl Scouts have always been famous for selling their cookies and our local girls were no different. In fact, I want to say that the cookies back then were actually better - they were made by the Burry's Company. Everyone has their favorites. The girls would sell to family and friends but would also do a lot of door to door selling back then - a time when everyone in the neighborhoods knew each other and it was much safer to sell that way.

Above: Girls Scouts and Brownies banning together to sell cookies for camp.

Above: It's amazing the photos you find on the net. This is what a box of Girl Scout cookies might have looked like in the early 1960's.

Meetings would take place at the homes of mom's who were leaders. The girls would pay their monthly or bi-weekly dues. There would be a variety of activities and refreshments and the girls would continue to work on and plan their merit goals.

Above is a photo that is the property of Patricia Nagy Cove. It is Ridgewood Girl Scout Troop 86 giving a carved pumpkin show at Patricia's house in Ridgewood.

There would also be camp overnights at Pound Ridge, NY.

Above: Another classic photo from Judy Wilson Glen School Class of 1969. It is 1967, Troop 216 camping at Pound Ridge, NY. The girls are from l to r: Diane Delorenzo, Judy Wilson, Amy Vest, Sarah Avery, Debbie Reagan and Pam Morton.

I recently asked a few Glen School alums about their scouting experiences - here's some of what they shared:

Margaret Silvers: "I was Girl Scout Troop 199. I remember because my brother Robbie would tease me about my troop number. It's so hard to say, "one-ninety-nine"...........he tormented me about my troop number! Mrs. Breitweiser was a troop leader I remember. My mother filled in one year and I think she hated it! At that time, Sally Reese would push us to "cut" the thursday afternoon meeting and pocket the .25 cent dues!"

Katie Knight: "I was a Girl Scout. The troop number escapes me. In 4th grade or so, I remember being sad that my brothers all attended a very cool Boy Scout camp (Camp Yaw Paw) in Mahwah (NJ) every year and I sat in a classroom and drew pictures of my family! Mrs. Yingling was the troop leader when I was in 6th grade and she was very cool - we studied flowers, herbs - took lots of hikes, looked at the stars - it was great! I seem to remember her being a Quaker which I thought was impressive!"

Beth Daly: "I was a Girl Scout all through Glen but I can't for the life of me remember who our leader was."

Jennifer Marcello: "I was a Brownie. Can't remember the name of our troop leader but she lived on Van Emburgh. (I have a) vivid memory of making sugar cookies to take to a nursing home. Also remember selling cookies as a Girl Scout back in the day when you could safely go door-to-door alone."

Cara Worthington: "Karen's tv commercial, camping at Pound Ridge and making numerous sit-upons!"

Diana and Cynthia Wagner were both scouts. Cynthia remembers: "Yes, we were in the Girl Scouts with a mother who was a leader (their mom). We went to Travell where my mom had her troop and she even made me become a cadet in junior high school! I got a job as soon as I turned 14 so that I would have an excuse not to join (again)!

Ann Rimmer: "(I was a) Girl Scout for a year or two. I remember going to Girl Scout camp which was a lot of fun!"

A couple of years ago, when I started this blog, Beth Daly had asked me if I remembered the tv commercial Karen Eide did for the Girl Scouts. I remember a lot of things and I was embarrassed that I did not remember this about Karen! I asked Beth Daly more about it and she had told me it was a big deal - the girls all gathered at Karen's the day it was first shown on television. When Beth shared that story with me, I thought "Surely there must be a way to find that commercial somewhere." I actually wrote to a few places - Girl Scouts Organization, etc - trying to found out how one would go about finding a video of a vintage commercial like that. I even wrote to Karen on Classmates but we all slowly stopped paying to be on there. Then Karen found this blog and got in touch. Of course one of the first things I asked her about was the commercial. Karen told me about it and as luck would have said "Yes - I have it on DVD!" I was obviously thrilled and patiently waited for the day Karen would put it on the web. While I don't manage to go on Facebook a lot, I was fortunate enough to be on the day Karen posted the news on her wall and she gave me permission to use it here! The commercial alone makes this story - thanks Karen!

Having viewed the commercial, it definitely looks familiar and while the girls all gathered over at Karen's to watch it, I'm sure all of us were told about it and I can see myself rushing home from school to see it - "Baseball(?) - not now, gotta go, Karen's on tv!"! How cool that it is preserved for all of us to enjoy!

Of the commercial, Katie Knight shared this: "Yes, I was in the troop that tried out for that commercial. I do remember one girl being so upset and crying so hard when she didn't get picked that they let her be in the commercial. I used to watch it at Karen's house when it was on!"

Annie told me: "I totally remember the Karen Eide commercial! She was the perfect pick!"

There was just no better way to conclude this brief story about the Girl Scouts at Glen School then with Karen's actual tv commercial. Just click on the little arrow below and enjoy!

If you have anything you'd like to contribute to this story, please email me!

New Photos from Karen Eide!

2011-07-22T21:26:00.000-07:00

Karen recently sent me the following candid photos from her personal collection. These girls have been friends forever! Glen School made friendships that have stood the test of time - despite our busy lives and not being in touch sometimes for years, friendships like these are always there.

Each one of the girls in the photos (maybe except for Pam) have remained in touch with each other. The beauty of school friendships like ours is that nothing is expected from anybody you just pick up where you left off.

The photos are from some of Karen's birthday parties. About her birthday memories Karen has this to say:

"My mom threw really fun birthday parties. I got to invite 10 girls. She'd always bake my cake of choice and devise fun games like Spiderweb where she'd weave different yarns throughout the downstairs that we'd have to wind up to find a prize at the end - (it was) chaos x 10 little girls! I always got an amazing cake!"

Thanks for sending the photos Karen! If I got anyone wrong in the photos please let me know!!

Above back l to r: Pam Bennett, Jill Neandross, Melanie Teasley, Lisa Faeth. Front l to r: Karen Eide, Jan Potdevin. I think this is kindergarten - Pam was in our class then and Jan was still attending Glen School (Jan had moved across town a couple of years later and would meet up with us again in high school). Wow I hope you see this photo Jan!!

Above back row l to r: Beth Daly, Beth Perdue, Ann Rimmer. Front row l to r: Katie Knight, Karen Eide, Cara Worthington, Suzie Nunno.

Birthday cake in Karen's basement! From l to r: Ann Rimmer, Cara Worthington, Karen Eide, Katie Knight, Beth Perdue. Button-down collar shirts were the rage that year!

Reflections - The House That Built Me!

2011-04-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

Although life is pretty busy at the moment - kids sports, colleges, etc - I love - when time allows to reflect on the past and document what I can. Whenever I pass through Ridgewood it's impossible not to look back and remember the various parts of ones life. Every time I leave to come home, I always feel like I missed the opportunity to take a great picture. I keep forgetting to snap photos of classmate's old homes like the Perdue and Worthington houses - classic and familiar as they always were and still are. It's not simply about reflecting but rather gathering facts, great stories and documenting a place in time - our time. It'll be a document for my kids and grandkids.

Recently, Caryn, myself and the kids headed down to the Jersey Shore to spend Easter. On the way home we got off the Parkway at Route 17 Sunday afternoon. If you're from Bergen County NJ you'll know that driving around Bergen County on a Sunday is a very pleasant experience! The "Bergen County Blue Law" as it is known - prevents retailers from opening on Sundays - in particular the malls (of which there are many!) It's an incredible thing when you think about it - in an age when its all about the money its remarkable this sort of thing has held up for this long!

We headed down 17 past the familiar landmarks including The Fireplace and stopped for gas. Remember the Grand Way? (it's long been a K-Mart). As kids we used to cross busy Route 17 (before the overpass was built) to get to the Grand Way to buy the latest music, model kits and turn in our found deposit bottles for money to buy baseball cards (at a nickel a pack you could buy a hec of a lot of baseball cards!).

When we reached Van Emburgh Ave, I couldn't fight the urge (never can!) to stop at Glen School again to get some new pictures. Every time I pull into the parking lot there, its like stepping back in time. What a fun place and time in history to attend elementary school. When I look at pictures from when I grew up is it just me or were those days the sunniest days ever? My daughter Jennie definitely gets a kick out of me when I'm in this zone. Every time I get home I think "Ugh, I should have taken this picture or that!" or "Ugh, I forgot again to take a picture of Worthington's house!"

When I'm walking around the school, I often wonder what people are thinking as I look for a new angle to shoot photos. I love taking pictures that I can later use as "Then and Now" subjects.

After about a dozen new photos, we then took the obligatory turn down my old street - it never ceases to amaze me how utterly small it all seems. Did the neighborhood really seem that much bigger when I was little?

Passing Cindy Pomeroy's house (her dad still lives there!) I recalled the old willow tree we used to climb and sit in - it stood on the corner of their property. I spied the spot where the old garage was of their neighbor the Adomovitz who had lived next door - behind it I kissed Cindy for the first time (she'd probably kill me for sharing that but then again maybe not!) We used to ride our bikes and talk a lot - I remember thinking about that kiss for days afterward - it was so hard to accomplish it but I was on cloud 9! I was teased by kids down the street that I spent too much time with a girl - we were just little kids! (hey I played with my friends a lot too!)

Life's a collection - it's bits of memories, photographs, landmarks, mementos. Some of us actually return to Ridgewood only to find our homes completely gone! Other homes absurdly added on to. So amidst all the change that time inevitably brings, its always a nice feeling when you still recognize some of the places and landmarks where you grew up.

While driving down Auburn Avenue, I recalled all the baseball games and football games and sleep-outs and running bases and the summer night games we used to play in our yards and in the street with Jimmy O'Brien, Kent, Bruce, Mark and Brian Meneghin. You wanted Jimmy O'Brien on your team! We had a blast on that street.

I find it amazing that I still love writing about all of this - I mean how much can you say right? But the more I research and the more people share with me, the more things come back to me. I told myself 2 years ago that I'd keep writing about "Glen School" until I run out of material but it seems to be endless! The fun of it is discovering new stories and old, unseen photographs.

In February, I was watching the Grammies with my daughter Jennie and she told me about a song that was nominated - the song is titled "The House That Built Me". It's by a country singer named Miranda Lambert - I'm not a huge country fan - I don't know why there's a need to say that but wow I heard Lambert sing this song and it really struck a chord with me. Right up my alley ya know? Listen to the words and you'll see why if you're even just a little bit sentimental. I realize it sounds silly, but driving by my old house I saw my mom planting flowers, my dad cutting the grass, my sisters, me and my friends, our pets, my dad chasing one of my sister's boyfriends down the driveway - so many things. Jim O'Brien and I used to set up endless army battles with our soldiers at his house, my house. It was where I learned of the greatest and the saddest moments of falling in love. Its where I had wonderful neighbors and friends - moments etched in my memory forever. Its where I felt so free and happy. Its where my dad was at his best and where he fell ill - 858 Auburn Ave was indeed truly the house that built ME.

Above is an early 1970's photo of my old house at 858 Auburn Ave! I seem to recall we had so many bright sunny days growing up!

Above is the same house as it looked in December, 2008. Not many trees left. A lot of memories were made there!

My mom leaning on the fence in the front yard after a day of planting. I remember always asking my mom to remove her eyeglasses for a photo so people could see her face! I remember my dad putting that fence in.

Above, me in the back yard with a basket on my head - circa 1959! There were some great summers in that yard! My sister took this photo.

THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME

I know they say - you can't go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma'am, I know you don't know me from Adam,
But these handprints on the front steps are mine.

And up those stairs - in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn't know - under that live oak,
My favorite dog is buried in the yard.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it,
This brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory,
From the house that built me.

You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could walk around I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Another song that always strikes a sentimental chord with me is from one of my favorite Beatles albums -"Rubber Soul". The song is titled "In My Life", written and sung by John Lennon (though Paul McCartney's attached to it too!). The words to this one are special to me.

IN MY LIFE

There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends
I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
there is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Yup, I am an eternal sap - not a sentimental fool but I am a sap - no apologies here. My thanks to everyone for making me feel that this is all worth doing or least making me think so!!

Mis-Spelled Names - Sorry!

2011-04-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

A quick note to Ken and Cheryl deGruchy - I have repeatedly spelled your name wrong - I am sorry about that! I've been late to correct them but I think I fixed them all!

A Brierley Beatles Memory!

2011-04-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

Artie Brierley - I think I mention his name in every other story I write on this blog. Reconnecting with someone after so long and then losing them almost overnight is a cruel thing. During the time we reconnected, we went back and forth on the phone - we emailed - we sent messages to each other on Facebook. The one thing Artie could not do was respond to these things with his cell phone! Annie and I mentioned this to him once after a particularly difficult time trying to figure out what he wrote. We all had a good laugh about it! He would talk about little memories he had of this or that but if he sent you a memory from his phone you had to decipher it and required more information! One of these memories was about The Beatles appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show for the very first time - we were in 3rd grade. I will recreate it here but will take license to add some words here and there - he was so enjoying what this whole "Glen School" project is all about.

Artie on The Beatles appearing on Ed Sullivan February, 1964. He recalls the monday morning at school - it was a rainy monday:

"Funny the images your (blog) 3rd grade story creates.....I see Wayne Bond sitting on the heater by the window in the hall. It was raining monday morning and we were hanging up our rain coats - everybody was asking each other "Did you see The Beatles last night?" We didn't leave my grandmother's house until after my grandfather stopped yelling about The Beatles on Ed Sullivan!

"This Facebook brings some of the past back. With RHS and Glen people popping up all over! Life is good! By the way, Sue Nunno lives by BF."

First Day of School September, 1960 by Sam Silvers!

2011-04-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

Like Margaret Silvers, my father took a lot of home movies too. I wish I could go back in time and whisper in my dad's ear while he was taking his movies. My dad's films are finally being digitized. There's me walking to school the same day Margaret's dad took this teasing gem included here! They never seem to be long enough these movies. There's also a film of my kindergarten class the same year as the film below dressed in our halloween costumes - cool stuff to be sure but while you're watching you're saying "Dad, go inside the classroom - take shots of Mrs. Janicke!" But its what make these fleeting moments on film so special and thankfully due to the great technology of today, we can preserve the history!

The film below is only 25 seconds and is used with permission and sincere thanks to Margaret and her dad - Sam Silvers who took such care to document life on Roslyn Road.

The film starts off with the Silvers' boys leaving for school on their bikes. For me, the wonderful thing about this short movie is that I'm there - somewhere! Karen Eide is there, Bruce Meneghin is there, Gary Vukov, Ricky Marsh - you don't see us but it was our first day of kindergarten! You see Mr. McFall also welcoming the kids to school as he always did and watching over the little pond that we had in the courtyard - yes it held fish and Artie Brierley fondly recalled how much he enjoyed that little pond. When Artie passed away, his apartment was filled with the evidence of his love of fish and fishing. The pond wouldn't last long. It would be filled in and used as a garden until finally it was completely removed!

With this film, please enjoy this fleeting but live look at Glen School during its second year of operation. I will be adding more films on this blog - some will be my dad's and others by Margaret's dad that add so much to the ever-evolving documentation of life in and around Glen School.

Above photo was taken by me in the 1990's. Stone wall and pond shown in the film below were still present. Standing there in the courtyard or anywhere around the school, many memories come back!

Also please look for the next story about Glen School's Brownies and Girl Scouts. There will be an amazing special treat for my classmates in this story - you're gonna love it!

Just click on the arrow below to enjoy this little film!

The Library at Glen School

2011-03-10T14:47:00.000-08:00

Books - they can be so many things - a source of learning, fascination, escape. I wouldn't say books were always a part of my life - but gradually I came to books and was hooked. In fact, I almost always refuse to lend my books to anyone for fear of not getting them back or getting them back damaged!

Looking back to 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade, books were an utter chore for me. I mean can you imagine? What are you even reading at that age (that is to say it should have been easy for me) - just didn't have the patience for them. There were small exceptions of course. When we went to the libray at school, I would always be drawn to books on sports, the military, picture books - a favorite was "PT-109" the story of John Kennedy's PT boat.

Then my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Prescott urged me to expand my reading habits - she made an attempt to get me to read fiction chapter books. Reluctantly I panned the shelves of our library and found such a book - "Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine" by Jay Williams. When I took it home and began reading it, I found I couldn't wait to see what happened in the next chapter - it would be the first time that I ever read at night in bed! Prescott had succeeded! I then started to read more books from the same series.

Above the first "real" book I ever read thanks to my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Prescott!

This all sounds like a great story right? - 8-9 year old kid discovers reading and..........Well I hate to admit this but it was very short-lived and back to the usual books I went. Later in junior high school and high school, I dreaded the Catcher in the Rye, The Good Earth, Of Mice and Men.

While books were a struggle for me in school (I messed around too much - I was having too much fun in high school!) I did however rediscover books in my twenties. History and non-fiction led the way for me though I occasionally read a novel or two. Today, I want to call my high school history teacher Miss Pinder and tell her - "I finally get it Miss Pinder - I finally love history! Thanks for trying so hard!"

Amazingly at this point in my life I'm discovering the wonder of poetry - I mean I've always admired people like Dylan and Lennon - their stories as told in song and poetry are incredible and are snapshots in time of how they felt about something in their lives. If you let it, poetry can seduce you - a few short verses can send you to another place and time, make you think and reflect - so much of poetry is timeless and very relevant. It's not easy to write poetry - I can't. Its not always about the rhyme obviously. You need to feel it - to let yourself go.

John F. Kennedy once said: "When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses, for art establishes the basic human truths, which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment." Is that relevant or what?

Poetry by people like Jackie Kennedy (and obviously so many others) - of course not known to be a poet but a voracious lover of books and poetry - can give a rare look at what that person is feeling at a given time in their life. In 1939, when she was 10 years old - she penned the following poem:

Sea Joy

by Jacqueline Bouvier - 1939

When I go down by the sandy seashore
I can think of nothing I want more
Then to live by the booming blue sea
As the seagulls flutter round about me

I can run about-when the tide is out
With the wind and the sand and the sea all about
And the seagulls are swirling and diving for fish
Oh-to live by the sea is my only wish.

(The above poem is from Caroline Kennedy's "The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis")

What I like about a simple poem like that is how much the sea meant to her and that if at that young age of 10, all she could achieve in life was to live by the sea, it would have made her life complete. My mom loved the sea too - she loved anywhere that was near water. Our family didn't have a lot of money, but my mom always dreamed of living by the sea. My mom was also a frustrated writer - she always mailed stories that she wrote to magazines like McCall's, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping - in the hope that one of them might get published. I recall her being hopeful whenever a large envelope from one of these magazines arrived in the mail. She loved books too - she loved the places a book could take her and they inspired her to write stories and keep a set of 4 journals that she would write in from about the late 1950's through the 70's. Sadly I do not know what became of the journals.

When you think of writers and authors you think of them as practicing their craft some time after college - you know in their 20's or early 30's. One of the 20th century's great books "The Greek Way", was written by Edith Hamilton - it was her first book and she was 62 years old when she wrote it! She would become the author of many books and be the ricipient of many awards later in her life. She died at the age of 96. Of this book, Robert F. Kennedy said that reading it after his brother John died, saved his life.

Above, one of the great books of the 20th century. Written by Edith Hamilton when she was 62 years old. It was her first book and she would go on to write many more.

My kids have become great readers and great jocks - my favorite combination! I'll always recall the looks and the questions from my kids as I read book after book to them - the thrill of dicovery at a young age is priceless!

Hey even reading some of my classmates poetry (available in our various yearbooks) - I'm struck at how clever and how well these were written at such young ages. (Please go back on the blog and type in poetry in the search box to read some samples).

When my father passed away - I spent 24 hours writing his euolgy - I wanted to capture what my dad was - few people in your life really know you - some friends included and there are few people that you're even willing to truly show yourself to - you know, sometimes when you show yourself, you end up alone (politics, etc). Anyway, I captured my dad's life in what I wrote telling those present about things they may not have known about him and I borrowed a verse from Robert F. Kennedy who borrowed it from Shakespeare when he spoke about his brother (JFK) at the 1964 democratic convention in Atlantic City, NJ - it's a verse from Romeo and Juliet that is so riveting:

"When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with night, and pay no worship to the garish sun."

It made me feel so good - I took my dad's passing hard at the time and that verse made me feel he would always be there. This verse made me feel that my dad was all around me - it was soothing. That is the power of the verse and the power of books.

But back to the main story. The library at Glen School became a special world for so many of us!! The library would be the first place for many of us to discover the books that helped us on the road to discovering ourselves.

One person that was always discovering was Art Brierley. Artie had the blessed gift of being able to be himself - no matter what. He - like myself - shared a tremendous affection for his friends, his past and the future. He was as they say and eternal optimist. Life was precious to Artie even before his illness and books and music contributed a lot to that. Artie was a big, strong jock of a guy but he loved nothing more than to reflect while he fished off a little boat. One of his favorite books he was reading before he passed away was: "The River Why" by David James Duncan.

The library would become a place that most of my classmates would truly enjoy.

Cara Worthington says this about the library and reading in general: "(The library was) my favorite spot. I got hooked on a series about otters and books by Edward Eager."

Above, a series of books by Edward Eager among others got Cara Worthington hooked on books! Cara has gone on to write her own thoughtful articles and has had some published as well.

When in first and second grade, Cara recalls recess - she preferred reading! "Miss Mercer gave me (an) S- in gym in second grade for not participating!"

Says Cara, "I could walk to and from school up East Glen - sometimes with a book in my hand!"

Karen Eide loved the library too! "I LOVED the library and I remember our first orientation there, storytime and being taught the D(ewey) D(ecimal) System. My love of books came from that library and my parents!"

Ken Merrill shared this about the library: "You always had to be quiet, yet at times better to be there than in class!"

Katie Knight loved and discovered books here too! She shared this with me: "I LOVED taking out books from there! "Harriet the Spy" and the "Katie John" books, "The Yearling" and especially biographies. Oh and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Even made a recipe from there. Reading was one of my favorite things to do."

Above, Katie got hooked on the "Katie John" series as well as others thanks to the Glen School Library!

Diana Wagner - well she actually worked in the library with Mrs. Ginsberg for one school year (1983-84)! She shared this: "I ended up working for Mrs. Ginsberg for 1 year in 1983-84. She retired at the end of the year. She hadn't changed .......since 1969. Talk about a time warp!"

Margaret Silvers had a funny typical elementary-school-kids memory! ".........about 6 of us were sitting in the reference area and Mitchell Purdue held up a picture from probably an encyclopedia showing an anatomically correct naked man and woman, just standing there. He had this......grin on his face, held up the pictures and we all were mortified, but laughing..............! I think Mr. Monitick (6th grade teacher) actually "caught us" - too funny!"

I asked Judy Davies what she remembered. "I remember it (the library) being stuffed with lots of books and I remember the general layout. It was directly across the hall from my 4th grade class…Mrs. Prescott....."

Above is a newspaper photo of (from l to r): Kim Vukov, Patricia Breitweiser and Mitchell Perdue. They're listening to a story read to them by the librarian - probably Mrs. Ginsberg. Thanks Kim for sending that!

The library was also the place for quiet study. I remember learning how to use the encyclopedia for the first time there for the many reports we were required to do. Using the encyclopedia was fun and clearly enlightened me - what a great tool to write the likes of "The Indians" or "California" or "Michaelangelo" just to name a couple of the reports I did at Glen School. I must say while I was bad on tests I always got E's on my reports - the E was equivalent to an A today. I couldn't have done it without the help of reference books like the encyclopedia. Though my artistry could have used a little help - where was Eide when I needed her expertise!

Above, the "Michaelangelo" story by Ricky Flannery - found among my mom's papers. These reports would be researched in the library at Glen School using the various encyclopedias available in the reference section.

Our library was made up of round tables and chairs, lots of bookcases and a glass-enclosed office in the corner. The windows looked out onto the courtyard. Sometimes we would gather in a circle to hear stories. As we got older we would use the tables to research our reports. But regardless of our age, we couldn't wait to take out books for our own personal enjoyment.

Above, looking to the left as you walk in the door. Photo property of Rick Flannery - taken Nov 7, 2009.

Above, the general layout of the library with the glass-enclosed librarian's office in the corner.

Bea Blumquist's and Mrs. Ginsburg's office.

The library's first librarian when the school opened was a lady named Bea Blumquist - she was little and always cheerful and taught us how to use the Dewey Decimal System!

Glen School's first librarian - Bea Blumquist.

The second and probably the librarian with the most years at Glen School was Mrs. Ginsberg - though her name might be mis-spelled - its been spelled so many ways. She would retire after the 1983-84 school year. So there was one more librarian before the school closed its doors as an elementary school - anybody know who it was? Please let me know.

Above, Mrs. Ginsberg - longtime Glen School librarian - retired 1984. Photo cropped from a faculty photo.

Some of the later classes and faculty at Glen School would have their photos taken in the library - come to think of it I don't think there was a single location at Glen where a class photo wasn't taken.

Above, faculty photo from the 1970's taken in the libarary. Photo supplied by Zita Wilcox.

It was also a place where a teacher could have a quiet conversation with a student which was the case with Katie Knight. Katie shared the story with me which she says made an impact on her life. "Mr. Gauharou took me to the library for a one-on-one talk...........he asked me if I knew what a clique was. I said no. He said that it's when a group of people hang around only with each other and that it can cause a lot of hurt because others feel left out. He also said that he was sure that I didn't mean to exclude others on purpose but he wanted me to be aware. Truthfully, that discussion has stuck with me throughout my life and I've passed it on to my kids. My daughter was class president......in high school......the principal told me she had the ability to cross over into a lot of different groups of kids. I attribute that to Mr. Gauharou's talk with me (in the Glen School library)." Pete Gauharou - was one of those teachers who took his role seriously - not only in teaching the 3 R's but in also helping to shape what a child might become.

Ridgewood was unusal at the time - we had 2 public libraries for many years - The Ridgewood Public Library and the George L. Pease Library. In addition we had a library in every single school! The Ridgewood Public Library was opened in 1962 and was beautifully renovated in 1998. I have been back on several occaisions for my research of this project and am indebted to Peggy Norris for many of the old images you see in the Ridgewood sections of this blog. The George L. Pease Library was opened in 1923 and remained a library until 1998 when it closed its doors. It is now office space.

Above is the old George L. Pease Library located at 131 North Maple Avenue Ridgewood, NJ. It opened in 1923 and closed in 1998.

Above is the Ridgewood Public Library located at 125 North Maple Avenue. It opened in 1962 and was beautifully renovated in 1998.

The Ridgewood Public Library as it appears today (from the back).

The tables where we sat would be used to reaserch our reports, have one-on-one discussions with our teachers and learn about the Dewey Decimal System.

All in all the library would be the first place where many of us discovered books - a place where you could take out any book you wanted. We'll remember the Glen School Library with great affection!

More From the Ege Family!

2011-03-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

I can't thank Else Ege enough for sending me some great photos and mementoes from our past! Else recently sent me family photos and an article about Lis Ege-Halvorson's company Cowbell.com which has been the official supplier to several Winter Olympics of Moen Bells from Norway and counting! Please visit this great website - Cowbell.com.

Enjoy!!

Above is Hans & Else Ege.

Above is Anne-Christine "Tina" Ege probably from a Ben Franklin Junior High class photo.

Above is (l t r) Lis & Tina Ege.

Above (l to r) Lis Ege-Halvorson, Else Ege and Margaret Silvers-Myatt at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Above is a newspaer photo from The Ridgewood News. Lis Halvorson is shown opening the New York Stock Exchange from the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics!

Awesome stuff - keep the photos coming everybody!

Teachers - Glen School & Beyond - Commentary

2011-03-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

Above is a photo taken by Joe Braun of an abandoned school in Detroit. There are scenes like this all over this country. There are sad images of many things in this world and this is certainly one of them. This didn't have to be. Not everything needs to be done with money - what are we doing to the future generations of this country? If we all banded together we could save things like this from happening to our schools - do we really need new sports stadiums when there are scenes like this?

Okay, I said I wasn't going to use this blog format to make commentary or express opinions but with the recent frontal assault on teachers in this country and since my wife is a school teacher I feel obligated to include my opinion with the rest of the world.

When I attended school (K-12) I - for the most part I looked forward to going. I wasn't the best student in my class to be sure - I mean I certainly was more than capable but I was young for my class and found focus to be difficult for me especially in my early years.

Thankfully for me I had some incredible teachers along the way - teachers from kindergarten to gym teachers to math teachers - all seemed to truly support me and make themselves available to me. I still got some tough grades (and deservingly so I might add) but my teachers were always about giving us the best they could give us - but part of the bargain ya know, was that we as students had to be part of the plan too in order to make it work - it couldn't be left to teachers alone.

As a baseball coach, I find special joy in seeing a child develop as a ballplayer and as a person. We've won recent championships and while I teach my players to play to win - we also teach our teams to play with respect to the game, their teammates, their coaches and especially their opponents. Despite the rewards and fun of coaching I marvel how teachers can take all that to the next level. Can you imagine teaching a young child math, reading, science, thinking skills, etc - I mean my wife is a first grade teacher and arrives at school at 7am and leaves at 5pm. She'll spend her weeknights and weekends planning, grading and focusing on her students needs - both individually and as a group. I will emphasize here that my wife is not the only teacher to do this - not even close. Teaching is a profession - how on earth has the conversation become that teachers are freeloading, are greedy - have too much time off? Only 9 months of work? Really? Do you know any teachers in the public school system who call it a day June 1, head to the beach and return in September? While students may - depending on snow days - get out June 20th, our teachers here work until June 30 and return anytime between Aug 15 and Aug 20. This, of course is not to mention the many teachers in our town that teach summer school, tutor children in need, attend student activities, plan the upcoming year, etc. Only 9 months of work - really?

There have been circumstances that make teaching even more difficult than ever. Sadly the "No Child Left Behind Act" is one of them and has - well - left children behind. There's no getting around it - where we used to be able to focus on a child because of extenuating circumstances and needs - broken homes, mental challenges, disruptive for various reasons - we now have teachers spending so much time trying to keep order and losing the time allotted for lessons.

Teaching in our town - there are no special privledges for students that might be better academically - every child is on equal footing but there are children that have special needs and need more focused attention and this gets lost with "No Child Left Behind" - kind of ironic that a program called NCLB actually leaves more children behind than ever. The other part is that teachers are required to use at least a third or more of their time to teach to the state tests - the government falsely believing that a child's low score is attributed to the teacher and making districts pay the price by limiting education funding. There are so many things that could cause the low scores but more times than not it is not the teacher. As I said, when I was a young student, I wasn't focused and when I took our state tests when I was a child (they were called the Iowa Tests) - I did poorly - this was not because I had poor teachers.

Please let's give the teachers a break. Of course there are some teachers that should probably retire but most teachers are there for the non-monetary rewards they receive for seeing a child "get it" and move on and when that child returns years later to say "thanks"! They deserve their salaries however small, they deserve their right to bargain despite not always winning the negotiation. Despite all the talk about teachers being greedy, teachers here don't get raises and are willing to make concessions. Simply seek the facts, the truth.

This nation needs to continue to be great - we need - more than ever, to protect education funding wherever possible and provide the best to our children.

To those offended - accept my apologies but I needed to express myself about this issue.

I want to say thanks to all my own teachers - some were better than others - but to Miss Mercer, Miss Muster, Mr. McCutcheon, Miss Pinder, Mr. Honsinger and so many others - you made impacts on my life and your support for me up until the day I graduated my wonderful high school will never be forgotten. I mean when your 10th grade spanish teacher keeps tabs on you throughout your high school career and then comes to watch you graduate - well that just goes beyond what's required but it comes from wanting to see that student succeed, to see potential that the student does not even see and for me it wasn't until my twenties that I realized what these teachers did for me. Thanks...................................We must do all we can to save our teachers and our schools.

The Glen School Fashion Shows!

2011-02-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

When you think of your local PTO today, images of fundraisers like bake sales and school stores come to mind but back in the 60's and 70's our stylish and creative mothers came up with fashion shows (among other things) as a way to both raise money and enjoy a day with other moms and daughters. Hey even Ken deGruchy went too - he filmed and tape recorded these events!

People like Jeanne Stanley-Brown and Sylvia McCormick among others turned these organizations into truly fun, successful and profitable events for the school and for charity. It had to be a lot of work to be sure. In fact one of the items I wanted to look for at Glen School (when we had our reunion there in 2009) was the engraved plaque of PTO Chair-Women that hung in the main office - I'm not even sure its still there anymore but it would have been great to photograph it.

When I was in retail in the early 70's, I leaned toward a career as a buyer (almost took the buyer training program at Brooks Brothers) but after 5 years in the business I found a new direction. While I was at Lord & Taylor though, I did model some clothes myself for a while - can you believe that? I modeled at the HoHokus Inn and the Fashion Center - I did find one of the clippings (posted below!) - they are quite hilarious! Aside from a few laughs, the reason I mention this is because of the work involved in organizing these things. Looking back on that time - it was a helluva lot of fun and I met some great people at L&T - its how I discovered the fun of NYC and I spent a great deal of time at my favorite bar - PJ Clarke's!

Above, a modeling show that I was part of! I modeled a Christian Dior suit!!! I did this for about 6 months as a lark mostly! I'm the guy in the top photo on the left!

Anyway................just as our class started to attend kindergarten, fashion wasn't exactly a big deal - I mean while I admire Dwight Eisenhower, the Eisenhowers didn't exactly get people fired up about such things!

Above is First Lady Mamie Eisenhower in classic 50's style - no offense, but dreary!

Enter Jackie Kennedy! Yes, Mamie Eisenhower was much older than Jackie Kennedy but compare the 2 and Jackie helped to usher in a whole New Frontier of a different kind. Jackie's sense of style appeared in the Fall of 1960 - our first year of school and instantly the sun began to shine and moms around the world began to bob their hair and wear smart dresses and pearls every day it seemed - and look younger! Women's fashion was coming out of a relatively dark age - the McCarthy-era. Out was dour and drab and in was bright colors and smart looks.

Above is a gorgeous picture of Jackie Kennedy - pearls and all. She would almost single-handedly put fashion back on the map with her simple designs and pastel colors.

It seemed every other week when I came home from school, my mom was either hosting a coffee and tea afternoon or at another neighbor's house who's turn it was to host one. The mom's always used their best china and silver for these things. Even without these coffee hours, the mom's seemed to always dress their best - even pearls! When I would ask "Why are you dressed up?" my mom's reply was usually "You never know who might stop in." She always looked great for the egg man, the milk man and the laundry man!!

The 60's suddenly saw women gaining confidence and finding independence. Marlo Thomas through her tv show "That Girl!" would tell the world that it was ok to be yourself - to go bra-less, to have a career and have your own apartment! Twiggy would - along with a wave of British bands - bring mod fashions to the younger generation and women's liberation led by Gloria Steinem would soon make headlines.

Above is Twiggy who would along with the huge wave of British bands from the 1960's gave us the mod look!

Above is Marlo Thomas who's "That Girl" character Ann Marie would show that its ok to have a career, an apartment and to sometimes not wear a bra!

So in the 60's began a series of very stylish fashion shows put on by the mom's of Glen School - hey even Miss Nostas was a model! - but for the most part the models were our moms and sisters.

At various times the models would include: Anita Bennett, Yvonne Foytlin, Clara Gould, Dagmar Randolph, Joan Sinclair, Betty Stillwell, Miss Suzie Andersen, Miss Gail Kramer (Alex's sister - remember Alex - what a drummer!), Ruth Glisch (who sadly lost a child in a terrible accident on Van Emburgh Ave), Joann Hansen, Joan Frankhauser, Elizabeth Nostas, Dard Jones, Nancy Flynn, Miss Carole Rimmer and Dianne Rath. I am sure there were others as there were at least 3 or 4 of these events through the years.

The fashions would be provided by Peck and Peck, Mary Plumb of Glen Rock and Betty Carrey among others.

The girls in my class and other classes would attend with their mom's and sisters and according to Ann Rimmer - really looked forward to it. Ann's mom - Mae - was one of the organizers. One of Ann's sisters - Carole was also involved as a model.

Annie remembers this about the fashion shows: "I was excited because they were both involved," (her mom and sister Carole), "and I do remember going with my mom to Bette Carrey's on Route 17 a few times (that was the boutique that supplied the clothes) to pick out stuff and loving that cause I've always been into fashion!"

Above is (l to r) Ann Rimmer and her sister Carole. Photo was taken at Annie's house just prior to leaving with their mom for a fashion show at Glen School. Classic Annie - did you ever not smile?!!

These events were memorable - I can't imagine them happening today. They took place at a time when our mom's for the most part were home, had the time and could really plan these things - and they always came off without a hitch and with class.

Sometimes the fashion show would be coupled with the mom's playing cards. The scorecards would be included in the fashion program. Not sure what card games they played but the scorecards had headings like "We" and "They"! The playing cards were on loan from the Schweinfurth Florist and yes they had to be returned!

Tons of door prizes were donated by local businesses that included: Helen Elliott's Candy, Grand Way, Irving Drugs, Davis Pharmacy, Kobbe & Flannery American Motors Dealer, Marcus Jewelers, Ridgewood Luggage, T&W Ice Cream, The Four Poster (Jill Neandross' dad's store at the Garden State Plaza), Winchell's and Castro Convertibles to name just a few of the many businesses that contributed their products or gift certificates.

The table favors were usually donated by Clairol, Eve Arden, Sealfon's, Phillip Morris and Town & Country Pharmacy.

To enhance the decor, stage props were used used and these were donated by Glen Rock Lumber, Bergen Bluestone, Nature's Creations of Upper Saddle River and Suzanne Wirtz who was a teacher from Mahwah, NJ.

Below is a 15 minute recording by Ken deGruchy of the fashion show from March 10, 1967 - probably the show Annie attended with her sister as it was our 6th grade year. While its a little long - you get a feel for what it was like. I think the recording is either just before or after the actual modeling took place because there is music being played - all insturments played by our parents! The music of course reminds me of what my parents played - ugh I hated it so and it reminds me of my parents basement parties!! You hear a lot of chatter and Ken talking with some other boys who were present. (Not posted yet)

Though it would vary, the Fashion Show committee would include: Barbara Perdue, Mae Rimmer, Mrs. James T. Rhodes, Mrs. Joseph Flynn, Jo Lalumia, Bix Smethurst, Delores Meltzer, Rosemary Fierro, Pauly Yates, Mrs. Ralph B. Sweet, Mrs. Donald Krueger, Else Ege, Helen Romines, Mrs. James A. Rudy and Nina Harootunian. I am sure there were others so if you know the names please let me know so I can add them here.

The models would be accompanied by piano music which was played by Mrs. Edward Zima - who I believe was the wife of Mr. Zima our 5th grade teacher. There would be other music afterwards during the coffee and cards.

Then there was the stage lighting and this was handled almost exclusively by Ken deGruchy who was a pro at this sort of thing even at that young age!

Of course there many other parts to these shows too. Hair styles for the models were attended to by Leonard Benjamin of Ridgewood and Colonial Beauty Salon of Ridgewood.

The commentator at the shows was Mrs. Leonard Kramer (Alex and Gail's mom) - introducing the models, the clothing, etc.

Myron Andersen (dad to Suzie!) built and designed the runway. Robert Pearston who was a graphic arts student at Ben Franklin Junior High printed the programs which of course were designed by Else Ege (see samples below).

Above some samples of Else Ege's artwork used for the fashion show programs.
Carpet for the runway was provided by Oskan Harootunian.

A&P provide the coffee while Grand Union (Grandway) provided tea and sugar. Ed Zima and Whitehouse Dairy provided all the ice cream.

The shows always had titles like: "Spring Reflects A New Look In Fashions and the Home", "Fashion Fantasies", "Fashion and Cards" and "A Certain Kind of Woman".

The fashion shows were just part of number of different events that were held at Glen School over the years.

My thanks to Else Ege for allowing to use her programs, to Ann Rimmer for the photo of her and Carole and to Gail Kramer for remembering.

Thanks to Ken deGruchy for providing the recording from the March, 1967 fashion and card show.

Our 1966 Glen School Christmas Program!

2010-12-26T14:25:00.000-08:00

Above is the cover of our 1966 Christmas Program - artist unknown!

In December, 1966 the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes at Glen School put on a Christmas Program -this is my attempt to try and recreate it as best I can.

Unlike today, you had to try out and be selected for choir. This wasn't without some trepidation - you know, "Will I make it?" - I mean my voice started to change a little in 1966! Very professionally, Mrs. Jamieson told me that I had made it and I was a soprano! I wondered - is that normal? Me - that high?

Anyway, you stood before Maureen Jamieson and her piano with a couple of classmates and sang something like "America the Beautiful" by yourself - ugh in front of girls - girls you liked!

Looking back, Maureen Jamieson's shows and concerts were quite something for grade school - very well-thought out and always a theme within a theme. She took it all very seriously. There's so much debate about Christmas carols and what you should and shouldn't sing these days - but honestly the beauty of this show and so many others was the innocence of it. It wasn't about different holidays - it was truly about the holiday season and all of us were excited about it. Its what makes kids so great - we weren't concerned with who had money or who was what religion - we were all friends at a great time of year!

Above, Maureen Jamieson herself at the piano - not our Christmas show. Photo is a cropped version of a photo taken by Sam Silvers. Photo is property of and used with the permission of Margaret Silvers-Myatt.

Above, is Mrs. Jamieson's original piano and bench!! I stumbled upon it as I took my long-awaited walk through the school before the reunion - I would hate to see it end up in the dumpster - if only it could talk! Photo taken by Rick Flannery.

The December 1966 Christmas Show was titled "Animals at Christmas". It included the 4th, 5th and 6th grade choirs and a mixed orchestra called the Glen School Ensemble. I believe the 4th grade choir did a separate night.

Karen Pursiano-Parry had contacted me last year and donated several things to the Glen School archive and among them were the actual program of our show! Her mom had saved this among her papers. Here's Karen's own words regarding finding it:

"My mother managed to save the Christmas program. All of our names are listed in it. I still remember standing on stage and belting out the "Ho Ho Ho" part of the song "Up On the Housetop"! I am sending you the original - you can keep it because it really belongs to ALL of us!"

Yes there were those that didn't make the choir - sometimes crushing egos! Those that didn't make it would decorate the tree and take care of other details related to the show - sorry you guys! As Artie Brierley used to say, "I had better things to do!" - though I suspect he would have loved to be part of the choir just the same!

While Mrs. Jamieson handled the choir and music selection, Warren Grimm was the instrumental director - having taken over for Donald Cook (Mrs. Cook's wife - 2nd grade teacher) - Mr. Cook had passed away suddenly. Accompanying Mrs. Jamieson was student teacher Ann DiPietro.

The musical selection for "Animals at Christmas" included old carols and classic Christmas poetry as well as orginal poetry by the 5th grade - all sung or read by the students. The 5th and 6th grade choirs sang a total of 9 songs and recitations in-between. The 4th and 5th choir sang 9 songs with an original poem recited by a student in-between - each poem was original and authored by the student who read it.

Unfortunately a date can't be made out on the program but considering that it may have been somewhere between December 15 and 20, the weather was wintry - high 20's, low 30's - a little wet with flurries here and there according to weather history.

The audience was filled with our parents, siblings, relatives and Mr. McFall and his whole family. Probably better dressed than anyone in the room, Mr. McFall - our beloved custodian - enjoyed attending "his" students events and we loved it too - proud to perform for him.

My sisters recall going and remember their brother's sweaty palms and cracking voice!

The chairs - single, folding chairs - were each set up by Mr. McFall earlier in the day.

Above is the list of 5th and 6th grade choir members as it appeared in our program.

The "Animals at Christmas" program went like this:

The first song was a classic English carol - "Masters in Ths Hall". There was narration done by Cindy Hansen - no specific poem.

Masters in This Hall

Masters in this hall
Hear ye news today
Brought from over seas
And ever you I pray.

Chorus:
Sing we now Noel
Sing we noel clear!
Holpen all the folk on earth
Born the Son of God so dear!

Then to Bethlehem Town
Went we two by two
In a sorry place

We heard the oxen low.

Chorus:
Sing we now noel
Sing we noel clear!
Holpen all the folk on earth
Born the Son of God so dear!

Ox and ass Him know
Kneeling on their knee
Wonderous joy had
This little babe to see.

Chorus:
Sing we now noel
Sing we noel clear!
Holpen all the folk on earth
Born the Son of God so dear!

This is Christ, the Lord
Masters be ye glad!
Christmas is come in
And no folk shall be sad!

Chorus:
Sing we now noel
Sing we noel clear!
Holpen all the folk on earth
Born the Son of God so dear!

Play the link below to hear the song "Masters in This Hall":

Next, we sang "Friendly Beasts" another old English carol. This was followed by a poem read by Betsy Kline titled "Christmas in the Forest" by Ruth Walton. A 3rd poem was read following Betsy's though I can't make out the title - it was about a Christmas tree and was recited by Sandy McCormick. (Where are you Betsy Kline?)

The 3rd song was "Twelve Days of Christmas" and we were led by Ann Rimmer and Cara Worthington. Following this was the poem titled "Little Lamb" read by Jennifer Rudy.

The 4th song in the program was "Carol of the Shepherds" - an old Polish carol. Two poems followed: "The Barn" by Maryanne Vaz and Jim Smethurst and "The Cuckoo" by Lori Abrhamson.

Below are the words to "The Barn" as recited by Jim Smethurst and Maryanne Vaz:

The Barn by Elizabeth Coatsworth

"I am tired of this barn!'' said the colt,
"And every day it snows.
Outside there's no grass any more
And icicles grow on my nose.

"I am tired of hearing the cows
Breathing and talking together.
I am sick of these clucking hens.
I hate stables and winter weather!"

"Hush, little colt," said the mare,
"And a story I will tell
Of a barn like this one of ours
And the wonders that there befell.

It was weather much like this
And the beasts stood as we stand now
In the warm good dark of the barn —
A horse and an ass and a cow."

"And sheep?" asked the colt. "Yes, sheep
And a pig and a goat and a hen.
All of the beasts of the barnyard."

The usual servants of men.
And into their midst came a lady
And she was as cold as death,
But the animals leaned above her

And made her warm with their breath.

"There was her baby born
And laid to sleep in the hay
While music flooded the rafters
And the barn was as light as day,

And angels and kings and shepherds
Came to worship the Babe from afar,
But we looked at Him first of all creatures
By the bright strange light of a star!"

Our 5th song was called "Carol of the Birds" a French carol, which was followed by "Christmas in the Woods" written by Frances Frost and recited by Katie Knight.

Below is the story Katie recited that night:

Above is the classic Frances Frost book from 1942 whose verses were read by Katie Knight.

"Christmas in the Woods" by Frances Frost 1942

The woods were still and the snow was deep,
But there was no creature who could sleep.

The fox and the vixen ran together
Silently through the starry weather.

The buck and the doe and the fawn came drifting
Into the clearing. The rabbit, lifting

His ears, shook white from the twigs he brushed;
The chattering squirrel for once was hushed

As he sat with his paws against his breast,
And the bobcat crouched on the mountain crest.

Safe in the fold the silver sheep
Told the young lambs not to leap.

In the shadowy stable the horses stood
Hearing the quietness in the wood.

And the cattle sighed in the fragrant barn,
Waiting the instant of the morn.

The stars stood at midnight, and tame or wild,
All creatures knelt to worship the Child.

Song number 6 was an original song composed by Kensey Stewart - who was part of the Ridgewood Public Schools system. It was titled "An Old Christmas Greeting". The song was followed by the poem "Gladde Things" recited by Cara Worthington - the author of the poem is unknown.

Song number 7 was called "Joyful Christmas Song". The 8th song was "The Night Before Christmas" with the Glen School Ensemble.

Our 9th and final song that night was the beautiful and timeless "Silent Night".

The Glen School Ensemble played 5 of their own songs that evening. These included: "Good King Wenceslas", "O Come All Ye Faithful" which highlighted the 5 trumpet players: David Clay (5th G), Stephen McDowell (5th G), Jim Carroll (5th G), Paul Pettofrezzo (5th G) and Doug Terhune (4th G).

The Ensemble's 3rd song was "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"with a trumpet solo by Stephen McDowell. Their 4th song was "Green Sleeves" which featured Janice Malley (5th G) on flute, Janis Avery (5th G) cello, Kathy Johnson (5th G) viola and Sandy McCormick (5th G) on clarinet. They concluded with "Adeste Fidelis".

The others that made up the Ensemble that Christmas included:

Lisa Faeth - violin
Corinne Frank - oboe
Alex Kramer - trumpet
Will Lavery - clarinet
Lynn Malley - cello
Beth Perdue - clarinet
Frank Petrucci - clarinet
Ann Rimmer - clarinet
Jennifer Rudy - clarinet
Cara Worthington - clarinet
Barbara Demick - clarinnet

Our Christmas tree was decorated by:

5th Grade

Bill Corcoran
Ricky McDaniel
Dan Wagner
Cindy Hartmann
Jay Kennedy
Mike Rogers
Cindy Hansen

6th Grade

Artie Brierley
Jill Neandross
Penny Ward
Wayne Bond
Jan Koper
Chic Voorhis
Linda Bowers
Corinne Frank

The 4th and 5th grade combined on a different night and sang 9 songs and 9 original Christmas poems.

Above is the list 4th & 5th grade choir members as it appeared in our program. The 4th and 5th grade choir more than likely sang a different night.

Their program went like this:

Introduction by Janice Avery with an original poem ("Caroling) written and recited by Jody Stillwell
Song "Here We Come A-Wassailing" - poem ("Christmas Tree") written and recited by Kathy Johnson
Song "The Litte Fir Tree" - poem ("Candles") written an recited by Ruth Caplice
Song "Bring A Torch Isabella" - poem ("Mistletoe and Holly") written an recited by Gail Ferstandig
Song "Heigh Ho the Holly" - poem ("The Creche") written and recited by Mary Lou Breitweiser
Song "Yodeler's Carol" - poem ("Charity") written and recited by Cindy Edinger
Song "An Old Christmas Greeting" - poem ("Santa Claus") written and recited by Francis Goode
Song "Up On the Housetop" - poem ("Gifts") written and recited by Jay Kennedy
Song "We Three Kings" - closing by Janice Avery
Song "Calusso Noel"

Above is our old stage as it looked on November 9, 2009 all quiet - 43 years after our 1966 Christmas Show!!! Photo taken by Rick Flannery.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year you guys!

Christmastime in Ridgewood NJ Circa 1960's!

2010-12-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

Above photo shows an early 60's Ridgewood tree - a little smaller than usual at the end of E Ridgewood Ave. Photo is property of and used with the courtesy of the Ridgewood Public Library.

Christmastime growing up in Ridgewood NJ - it holds so many memories for many of us. Whether you celebrated Hanukkah or Christmas, when we attended Glen School or any elementary school in town - it was a very exciting time of year!

There were of course, many signs that the holidays were on the way. Thanksgiving always marked the start of it all. In my early years, we would always spend Thanksgiving with my grandparents (my mom's parents) in Fairview, NJ. To me it seemed they had the largest dining room table in NJ! There are 17 cousins on this side of our family and you were lucky to get a seat at the huge table for dinner as a kid - I'm proud to say I accomplished this by the age of 5 or 6! This was a thrill because there were cousins older than me still consigned to the kitchen for dinner!

My grandmother had impeccable taste - finger bowls, the finest silver, salt dishes and my grandfather seemingly made the largest turkey in NJ. There was football, the movie "March of the Wooden Soldiers", home movies after dessert. The dad's would claim they were going for a walk but it meant a nightcap up the street! The countdown to Christmas would begin! It was a great time - no Black Fridays - just simply enjoying the holidays with family and friends. My cousin Carolyn and I would be together the entire day and sneak back into the dining room to steal some more turkey before it was used for sandwiches - I swear the turkey had to be 35 pounds!

Other familiar signs that Christmas was near included the large Santa Claus at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus. As we took trips up and down Route 17 you'd see the Santa come to life - first the boot, then the sack of toys, then the waving arm - it was easily one my favorite decorations as a child!

Above is the actual postcard of this famous decoration - the chimney remained all season long and normally had the words "Garden State Plaza" on each side but it came to life at Christmas and delighted 1,000's.

Seeing Santa Claus "himself" was a big deal for me - we seemed to have good Santa's in Bergen County back then! Ugh, I took it so seriously - rehearsing in my head what I was going to tell him - I was never scared but always nervous! Lionel trains, baseball stuff and a football ranked high on my list of requests! Then of course my cousin Carolyn told me the truth one day - I was so bummed!

Above, me visiting Santa Claus probably at the Garden State Plaza or Bergen Mall.

In Ridgewood, the approach of the holiday season could be seen in other ways. The big tree at the end of E Ridgewood Ave by the tracks, Arthur's House of Beauty and the street lamp decorations.

Above is a great photo - Christmas 1969 - approaching the tree on E Ridgewood Ave. Photo is property of and used courtesy of Beth Hagler Colombini.

Here is a fantastic photo of a Ridgewood gem! They had so many decorations and lights for this place that they kept many of the pieces stored on the huge ledge you see in the photo. Truly a Ridgewood classic! Photo property of and used with the courtesy of the Ridgewood Public Library.

Here's a 1950's look down E Ridgewood Ave with street lamp decorations and shoppers. Photo property of and used with the courtesy of the Ridgewood Public Library.

Above photo is Graydon Pool in the winter. Ice skating at Graydon was a big deal - a place to meet up with friends regardless of whether you could skate or not. Photo is property of Anthony Bruno Jr.

At school during December, there was always talk about whether we'd get a big snow that year - the early 60's never seemed to disappoint us.

Above photo shows Glen School at Christmastime 2008 after a snowfall!

My classmates and I would also talk about the best route to take to and from school to avoid getting hit with snowballs by the 6th graders! Regarding snowballs Chic Voorhees remembers:
"Don't forget the winter snowball fights with the 6 graders on the hill. I remember I nailed one of the 6th graders in the face from down the hill, and he chased me down and washed my face out with snow!"

My sisters took great pleasure in building up my anticipation of Santa Claus and had me believing that it was Santa making the noise outside or who caused the moving shadows under my door - it was very exciting! These memories would lead to Caryn and I making memories with our own kids - one year I stuck a small piece of torn red felt on the fireplace and my son Ricky upon finding it, thought it was incredible!

There was the annual trek up to the attic with my dad to gather the outdoor house decorations. I'd help dad check out the bulbs and hold the ladder for him while he hung them on the house!

Above is a 1960's photo of the front of our house on Auburn Ave. My red wagon is in the lower right corner! We had some nice trees around our house - just the right amount - but today they're all gone!

In class we'd make decorations, talk about the coming Christmas vacation and of course there was the Glen School Christmas show in the gym with the choir and the orchestra. Songs would include: "Up On the Housetop" and "Let There Be Peace On Earth" (which is Beth Daly's all-time favortie song!) The words to this classic song are posted below! A separate detailed story about our 1966 Glen School Christmas Show will immediately follow this one!

Beth Daly recalls: "I was in choir and I remember learning to sing the song 'Let There be Peace On Earth' - it is still a favorite of mine and I still remember all the words!"
The lyrics to "Let There Be Peace On Earth":
Let there be peace on earth; And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth; The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father; Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother; In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me; Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry step I take; Let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment, and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth; And let it begin with me.

My sisters always took me shopping for my parents presents and I remember the time I took to be sure I picked out the right ones! I'd bring all my money - mostly coins - and spend a lot of time trying to pick the right gifts! I remember buying toy soldiers for my dad at Gimbel's and kitchen things at the "Gadget Bar" in Bamberger's for my mom!

In our house, we decorated the tree Christmas Eve when friends and family would stop in. Almost always, my dad can be seen in our home movies turning his pockets inside out as if to say "Christmas? I'm broke!" or passing out pointsettas to all the ladies!

More often than not when I was little we traveled around visiting on Christmas Day - open the presents then out the door to visit both grandparents and an uncle's house. My sister Ginny remembers: "It was fun when mom & dad started hosting Christmas. We didn't have to go anywhere, everyone came to us! Men in the kitchen and women in the den!"
My sister Sharon recalls: "Waiting to see who on the block would put their lights up first. The magic of walking into Mount Carmel for Christmas mass........the creche created a special feeling! My firends and I walked around the neighborhood singing Christmas carols. There was the Christmas concert at Glen School, the Christmas concert at RHS, the windows at Sealfons and MacHugh's. Mom would buy her special chocolates and ribbon candy and hide them til Christmas."
Ginny also remembers: "Mom would always sing along with the (christmas) music. She had a really beautiful voice!".
I also recall the time when my sister Sharon took me into the city to see the tree at Rockefeller Center - what a thrill! We also checked the windows at Lord & Taylor and all the famous stores.
My parents would always throw a big party for neighbors, friends and family. The music, dancing and chatter seemed to go on all night! My dad was at his best when we entertained guests - he loved it!
That's me in the above photo around age 3 Christmas 1958! When I was a little older, I received a printing set for Christmas and on Christmas Day I spilled all the black ink on our living room carpet - wow! My mom was amazingly good about it! We got new carpeting later in the new year!

Above are my sisters (l to r) Ginny and Sharon. Ginny is posing with one of my most favorite toys ever - my fire truck pedal car! (See photo below!) My dad would make the egg nog, my mom would be wrapping last minute gifts and Christmas music would be on all day!

That's me summer 1959 in my fire truck pedal car I received the previous Christmas - loved it!!
If you lived on Roslyn Road, Norgate, East Gate or Westbrook Roads there was the tree lighting and the arrival of Santa Claus to the neighborhood. Margret Silver's dad Earl Silvers - affectionately known as "Sam" - was an executive with the Grand Union supermaket chain and would annually arrange to use the Blue Stamps float to come to the neighborhood where a neighborhood dad would play Santa. Some remember Vinnie Nunno as one of those dads.

Of this memorable ritual Beth Daly remembers:

"Mr. Silvers worked for Grand Union. They had this flat bed that we could borrow for this Christmas thing. The deal was that parents would drop presents off in the Dorsey's garage - their kids were like 18, 20, 22, something like that - (each present) clearly marked with each child's name. This would, of course, be kept secret from the children. Then usually on a Sunday early evening the flatbed would roll down Roslyn with Santa ho-ho-hoing - I do not remember who this was probably a Dad, maybe even mine, who knows! We would be drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies. Parents would be drinking something warm, probably alcoholic and Santa would call out the names and we would each get a gift. It was a really exciting kick-off for the Christmas season for the kids. We would anticipate this day all year long. It was fun for the kids and fun for the adults!"

Here's a great find! Above is one of the original invitations to the Salem Ridge Christmas celebrations! You have to read the invitation below - its a classic! My sincerest thanks to Else Ege for donating this great item! This was when the celebration was held at the McDaniel's house - everyone would gather at their big tree on 854 Norgate Drive. The house has since (gulp!) been torn down and a new one built in its place but the memories live on!

Above is one of the original invitations - please click on the image to make it larger - its a classic!

Margaret Silvers remembers:

"......... all the parents would give Santa a labeled present ahead of time. The float would come to the McDaniels house on Norgate. They had a big Christmas tree in the front yard. There would be hot chocolate........It was really quite an event. I think it extended around the Roslyn Road, Westbrook, Norgate, Eastgate rectangle."

Margaret continues:

"I think Mr. Nunno played Santa Claus on the float at the Roslyn Road Christmas party. I never really knew who Santa was. In fact, I thought for a couple of years that it really was Santa - it was early, not his "big" night. He had time and how else could he know our names when we weren't at home - we were at the McDaniels, in the street, singing carols!

".............there was nothing like walking up onto the float on the long walk-way to Santa - a proud walk. I was on stage!

"But one year, Santa arrived in a Volkswagen bug - whoa! What was that all about? Such a big guy in a small car. It seemed strange, and even though everyone was happy, I felt badly for Santa. It seemed embarrassing for him. I thought.....something is different now.

"Over the years, we moved to the Ege's (house), and by then I was more looking forward to skiing than toy gifts. It was still fun. The best hot chocolate in the world - no lumps! And we were always bundled up. Tons of smiles."

Santa would make his way through the neighborhood bidding all to follow him where they would end up usually at the McDaniel's house. They had a large tree in their front yard which would then be lighted (man where was I during all this?!)

Families participating included the Silvers, the Knights, the Dalys, the McDaniels, the Hencklers, the Stanley-Brown, the Eges, the Bennetts and many more!!

Jeanne Stanley-Brown recalls: ".....the Grand Union float would come to the neighborhood with Santa impersonated by a neighborhood dad. Gifts would be passed out - (Santa) calling the children by name. David (her son) patiently waiting for his name to be called, concern coming over his face until finally being giving his present to his utter delight!"

Above is the Silver's home much like it looked in the 1960's! The Roslyn Road families and families from the surrounding neighborhoods would move the Christmas celebration to the Silver's and Ege's houses as the kids got older. Photo was taken by Margaret Silvers November 7, 2009!

To this day Beth Daly annually hosts a similar celebration in her Ridgewood neighborhood. On the 1st or 2nd Sunday preceding Christmas, Santa arrives in Beth's neighborhood where he makes his way around ending up at Beth's house. Beth provides the hot chocolate, coffee, juice, donuts, bagels and other treats to give with the children's presents. The neighbors then have a cocktail party that night at someone's house. Its great fun and the street right now has about 40 kids! Its the best thing about happy memories - we always pass them on and make new ones!

On Gateway Road and E Glen Avenue, Cara Worthington recalls the Gateway Association would also host a tree lighting and sing Christmas carols on Stanish Rd. She also has wonderful memories of ice skating on the Yingling's pond.

Ann Rimmer remembers that she used to be bummed that they didn't celebrate Christmas as well as Hanukkah. As she tells it: "I was kind of bummed we didn't celebrate Christmas. I do remember when I was in high school, my parents were traveling and I got a little 'Hanukkah tree' for the house. My dad came home...........had to get rid of it immediately! Now I can have a tree every year!"

As for Katie Knight, memories of hers include "........going to West Side Presbyterian Church for Christmas service, lights on trees and houses in the neighborhood, big family meal on Grandmother's china, being together with family and friends...snow!"

On our street - Auburn Ave - we always looked forward to sleigh-riding and tobogganing - there were some really great hills in the area where we would go at night when we got a little older. We always made extravagant igloos, forts and snowmen and had great snowball battles. I did try my hand at ice skating at Graydon Pool - failed miserably! Skiing was more for me - though I started skiing in my teens. I used to think "What's all that commotion on Roslyn Road!!!"

Above is Ricky Flannery sledding after a big late 50's snowstorm on Auburn Avenue!

The Holidays in Ridgewood hold fond memories for many of us but also sad ones for others. My heart goes out to special people like Jan Potdevin, Carl Vrabel and the Lavery and Kramer families especially at such a special time of year as this. I consider myself lucky to have the memories I do. It's the appreciation of these times that help us create new memories and traditions with our own families.

If anyone has any Christmas, Hanukkah or winter photos from when you were a kid - PLEASE email 'em so I can include here!

Thanks to all who contributed various memories and corrected facts to this story.

Mr. Kennedy Goes To Paramus NJ!

2010-11-20T19:05:00.000-08:00

John F. Kennedy - so much has been written about him - many authors disparaging him and/or his policies, others praising him without apology. In truth he's probably somewhere in the middle but he undoubtedly had incredible political courage and put humanity and environment among other things at the top of his list of priorities.

I confess, I am a JFK fan - not in the pop-culture sense, I mean I have read a great deal about JFK and his time in office. My personal library boasts over 300 volumes on Kennedy. I have come away with the opinion that - during his 1,000 days in office - he did all he could to stem the problems that came with the cold war - missile crisis, Berlin Crisis, Vietnam, big business, etc. He met incredible resisitance both politically and militarily.

Above is the official JFK portrait hanging at the White House.

He stood tough yet was able to hold dialogs with Nikita Khrushchev and yes Fidel Castro - though much of the talks were through the back door (read the book "JFK and the Unspeakable" for a fascinating look his administrations quest for peace) - he was for co-existence not annihilation. Yes, publicly he held the line against Russia and Cuba but he conducted secret negotiations with both countries - both Castro and Khrushchev while understanding Kennedy's desire for a constructive peace and needless conflict, also realized that all 3 leaders were up against political resistance on all fronts.

He ushered in the space age - who doesn't remember the excitement we felt as kids watching the exploits of the 7 Mercury astronauts as they slowly began to push the envelope of space exploration - every minute of every space flight - it seemed - was on tv and we were impressed!

He fought for civil rights - though politically he navigated it carefully. He held big business up to higher standards than they held themselves to and his biggest achievement was probably the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. While the test ban treaty succeeded it was not without incredible political maneuvering - but all great political acvhievements are never met without passion and hard work.

Above l to r: Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, President Kennedy and Republican Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen during negotiations for the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Dirksen, Kennedy and Mansfield would work very closely together much to the chagrin of Kennedy's critics.

JFK once said, "If more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a little better place in which to live." He said this in an address at Harvard University in 1956. There is something to be said about intelligence in politics - an appreciation of history and events past - of reflection about one's intent - not reacting in a way that has regrettable results.

Please forgive my digressing about JFK here - opinions are held strongly about his presidency and I promised myself that I woud not write a blog to express my opinions particularly when they might be political. I simply want to lead into a memory I have of Septemeber 1960.

On thursday morning September 15, 1960 my mom and I took a trip to the Bergen Mall - I didn't go to school that day - we may have been off or perhaps my kindergarten class was just afternoons? In any event, John F. Kennedy was running for president and he was visiting Paramus, NJ - in particular the Bergen Mall - to make a speech and rally the local Democratic troops.

Above is a cropped version of a Bergen Mall postcard from the 60's.

Obviously at the age of 4 (almost 5 - I started kindergarten early) - I have no memory of actually seeing JFK, hearing him, etc. but I do remember my mom being handed a JFK button and clearly remember going the mall that day.

I have always had an amazing memory for most things - and I remember years later telling people the story of my mom and I going to see JFK at the Bergen Mall. Many told me that it simply didn't happen - I don't why - some were adamant about it. JFK at the Bergen Mall?! They said he never gave a speech there but he certainly did.

A funny story about the presidential campaign of 1960 is that my mom was a staunch Nixon supporter - yet she was willing to hear both sides. My dad had told my mom that he was voting for Nixon - however he later confessed to my mom that he actually voted for Kennedy. It wasn't that my mom expected my dad to vote the same way as she did but she did assume he voted for Nixon! My father was a thoughtful man - he had common sense (I'm not saying he had common sense to vote for JFK) - I'm just saying that my dad was not part of the herd - he gave thought to those running and made his decision - he was crushed like so many when JFK was assassinated.

I write about JFK here because this past November 8, 2010 marked 50 years since JFK was elected president! Wow - things like this always help to remind you how old you are!

Our early Glen years were clearly marked by the JFK administration - kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade and part of 3rd grade. The thought back then was that as a country the possibilities were limitless and that the future held incredible potential for us as a nation. For us kids at that time, the space program was easily how we saw JFK's challenge to always reach for greatness.

On November 22, 1963 - the day JFK died - I recall coming home from school with friends and talking about what we thought we just heard.

For me - when I got home - my mom basically gave me a snack and pushed me out the door where I hooked up with the usual friends, the Meneghins, Pomeroys and Jim O'Brien - we played football as we always did til it got dark. Cindy Pomeroy probably sat on the curb and watched as she did so often - Cindy even at that young age was my Winnie Cooper - we had promised each other that we would get married one day! My mom tried desperately (almost to a fault) to protect me from such painful things as the death of JFK depsite my already knowing about it and despite the fact that I had so many questions about it. Of course from friday through monday you couldn't avoid the coverage about JFK.

The following year me, Cindy Pomeroy, Maryanne Pomeroy, Melanie Teasley and Bruce Meneghin (and Mark, Kent and Brian too!) ran a fair for the neighborhood kids to raise money for the JFK Library. We had all sorts of games, baked goods and toys for sale - we had a lot of business but raised $5.35 - it was a lot of nickels and pennies!

Below I am reprinting the speech Kennedy made at the Bergen Mall on September 15, 1960. It is supplied by the JFK library in Boston.

This is a transcription of this speech made for the convenience of readers and researchers. Two texts of the speech, a reading copy and a press release of excerpts, exist in the Senate Speech file of the John F. Kennedy Pre-Presidential Papers here at the John F. Kennedy Library. This transcription is based on the reading copy. The parenthetical notes at the end of the speech are as they appear in the original reading copy.

The above photo is NOT JFK giving his speech at the Bergen Mall but during the campaign at one of many similar locations around the country.

His Bergen Mall remarks are below:

"Governor Meyner, David Amster, Thorn Lord, and candidates for Congress James Dobbins and Vincent T. McKenna: I've been complaining in California and Texas. People settle there because they were not satisfied with things as they were. You came to Bergen County because you wanted to build a better life for your children. Americans are never satisfied with things as they are. They never settle for second-best.

People in California and Texas are worried about their farms. You are worried about your homes, your children, your schools, medical care for your aged parents, and the growing pains of an exploding population.

What unites us all, in every section of the country, Democrats and Republicans alike, is concern over our nation's position in the world. I am not talking about world politics. I am talking about peace - our future - and our children's future.

Everywhere I go in this campaign I find people asking: What's the matter with America? Why are we slipping? Why are we losing friends around the world? Why are we losing the lead to Russia? Why aren't we meeting the communist challenge - from Cuba to the Congo, from India to Indonesia?

Four years ago the cold war was being carried on thousands of miles away. This year it spread to within 90 miles of Florida, to Cuba. And next week when Mr. Khrushchev and Mr. Castro arrive in New York they will bring the cold war to within 12 miles of the Bergen Mall.

And yet the administration has told us that all is well.

In the 1930's while England slept, Hitler armed.

Today while we stand still, Khrushchev moves.

We must learn to face the truth about our situation. You can't stand still in the eye of a hurricane. And hurricane winds of change are sweeping the world.

It is tempting to try to hide in the storm shelter - or the bomb shelter - tempting to try to escape the winds of change. But it cannot be done. We have to act - and to act along new lines. Francis Bacon tells us, "He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils, for time is the greatest innovator."

How can we reverse direction? How can we move ahead?

First, we must set our own house in order. A nation that intends to lead the world must live a creative national life at home. We must re-establish and extend the rights of man - the right of workingmen and businessmen to earn a decent living; the right of children to a decent education in the American tradition; the right of older people to an old age free of the cost of chronic ill health; the right of immigrants to enter our land; the right of all of us to think as we please, say what we please, worship as we please, and go where we please, whether to schools or jobs or lunch counters.

Second, we must stop deluding ourselves about our situation abroad. The collapse of the summit, the fiasco in Japan, the hostile mobs around the world - these are not diplomatic triumphs for America, they are diplomatic disasters, and we may as well face the unpleasant unpopular truth. For as Demosthenes said, "If you analyze it correctly, you will conclude that our critical situation is chiefly due to men who try to please the citizens rather than to tell them what they need to hear." I think the American people want to hear the truth.

Third, we must rebuild our defenses on land and sea, in air and space. The Russians understand strength. It is not a question of quarreling with Mr. Khrushchev. It is a question of making ourselves stronger than Russia. Talk is cheap.

Fourth, we must help the rising peoples in the underdeveloped regions of the world to find their way to free self government. We must range ourselves on the side of freedom, not the side of dictatorship. And we must remind the rising peoples - and remind ourselves - that it is not Karl Marx's manifesto but the American Declaration of Independence which said, "We hold these truths to be self evident - that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men."

Fifth, on a broad front ranging round the world we must seize the initiative in the cold war with bold imaginative programs launched with good will and launched from strength. We need to launch missiles, yes; but we also need to launch programs for freedom and justice and peace.
When Woodrow Wilson was pleading the cause of the League of Nations in 1920, he said, "My clients are the children; my clients are the next generation."

It is for our children, for peace in our children's world, that I plead in this campaign.

It is up to us to win it.

The New Frontier is not what I offer you. It is what sacrifices I ask you to make for your country."

My classmates and I started school in September 1960 - we were known as the space age kids. As kids there was nothing we thought this country couldn't do. We were leaders in everything - education, business, space, technology, building - we were living the American dream - JFK saw this and wanted us - wanted the nation kids to strive for more - to be better, to be stronger, to be leaders in a world full of fears - I do remember those first few school years as ones that were exciting and fun - we believed that anything was possible.

Kennedy's gravesite at Arlington Cemetery in winter.

Our 4th Grade Classes - 1964-65!

2010-11-08T17:51:00.000-08:00

1964-65 - our 4th grade school year. The Beatles were as hot as anything. The Mercury space program would give way to the Gemni program and be even more exciting with docking and space walks. As kids we would build model rockets, build space mobiles and save Life magazines featuring space exploits.

Above photo, the Gemini space program would set up the moonlanding for the Apollo program and launch its first mission in the spring of 1964.

The Yankees would lose the World Series in 7 games to the Cardinals that fall and wouldn't win another pennant for 12 years.

The New York World's Fair would be around for 2 years (1964-65). Vietnam would start to become a nightmare and protests would start becoming big news at college campuses - 800 students were arrested at the University of California after storming the administration building there.

Above is the 1964-65 New York World's Fair in all its glory.

The Ford Motor Company would introduce its first Mustang that year. It was a school year that had as much pop culture as it did current events.

The hot new Mustang - women liked them as much as the guys did!

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Beach Boys, The 4 Seasons & The Kinks would be among tons of other groups that would dominate the airwaves and our record collections. Both boys and girls would collect Beatle cards, Beatle books, Beatle clothes....Beatle everything!

Beatlemania would hit the USA hard! After JFK died, it was a welcome release!

As we always did at Glen School, we had 2 of every grade. My 4th grade teacher was Pat Prescott and the other was ? For some reason I was not present when our class photo was taken - probably out sick! How disappointed was I when I saw the photo of our class only to find myself not there - bummer!

Our classroom was located across the hall from the library.

Prescott's 4th grade classroom!

Our cloakroom - in the winter how did we fit everything?! There were 31 of us just in Prescott's class alone!!!!

Pat Prescott is remembered as one of those classic Glen School teachers - I always thought she was nice - she was one of the original Glen teachers when the school opened.

She always corrected us when we tripped up on our words or when we used words incorrectly - she'd make you repeat your sentences and try desperately to get you to stop using the word "um" between your words as you stood there talking before the class - a nervous wreck only causing you to use it even more!

She was big on us giving presentations in front of the class whether it was to talk about our work or simply to give "show and tells" - how I dreaded when it was my turn although when you did a "show and tell" it was a cool way to share a hobby or collection of yours with your classmates. I recall John Petrik sharing with us an extraordinary storyboarded cartoon he created! Prescott was tremendously impressed with his imagination and talent as were we all!

I thought she was a fair and patient teacher.

Getting promoted to 4th grade meant moving over to the black-top side of the school - the kickball side. It was a more mature part of the school and we were becoming the older kids!

Ann Rimmer would join us that year (1964) - a little late due to illness but she fit in fast! Everybody liked her and she became fast friends with all the girls and would quickly become a guy favorite. Others joining us that year would include Maryann and Martin Vaz (twins), Tommy Skinner, Wayne Bond, Susan Anderson, Irene Williams and Jim Smethurst - sorry if I left anybody out! This would also be Corey Duvall's last year at Glen School as he moved across town - we would catch up with Corey again at BF Junior High.

Mrs. Prescott's class was completely 4th grade kids while Miss (?) class was a split 3rd and 4th grade class.

If there are any members of the Prescott family out there please get in touch - there's so much we want to ask you!

Enjoy the photos below and please help with any names that are missing if you can! My sincere thanks to Artie Brierley and Ann Rimmer for supplying these classic photos!

Above photo was taken in the courtyard of Glen School (behind us is the pond which had been turned into a garden - it used to have fish!)

Front Row l to r: Robbie Wittemore, John Petrik, Corey Duvall, Frank Fortino

Second Row l to r: Susan Andersen, Lisa Faeth, Ann Rimmer, Sue Nunno, Mrs. Prescott, Cara Worthington, Beth Daly, Katie Knight, Barbara Durheimer.

Third Row l to r: Karen Eide, Lynn Malley, Kara DeGraw, Beth Perdue, Martin Vaz, Greg Rehe, Betsy Kline, Linda Breitkruz, Irene Williams, Jennifer Rudy.

Back Row l to r: Bruce Meneghin, Ken Merrill, Bobby Stewart, Wayne Bond, Gary Vukov, Jim Smethurst, Alex Kramer, Chic Voorhis

Missing is ME!!

Above photo taken the same day - the second 4th grade class combined with 3rd grade too.

Front Row l to r: ?, ?,?, Bill Corcoran, Mike Rogers

Second Row l to r: ?, Lis Ege, Penny Ward, Pam Bennett, Miss ?, Carey Hoff, ?, Maryann Vaz, ?

Third Row l to r: ?, Paul Vaccari, Bill Lavery, Randy Sharp, Jill Neandross, Artie Brierley, Carl Vrabel, Jan Koper

Grammar School Reunions - A Trend?

2010-11-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a year since our Glen School reunion - an elementary school reunion - and suddenly I have found it wasn't an idea exclusive to us!

Students from schools around the country have emailed me over the course of the year asking how we managed to find the teachers and former classmates that made up our special reunion last year. They read how great we thought it was, saw the photos, saw that many of us really wrapped our arms around it. Margaret Silvers-Myatt (Glen Class of 1969) even shared an article with some of us recently from the Wall Street titled "The Last Reunion" which nostalgically recalls a grammar school reunion held by a group of former students and how when they had their 64th reunion - they declared it would be their last. Please check out this short but wonderful article by Byron Wien that appeared in the Wall Street Journal in October at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704361504575552070347628394.html

I've realized happily that we are not the only ones who share such pleasant memories. Many people harbor the same affection for places and people they knew growing up.

I love the fact I'm leading a busy life and take the time to reflect on the past and try and preserve it. I am a hopeless romantic - a sentimental person and I blame my Irish roots for it!

As we gear up for the BF reunion in the Fall of 2011 - I constantly think about our good friend Artie Brierley - how he would have loved this 2nd chapter leading up to our killer 40th reunion. Artie always looked upon his past fondly. He loved life even when life dealt him some tough hands.

Above photo of what is now known as Ben Franklin Middle School - courtesy of Ridgewood.Patch.com.

We still all lead very busy lives - we're sending or about to send our kids to college - yet we have managed to catch up with each other - it's great! We haven't intruded on one another yet we have reconnected in various ways - some have re-established friendships, others check in from time to time and all seemingly can't wait for the next party!

I find myself in this forum called a blog - telling a history but also at times confessing and confiding that yes I looked up to some of these classmates, had crushes on them and really thought the world of them - you certainly don't go around telling people this - surely at that young age you're not even really thinking too much about that - its just there and when you get into your 40's you wonder how people like Greg Rehe are and Penny Ward - where has life taken them - you hope life has been good to them. Its pleasing that - among others - both of them have been in touch and hope to come to future reunions.

I remember a time when I tried to be indifferent - you know, have the kind of attitude where nothing phases you one way or another - I mean there was a time when I tried to look at everything that way - but I finally asked myself - who was I being that way for? It certainly wasn't me but it was a defense mechanism to be sure - defense against the letdown.

It's like at the very first RHS reunion I went to - 20th in 1993. I wasn't sure about going - afterall who's gonna remember me after all these years? Will I sit there and wonder why I came? I decided to go - Caryn went with me - and I was determined to be indifferent - ya know, not have a care one way or the other. Then when we arrived in Mahwah, NJ, walking across the parking lot - someone yelled out "Rick Flannery - how are you?" - and you think, hey wait a minute, I'm trying to be indifferent here but also you think "Hey somebody remembers me!" Well when we got inside - Karen Eide was the next one I saw and when she said "Ricky!" well, I was done in - I was happy I came! The night flew - Artie got the Glen crowd together for photos - others started follwoing suit with their own grade schools - it was such a blast! Indifference be damned!

When John Wescott arranged a mini reunion of some of our varsity football players and coaches and - ME?!, it was an honor to be included - though I didn't pretend that I should have been. Showing up at RHS that Saturday morning and meeting up with everybody was so cool! As we awaited Roger Sweeney's arrival from upstate New York, Dave Burdick's mom pulled up to drop off Dave - she wanted to see some of the "boys" - wow talk about a cool moment and one that made you suddenly feel younger - we all called out "Hi Mrs. Burdick!" Dave Vanderbush gave us the VIP tour of the school (how could you possibly be anything but excited about it!) "Wow that's my homeroom!" (see the details of that day at http://rhsclassof1973.blogspot.com/) - the 2010 varisty football sqaud paying tribute to a very surprised and an obviously appreciative Coach Sweeney one by one and then lunch in town - it was special! Indifferent?! No way!

When Cara recently had her article on Iraq recently published - I was thrilled for her - how do you explain that? Cara and I didn't hang out together growing up yet to learn what she's been up to - to share in special moments like that is special to me.

To see what Karen Eide has accomplished in a field she so loves is so great! You must check out her website and blog at http://kareneide.blogspot.com./

To see Ann Rimmer's inability to age like the rest of us - it's just downright frustrating!

We do have a unique alumni - all so different, all so perfect in being different.

Looking back on my awkwardness in 6th grade - I recall how painful it was for me at times - trying so hard to suddenly fit in with these people that I liked so much. The weight of that at 10 and 11. I remember with a laugh that I thought at the time "I'm not supposed to be awkward at this age!!" (though you're not using that word then - you don't even know the word, you just act it!) - you feel the frustration and lack of confidence. But we all had our own struggles growing up and therein lies the joy of all of this - we got through and it all comes around - so I'm psyched to be sitting here in 2010 writing about it and helping to plan what I hope will be another awesome reunion in 2011!

We'll have a date early next year so you'll have plenty of time to plan - life is too short - make sure you come to the BF reunion!

Coming Soon - Boy Scouts & Girls Scouts!

2010-09-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

Many of us were Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts. Some didn't last too long others went far with it. Either way it was another part of growing up in Ridgewood.

Did you know Carl Vrabel's mom was a den mother? Or that Karen Eide auditioned for and filmed a Girl Scouts tv commercial? The story is coming soon.....................stay tuned!

Glen School Window Wall Gets Face Lift!

2010-09-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Above photo shows that work has begun to replace the old window wall of the Glen School gym. Photo was taken August 21, 2010.

While I'm sure the famous window wall of our old gym needed a face lift, it's tough to see familiar landmarks go especially when it was of a specific architectural design. Hey many of us were there last fall (2010 reunion) and you could tell it needed some fixing but it'll be just another wall when completed! But in the scheme of things - not a big deal.

Above photo is a good comparison of the old and new window walls.

Recently I went down to Ridgewood to meet up with John Wescott, Jim Ranton, Arne Olsen, Dave Burdick, Roger Sweeney, Bob Groat, Stacey Williams, Fern Gomez and Dave Vanderbush. Before I caught up with them at our old high school, I stopped by Glen to snap a few photos to mark the change.

Above photo shows the detail of the new window wall complete with regular windows at the bottom.

In the end, it's probably a good thing - the gym will be more insulated from the weather - but I'm still sorry to see it go!

I wanted to show a picture that highlighted the window wall as a backdrop - the above photo shows Beth Perdue's 3rd grade class 1963-1964. Check other posts in this blog where this picture was already used - the names of the kids are listed there.

Above is great shot of the wall on a bright sunny Saturday - November, 2009 - the day we had our reunion.

The New Kid in School!

2010-09-01T07:36:00.001-07:00

Probably the one thing kids hate most about moving to a new town (or in some cases across town) is attending a new school. It can be an intimidating experience leaving you self conscious and unsure of yourself.

So for many kids, moving to a new school can be the hardest part of a move. Switching schools means making new friends, getting to know new teachers and figuring out how to deal with a whole new system.

When I was little I definitely did not want to be the "new" kid - you know, the kid that moves away, loses all their friends and goes to a new school. There were a few of us who were always there year after year - Gary Vukov, Karen Eide, Artie Brierley, Kara DeGraw, Linda Pursiano, Jill Neandross, Cara Worthington, Greg Rehe, Bruce Meneghin, Lisa Faeth, Carey Hoff and myself. Through the years at Glen School, some kids would move away (some just across town) and others would move in and become the "new" kid!

In our case, it was always exciting to see who was going to be the "new" kid in your class - usually the kids moved to the neighborhood in the summer so they could start school with the rest of us - it was obviously a lot easier. As far as we were concerned we wanted to know "Were they into baseball?" or "Were they cute?" (as in my case - I'm not alone!) It always worked out!

Sometimes though, the "new" kid would move to the neighborhood in the middle of the school year. "Class, this is.............." and the kid would cringe and hope they'd be accepted by his or her new peers as we all sat at our desks staring at them, wondering!

Katie Knight was one of those kids who came to Glen School in the middle of the year.

Katie recalls: "I actually went by Katie but then when I transferred in the middle of second grade from Ridge School (ironic, right?!) to Glen School into Mrs. Cook's class, I wanted to go by Katherine. That didn't last long, especially since my brothers insisted on still calling me Katie."

Above photo, Katie Knight (in 6th grade photo). Katie was already living in Ridgewood but moved to the neighborhood while in 2nd grade. She made an easy transition - there was no one who didn't like or have a crush on Katie Knight!

In fact, Katie did go through a stage that first year where she called herself "Katherine the Knight" - while she doesn't remember this, I have proof in a letter she wrote to my dad! Katie says, "I don't remember calling myself Katherine the Knight! Kind of embarassed about that one!" Soon though it was simply "Katie" all the time.

I wasn't alone but as a boy you secretly hoped the new kid was a girl - sorry Ken Merrill! We weren't disappointed - Knight, Daly, Rimmer, Perdue, Ward, Malley - it seemed there were more new girls than guys! Where the guys were concerned, it was always great if you had common interests like baseball and bike riding and baseball and fishing and baseball...........

Other "new" kids like Ann Rimmer moved to Ridgewood from Lexington, MA. Like most "new" kids she at least wanted to start the school year at the same time as the others but got sick right before the first day of school and started late.

Ann remembers: "I moved from Lexington, MA. I also remember I had bronchitis when we moved so I had to start the school year late which was really scary at the time!"

Ann would prove to be pretty cool - someone you immediately liked - you'd be caught under the Rimmer spell! She quickly became popular and beat out equally popular Gary Vukov for class president in the 5th grade!

Above photo, fashion icon Ann Rimmer in her first class at Glen School - Mrs. Prescott's 4th grade class!

Ken Merrill was a "new" kid in 2nd grade. He recalls: "Mrs. Cook was my first teacher that I rembered teaching me at elementary school."

Nancy Cook and Pat DiLauro (aka Mercer) were the 2nd grade teachers that year. Ken adapted quickly to life at Glen School and remembers times there as great fun and made some of his happiest memories there.

Above photo, a young Ken Merrill in a 3rd grade photo. Next to Ken in the bow tie is David Stanley-Brown.

All in all the "new" kid experience turned out great for everybody! You realized that there were other kids out there from other towns, other states. You hated it when they moved away though.

You also developed new crushes on girls - I had a lot of crushes. "Mom a girl named Beth Perdue came to school today - she is cute!" I had a crush on Ann - I even gave her a ton of my baseball cards (now that's serious!) - she had them up until the time her parents moved! I didn't give my cards to just anyone!

Looking over our class photos you can see that there were more "new" kids than us originals (K-6). As for myself, being younger, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the experience of being a "new" kid - you always want to be accepted, be liked by your peers but when you're little being "new" can be pretty intimidating.

Gay Blades Ice Skating & Else Ege Story!

2010-08-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

In 1964, Gay Blades came to Glen School. While it sounds funny today, Gay Blades was a fun and very popular afterschool ice skating club. It seemed to go on for years - and in fact it existed for about 14 years all because of one mom's dedication! Ask anyone who was a "Gay Blade" - and they'll tell you it was one of the happiest memories of life at Glen School! Everybody wanted to be part of it - there were 100+ kids participating in Gay Blades at its peak - if you know Glen School that's a hec of a lot of kids! Can you imagine the carpools?

Above is a photo of Else in her Mahwah, NJ home in February, 2009.

If you don't know Else (her name is pronounced Elsa Egga) and come to meet her for the first time, you like her immediately. As a child - to us she was a magnet! She was so much fun and always shared an interesting or funny story! Every kid - no matter the grade - knew who Else Ege was! A little over a year ago I sat down and spoke with Else in her Mahwah home and we reminisced about Glen School, Roslyn Road and life in Ridgewood. I followed up on the phone this past Spring (2010) and as recently as August, 2010 and she recalled everything with great fondness. She certainly was a tireless mom and committed to 100's of Glen School kids, but first I want to share a little about where one of Glen School's favorite moms grew up and came to be in Ridgewood.

Else was born Else Lindstrom in 1928 in Bergen, Norway - a coastline town that has so much rain that the locals say their children are born with golashes on their feet! It easily rains 300 days a year there. Bergen had once been the capital of Norway but Oslo became its capital in 1299. Bergen is also known for its local hospitality - with locals flying flags denoting they are home and neighbors are wlecome to come visit.

Above is a modern-day photo of the coastal city of Bergen, Norway where Else was born.

From Bergen, Else moved to Oslo at the age of 4. She lived on Holmenkollveien about 3 miles away from the famous ski jump used in the 1952 Olympics. They have recently begun construction on a huge new ski jump. Else spent 3 months there this past summer and tells of a very bustling city getting for the ski championships there. The view from the jump site is tremendous. Oslo of course was the site of the 1952 Winter Games which Else remembers well.

Oslo in Winter. Norway is truly a beautiful country as are most Nordic countries.

Above is the original ski jump first used in the Oslo Winter Olympic Games in 1952 - just about 3 miles from Else's home on Holmenkollveien!

Above, the same site with a new ski jump under construction Summer 2010.

She is one of 3 siblings - Fredrik, Else & Jan. Her younger brother Jan passed away at the age of 49.

When Else was a little girl, the town soccer field (across from her home on Holmenkollveien) was flooded each winter to form an ice rink and it was there that Else would learn to skate - and become a talented skater. It was also here that Else learned a game that she loved called "Bandy" which is incredibly popular and similar to football as far as rules are concerned and hockey using a ball instead of a puck on the ice. Also known as Ice Football, the game is usually played on a frozen football field. The objective is to score as many goals as possible in 90 minutes. All players carry wooden sticks to hit a small rubber ball into a goal. The origins of Bandy go back to early England where they played an informal game of hockey on frozen ponds in the nineteenth century. It became incredibly popular in countries like Norway and Sweden.

Above is a young boy in the early 1950's playing "Bandy" - a game just about every Nordic child grew up playing.

Above are samples of "Bandy" balls old & new.

In addition to her talent as a skater Else learned how to ski at a very young age and still skis to this day. She recently skied in Park City, Utah in 2008 and at Camp Gaw Mountain in Mahwah, NJ in 2009. Else would share her love for skating and skiing by teaching the neighborhood kids when she & Hans lived in Ridgewood. To teach the kids to ski, they would use a small slope of a hill that would start at the Knies' house and the Roslyn Road kids or "Roslyn Road Runners" as they were affectionately known would end up skiing into the Samson's driveway. The Knies' lived on Westrook Road as did the Samsons. The kids would also set up homemade ski jumps that would add to the fun!

Above are Margaret Silvers' brothers Reed & Peter skiing at the Samson's. Photo is property of Margaret Silvers-Myatt and used with permission.

Above photo shows Reed & Robbie Silvers doing ski jumps at the Samson's house. Photo is property of Margaret Silvers-Myatt and used with permission.

In the photo above (l to r) Margaret Silvers and Karey Samson hot dog it with their homemade ski jump in front of Karey's house on Westbrook Rd. Photo is property of Margaret Silvers-Myatt and used with permission.

As the kids took to skiing, Else would then take them on local ski outings to places like Camp Gaw Mountain, Sterling Forest or Silvermine at Harriman State Park. Those who went on these various ski outings included: the Knight's, the Henckler's, the Daly's, the Silvers', Lis & Tina Ege of course and many others.

Above is a 1960's photo of a busy Silvermine Ski Area at Harriman State Park, NY.

The photo above shows Silvermine Ski Area as it looks today - abandoned and unused for quite a few years. The weather-beaten ski lift still stands today - waiting for skiers like it did back in the 60's.

Some of The Roslyn Road Runners - and there were a lot of them - would take ski trips to Pleasant Mountain in Maine. The above photo shows a late arrival back to Ridgewood after getting snowed in. Dad's that would go on these trips included Sam Silvers, Bill Knight, Bob Samson & Paul Knies. Photo is property of Margaret Silvers-Myatt and used with permission.

Photo above left shows Bill Knight cooking and feeding the boys - photo on the right is Phillip Knies. Photo is property of Margaret Silvers-Myatt and used with permission.

Chowing down on the Pleasant Mountain ski trip are l to r: Bobby Bennett, Ricky McDaniel, Hank Henckler & Karey Samson. Photo is property of Margaret Silvers-Myatt and used with permission.

In her late teens, Else attended the state Art School in Oslo where she would perfect her skill as an artist. Please see photos below of some of her artwork and fliers that she did for Glen School events.

In 1952, Else would meet Hans Ege through her brother Fredrik - where did they meet? On the slopes of course!

In September 1953 at age 25, Else & Hans married in Oslo and would eventually make the big move to the United States. Hans was private secretary to the US Ambassador to Norway Charles Bay under President Truman's administration. When General Eisenhower became President in 1952, Charles Bay would return to the United States but he asked Hans if he and Else would return with him - Hans agreed and this is how they came to the United States, settling in New York City.

Above, US Ambassador to Norway Charles Bay and his wife - Charles would ask the Ege's to come to the States with him!

In April 1957, they would move to 877 Roslyn Road in Ridgewood, NJ. This wonderful, sprawling neighborhood street would quickly become active with new famlies with lots of kids! Despite living in Ridgewood, Else would return to Norway every summer and still does.

Above photo is a great shot of life on Roslyn Road in the 1960's - compare it to 2010 and you can appreciate how greatly it has changed. It was such a sprawling, open neighborhood and is now covered with and heavily shaded by the mature trees - the redone homes sometimes hard to recognize. Drive slow and you find yourself saying things like, "There's the Silvers' house!" or "Isn't that where Katie lived?" The photo above shows an Easter egg hunt that was a neighborhood tradition at least for a few years. Photo is property and courtesy of Roslyn Road Runner Hank Henckler - who's mom Muriel incidently still lives on Roslyn Road!

The above photo is a classic! My sincere thanks to Else for sending it. It shows a very young Lis Ege in front of her home at 877 Roslyn Road in winter - note the classic wooden skis! Lis is one of those important Glen School kids who today runs a successful business in California called Cowbell.com - importing MOEN Bells of Norway. Cowbell.com has been licensed to market souvenir cheering bells for the Olynpic Winter Games in Lillehammer (1994), Salt Lake City (2002), Torino (2006) and Vancouver (2010).

For Else there would be no PTA - she didn't want anything to do with that - but she wanted everything to do with working with the kids at Glen School and when her daughters Lis and Tina started school Else quickly became a very active mom.

She would become a "book mender" at the school library - though the libraian and Else would clash over silly issues like Else wearing slacks - the libraian told her it was inappropriate! With that Else elected to take a box of books home each week and mend them there!

She would also help teachers during class. One of her favorite tasks was teaching the kids about Norway. She would show them Norwegian costumes and how each costume would denote what part of the country you were from. She would involve the kids in making Norwegian vests, share music, traditions and a kids favorite - the Trolls Dance. She also would sometimes knit her own Norwegian sweaters and would often remember her firends and neighbors by bringing back handmade sweaters from Norway - Katie Knight and her mom Rene recalled that they had each owned a handmade sweater from Norway.

Above a sample of what traditional Norwegian clothing looks like - the vest would denote what part of the country you were from.

Another interest close to Else's heart of course was art and she revelled in teaching the kids about artists and their artwork - pointing out artwork and prompting the kids to tell her who the artist was. She loved how excited the kids were when they would take a field trip shortly afterward to various art museums in New York City and how interested they were as they pointed out the same artists and paintings.

Then the idea of skating as an afterschool activity was put to a number of mom's and Else gladly took the cue and said "I can do that!" The idea was to make skating available to all the kids who thought they'd want to give it a try - it was both a great learning experience and a major social event each week. So starting in about 1964 for 13 weeks each year - basically from November to February - nearly a 100 kids would sign up and be carpooled to & from the Fritz Dietl Ice Skating Rink in Westwood, NJ. Even Dorothy Hamill made the trek down from Riverside, Connecticut in the early 70's to the Fritz Dietl rink (among other ice rinks) to hone the skills that would lead to her Olympic gold medal in Innsbruck, Austria in 1976!

Above we find Fritz Dietl himself (on the far left) and various skater kids in front of his ice rink in Westwood, NJ. (Sorry for the poor quality)

Fritz Dietl Ice Skating Rink as it looks today - unchanged!

Above, the adorable Dorothy Hamill upon receiving her gold medal and winning the hearts of 1,000's! Hamill would use the Fritz Dietl ice rink to practice.

For $13 your child could skate every wednesday afternoon for 13 weeks from the beginning of November til the middle of February. Each session was from 3:30 pm-5:30 pm. Can you imagine that? 2 hours of skating each week for 13 weeks for $13?! It was made available to all kids at Glen School - from kindergarten through 6th grade. Some would bring their own skates while others would rent them. Perdue's Sport Shop was a popular place for the kids to get their skates - the classic, rustic wooden Perdue's sign still vivid in our memory - not to mention Mr. Perdue's classic Woody. Perdue's sold skates but also rented them as well as part of their skate & ski exchange.

Here is part of the description as written by Else on the 1969-70 season flier:

".....We invite mothers and fathers to skate if they wish. It is a great way to get a little exercise and have an afternoon of fun with your youngsters.................."

Above is one of the many Gay Blades fliers handed out to every child at Glen School in October every school year for 14 years.

Part of another flier read like this: "Come skaters, do not wait - there is still time, why be late? Send in your application quick, remember Gay Blades starts the 8th of November..........."

Above is a phone book advertisement of everybody's favorite sport shop - Perdue's! Now in Westwood too!

There were also plenty of chaperones. Some would help on the ice while others like Jeanne Stanley-Brown were always ready for an emergency. All would be picking up gloves and hats and coats and shoes - trying to keep everybody's things from getting misplaced and helping kids to lace up!

Above l to r: Lis Ege (Else's oldest daughter) and another classic Glen School and Ridgewood mom - Jeanne Stanley-Brown! Photo taken by Terri Dimodugno.

The moms who drove would pull up to the circle in the Glen School parking lot with their big Town & Country station wagons (no seat belts of course!) and as school let out theirs and up to 6 other kids would pile in and follow the caravan to Fritz Dietl!

Above is the classic circle in front of Glen School as it looks today where our moms would pick us up on rainy days and of course Gay Blades!

The boys would skate a little - they would be known as circle skaters but would always look forward to playing hockey on a section of ice cordoned off for just that purpose. The girls would dress in their sweaters and special outfits like Ann Rimmer - dressed in her fuzzy pink sweater over a black skirt - proud to have been selected as a leader - the ribbon pinned to her sweater denoting such a responsibility! As Annie recalls: "I loved Gay Blades!...........I felt very important!" The girls would skate the whole afternoon - doing twirls and jumps and spins which the boys in large part, wanted nothing to do with! But the girls would also join the boys in their hockey games sometimes.

Nope - not a Glen girl - just a stock photo! But you get the idea.............

Else always supplied the pucks and sticks for hockey and would take on the role of "Skating Guard" complete with a whistle - trying to keep everybody safe - preventing collisions and pile-ups on the ice.

Else would always come up with fun skating games like The Whip which was a skating conga line or races back and forth across the ice. There was pairs skating and twirling practice in the middle of the rink. As Lis Ege recalls "......just enough to wear us all out before going home for dinner!"

Margaret Silvers finds it very easy to recall that she almost always had the back of her shirt sticking out of the back of her pants "........and Mrs. Ege would come behind me and go for a ride grabbing onto my shirt!"

Over the course of 14 seasons there would be a typical assortment of injuries - mostly minor - a sprained knee, a broken arm and assorted other bumps and bruises but hours and hours of fun! And of course hot chocolate!

Like all the other fliers and booklets that Else would design for school events and activities, our prinicipal Mr. Linden's secretary Agnes Larsen would always be there with a smile and a helping hand copying all the posters and fliers on the ditto machine for Else!

Yup that's the original ditto machine that Agnes Larsen used to make 100's of tests, quizzes and fliers! We need more fluid Mr. McFall! Mmmmmm that smell................!

Fritz Dietl - who was famous in the ice skating world (Olympic coach, star ice performer, legendary skating partner of Sonja Henie and member of the Ice Skating Institue's Hall of Fame) could always be found at the rink often engaged in conversations with Else about Norway, skating & Sonja Heine who of course won 3 consecutive Olympic gold medals and was born in Oslo, Norway where Else grew up!

The famous Fritz Dietl!!

Oslo's sweetheart Sonja Henie would turn her skating gold into Hollywood gold making movies often highlighting her skating skills. She died at the relatively young age of 69.

Else also gave lessons on the proper way to lace up your skates - spending strict attention to ankle support while not making them too tight using one finger in your skate as a guide!

Lacing up your skates the right way was important for good ankle support and good skating!

Generally the ice skating lessons were given by the moms - many of them beautiful skaters, among them were Else, Anita Bennett, Mrs. Avery, Ruth Glisch and Carol Casey - I'm sure I'm leaving out some too! Margaret Silvers says that Else "..............could skate on hockey skates or figure skates - wow! Beautiful skater!"

The car rides to and from the rink were almost as much fun as the skating. There was a rule about how many kids could be in the car, so when Else would see a police car she'd yell "Duck!" and the kids would laugh hysterically and duck their heads as they drove past him!

Lis Ege recalls her mom's metallic, dark tan 4-door Dodge packed with various kids which any given week could be made up of Karey & Julie Samson, David & Beth Stanley-Brown, Reed, Robbie & Margaret Silvers, Scott, Doug and Stacey Yates, Katie Knight. Lis happily recalls piling back into the family car after skating and on the way home they would drive down a steep hill that had a sharp left turn ".............we'd chant 'straight, straight, straight!' and then mom would make the sharp left and we'd all lean to the right laughing!"

Well its not the Ege's tan Dodge but you get a feel for what it was like - 7 kids piled in the family car each week and Else and the other moms making even a just 15 minute trip in the car a lot of fun!

On the last day of skating, each child would earn their skating diploma. On some nights some carpools would head right over to The Fireplace for dinner on the way home as a special treat.

Above is an assortment of Gay Blades diplomas handed out to the kids who came to the 13th week of skating.

By the mid-1970's, Gay Blades would be renamed Glen Blades (just not the same!) and would last until 1978-1979 - quite a few years after Else's own 2 daughters - Lis and Tina - had already left Glen School!

Over the years Else would be honored on 3 separate occasions for her work and dedication at Glen School and in particular with Gay Blades. Else you have our deepest gratitude for all the time you spent giving us all new and fun experiences growing up!

Note on the above plaque that it says "Glen Blades" - the famous name change!

Above photo was taken in November, 2009 at our Glen School reunion at Glen School - l to r: Margaret Silvers and Else Ege. Else had just received yet another honor - this time from the students of Glen School. Photo taken by Terri Dimodugno.

Over the last 2 years I have asked a few people for some their memories of Gay Blades - their responses are below:

Lis Ege - "Tina was at Glen until 1974 (I think). Mom continued Gay Blades after Tina left too! There was a name change before they stopped. They stopped after 1978-79 because when I came back from college I helped mom."

Karen Eide: "I loved Gay Blades! I begged mom for figure skating lessons! And, of course, my skates came from Perdue's Sport Shop!"

Judy Wilson: "I too went for Gay Blades! Great fun!"

Ken deGruchy: ".....My mom had involved myself and Cheryl with that (Gay Blades) for a time. Do you remember the mean man who ran the place and operated the special machine that prepared the skating surface?............Hot chocolate at Gay Blades was always a treat!"

Cynthia Wagner: "I was a member of Gay Blades - I think in 6th grade only. It was a BIG DEAL that my parents let me sign up for it finally after begging for a few years - money was always tight and this was a luxury. It was one of my happiest memories of Glen School! It was such a treat for me since I was the youngest of 4 children. I really became a very good skater because of it. It was such fun socially - I felt cool that I was part of it."

Diana Wagner: "No - bad ankles and I could never stay warm!!! Cool hands, cold feet, warm heart!"

Beth Daly: "............Everyone went. Mrs. Ege was the one who ran it but I remember huge carpools and moms picking up their kids in the circle at Glen and....all driving up to Fritz "De-whatever" and people having their skates at school on Gay Blades day."

Margaret Silvers: "Yup there must have been carpooling. Mrs. Ege was a chaperone so a bunch of us would jump in her car.........right after school. I guess we took our skates to school. We'd skate for a couple of hours and pile back into the car for the ride home."

Kim Vukov: "I did belong to Gay Blades and loved it! Every Wednesday afternoon at 3:30. We had so much fun. I remember skating real fast and doing some spins in the middle and falling and hitting my head. No hospitals but it knocked me out!"

Ken Merill: "Yes I remember that Susan Nunno and I were photographed by The Ridgewood News lacing up our skates at her house and the photo was placed in The Ridgewood News to announce the opening of skating season."

Artie Brierley: "Gay Blades - every wednesday after school - never could skate. Opted for gym after school!"

Cara Worthington: "I loved it!"

In 2001, Hans & Else sold the house at 877 Roslyn Road - moving to Mahwah, NJ. Sadly Hans Ege passed away on September 22, 2005. Being Irish I am cursed with sentiment (not complaining though!) Driving down Roslyn Road today - it still holds many memories (even for me as friends and I always rode our bikes there and trick or treated there) - the memories are always fresh in my mind - like snapshots - of life in the neighborhoods, the schools and Ridgewood.

Below is a small selection of Else's artwork used for fliers and posters promoting the Glen School circuses, card clubs and fashion shows which raised money for the Glen Home & School Association. Her classic designs reflected the times and could easily rival that of fashion desgners.

Looking back, the name Else Egge is synonymous with Gay Blades - she helped to make growing up in Ridgewood and attending Glen School a memorable time for many of us!

Thanks to all those who contributed to this classic Glen story. Thanks too of course to Else who has been so gracious and patient with my questions. Thanks Lis for the fact-checking help!

Glen School and the Roof!

2010-03-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

Climbing up to the Glen School roof - so many of us remember this ritual. Some were a lot more daring than the others. I always started my climb on the little wall in the top righthand corner of the above photo. The goal of many was the gym roof (the smaller box-shaped building in the lower right corner of photo). Daring or not though, we were no match for Mr. McFall who would always make us come down. Can you imagine the amount of times he chased kids down from the roof!?

It was so easy to get up there. The appeal of course was not only the view but tracking down kickballs, baseballs, sponge balls, frisbees - you always found something and hopefully before the rain got to it.

The walls that we climbed up - which surrounded the Glen & Ridge Schools - were unique. It seemed like they were built specifically for the purpose of climbing!

Above photo shows the unique block system that made it so simple to climb to the roof! What kid wasn't gonna try it?

Of course it was always more fun if you had a partner in crime climb up there with you!

Many times you climbed up there after school and you'd be caught by Mr. McFall - our father-figure custodian. "Come down from there!", he'd yell and you'd climb down the way you came up only to return the next day or next week and go through the same ritual again! It was probably so easy for him to hear us up there!

There was the easy way and the hard way to climb - those more daring chose the difficult way - up the gym wall! I started to do that once but I lost my nerve because it was such a high climb! I don't remember anyone ever getting hurt though and when you think about it that is amazing!

The easiest way to do it was in the back of the kindergarten classroom, near the toy shed. It had a short wall, which led to another short wall and before you knew it you were up!

Above to the left is the wall you'd start on which would take you the shed (center). From there you'd climb up the wall in the righthand top corner of photo to the overhang across the courtyard.

Above photo shows the gym wall which was high and straight up - many did it this way!

Kim Vukov Glen Class of 1969 (6th grade) recalls:
"Cheryl deGruchy, Karen Stewart and I scaled the roof all the time but we came down on the poles. We would hang over the edge by the kindergarten entrance (by the courtyard), wrap our legs on the pole and slide down. How dangerous was that!"

Above are the poles that Kim Vukov, Cheryl deGruchy & Karen Stewart would climb down. Andy Wright also climbed down the poles when caught by Mr. McFall!

Andy Wright Glen Class of 1974 remembers:

"I spent my entire childhood there (at Glen School) and remember Mr. McFall chasing me off the school roof - sliding down the poles into the courtyard area like Batman."

Bruce Meneghin Glen Class of 1967:

"My favorite thing about the gym was that we were able to get on top of the roof (starting at the wall by the kindergarten) to retrieve our tennis balls. Those early climbing adventures led to a serious pursuit of rock climbing."

Charles Nalbantian Glen Class of 1969:

".......I remember (Doug Terhune and Brian Krueger) scaling the roof even in 5th grade! Could it have also been deliberate that the red kickballs ended up there as often as they did - I wonder?.......I think I only got up there maybe twice or three times in total. Had a problem with heights - got that same feeling at the Grand Canyon some years later!"

Ken Merrill Glen Class of 1967:

"He (Mr. McFall) didn’t appreciate when we would climb the wall to get baseballs off of the school roof!"

Doug Terhune Glen Class of 1969:
"How many folks scaled the 2 story wall of the Glen School gym? Amazing nobody ever fell doing that!"

In 1994, members of the Glen School Class of 1969 (6th grade) met at Glen for a walk around the school during a reunion - eventually 4 made it up to the roof for old times sake. They included: Diana Wagner, Doug Terhune, Brian Kreuger & Charles Nalbantian.

Above photo is from 1994. L to r: Diana Wagner, Doug Terhune, Charles Nalbantian & Brian Krueger.

Climbing the roof is among a slew of memories we have from attending this great little school. One of the classic roof stories was when Tina Ege forgot to bring her bicycle home one day only to find it on the roof the next morning! I think Mr. McFall came to the rescue once again and I'm told it was actually her sister Lis Ege's bike!

Ghosts of Glen School!

2010-03-06T13:35:00.000-08:00

Well, maybe not ghosts but if you're a little like me, last November (2009) I couldn't wait for the opportunity to walk around the school before everyone got there. I love the time to reflect. I really do love writing about this stuff - it was a fun time growing up - Glen School, BF, RHS, Ridgewood.

Last year I sent questionaires to as many people as I could asking for memories about the neighborhoods and Glen School - here are some of mine!

An old school chair from the 60's that I found in the gym in November! (Photo by Rick Flannery)

As I walked the halls last November, I could see us (my classmates and me!) on our way to assembly or gym. I could see myself in the library finally getting turned on to books! I could see Katie and Ann and others stealing the "Fink" tags off the backs of our shirts and us guys feigning that we were annoyed about it but loving every minute of the attention!

Above is the hallway toward the main office and gym that we all took so often. (Photo property of Luke Walter)

I could see every teacher. I could see our art projects - sometimes terrible - that we did and were so proud of! The kickball games which were such great fun and the dodgeball games which were even more fun!

In the gym I remembered when I broke my thumb playing hoops after a scout meeting. I remembered how I dreaded the day (every year) that Mr. Bookstaver would ask us all to climb the ropes - hoping I could do it and then succumbing to Mr. Bookstaver saying "Alright, if you can't do it, hang for one minute!" Ugh - the words "if you can't do it" staying with me all week!

Above, our school gym. I broke my thumb at that end of the court! (Photo property of Luke Walter)

Sometimes I wish I wasn't filled with such sentimentality but at the same time I don't think I'd want it any other way. Probably an Irish thing.

Before we got things set up in the gym for the reunion last November, I visited Mr. Linden's old office - I could see him and Mrs. Larsen and the nurse - everything was so eerily quiet.

When I walked into the kindergarten and first grade classrooms - so much came back! I mean I find it amazing that I can remember so much from such a young age! The cubbies, taking off our rain and snow boots - I mean really, that task alone must have taken about 10 minutes the way our mom's dressed us up for school on bad weather days!

Reading my first book to Mrs. Janicke.

Above are the cloakrooms where we would take off and put on our bad weather gear! (Photo by Rick Flannery)

In the kindergarten classroom, I could see Bruce Meneghin and me teaching Karen Eide & Jan Potdevin to whistle and loving every minute of it! Giving Jan and Karen rings (my sister's!). And lying on the hard floor with a thin blanket trying to nap but being pleasantly distracted by others! Dick, Jane and Sally books.

Tunes in June with the family at the Shell on Vets Field and my sister always begging out of it!

T&W's on sunday nights, Van Dyk's on saturday's after baseball and convincing my dad that the 100 person line at T&W wasn't that bad! Asking my dad to try and plan coming home from my grandparents so there was enough time to play ball and/or get ice cream!

The finger painting. The milk & graham crackers. Being embarrassed to be sent out to the hall! Recess and it being all about the girls! Baseball cards with the guys. Captains and picking teams. The fish pond in the courtyard with actual fish (it didn't last long). Mr. McFall and his uncanny ability to be in 10 places at once! Flip-top desks! Penny loafers. White socks. Chinos. Finally realizing one day that I dressed terribly in comparison to Attella, Petrucci, Merrill, Vukov.

Frank Petrucci and Paul Attella - how could they dress so well at that age?!

The first day I ever rode my bike to school - that first independence - relatively comparable to getting my license when I turned 17 (well not quite the same but at the age of 6 it was cool!) The metal annual bike license plates!

Trying out for and making choir and then seeing some friends like Artie Brierley NOT in choir and having fun playing ball instead - hey, how come YOU'RE not singing?!

My school reports - on so many subjects usually getting great grades and being very happy I was not graded on being a good artist (I was terrible with my covers!) You know, you'd see Cara's or Katie's reports and you'd be like "Are you kidding me!?"

An example of my report on Michaelangelo - you'd never know it by the cover but I got an E+ on this one!

Delivering the pink attendance slips to the office. Cleaning erasers on that funky machine near the office and sponging down the blackboard after school hopefully with Knight, Eide, Perdue, Rimmer, Daly, Pursiano, Neandross, Worthington well you know, somebody like that!!!!! Yeah, it wasn't about cleaning the blackboard! I remember telling some of the guys - so who cleaned the boards with you yesterday? Really!????

Above cleaning the blackboards and erasers!

Turning 8 or 9 and getting to stay up later for tv shows. In 5th and 6th grade, Batman and The Monkees and Combat! were favorites!

The Beatles consuming our lives in the winter of 3rd grade - I remember "I Want To Hold Your Hand" on Sullivan and loving the song "She Love's You". The girls singing Monkees songs on the black top.

Meeting Brian Marchese for the first time in 5th grade and suddenly realizing that I had one helluva lot of catching up to do - on all fronts! Dad I need a sting ray bike - with slicks!

Giving Ann Rimmer some of my baseball cards! Mr. Linden confiscating mine and other friend's baseball cards because we kept flipping them after the bell had rung!

Penny and her horses. Jill and the pillars!

Climbing to the school roof and wanting to do it when there was a chance of getting "caught" by Mr. McFall! Always finding baseballs, kickballs, frisbees. Come to think of it there must have been one hec of lot of those because everyone says they did the same thing!

Loving the independence that being on the Safety Patrol gave you - great excuse to be late for class and get out early! Also finally being able to tell younger kids what the 6th graders used to tell us - stay off the grass, don't run, etc.

Wanting my dad to get a woody like the Perdue's!

1001 crushes on the usual suspects - Glen had the best girls!!

All our classrooms had the big windows - outside and in. I remember when our class was waiting for our TB tests in nurse Musilar's office and seeing the 6th graders coming down the hall hamming it up as if it was the most painful thing ever and freaking me out!

Going trick or treating on Halloween 'til 10pm. Hitting every nearby neighborhood: Gateway Road, Eastbrook, Norgate, Roslyn and never having the guts - ever! - to go to Karen Eide's house!

Riding my bike around the school and the neighborhoods. I remember riding with friends to check out our "new" 4th grade classroom for that September and wondering once again if Karen Eide would be in my class! Actually Karen ended up being in 6 out of 7 of my Glen School classes - lucky me! (Sorry Karen!)

The movie days - those old 16 mm movies on hygeine or science or farms. The ant farm we kept. Watching channel 13 public tv - mostly Mr. Wizard epsiodes or space exploits on the tv.

Episode of Mr. Wizard above.

Mr. Bookstaver seemingly never missing a shot when demonstrating how he wanted us to shoot baskets!

Iowa tests - #2 pencil and color in the entire circle! Ditto sheets.

Above an example of the returned scores of your Iowa tests.

End of school year parties at the Pursiano's house, the Ward's house and the Voorhis' house.

Never wanting to stop playing ball and reluctantly going in for dinner! Touch football. Tackle football. Double-play drills on Auburn Avenue.

The great summer night games we played on Auburn Avenue! Curb ball and finally mastering the knack of how to get a home run doing it! Running bases. Great, long water fights. Frisbee and hot dogging it. Baseball cards on the spokes! Stick ball against the gym wall. Asking Cindy Pomeroy to go steady, giving her my ID bracelet and then going back to my baseball game! (Hello!?) Wanting to spend half my time at the Pomeroy's! Hoping the Regelman's would invite us for a dip in their pool! The Chick's keeping our baseballs if they ended up on their lawn and making them pay for that on Cabbage Night! Getting chased by the Roff's dog when baseballs or footballs ended up in their yard and just making it back over the fence when the dog figured out we were there - actually setting up diversions to give you enough time!

Looking forward to Camp Green but with some nervousness - about the food! What will a fussy eater like me eat?? I survived and Camp was pretty fun! Driving our Camp bus driver crazy with a rousing rendition of 100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall - you know, "......take one down, pass it around, 99 bottles of beer on the wall! 98 bottles..............."!

Incredibly long, marathon Monopoly games at the Meneghin's. Needing ALL the railroads. Y camp.

Dreading having to speak in front of the class. Mrs. Prescott loved putting us through that! You'd stand there and the new word in your life - "um" - would permeate your discussion of whatever! What was funny was Mrs. Prescott would point out that fact on everyone who got up and you couldn't help but laugh each time someone said "um" between each word and she'd tell us to stop!

Playing the clarinet and Mr. Cook asking me ultimately not to play it but to fake it - because I squeaked too much!

Realizing that I hated my clothes, discovering Mac Hugh's and wishing someone had clued me in sooner!

Little League of course. Scouts and the first overnight. Getting initiated at a Camp Gaw Jamboree and being made to sing the Star Spangled-Banner blindfolded and trying to keep my soprano singing voice as low as possible for fear it may draw more unnecessary initiation activities!!!!

Loving the field trips we took and we had a lot of great ones! The Central Park Zoo, the museums, the United Nations, Edison Labratory to name a few - being on the bus was just as much fun!

The above photo is from our trip to the Guggenheim Museum - courtesy of Katie Knight!

Being nervous at the end of it all - 6th grade - moving to the junior high school. I was definitely too young for my grade but I can't imagine not being with the class I was with.

Its easy to revisit the past when you had this much fun! That's why I get so much out of writing about it. That's also why it was so painful - really painful - when Artie died 2 weeks before the reunion. That's why too - Jan Potdevin - if you read this - you did truly make my night coming to the reunion. One never knows what to say or how to say it especially to someone they care about but I really did hurt for you at the loss of your mom and your brother - I can only imagine how you felt. Do you know how excited Artie was to possibly see you (even though we weren't sure)? We talked about it.

People you knew will always be a part of your life but its particularly special when its people you knew when you were younger and for the most part its those people you grew up with who will always remain an important part of your life and who helped to shape who you are - whether or not you ever see them.

Glen School Mom's - 5 Came To Our Reunion!

2010-02-28T10:04:00.000-08:00

I had to take some time to thank some special people in our home and school lives - our moms! My mom, Virginia - was a den mother, was in the Glen Home & School Association, PTA - even rooted for other guys I played against in town!! Our happy days in school and at home would certainly not have been that way without our mothers (and dads too!)

Back in November we had our Glen School reunion with a truly great turnout. Among those in attendance were 5 very special moms. I've said it before - the night was filled with a lot of highlights and unexpected moments not the least of which was enjoying the company of some classmates moms. Looking back I regret not making a fuss about it - they deserved to be pointed out and I wish we had given each a bouquet of roses - much deserved and from our hearts. I do apologize for not asking each mom to stand up and be recognized.

The 5 moms who graced us with their presence included: Jeanne Stanley-Brown, Else Ege, Janet Silvers, Jean deGruchy and Muriel Henckler. You made our evening!!

Here is a partial list of Glen School moms who were always there for us:

Virginia Flannery, Alma Meneghin, Anita Bennett, Barbara Perdue, Ginny Terhune, Rene Knight, Anita Bennett, Yvonne Foytlin, Deenie Smith, Arlene Van der Wege, Ruth Potdevin, June Duvall, Sandy Wagner, Marina Worthington, Betty Lord, Dot Mclaren, Sue Schumeyko, Emily Petrucci, Evadna Knies, Helen Werbeck, Eleanor Brierley, Gini Brevoort, Jean Lavery, Clo Davis, Audrey Neandross, June Cunneen, Marion McDaniel, Sylvia McCormick, Katie Samson, Gloria Tamberelli, Rita O'Brien, Marian Midbow, Joann Regelman, Cynthia Pomeroy, Dwaine Marcello-Sutherland, Janet Voorhis, Jan Ludwig, Gloria Stewart, Peg Rogers, Bernice Teasley, Marion Vaccari, Thelma Corcoran, Doris DeGraw, Delores Faeth, Edie Vandervoort, Ruth Glisch, Joann Hansen, Bix Smethurst.

Please help us add your mom to the above list!! I just can't remember all the names but all are affectionately in our hearts! Please correct me if I spelled any names wrong.

Jeanne Stanley-Brown - November 7, 2009

Janet Silvers - November 7, 2009

Muriel Henckler - November 7, 2009

Else Ege - November 7, 2009

Jean deGruchy - November 7, 2009

More Glen School Candids!

2010-02-22T14:51:00.000-08:00

Easily the most enjoyable feature of a blog like this are the photos of friends and classmates! Here are some great ones! My sincere thanks to Katie Knight-Maiuri, Margaret Silvers-Myatt and Andy Wright for these photographs. Enjoy!

These first 3 photos are courtesy of Katie Knight-Maiuri). Katie Knight's birthday party January, 1966. Beginning with the girl in the blue sweater and going clockwise: Suzy Nunno, Beth Daly, Beth Perdue, Janet Kelly, Katie Knight (birthday girl), Mary Hensel, Karen Eide, Ann Rimmer, Cara Worthington & Betsy Kline. What a table - the 5th grade guys would've killed to be that party!

Opening special gifts at Katie's party. Starting at top left: Cara Worthington, Betsy Kline, Suzy Nunno, Mrs. Knight, Beth Daly, Katie Knight, Janet Kelly, Mary Hensel, Karen Eide. (Beth Perdue and Ann Rimmer are out of view)

Above Katie opening her birthday presents! Starting with the girl in the blue shirt and clockwise: Beth Perdue, (below her) Beth Daly, Lynn Malley, Ann Rimmer, Betsy Kline, Karen Eide, Katie Knight (seated), Janet Kelly, (leaning over chair), Suzy Nunno, Mary Hensel and Cara Worthington.

Karen Eide during one of our many field trips. This trip was to the Central Park Zoo.

Ricky Flannery - age 5 during Halloween at my grandmothers house! I was Emmett Kelly for Halloween that year (kindergarten).

Above from l to r: Beth Daly, Jill Neandross (center) and Katie Knight. They were in the Glen School gym to watch Beth's younger sibling's in a show that night. (Picture taken by Sam Silvers)
Above from l to r: Katie Knight, Beth Daly and Jill Stanley-Brown at one the Silvers' movie nights. All 3 girls lived on Roslyn Road. (Picture taken by Sam Silvers)

Above is at my house. From front l to r: Jimmy O'Brien, Ricky Flannery, Bruce Meneghin & Kent Meneghin. We never had a shortage of things to do in the neighborhood.

Ricky Flannery hamming it up in front of our house circa 1959.

Above is Glen School alum Andy Wright about age 5. Andy lived on Salem Lane. (Courtesy of Andy Wright)

Glen School's First Principal - Art Linden!

2010-02-13T14:05:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a school is tied to its principal and sometimes the principal is tied to his school - for the Glen School kids it just seemed you couldn't have one without the other. Arthur Valfred Linden, Jr. was the first and longest serving principal at Glen School and had he lived he may well have been its last!

Above is the main office where Mrs. Larsen and Mrs. Flechtner worked as secretaries at Glen School. Mr. Linden's office is the door to the left. "Hey Mrs. Larsen, we need 100 ditto sheets!"

Even though opening day at the school was wednesday September 9, 1959, Art Linden and other town brass officially dedicated the school at 3pm on Sunday January 31, 1960. There were 184 kids enrolled at the time. Along with Mr. Linden there were 8 teachers and 4 staff members serving the students at Glen School.

Personally, I remember Mr. Linden as a sharp dresser with a raspy voice. I also recall - looking back now - his utter dedication to both the students and teachers of Glen School. He really was the type of principal who was connected to his school.

Above is Mr. Linden and members of his safety patrol outside the school. With him are Randy Duvall and Suzy Terhune.

Parents loved him and he always made himself available to all. You always found him at Glen School functions whether it was the Fashion Shows, the Glen School Circus, the Pet Round-Ups, musical shows - he always instilled in those around him spirit in the school and was enthusiastic about everything the school got involved in. That spirit definitely rubbed off on us as well.

Arthur Valfred Linden, Jr. grew up in Yonkers, NY. He was named after his father but he hated being called junior - however his mother was the only one who got away with that! His middle name "Valfred" came from an old family name from the Swedish side of the family. His father was also an educator and served as a provost at Columbia University. His father also worked with John Dewey - a highly respected writer, lecturer and philosopher whose theories had a profound influence on public education in the first half of the 20th century - particularly in the United States. Dewey was a strong promoter of what was called "instrumentalism" (related to the pragmatism of Charles Pierce William James) and the radical reform of the public education system. The books "The School and Society" (1899) and "The Child and the Curriculum" (1902), emphasized the interests of the child and the use of the classroom to cultivate the interplay between thought and experience. You could almost say that at when Mr. Linden was principal, that these practices were in play at Glen School.

Art's grandparents - Phillip and Elvira Linden - had 5 children.

At a young age, Art became a huge movie buff and was president of The Irene Dunne Fan Club at one time. His love of film and hollywood was undoubtedly influenced by his Uncle Eric Linden who was a movie actor in Hollywood and would have roles in 33 films over a career that spanned 10 years.

Above is Irene Dunne in her heyday - Art was president of her fan club!

Eric Linden - Art's uncle - was the youngest of Phillip and Elvira's kids and during his movie career had earned the part of the "amputee case" in the film "Gone with the Wind". His part was whittled down to 30 seconds in the film and he was disappointed to learn that his choice scene with Vivien Leigh ended up on the cutting room floor! As Mr. Linden's son Chris recalls, Eric's career had made the family proud. Eric Linden passed away in July, 1994.

Young Eric Linden - Art Linden's young uncle and movie actor!

Upon graduating high school, Art attended and graduated from the University of Denver where he also earned his Masters degree.

After graduating college, Art took an elementary school teaching job in Coronado, CA. It was there in Coronado where he met, fell in love with and married Mary Feeney.

Shortly after getting married, he and Mary moved to West Germany to teach at the US Army's civilian school in Bad Toltz. It was in West Germany that their first child - Mark - was born.

Above is George Washington School where Art Linden would teach before becoming Assistant Principal at Travell School.

Art and Mary would return from West Germany with Mark in tow and settle in Ridgewood NJ. It was about 1956 when Art started teaching at George Washington Junior High school - although at the time GW was also an elementary school. In 1958, he became Assistant Principal at Travell School.

The original program from "Travell-Za Poppin'!"

On March 28, 1958, the parents and teachers of Travell put on a huge production called "Travell-Za Poppin!!" Among those who were in this production, were my sister Ginny and Assistant Principal Art Linden! There were also so many other familiar names like Terhune, Pelley, Bruning, Van Nostrand, Carlson among many others. My sister played the part of a collegiate girl and Mr. Linden played the part of one of 3 Village Commissioners. Mr. Linden was always in his element with shows like this and always loved taking part in them.

Mary Linden earned her degree in childhood education from Oswego State Univeristy. Mary also helped to start and manage the nursery school at the Ridgewood YWCA. She made sure it was accredited by the state as well. This was probably circa 1959 or so.

The Linden's would have 4 children altogether - Mark, Chris, Patrick and Kelly. Pat Mercer (1st and 2nd grade teacher for a time at Glen School) recently said of the Linden's parenting: ".....devoted parents would be an understatement!"

Pat goes on to say: "The Linden's were fun people. They were probably my first "adult friends" - boy did I luck out! They had many parties for all of us. They lived in Blauvelt NY when I first met them and returning from their Christmas party one night, I saw my first oppossum - a big deal for an "ocean girl"!" (Pat grew up at the Jersey Shore in Margate NJ - attending Atlantic City High School).

Chris Linden was born the first day that Glen School opened in September, 1959. Art Linden spent a hectic day waiting for THE "call" at George Washington Junior High hanging out with Dr. Bill Cobb who was principal there and wondering whether it would be a boy or a girl. Chris, Patrick and Kelly were all born at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.

The Linden's regularly attended sunday mass at Mt Carmel and I remember seeing all 6 of the Linden's at church often and being excited as a 5 year old when he would go out of his way to say hi to me!

Above is an aerial view of Mt. Carmel catholic church in Ridgewood, NJ.

The Linden's made their home on Monroe Street a couple of blocks from the Women's Club in Ridgewood NJ. The Linden kids attended Ridge School (which opened at the same time as Glen School) and George Washington Junior High before joining up with the rest of us at Ridgewood High School. Mark Linden graduated in my high school Class of 1973.

Mr. Linden loved his teachers. Anita DeYoungh, Nancy Cook, Pat Mercer and Pete Gauharou were all good friends of the Linden family and the Linden's were known to throw fun parties and gatherings. They loved to entertain their friends.

For the annual teacher's convention in Atlantic City the Linden family always stayed at Mr. and Mrs. Cook's apartment that was located in Ocean City, NJ.

One of Art Linden's favorite people was our school custodian George McFall. Chris Linden recently recalled this about our beloved and longtime friend George McFall: "Mr. McFall was so cool! We played in the gym while my dad worked weekends....He'd (Mr. McFall) always say hi. He used to dry orange peels by hanging them from the ceiling of his office, then grind them up for his tea!"

Above Mr. McFall's office as it appeared in November, 2009 - the same day we honored his memory at the Glen School Reunion. It was here that George would hang his orange peels and grind them up for his tea!

At Glen School in 1962, Art Linden, a number of teachers and a huge number of parents took part in the original musical production titled "No Space Like Home" which was an offbeat musical with a space-age theme. Art played the part of "Mars". The show's first scene took place in Mr. Linden's on-stage office and the conclusion found everyone back in Mr. Linden's office after having set out on an amazing space-age adventure! Art loved this stuff and his enthusiasm for it was infectious to all the others who took part.

Art having his customary cigarette before getting in costume for "No Space Like Home". This room was directly across from the office and was used as a music and art room.

Art Linden as "Mars" at the lectern on stage at Glen School for "No Space Like Home".

Art Linden and two others in costume for "No Space Like Home" (Art is center). The above 3 photos are courtesy of Hank Henckler.

Recalling Mr. Linden's devotion to his staff, Pat Mercer had this to say: At Glen School "...the teachers were all very close to one another......it was a social time and we all got along. Art Linden was a fun person and we all loved him."

Off all the staff members, George McFall and Agnes Larsen - his devoted secretary - were fixtures at Glen. Mrs. Larsen seemed to have her hand in just about everything. She ran all the mimeographs for everybody, took care of the attendance, field trip planning, Home & School Association details, PTA - she was all over the place and was always a friendly voice in the office. For a story about Mr. McFall please scroll further down in the blog.

Above is Agnes Larsen (Art's faithful secretary) and Art Linden. Photo was cropped from a faculty photo taken during the 1968-69 school year. Photo courtesy of Dr. Bill Montick.

On November 22, 1963, Mr. Linden had the sad task of informing each teacher that President Kennedy had been shot - we were dismissed and sent home - not quite understanding what was going on. For more about that day, scroll down and look for the story of Miss Beattie's 3rd grade class.

The following Glen School students shared these memories:

Rick Flannery Glen School 6th grade Class of 1967: "Mr. Linden would sometimes join us on field trips. One such occasion was when our 3rd grade class made a trip to Seton Hall University to tape a radio show. The show was to be broadcast the next afternoon which was November 22, 1963 - the day JFK was shot. The show started on the air but was quickly interrupted and Mr. Linden came to our classroom to tell Miss Beattie to dismiss us. Looking back, I can also see how devoted Mr. Linden was not only to his school but to us and his teachers as well."

Diana Wagner - Glen School 6th grade Class of 1969 recalls that "Mr. Linden always seemed to be smiling. I mostly remember the smell of printing fluid whenever you'd go into the office."

Who doesn't remember the smell of the ditto machine! This is the actual ditto machine used by Mrs. Larsen and Mrs. Flechtner! Remember sitting at your desk before taking a test and smelling your paper?!

Art Brierley Glen School 6th grade Class of 1967, also related the smell of the printing fluid when visiting Mr. Linden's office delivering the daily attendence sheet!

Judy Wilson Glen School 6th grade Class of 1969 recalls Mr. Linden as always ".....dressed nicely in a sport...jacket and tie and I think a white shirt all the time."

Jenn Marcello Glen School 6th grade Class of 1974: "Strongest memory of Mr. Linden was the first day of kindergarten. Jimmy Rollins did NOT want to be there and needed assistance from his mom and the teacher. That didn't work so Mr. Linden was called and Jimmy either bit or kicked him! Sorry to embarrass Jimmy but that is what I remember. Also remember him as a kind man, not at all frightening or intimidating even to little ones."

Cara Worthington Glen School 6th grade Class of 1967 recalled Mr. Linden ".....as serious, firm but with a good sense of humor. He was serious about his job, but didn't take himself too seriously."

Karen Eide Glen School 6th grade Class of 1967 remembered that Mr. Linden was our "benevolent ruler!"

Kim Vukov Glen School Class of 1969: ".....stern but nice man!"

Other teachers had this to say in remembering Art Linden:

Mary Walker aka "Miss Schmidt": "Art had a ready smile, trusted me to explore developing curriculum and kept family first. Having lost his wife just before I came to Glen, I always saw sadness in his eyes."

Ellen Jackson: "The story of Mr. Linden is sad - I did not know him at his best."

Zita Wilcox: "When Mr. Linden died, Harry Johnson became principal." Like Art Linden "he also was a kind man, child-oriented in every way."

A few years before succumbing to her illness, Mary became quite ill. It was ultimately diagnosed as a brain tumor and Mary would undergo several surgeries as her husband watched the love of his life slip away. Traveling back and forth to the various hospitals she was moved to, working tirelessly at Glen School AND raising 4 young children - took a tremendous toll on Art Linden.

Sadly, Mary Linden passed away on January 20, 1968. Art was devestated. Art and Mary truly loved each other and Art without his wonderful wife was only half himself after that.

In all, Art would serve as principal of Glen school for 14 years. He passed away February 4, 1973.

The school would have 4 principals in all and following the death of Art Linden came Harry Johnson. Sally Hirt would follow and finally Sharon Piety-Jacobs became prinicpal in 1984 and remained principal through 1986 when the school ceased operation as an elementary school and became a child deveopment center. All the Glen students were moved to Hawes School where Sharon also became principal.

Above is Art Linden's old office as it appears today. "Oh Mrs. Larsen?"

Pat Mercer shared this final thought with me. "Art Linden was a marvelous human being with a family he loved dearly. I was very close to his wife Mary and to him even after I left (Glen School) in 1964. Mary's death was a tragedy and in the end, it is my opinion, he died himself from a broken heart. The story is tragic and wonderful but I do not feel it my place to tell his story....just to remember them and smile."

Back To School Night!

2010-02-07T12:12:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick story about Back to School Night - now known as Open House - at least in Connecticut!

Back to School Night was the night our parents came to visit our classrooms and spent time meeting our teachers. The school day of Back to School Night was an exciting day for us kids - particularly when we were in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. We would start by cleaning out our desks. We'd always pin our best artwork on the walls, proudly leave our good papers and tests out, display any 3-dimensional art project we had recently done and most importantly leave a note to our parents which we'd leave on our desk.

That night when the parents - and I mean ALL the parents - arrived they would tour the classroom, ask questions and listen to our young teachers describe how they did thier job!

I remember always asking my mom the next morning at breakfast "Did you see my project?" or "Did you see my book report?"

When I returned to school that next morning, there would be a note written on the reverse of the one I left for my parents.

My mom very neatly and carefully saved some of these things and when you're doing a long-term project like this blog you're actually glad she did!

Below is the note I left my parents and the second photo shows the note my mom wrote back to me! This was during 3rd grade - Miss Beattie's class! What a trip!

The note above reads: "Dear Ricky - We love the picture! We make a nice pumpkin family. Your work is pretty good too. And Miss Beatty (Beattie is mispelled) is nice - Guess Who?"

Our Friend and Classmate Artie Brierley

2010-01-02T12:57:00.001-08:00

A year ago I never could have imagined writing about Artie in the past tense but here I am doing just that.

In the Spring of 2009, I reconnected with friend and classmate Artie Brierley after a great many years. He had discovered this Glen School blog you are reading and immediately understood it and frankly loved it simply because - like me - he loved his past, his friends, growing up - he had wrung life for all it was worth.

I remember meeting Artie Brierley when we were 5 years old - honestly don't ask me why, but I do have a phenomenal memory. He was as friendly and fun then as he was through Ben Franklin Junior High, Ridgewood High School and in 2009! I don't remember or know of a single soul who did not like him. He easily - with all the others from Glen School - made life growing up and going to school that much better. I mean can you imagine having Artie as a college roommate? How lucky would you be? You'd be guaranteed to have fun and you would find no truer mate than he.

Artie always had fun. Pictured here he is with good friends l to r: Tom Nepola, Artie, Paul Albus and Tom Cermack.

I remember back in Glen School that if he was appointed captain by Mr Bookstaver (our gym teacher), I'd hope he'd pick me and when I was selected captain, I'd hope to pick him!

Above is l to r: Gary Vukov, Craig Hopewell and Artie Brierley at Vuke's wedding. Gary was as close to Artie as anyone.

In 1993, we had our 20th Ridgewood High School Class of 1973 reunion in Mahwah, New Jersey. There were 14 Glen School alums attending that night. About midway through the evening, Artie took the mike and asked that all Glen School "kids" gather for a photo. I never would have shown it then but I was so pleased that someone had done that. It was obviously a group we were all very comfortable with - in fact my wife Caryn and I must have spent most of the evening talking to Cara Worthington and Karen Eide and other "kids" from Glen School. Artie simply reinforced this bond we have with each other - an irresistible bond I might add. It is indeed a tough one to explain to people. Recently someone had asked me "Why would you want to have an elementary school reunion?" (which we just recently had at the old school in November) - the only answer I could come up with was that you'd have to experience what we had to appreciate it - there were 40+ kids that went to Glen School, we had wonderful neighborhoods where we spent as much time as possible outdoors, we attended school from kindergarten through high school generally and for the most part we genuinely liked each other and I must say that I got much more out of that reunion than I thought possible.

A fuzzy picture cropped from the group photo of 1993 high schooll reunion (l to r) Jim Smethurst and Artie Brierley.

Well fast-forward to late December, 2008 when I started this blog and decided to revist and document our time growing up and attending Glen School. When Artie had discovered the blog, we began emailing back and forth and he started to send me some wonderful photos. We spent time on the phone talking about all the old names, even everybody from high school too.
Sometime around the beginning of summer 2009, through emails with Margaret Silvers, Artie, Ann Rimmer, Chic Voorhis and others - the idea of a reunion became inevitable. Artie immediately wrapped his arms around it and started helping me find more people.

In July, Artie got a group together for the Ridgewood 4th of July parade (always a classic) - and to this day I regret very much not being able to be there for that for obvious reasons.

Above l to r are: Cliff Clayton, Tom O'Connor, Artie Brierley, Cynthia Hoogland, Eileen O'Connor and Jeff Auger enjoying the great weather at the 2009 July 4th parade in Ridgewood, NJ. Photo courtesy of Cathy O'Neill.

Above are Cathy O'Neill and Corey Duvall. Sorry for all the maiden names girls - it just makes it easier when everyone searches for you! Photo courtesy of Cathy O'Neill.

Tom O'Connor and Corey Duvall enjoying the 4th of July parade in Ridgewood, NJ. Photo courtesy of Cathy O'Neill.

Well, Artie and I continued to talk about the reunion and how we needed to get some other classic people like Tom O'Connor and Tad Shepperd and Corey Duvall to come (guys whom he truly loved) and then suddenly there were other friends from high school like Jimmy Appleton, Daun Paris and Gayle Allard that wanted to come too - how it all evolved was just perfect and Artie was the biggest cheerleader!

Around the end of July, 2009, I had told Artie I would love to have the reunion in the gym at our old school but was getting nowhere with the Board of Education in Ridgewood. Living in town, Artie took the ball, went to the Board of Ed and suddenly he gave me the right names and phone numbers and we made it happen. Having it at the old school obviously made it that much more poignant and special.

Plans were moving along and people were getting excited about it, but on October 20, 2009 Artie suddenly passed away. It was devastating news - it truly was devastating. I mean I know Artie had been ill and had 2 amazing transplant operations but he really was doing quite well. The emails were flying and we all were very saddended that Artie would not see the fruits of his labors - he simply would have loved every moment of it! Can you imagine Artie's reaction as Jan Potdevin walked unexpectedly through the door that night? - like I said you can't explain these things. We had 6 teachers in attendance, we had our custodian - George McFall's - entire family there, we had 7 moms and a lot of other wonderful highlights. Artie's brother Robert came in his place that night and Artie would have just loved that, in the end, Gary Vukov came too!! (Very friendly inside joke! - Artie and Vuke were best friends). He would have been the king in his court. I miss him a great deal - what a penalty to have to pay when you reconnect with someone and then lose them all in such a short time.

Artie was born September 14, 1955 and grew up in Ridgewood, NJ - and came back to live in the town he loved so when he began his recovery. Though single at the time of his passing, he had 2 wonderful daughters - Erica and Lauren - who truly were the lights of his life. He admittedly lived for them.

Artie's daughters Lauren and Erica.

Cawtawba College in Salisbury, NC where Artie earned his degree.

After earning his degree in 1978 in Business Administration and graduating from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, he started his own company which sold creative services for corporate meetings and special events in New York City. He absolutely loved the "Big Apple". He had a studio in Midland Park and then Glen Rock, NJ. He had a house on lakefront property in Highland Lakes, NJ which he just loved and found peacethere over the years and then his kidneys failed him in 2001. He would begin his long and successful road back. As Artie would say, he enjoyed a new and unique outlook on life - a second chance to live his life.

The lakefront in Highland Lakes, NJ.

One of Artie's favorite slogans was:

"Life shares well, A busy mind finds no peace, Like a person - and have many friends."

He was indeed a survivor and was given the miracle of life time and again over the course of 8+ years. He had both a kidney transplant AND a heart transplant which is incredible when you think about it. He even expressed his desire to find a soul mate and friend to share his life but his girls were admittedly what he lived for.

Each day that he was able enjoy the sun, he counted as a wonderful bonus. He loved his days outside and always brought along his camera. If you saw any of Artie's photos you could see this new outlook on life shining through - one album was titled "Sunny Spring Day" - he appreciated everything life gave him in his second shot at it.

He loved red wine. He was always there for his friends and always made time to laugh. He admitted that he lived his life to the fullest and always respected others. He absolutely loved to fish and the walls and shelves in his apartment were adorned with figurines and pictures of fish of all kinds. His taste in music was good old rock and roll like The Stones and he had for years loved "my man" Leo Kottke - and in particular when Leo played the 12-string guitar.

Artie's "man" Leo Kottke.

His favorite tv shows included anything to do with nature, history, science and cooking. His favortie tv network was MSNBC.

He also loved movies including "Hunt For Red October", "The Gladiator", "Braveheart", "Das Boot" and "Silence of the Lambs".

Artie as a baseball player for the Ridgewood High School Maroons.

He also was a jock at heart and in life. He was a member of the RHS baseball, wrestling and soccer teams. He loved the Yankees and he would have so enjoyed seeing his Yanks win another championship this past year.

He really enjoyed reading too and his favorite author of the moment was Paulo Coelho. He also loved "The River Why" by David James Duncan. A book about what Artie himself loved so much. The book basically conveys to the reader that you can fish all your life, but its not the fish you're after. Its a wonderful story of a man who comes to fall in love with both the wilderness and the woman who shares this life.

Life is filled with wonderful reminders of Artie's life such as the films he liked or the books of authors he enjoyed or the music he loved but I personally won't need any of that to really be reminded how wonderful a guy Artie Brierley truly was.

During the time of his recovery, Artie's daughter Lauren pointed out to Artie a famous quote written by Charles Darwin. It goes: "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent but the ones most responsive to change." Artie adapted incredibly well to the changes in his life over the last 9 years and was at peace with who he was.

I'll end with a very simple and very appropriate quote of Artie's from the back of the Ridgewood High yearbook - "Take life as it comes!"

Ridgewood Baseball Association!

2010-01-02T08:19:00.000-08:00

Its called the Ridgewood Baseball Association (now known as the RBSA - which includes girls softball). If you were a kid growing up in Ridgewood, NJ and loved baseball, you couldn't wait 'til RBA tryouts in the spring. Spring was all there was - no summer and fall leagues like today. For the last 8 years I have gotten to enjoy it all again as a head coach for my son in the spring, summer & fall.

Click on all photos to enlarge.

Above photo is from Paul McCubbin. This a Willard team and players include: Kevin Almquist, Mr. Almquist, Doug Place, Mac Smith, Peter Carroll, Mr. Barnett, John Krause, Ted Harrison, Bill Barnett, Rob Dible, Bill Nolan, Paul McCubbin, Mr. McCubbin, Kevin Atkins, Keith Boswell, Todd Kirkpatrick & Doug Perkins.

Paul McCubbin who authors the RHS 1977 blog, had these following memories about his dad John McCubbin and the RBA: "My Dad will always be in my mind about baseball, Boy Scouts, BBQs, and the PTA. He coached my brothers and I in baseball, and when we were through he headed up the Ridgewood Baseball Association (RBA) for a year. One of his favorite mementos was the paper weight they gave him for his long years of service."

As for me, ever since I was 4 or 5 years old I just loved baseball! I started collecting baseball cards when I was 4. My dad used to bring home 5 packs of cards every week when I was little (5 cents a pack - can you imagine?) - which he bought when he got the daily newspaper. Once I started getting an allowance I could buy my own. I remember he and I sitting at the dinner table and me asking him questions like "Is Mickey Mantle good?" "Should I keep Willie Mays?" - well, 4 years old ya know!? Anyway, my dad would tell me which ones to tuck away and not trade or flip to my friends.

I definitely got my love for the game of baseball from my dad - an old Brooklyn Dodger fan who by the way, was very upset when they moved to LA! My dad was a sports guy - he was short but he played semi-pro football in Bergen County - winning the championship one year with the Mercury's - he also played for a team called the Teaneck Red Devils. I still have his gold football which was presented to him after they won the championship!

Above is the Teaneck Mercury's semi-pro championship team. My father - Fred Flannery - is the one holding the football.

Sports was a Flannery thing - in fact my great-grandfather - John R. Flannery - was the father of american lacrosse! He owned a company that employed native americans that made wooden lacrosse sticks and he was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Baltimore, MD. In 1897 he established the United States National Amateur Lacrosse Association which consisted of eleven college and club teams which from 1897-1937 played for the "Flannery International Trophy" if you can believe that! It usually went to Oxford-Cambridge or Syracuse and in its final year was won back from England by an all-america team made up of college and club players. Amazingly the cup survived and now resides in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame with my great-grandfather's medals and such! The dates and all the names of the winning teams are engraved on the cup. I just had to share this as this is a piece of history I am very proud of and I realize has nothing to do with with baseball!

The above print shows the Shamrock Lacrosse Club in 1871 - champions of the world. John R. Flannery is the first player in the center row l to r. John, at the age of 21, was treasurer & secretary of the club at the time. It would be 6 years later when my great-grandfather would establish the first National Amateur Lacrosse Association.

Now back to baseball! As far back as I can remember, I would wait for my dad to get home from work and when he pulled in the driveway I would always ask him, "You wanna have a catch?" - not once did my dad ever say no! He put in long days but he was always there for a catch or to throw the football! In 1987, a movie called "Field of Dreams" came out - I'm sure most of you recall it. Well, my dad had just recently passed away at the time and watching that movie really had an impact on me. That scene at the end when Kevin Costner realizes that the player remaining on the field is his dad in his younger days - ugh, when he asks him, "Dad...wanna have a catch?" - well, I had now learned what a tear-jerker truly was! It is always the simplest of things that mean so much!

Incredibly, my mom had saved my very first baseball glove (shown above)! I remember the day I got it - 5 years old! Believe it or not I could catch a ball with it! It was a Rocky Nelson model (sorry Rocky, but hardly a name a kid would recognize then!)

In 1961, I went to my first Yankees game! How incredible that first time was - I even remember the drive into the Bronx. I remember the great anticipation of that trip and the excitement of seeing Yankee Stadium up ahead for the first time from the car - topping that of course was the walk up the tunnel to our seats - I'll never forget how incredibly green the grass was and the smells and the bright sunshine that day! What an impression it all made on me! At every game I always brought my glove in the hope that I'd catch a ball. I never caught one as a kid but I did finally catch one as an adult off Eddie Murray in the 1980's in right field - I gave it to my son recently!

The above photo was taken from the internet of Yankee Stadium - circa 1963.
One of my Dad's customers was Elston Howard the Yankee catcher. We used to see Jim Bouton sometimes at Johnnie's Barber Shop in Ridgewood. My father always brought home Yankee autographs and had taken me to some baseball dinners too. One of the special guests at one of the dinners was a young Bobby Cox (Atlanta Braves manager) - who used to play for the Yankees!

Being a Yankee fan in the early 60's was incredible! I mean going to the stadium to see players like Mantle, Maris, Ford, Berra - how exciting when you're a kid. Even my son emulates Berra (Ricky's nickname is Yogi in baseball). Dad always got box seats - and sometimes I was lucky enough to sit right behind the Yankee dugout. What a thrill to see Mantle or Maris walk up and down the dugout steps. My dad even took a home movie of Mantle (which I still have) - in the desperate hope that it would be that day he'd hit one out! I'll have to post the movie as soon as I can figure out how to do it! Margaret I will need your expertise on that one!

When I returned home from Yankee games I couldn't wait to meet up with my friends or head over to Glen School on my bike in search of some kind of baseball - stick ball, a catch, a baseball game, running bases or curb ball. Sometimes if nobody was around, I'd chalk up a box on the side of the gym and pitch against the wall in make-believe baseball games - Yanks against whoever!

In 1963, I joined the RBA - Tiny Tim league - didn't have t-ball then! I was 7 that spring and in 2nd grade. The most remarkable thing - looking back now - is that we really didn't have helmets!! (See photo of me in my living room wearing one them!) It was basically like a hard ski band for your ears - no protection for your head as it was open at the top!

Above photo shows me after a practice at Travell in our living room! Always had a bat, glove or football in my hand!
My first season was at the old Travell School before it was torn down to make way for the Travell that exists today. The field was all dirt! I think I played on just about every baseball field in town: Ridge, GW, Willard, Somerville, Vets, Glen School, Stevens Field and BF.

In the above photo you see the front of the Travell School - my Tiny Tim team played behind it.

Above is Andy Wright who lived on Salem Lane behind Glen School. He too was an RBA guy! Picture shows Andy posing in his backyard.

To kick off the season, the RBA always held a parade. We would start gathering by the train station near the George L. Pease Library and continue under the tracks, down North Broad Street, East Ridgewood Avenue and North Maple Avenue to Vets Field. I'm happy to report this tradition is still alive and well!

Above is Artie Brierley and Gary Vukov in back row. Front is possibly Steve Stewart, unidentified & Bobby Rogers. This was after arriving at Vets field when the parade was over.

Vets Field in Ridgewood as it looks today.

In the games, we proudly wore our RBA t-shirts and sneakers - in fact I lived in those shirts! My dad was so excited that I loved baseball that he threw himself into the RBA - he was at every game, helped coach and to my chagrin became a league umpire!

Before he recently passed away, Artie Brierley recalled the annual "Bucks for Baseball" campaign we always took part in every year! According to Art, "If you had a station wagon.......the RBA wanted your car!" Our dads would help drive members of the teams around town soliciting donations for the RBA. Artie loved baseball too! He played all through the various leagues and was a member of the Ridgewood High School baseball team with John Wescott among others. Artie also fondly recalled flipping baseball cards with us against the school and the pump station by the kickball black-top. Artie was also helping me to research the history of the Ridgewood Baseball Association at the time of his passing.

Above is a classic RBA photo. From l to r is Ken Merrill, Artie Brierley & Gary Vukov.
Above is the 1973 Ridgewood High School baseball team. Artie is in the middle of the front row. John Wescott is the 5th one in the second row going l to r.

After you paid your dues in the Timy Tim League - there was the regular Little League, Pony League and Babe Ruth. Everyone attended tryouts in the Spring. These tryouts were usually held at Ben Franklin Junior High School. From the tryouts, you were placed on teams based on your skill level. You also finally got a uniform once you graduated to Little League! However, you felt like an old-timer because the uniforms were so incredibly hot and huge - always bigger than you! I mean its one thing if the shirt is big, but the pants would barely stay up! Everyone needed a belt - not for looks - but to keep the pants up! You had classic stirrup socks and cleats - and in spite of how cumbersome the uniform was you finally felt like a big league ballplayer!

Above is Ricky Flannery when I played for MacHugh's. Photo was taken in front of my house.
Your team was usually sponsored by a local business. Among the teams I played for were Dairy Queen, MacHugh's, Elks Club and Marsh & Groat. I remember one of my coaches was Betsy Kline's father.
Above is Ricky Flannery when I played for Marsh & Groat. I was at the height of my pitching days on this team. Below is my old Marsh & Groat game schedule!

I played infield, centerfield and I pitched for several years. I was actually a pretty good pitcher - striking out double-digits on 3 occasions! I had a wicked sidearm pitch that guys always swung at - and missed! I always found it fun playing against friends - I was competitive but it was fun to compete against your buddies. I don't know why I didn't try out for the team at RHS - it is truly something I regret more than anything - no confidence and preoccupied!

Those of us who played ball (me, Ken Merrill, Gary Vukov, Bruce Meneghin, Jan Koper, Artie Brierley to name a few) were rabid baseball fans. I seem to recall that most of us were Yankee fans but that may not be entirely true.

Above you'll find another classic RBA team with Artie Brierley and Jan Koper in front (Artie is the tall one with dark jacket and Jan is next to him in light jacket)

Ken Merrill recently shared this memory with me:

"When I was in 3rd grade," (Fall 1963), "the Yankees played the Dodgers in the World Series. I was fortunate to be able to attend the first game of that series!" Ken also recalled that as kids we always talked baseball and he remembers us "talking about the Yankees and especially all the World Series ballgames." I'm sure we did it again in 4th grade because the Yanks played a better World Series only to lose to the Cardinals and Bob Gibson in 7 games!

Above is Sandy Koufax - Yankee killer in 1963!

The thing that stands out in particular about those World Series games is the transistor radio! In those days games were never played at night and we always listened to the games on the radio at school, on the way home or on the steps outside the house when you got home from school. While it was frustrating not seeing the game, it was terribly exciting to listen to - your ears would be glued to every descriptive detail and play-by-play. The suspense of not seeing it was such a thrill! What's Mantle doing?!

Above a classic 60's transistor radio that helped to fuel our imaginations!
Cara Worthington recently shared that she recalls Ken Merrill's special baseball glove and how much it meant to him. Cara goes on to say: "........ I grew up in NJ and all the boys had Mickey Mantle gloves - and I particularly remember that Ken had one. With that kind of Yankee pride surrounding me I really didn't have a choice but to be a fan. There really were no viable alternatives! I am not sure why I remember that Ken had a Mantle mitt - but it might be that it really meant a lot to him!"

Above is a Mickey Mantle model baseball glove - not Ken's though!

Of course one memory that stands out during the RBA years was that my teams almost always went to Van Dyk's Ice Cream after our games! This was a ritual that we all looked forward to on game day!

Our classic stop after baseball games - Van Dyk's Ice Cream in Ridgewood!
After a couple of years, my dad became an umpire. He would sometimes end up umping one of my games!! I will never forget when he called me out on strikes for the first time - I said "Dad I'm your son!" as if that made a difference! He explained to me on the way home that when he umpired he was not my dad!
Above is one of my dad's umpire schedules! How the hec did things like this survive the years? Among those he umped with included classic dads: Jim Corcoran, Gordon Brevoort, Frank Florence, Tony Pettofrezzo, Armond Stella and many others!

Those of us who were involved with Ridgewood Baseball got many years of enjoyment from it. The friendships and the sport itself were very special! While I didn't know it at a young age, sports can give a kid incredible confidence - you don't even have to be a great player to get so much out of the experience. The camaraderie can be what some kids need to help them fit in and give them confidence in other things in life.

We didn't have batting cages or pitching cages - man what we would have given to play organized ball in the summer and fall like my son does today. Today, I am a member of the board of Danbury Youth Baseball and as Commissioner I try very hard to make the experience of baseball as much fun for the kids as it was for myself when I was their age while also teaching them (kids of all skill levels) to be competetive without losing the respect for all aspects of the game. I am particularly proud to say that this past fall (2009) we established a Buddy Ball league for mentally and physically challenged kids from 5 - 18 years old. Our hope is to combine children from the neighboring towns and play in a travel format - visiting each town once for a game - this will begin in Spring, 2010. Bringing baseball to everyone who wants to play is incredibly rewarding.

As I said, I coach Ricky but I also use to coach my daughter Jennifer in girls softball before she reached high school age (2 championships by the way!). Jennie is now a junior in high school and is one of the captains of her varsity softball team and their chances are pretty good in her final 2 high school seasons. Ricky is a freshman and we are excited about him trying out for the Danbury High baseball team this spring. Here's a few pictures of their time in baseball and softball. Please forgive my being a dad with these next couple of photos!

Above is Ricky in the 2004 Spring season of Danbury Youth Baseball.

Above is Jennie in the 2001 PAL Girls Softball spring season.

Above is the last Cal Ripken team I coached before Ricky moved up to Babe Ruth. That's me on the far left and Ricky is the 3rd player in the back row from l to r.

Above is Ricky's first season in Babe Ruth (junior Babe Ruth) - this was last Fall when we won the championship - a very cold and wet night in early November 2009.

Finally, a real neighborhood baseball story! On June 18, 1967 there was a big game - a bragging rights game at Glen School - a father / son baseball game! From all accounts the boys won it fair and square but all had fun! Thanks to Margaret Silvers for allowing me to use the photos! These precious photos were taken by her father Sam and kept in his special scrapbooks. Enjoy!

I think that is Mr. Daly on the left in the hat and Jeanne Stanley-Brown clapping hands in the shades (sitting)!

Mr. Henckler up at the plate. Who did the lines?!

Mr. Nunno shown above clapping. Lis Ege is the girl standing and clapping in the center of photo and Margaret Silvers sitting in white next to her.

All the mom's taking in the game. Lis Ege doing someone's hair, Margaret Silvers in the front the girl who's getting her hair done and it looks like Trisha Daly in front.

It ended up to be quite a game but the boys beat the dads 3-2! Back row from l to r: Stan Knight, Matt Lalumia, Robbie Silvers, Bob Daly, Ronnie Knight, Hank Henckler, Rick Knies. Front row l to r: Kary Samson, unidentified and Bobby Bennett. The little boy at top left is Timmy Daly and the girls in the lower right corner are Margaret Silvers, Lis Ege and her sister Tina Ege.

Above photo shows a very respectable dad's team! from l to r: Mr. Daly, Mr. Lalumia, Mr. Samson, Mr. Silvers, Mr. Nunno, Mr. Henckler, Mr. Knight, Mr. Bennett and Mr. Terhune. One is unidentified.

The same field used for the father/son games as it looks today.
If you have anything you can add to this story including photos - please contact me at cmad@ntpLx.net.

Congratulations To Walter Perdue!!

2009-11-12T20:35:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, Beth Perdue's dad Walt - Ridgewood High School Class of 1949 - was inducted to the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mr. Perdue was a four-sport athlete at Ridgewood High School. He was an all-state running back and co-captain of the football team in his senior year. The Maroons went 6-3 that year. In addition to his being a star running back, Walt also played defensive back.

Capping quite an impressive high school career Walt accounted for 207 of the total 302 yards Ridgewood gained on Thanksgiving Day in his senior year when Ridgewood trounced rival Fair Lawn 32-6.

Walt also played basketball for 3 years, lettered in track twice and lettered in baseball. He was awarded the RHS Award for Excellence in Athletics in 1949.

For his athletic efforts, Walt was offered several scholarships. He served timed in the Marine Corps and attended college at Lehigh playing football there.

In 1960, Walter went into the sporting goods business in Ridgewood - "Perdue's Sport Shop" and a few years later purchased the famous 1931 Woody - you always knew where he was!!

I tried finding a photo but had no luck! So I thought I'd add a familiar memory (though its not the original Perdue woody!)

New Blog Up! RHS Class of 1973!

2009-11-09T16:11:00.000-08:00

We are gonna try and find as many people as we can for the RHS Class of 1973 reunion. To get ready for that we started a blog. We're also planning BF & GW reunions - check out http://rhsclassof1973.blogspot.com/.

The Glen School Reunion - Nov 7, 2009

2009-11-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

Well we had a great evening Saturday night. I personally could have gone all night - ya know, breakfast at BF, then Graydon! Thanks to everybody for allowing me to be rather entusiastic about all this!

Seriously though there were so many highlights to the evening and some great surprises! I will post more about the reunion but want to thank everybody for being part of it! For those that couldn't make it - you were there in spirit and, well, talked about - in a good way of course! And Jan Potdevin if you see this - THANKS a million for coming!

Pictured in the above photo are l to r: Melanie Teasley, Jen Rudy, Margaret Silvers, Chic Voorhis, Sue Nunno, Cara Worthington & Ken Merrill - Kenny you still out-dress us all!

What fun to spend an evening with tons of people you like! Just as Corey said last night - these people are real - we're all different but its just so comfortable! How many friends have we all had over the years since school that have come and gone? Its a great feeling and as Cara says, very reassuring! Thanks for making it such a great success!

In the above photo l to r front row: Pat Mercer-DiLauro, Linda Pursiano, Jen Rudy, Beth Perdue, Jan Potdevin, Cara Worthington, Corey Duvall; back row l to r: Melanie Teasley & Chic Voorhis.

Pictured above are l to r: Daun Paris, Beth Perdue, Cara Worthington, Ann Rimmer, Katie Knight & Gayle Allard.

Not all the girls are pictured here but girls you're all as beautiful as you ever were! That includes Linda Pursiano, Karen Pursiano, Terri, Kim, Cheryl, Jen Pelley, Jan, Jennifer, Suzie, Mags, Dana, Diane, Sherry, Maryanne, Theresa (and my wife Caryn!) - Jill, Lynn Malley, Beth Daly & Karen we missed you! Thanks to my wife for letting me run with this whole thing and understanding it all! It was so worth it! What is your secret girls!?

And of course you couldn't have a night like this without your tear-jerking moments like meeting Evangeline, Veronica, Kathleen and George McFall, Jr.!

More to come!!! And by the way - we are planning a BF Reunion for 2011 (hopefully at the school) which will lead up to hopefully the biggest RHS reunion in 2013 - nobody can miss these! We will start the search!

New Class Photos From Jan Peters!

2009-08-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

Miss Beattie's 3rd grade class 1962-63.

1st Row l to r: (?), Sally Vandervoort, (?)

2nd row l to r: Beth Yingling, (?), (?), Jan Peters, (?), (?), (?), (?)

3rd Row l to r: Corey Samson, Andrea Worthington, Steve McCormick, (?), (?), (?), (?), Connie Beyer, Rob Silvers, Jill Spangler

4th Row l to r: Billy Hertan, Bobby Corcoran, (?), Emo McDaniel, Jim Potdevin

This is Jan's 4th grade photo (1963-64) with Mrs Prescott. She also had Prescott for 5th grade. Jan Peters is the 2nd one in the top row l to r. Sally Vandervoort is the first one in the middle row l to r. Ken deGruchy is last one in top row l to r.

Above is Mrs Dejongh's 6th grade class (1965-66). Sally Vandervoort is first one in the middle row l to r, Jan Peters is 3rd one in middle row l to r. If I'm not mistaken I think the boy at the end of top row l to r is Lenny Pascione (not sure if I spelled the name right).

I recently received these 3 class photos from Jan Peters. Jan used to live in the house next door to the school parking lot. I thought she might have been a couple of years older than me but I think she was a year ahead cause she had Miss Beattie for 3rd grade in 1962-63 according to the sign. I know I can spot Sally Vandervoort and Ken deGruchy but can anyone else help identify some of the others?

Jan thanks a million for the photos!

Roslyn Road & Salem Ridge Gang Blog!

2009-07-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

The above photo is one of many you'll find at the Roslyn Road & Salem Ridge Gang website. This particular photo is at the Silvers' house on "Movie Night". Katie Knight, Trisha Daly, Stanley-Brown's, Beth Daly, Lis Ege, Margaret Silvers among others are pictured.

You just have to checkout the Roslyn Road & Salem Ridge blog (http://roslynroadsalemridgegang.wordpress.com/). It's produced by Margaret Myatt-Slivers (Glen Class of 1969). Mags has 120 photos from the neighborhood posted there now - if you remember that neighborhood and kids like the Bennett's, Stanley-Brown's, Silvers', Daly's, Henckler's, Samson's, Ege's, Demick's, Knight's, Knies', Vandervoort's, McDaniel's, Smith's (so many!!) you will love it!!

If you remember any of these fantastic parents you will get a kick out of the hippy party and other themed parties, the ski weekends, the father-son baseball game, Hank in the Memorial Day Parade - priceless stuff!

Margaret's dad - Sam Silvers - took and catalouged an extensive amount of photographs and Margaret has been retrieving them from her dad's scrapbooks. Its so great that we have this record of such a fun time to grow-up. Margaret and Hank Henckler have really come through! Ken deGruchy too has some incredible stuff including possibly the record of the song that was sung in the 1962 parent production called "No Space Like Home" and home movies. Stay tuned and check back often - you just never know!

Be sure to comment on Margaret's photos and let her know what you think - add memories, names, etc.

Need Camp Green Diaries, Photos, Memories!

2009-07-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody so far I have Karen Pursiano's camp diary and mine. I have several photos including a great one of Andy Wright (later Glen alum) wearing the classic Camp Green sweatshirt we all bought. We need whatever you have - the story is shaping up well and will be a fun piece to be sure! Just email me and let me know if you have anything to contribute!!

Coming Soon!

2009-06-29T22:48:00.000-07:00

We're busy with girls softball (Jennie made it to the nationals in July!) and Ricky's baseball (we start districts this weekend!) so there hasn't been a lot of time to update, but here's some of the stories we're working on: Gay Blades (Ken deGruchy may have home movie film of it!), Glen fashion shows (we have Elsa Ege's artwork from the brochures), Glen School circus, Christmas concerts, Camp Green, The Art Linden Story and so much more! We have lots of photos too! Please keep checking!

Don't forget about the reunion of sorts later in the year - we'll keep you posted. Hey we may only get 5 or we may get 50 - either way, with the teachers it should prove to be a blast!

Glen School 2nd Grade Class of 1967 - We Need Photos!

2009-06-08T22:53:00.001-07:00

If anyone has the 2nd grade class photos for Mrs Cook (1962-63) and Miss Mercer (1962-63 - split class) please email to Rick Flannery cmad@ntplx.net. These are the only ones we're missing! Next we'll have to start asking for individual class photos!

A Photo Taken By Miss Beattie!

2009-06-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

First Row l to r: Peggy Small, Ellen Kelly, Charles Ehrlich, Robert Wells, Jill Stanley-Brown, Bobby Owens (not sure)

Second Row l to r: Cindy Werbeck, Linda Williams, Larry Rogers, David Johnson, Kent Meneghin, Frank Petrucci, Maryanne Vestal (not sure), Patty Fall, Alexis ?

3rd Row l to r: Anne McNaughtin (not sure - if it is Anne she passed away about 10 years ago), Debbie Brevoort, Jeff Barber, John Hall, Mark Shumeyko, Paul Davis, John Schenck, Bruce Neandross, Wayne Bond, Penny Ward, unidentified

Thanks to Ken deGruchy and Bob Shumeyko for identifying most of these "kids"! Sorry if some names are spelled wrong - email and let me know if we messed up!

This photo was personally taken by Miss Beattie. (Just click to enlarge photo - photo isn't great quality sorry!)

Miss Mercer and 1st Grade - 1961-62!

2009-05-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Miss Mercer - mention that name and you immediately recall what that class was like. For me the first thing that comes to mind is doing "The Twist" at our desks in the morning after the Pledge and morning prayer! Miss Mercer would put "The Twist" on the bulky school record player and we would twist 'til our sides ached! It was great fun and always set the tone for the day - we were ready for anything!

This was also the time we were introduced to Dick & Jane! The Dick & Jane readers were instrumental in teaching us how to read and write at the time. Think & Do books were also a major part of our learning process. Of Dick & Jane Pat says: "Dick and Jane still rule but I used many books and my own imagination to keep you all connected and fascinated. Variety is the key."

Above is Karen Pursiano's "New Before We Read" workbook. Karen was a grade below us and is Linda's sister.

After Mrs. Janicke in kindergarten, Pat Mercer was our first full-time teacher. Bruce Meneghin, Melanie Teasley and I would walk to school together each morning. As I recall, I loved going to school each day as a direct result of Miss Mercer. She made learning fun, but I realized later in life that I probably started school a year too early - for the most part I was always a struggling student - always trying to catch up but loved every minute of school.

We had great parties too including our first big Valentine's Day party when we decorated this huge box where we would deposit all our valentine cards that we wrote to our classmates. At the afternoon party they were distributed to everyone. It was great fun and I remember always looking forward to the cards from the girls!

Above is an early Think & Do workbook similar to the kind we used.

We had a huge class - I mean huge - 32 kids! So Miss Mercer received help during the entire year from a woman name Grace Hensley who helped Pat get through the year - I can't imagine having 32 1st grade kids in one class! Pat recalls Grace warmly. She remained friends with her for several years until she moved from Ridgewood. Grace helped with all the paperwork and grading. She is now deceased but Pat says "I adored her!" Grace is pictured in our class photo.

Pat Mercer grew up in Margate City, NJ which is a Jersey Shore town. As she herself recalls, "It was a wonderful place to grow up and I still return often. Living in a resort town was lots of fun."

Above is a photo of Atlantic City High School where Pat graduated. It was built in 1922 but was torn down in the 1990's for something even better than a school - a parking lot! Kinda reminds you of that song by Joni Mitchell.

Pat was the 3rd of 4 children and all 4 attended and graduated Atlantic City High School. This historic and beautiful school was amazingly torn down about 15 years ago to make way for - are you ready - a casino parking lot! Sure they built a new school but ACHS was a memorable school, built in the gothic style. On a website I recentlly found this about the old ACHS: " As you walk through the halls and the rooms of these old buildings that are no longer in use, you sense a feeling of loss for the beauty that was held within these walls. Looking up at the ceilings and walls, one can find etchings that the new buildings are not graced with. These are art forms that are lost and are being destroyed all over.....". Soon, there will be a time when one looks at that parking lot and that person will never know that a high school was ever there. You could almost say that education took a back seat to gambling - sigh, but that's a debate for another blog!

Upon graduating high school, Pat attended Glassboro State College (shown in above photo) which has since been renamed Rowan University in New Jersey.

Pat relates that the first time she entered a classroom as a teacher she was hooked! She says, "I enjoyed a satisfying career. When I was student teaching, I asked my supervisor what the best school system in New Jersey was and he told me it was Ridgewood, NJ so I sent a letter of inquiry having no idea where it (Ridgewood) was and it turned out he was right. During the superintendents convention in Atlantic City I was interviewed and hired." This was February 1960. She was hired at a salary of $4,500 a year - of which she says "Yikes!"

Even at a young age, Pat Mercer was very much involved in teaching her classes - it wasn't simply a career - she took a special interest in shaping the class and trying to inspire each one of us. She recalls: "When you teach elementary school there is no such thing as typical - that is what makes it so exciting! Kids are very adaptable. When I felt the pulse of the room changing, I changed with it........you kids were so bright and fun, I had a million tricks up my sleeve and needed every one of them. ..........keeping the kids stimulated and excited to learn was no easy task."

When asked about dancing at our desks Pat recalls: "It was my belief that music helps break the ice. 'The Twist' was the popular music at that time so it was natural for me to choose it. I have always - for 31 years - encouraged kids to dance and sing each day - it brings out the best in the kids and allows their fear and insecurity to fade. Of course I pretended not to watch them but in reality that is how I found out who they were."

Looking straight ahead in the photo above is the door to the kindergarten. To the left of the door is where our 1st grade class was. We had the cloak-room outside where we hung our winter clothes and rain gear which included those rubber buckle boots! My daughter Jennie actually took the photo from outside! Photo taken December, 2008.

Of the teachers at Glen School - which included Pat Prescott, Jeannette Janicke, Amy Beattie and Nancy Cook - Pat says: "The teachers were all very close to one another. We ate lunch in that room at the end of the hallway (near Miss Beattie's classroom). Some teachers would play cards, some would read, whatever. It was a social time and we all got along." Amy Beattie and Pat even shared an apartment together before Pat got married.

Pat nails it when she says the kids cannot remember what they are taught at that young age but indeed remember the teacher, what the class was like - how they felt in that class.

Pat loves that she is remembered so fondly - that she had a hand in helping children at a young age learn and be themselves.

I asked Pat about a man by the name of Mr. Kraft. While I attempt to avoid being negative about anything it is a difficult task when talking about Mr. Kraft. He was some sort of school psychologist. As I recall I was very put off by this man. I recall that in art class in first grade, I was asked to draw a picture of my family. There were 5 of us. Each member of my family wore glasses except for me. In the picture I had drawn glasses on each of us - including myself even though I didn't wear them. Well Mr. Kraft attempted to analize this - why would Ricky draw glasses on himself when he doesn't wear them? My mom was called in - it was absurd really. My mom put him in his place and that was that. Pat recalls Mr. Kraft in a similar way. "I remember Mr. Kraft. I had a class of 32 kids and he was telling me how to talk to each one of you individually - I don't think so. He also thought I should sit on the floor so I wouldn't be higher than the kids - no to that also - amen!"

I had asked Pat what the last day of school was like for her. She responded this way: "The last day of school (all the years) has always been a real tough day. I spent so much time with these little friends and really knew who they were."

I am trying desperately to gather information about our beloved principal Art Linden but it is a difficult task. About Art Linden Pat remembers him like this: "Art Linden was a fun person and we all loved him so. Art was a marvelous human being with a family he loved dearly. I was very close to his wife Mary and to him even after I left (Glen School) in 1964. Mary's death was a tragedy and in the end - it is my opinion - he (Art) died of a broken heart. The story is tragic and wonderful but I do not feel it is my place to tell his story....just to remember them and smile."

When we were promoted to 2nd grade, we had 2 classes - I was in Mrs. Cook's class and Pat taught a split 1st & 2nd grade class. Cara Worthington recalls learning diagram sentences from Pat in 2nd grade.

Pat also recalls how parents and teachers worked so well together. Ultimately - she says - the parents are teachers too and must have responsibility for their children's learning and behavior. Pat recalls fondly the relationships she had with many parents and the mutual respect for each other.

Leaving no doubt - her fondest memory of Glen School - of teaching - is by the far the kids - "It's always about the kids"!

Show & tells were always a big part of the school days at Glen School - a chance to tell about a trip you took or collection you had. Pat remembers one show & tell when Ricky Marsh told us all how he was a philatelist (one who collects and studies stamps) and how one day she cut up the organs inside a chicken and one of us called out "Miss Mercer you are deee-gusting!"

Above is our 1st grade class - all 32 of us! This class photo was provided by both Ricky Marsh and Art Brierley (at the same time) - thanks you guys!

Front Row l to r: unidentified, unidentified, Melanie Teasley, Jan Potdevin, Karen Eide, Linda Pursiano

Second Row l to r: Betsy Kline, Barbara Durheimer, Ellen ?, Kara DeGraw, Jill Neandross, Lisa Faeth, Cara Worthington, Pam Bennett

Third Row l to r: Robbie Whittemore, Bruce Meneghin, Ricky Flannery, Ricky Marsh, David Clay, Art Brierley, Gary Vukov, Chic Voorhis, Greg Rehe, Danny Wagner, Carl Vrabel

Back Row l to r: Corey Duvall, Richie Spell, Tim Dekoker (sorry if misspelled), Paul Vaccari, unidentified, Doug Brown, Bruce Cunneen

Back-to-School night was always a big deal - especially for us kids. I remember how exciting it was to clean my desk and leave out good papers and artwork so when my parents came to class that night they would be proud. I remember writing a note and getting a note back from my mom and dad which I would find the next morning. Pat recalls Back-to-School night as fun too. "I remember being reminded to be able to answer questions on the topic of the time "Why Johnny Can't Read" - Dr. Voorhis (Chic's dad) asked the question (about that topic) and I gave a great answer - my career was on track! Parents were so lovely and respectful."

Above is a picture of Bruce Cuneen from our kindergarten photo.

In kindergarten through 2nd grade, there was a boy in our class named Bruce Cuneen. He was an incredibly happy kid and I remember him fondly though I didn't fully understand his affliction. Isn't it amazing how a child - knowing they are terminally sick can smile and be so happy? He suffered from Cystic Fibrosis. He fought to be included in everything and was always so carefree. Pat remembers this about Bruce: "He was a strong-willed little boy. He had Cystic Fibrosis - the life expectancy was 7 in 1960. He had wonderful parents who wanted him to have as normal a life as possible knowing it would not be a long life. He was a great little kid - just like all the others - no special anything - just one of the boys. They moved away at the end of the year." June Cuneen was involved at Glen School right through 1962 and was both a castmember and a member of a committee for the 1962 Glen production of "No Space Like Home". Pat continues, "He (Bruce) died soon after and his funeral was in Ridgewood. I went to his funeral and there was the darling child lying in a casket in a Cub Scout uniform.....it was a difficult time for all."

As kids we all have memories of the JFK assassination - I was in Miss Beattie's class at the time (see her profile in this blog). I asked Pat what she remembers about that history-changing day.

"The Kennedy Assassination was a day I will never forget. I was reading to the kids after they returned from lunch. Mr. Linden came in and whispered "Do not tell the kids, but the president has been shot." We had one little tv in the entire school - I could not believe what I was hearing. I waited a bit but then burst across the courtyard to find out what was happening. The kids could sense something awful had happened so against my instructions, I decided I needed to tell the kids the truth as I knew it at that moment. It was a Friday and I knew that once the kids got out of school they would enter a world of chaos so I sat them all down and told them the story. Life was never the same again. The kids knew me well and could clearly see that I was rattled and possibly even crying. I knew that people would be so stunned they would not have time or the words needed to convey what was happening so I told the truth as I knew it but more importantly, I assured them that their life would go on as they knew it."

In 1962, the entire school - just about every parent - put on an extravagant musical called "No Space Like Home". This show was produced by Hank Henckler's mom Muriel. Hank was 4 grades ahead of me! Several teachers along with a slew of parents participated in the show (including my dad). The teachers included Amy Beattie, Pete Gauharou, Barbara Zink, Charlotte Nash, Art Linden AND Pat Mercer. Pat, as it turns out was a dancing girl! She remembers it this way: "I remember the teachers were in a musical at night. I was a dancer and the theme was the moon. I was humiliated to death to appear in the outfit - not my thing!" The show was memorable simply beacuse of the sheer effort of it and the participation of practically everybody! Pat says "the parents were soooo much fun!"

Pat Mercer (center) and mom's as part of the dancing chorus from the show "No Space Like Home"!

Pat was married on June 29, 1963 and became Pat DiLauro. She recalls many of her students actually went down to Margate City to watch the ceremony! She met her husband Renato - affectionately known as "Rennie" - through her sisters who had met him at a wedding - they gave Rennie Pat's number and the rest is history! Sadly, Rennie passed away in 1996.

Pat and Rennie raised 3 children - JoAnne, John and Andrew. She has 3 grandchildren and a foster child who feels the love of the DiLauro clan! Pat still lives in the same house she has called home for over 40 years! (I love that!)

Summing up Glen School she has this to say:

"I loved every minute - Glen School was my first job. I adored Art Linden and Glen School - it was magic! I remember all of you - every detail. I have a candle that Gary Vukov's grandfather made. Being a teacher is a gift. You all taught me as much as I taught you!"

Aside from Gary Vukov, Ricky Marsh and Bruce Cuneen she recalls speaking to Kara DeGraw in the early 90's. She has been friends with Cara Worthington "forever" and recently mentioned Linda Pursiano this way: "Linda was an adorable little girl! I remember her well....also her mom who I used to see at the A&P when it was on Route 17."

Many students recall Pat fondly including Ken deGruchy and Ricky Marsh who recently told me "Miss Mercer was one of my favorite teachers - ever!" Ricky recalls fondly playing with Jill Neandross (one of the first girls he ever played with). He also remembers Jan Potdevin who attended Bucknell University with Ricky in the 1970's. Ricky's neighbor? "Frankie Petrucci but we were never in the same class." Ricky is known today as Rick Marsh. Chic Voorhis - and obviously several others - were fortunate to have had Pat as a teacher twice!

When Pat emailed me in January, I was thrilled! The connection - just like with old friends - is always there. Thanks to Cara Worthington for pointing out the blog to her!

Please click on all pictures to enlarge.

The memories are many and if you have any memories of this class or any class please share it with me at cmad@ntplx.net .

The Glen Kids - Cara

2009-05-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

Cara Worthington - when you think of her - remember her - you think of many things. She certainly is and was one of the most intelligent people I ever knew - as a student I was absolutely intimidated with her brain-power! She's also one of the nicest people you could have known. When someone says that somebody is an all-around person, that would easily describe Cara. (The above photo of Cara is from 1967).

A piece like this would probably embarrass Cara but so be it. I for one always admired her approach to everything. It is pretty cool to witness the successes of former classmates, especially when you genuinely like them!

Cara was destined for the Ivy League - even at Glen School. She deserved the best but more than that, the Ivy League - Yale in particular - is better off having accepted her back in 1973.

Like several of my Glen School classmates - Art Brierley, Gary Vukov, Kara DeGraw, Karen Eide, Bruce Meneghin (to name a few) - we all attended school together for 13 years! Myself along with many others are not surprised by what Cara has accomplished or that she commands the respect she does from the education community. Cara currently teaches history at the prestigious Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ. In our high school yearbook we were asked to quote ourselves - you know, say something profound or funny even. Cara's was perfect: "Look around!"

Back in 2001 Cara wrote this thoughtful letter that was published in the Yale Alumni Magazine. Here is that letter in its entirety.

"Out of the Blue - My Life as a Person"

by Cara Worthington Fekula Hyson Yale Class of '77 (November 2001)

"I have never forgotten one of the arguments made by Yale alumni against coeducation: It had always been expected that Yale would produce 1,000 leaders a year. How could this tradition continue if women were admitted? So here I am 25 years out, wondering if those traditionalists were right. Have I and the Yale alumni of my vintage lived up to Yale's expectations? And perhaps more important, have I lived up to my own?

When I decided to go to Yale at 18, I am sure that I did not realize that Yale would expect anything of me. I just wanted to go to a college where I could study Russian and environmental science, and as one of my friends reasoned, "If you don't like it, it is easy to transfer down." I even remember saying to someone who was impressed that I had graduated from Yale, "How can you be impressed by something I did for less than four years?" However, whether I like it or not, I am a product of Yale, and its expectations of its graduates haunt and inspire me. I know that I am not the only graduate to ask if I measure up against my classmates and against the expectations of a group of Yale alumni who really weren't sure I should be there in the first place.

I have to admit, though, that I am puzzled and amused by some of the entries in the "Alumni Notes," passages like this: "I am the CEO of a major corporation and travel throughout the word on a regular basis, my husband is the chief of surgery at a major medical facility, but the true joy of our lives is our three children ages 6, 8, and 10." Is this what those Yale alumni had in mind? Something is missing here. Raising kids and working full-time is harrowing and challenging for the husbands, wives, and the kids.While some alumni are taking this path, others are divorcing, and fighting for custody, and there are others who have lost their jobs, and others who will never have children. This is our reality. Sometimes it seems to me that we are afraid of telling the truth, and for those who were trained to seek Lux and Veritas this is strange indeed.

Last year, a women's singing group from Yale came to the school where I work to perform for an assembly. Looking at this group of self-assured, talented, and attractive women, I was struck by one sense -- heartache. Who was going to prepare them for what was ahead? Did they know it wasn't a clear shot to the top? Did they realize that life is full of heartaches? Did they have any idea of what would bring the greatest joys? Did they realize how many personal decisions and compromises would influence that career they were preparing for? Were they prepared to face the personal and professional challenges? And I asked myself: Why didn't I feel the same way about the Yale men in the Society of Orpheus and Bacchus when they performed the year before? Perhaps I should have.

I am a college counselor at a private school, and in that capacity I meet many college admissions representatives. Two years ago, I had the chance to have a long discussion with a representative from Mount Holyoke. My personal experience with all-women's colleges is limited. The closest I came to one of them was when my own high school guidance counselor said that she "could just see me at Smith." As one of the only girls in AP chemistry and calculus, I took that as an insult. Hadn't I already proven that I could compete against and sometimes even beat the boys? Why would I consider an all-girls' school? Yet, talking about the programs and focus at Mount Holyoke, I realized that they were hitting the complex problems and roles of women today head-on. And then I began to wonder if Yale makes the same effort to prepare its alumni for their futures, balancing ambitions, dreams, professions, and families.

I am only a history teacher and college counselor. I stayed at home for seven years with my first three children, and I was widowed 12 years ago at age 34. I was a single parent for six years, and then I remarried. I am now a full-time working mother of five. I am not a leader of anything, but I would like to lead a discussion. I am worried about school violence, about children of all ages left unsupervised. I am concerned about children who go home to empty houses and parents who are stressed out. I am worried about the quality of child care for most working parents. I am concerned about intelligent, talented women who are told, as one of my classmates was, that if they aren't willing to work full-time, there isn't a place for them. I am worried about mothers feeling trapped and frustrated at home. I am worried about children without fathers, and about fathers who are separated from their children. I am less concerned about our professions as Yale alumni, and much more concerned about the quality of our lives, and the quality of life of those people we have the power to affect, whether it be our families, our colleagues, or our employees.

Have we Yale alumni lived up to our potential as leaders? I am not so sure. When I read some of the "Alumni Notes" entries I shudder, for it seems that many are still trying to impress us with their achievements, as if still trying to live up to the expectations of that group of Yale alumni determined to produce 1,000 male leaders. Perhaps it is too much to ask for an assessment of the quality of someone's life in two lines or less, but there does need to be some acknowledgement that it isn't that easy or simple to define a life worth living. And this message needs to be clearly communicated to those who need to hear it most -- the undergraduates at Yale.

Maybe it is time for such a discussion on the campus. What are some of the conflicts and problems that Yale alumni and alumnae have encountered as they have tried to live full personal and professional lives? Why not gather those CEOs, partners, diplomats, doctors, professors, and all the rest of us, and ask: How is it going? What can we do better -- for ourselves, and for those whose lives we influence? And maybe, it just might make those Old Blues proud."

As Cara once said, "Look around!"

Glen School Class of 1967 - Ridgewood NJ

The BF/GW Reunion!

Found An Old Valentine!!

Show Me the Way To Go Home - From Glen School!

The Glen School Checkerboard!

Grace Hensley: A 1st Grade Class Update!

The "Can't Get Lost In Bergen County" Signs!

You Gotta Come to the BF/GW Reunion - Here's A Growing List!!

More Glen School Candids!

Reflecting ----- Again!

Coming Soon: Life in Salem Ridge!

Summertime at Glen School!

BF Reunion Coming in November 2011!

Girl Scouts at Glen School!

New Photos from Karen Eide!

More Stories Coming!

Reflections - The House That Built Me!

Mis-Spelled Names - Sorry!

A Brierley Beatles Memory!

First Day of School September, 1960 by Sam Silvers!

The Library at Glen School

More From the Ege Family!

Teachers - Glen School & Beyond - Commentary

The Glen School Fashion Shows!

Our 1966 Glen School Christmas Program!

Christmastime in Ridgewood NJ Circa 1960's!

Mr. Kennedy Goes To Paramus NJ!

Our 4th Grade Classes - 1964-65!

Grammar School Reunions - A Trend?

Coming Soon - Boy Scouts & Girls Scouts!

Glen School Window Wall Gets Face Lift!

The New Kid in School!

Gay Blades Ice Skating & Else Ege Story!

Glen School and the Roof!

Ghosts of Glen School!

Glen School Mom's - 5 Came To Our Reunion!

More Glen School Candids!

Glen School's First Principal - Art Linden!

Back To School Night!

Our Friend and Classmate Artie Brierley

Ridgewood Baseball Association!

Congratulations To Walter Perdue!!

New Blog Up! RHS Class of 1973!

The Glen School Reunion - Nov 7, 2009

New Class Photos From Jan Peters!

Roslyn Road & Salem Ridge Gang Blog!

Need Camp Green Diaries, Photos, Memories!

Coming Soon!

Glen School 2nd Grade Class of 1967 - We Need Photos!

A Photo Taken By Miss Beattie!

Miss Mercer and 1st Grade - 1961-62!

The Glen Kids - Cara