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Sandy McDermand (Grimmer)

I sure hope we can get together next year.  Tahoe would be great.  Sandy 

Jennie Werhane (Schrage)

Out of the blue I got a call from Paul Finch.  We didn't actually speak but in a series of missed calls back and forth, I learned of the tentative (COVID-19 gone) plans for our 60th in Lake Tahoe. Sounds like fun. I'm sure going to try to be there.  I'm really out of the loop as I haven't checked the website often.  Hope  you all are well and safe, a challenge these days.  And thanks Paul for the heads up.  Jennie

Mary Maxwell (Thomas)

Boy that Finch kid really gets around!  Coincidentally, I got a call from him, too.  But he really hit the nail on the head when he said he bet Mary Maxwell already has her bags packed for Lake Tahoe.  It's one of my absolutely favorite places in all the world!  My son got married there.  It's like heaven on Earth and I highly recommend it as a wonderful place to visit.  I think we could have a spectacular reunion there!  Let me know what I can do to help!

Steven Spaner (Spaner)

Mary:  Actually, Heaven on Earth is in the Missouri Wine Country (www.heavenonearth.ws).

Karen Cray (Smith)

We would be very grateful to be added to the guest list for the Lake Tahoe Reunion! Could it possibly be 60 years!! We have just returned from a five-week very quiet and safe visit with friends in Michigan (Mackinac Island and Harbor Springs) and then drove around the lake to Geneva Illinois to stay with family for a week. Now returned to Florida and are self-quarantined for 14 days, but it was so very nice to get away. Would be happy to contact Florida folks about attending the reunion... Best to all, Karen (Cray) and Sam Smith

Eileen Janowitz (Ward)

Hi All - I think a Reunion next year at Tahoe is a great idea and I'm happy to help organize.  I'm suggesting right after Labor Day as Tahoe is crazy busy during the summer.  It will give us something to look forward to!

Karen Cray (Smith)

Great ideas, Eileen. September timing is wise and easier to travel that time of year.

Thanks and love, Karen

Kris Shoulberg (Brown)

Hi all! I wish I could commit to a reunion in Lake Tahoe next year! However, having quarantined for so long, if things open up we will hopefully be visiting our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, many of whom are in the Chicagoland area. So, maybe I'll be lucky enough to see some of you around Lake Forest at some point! Meantime, we are happily hunkering down full-time in Sarasota, FL. We would love a visit from any of you who might be traveling through or around here! Thinking of you all! Be safe! Cheers!

Sandy McDermand (Grimmer)

I am still interested in a Tahoe reunion.  We have a cruise booked in August, but before or after I could help. Sandy

Eileen Janowitz (Ward)

Eileen

Does anyone have an email address from Margy Wessman?  I have been getting posts in Messenger and think it is a hack.

😊 

Bill Harrison (Harrison)

Good to hear from you Bill. 

I can definitely arrange a tour of LFHS assuming the Covid issue is resolved by then. I play golf each week with a couple of retired teachers, but we are so old that they started teaching after we graduated! Not many of our former teachers are still around. 

Thanks for reaching out to Norm Erickson. It would be great if you could the word out to other classmates. Not sure how many opportunities we will have to thank our former teachers and coaches. I'm still in touch will Bill Braman but don't know how many people remember him.

Let me know if things develop for a reunion this year.

Stay healthy.

Fred Jackson

Bill Harrison (Harrison)

Hi Bill,

Hello from Lake Forest. I'm not very computer savvy so I hope you get this.

First, thanks for all the work you have done on keeping the class of '61 together. I enjoy hearing about everyone.

Second, I'm asking a favor of you and our classmates who attended Deerpath School. I continue to correspond with Norm Erickson, our old gym teacher and coach. Norm lives in Grand Rapids, Minnesota which is still the home of his beloved Camp Mishawaka. His wife, Martha, passed away last year, but Norm seems to be doing ok. He has some problems with his legs but gets around with a wheelchair. Most importantly, his mind is still sharp. He writes long notes on his Christmas cards which I'm sure requires painful work. Difficult to read because of his handwriting, but heartwarming to receive. He sent me the entire scorebook of the 8th grade basketball team which I then sent to Tim Reichert. (By the way, your name was listed as scoring 2 points in one game.) None of us touched the ball because Dale Richter never shared it! My purpose in writing is to make a request of everyone. Norm turns 94 in February. He loves reading notes and cards. and I know would be very touched to hear from some of our classmates. Taking a few minutes to drop a hand written note would mean the world to him. Here is his address:

Norm Erickson

1614 Golf Course Road

Apt 129

Grand Rapids MN 55744-8670

Please pass the request on to our classmates.

Third, if our reunion is to be held in Lake Forest this year, I would be more than happy to work with the committee. As a board member of both the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation and the Lake Forest History Center, I have some connections to the community that may be of interest. For example, the "Friends" have sponsored a Fireworks and Festival each July 4th. This has come to be the largest community event in Lake Forest. We hold it at Deerpath Park with a Ravinia (remember that) type of setting. We bring in a headline band or group and finish the evening with fireworks over Onwentsia Golf Course. I can arrange for preferred tickets for our group. The Friends will also hold a Music concert in August. Just a suggestion..... In any case, I'm willing to help.

Lastly, thank you again for your work. We really appreciate everything you have done. Stay healthy.

Fred

Eileen Janowitz (Ward)

This message is to Mary Maxwell but happy to get an answer from anyone.  I tried the email that Mary gave me for Margy Wessman, but it bounced back  as undelivered.n

Susan Leonowitz (Adams)

Hi Fred,

I like all of your ideas for a reunion in LF. Your help would be so valuable in making it a success!

P.S.

I am one who remembers Bill Bramen. He was one of my favorite teachers! It would be great to see

him again!

Susan Leonowitz (Adams)

Hi Eileen,

I have two addresses for Margy:

margyv520@mac.com       and     margyv520@me.com

Kris Shoulberg (Brown)

I bet that's why Margy's email bounced. It's Mac instead of aol.

Bill Harrison (Harrison)

Hey All you Halsey Elementary kids...remember this? Tasted so good!

Mary Maxwell (Thomas)

Thanks Bill.  I DO remember making butter at Halsey School and it was delicious!  Thanks for the memory!                

Mary M.

Mary Maxwell (Thomas)

Oh- I'm sorry- I should have said "Billy"! LOL!

Judy Renz (Volpe)

Hey Class of 61.  This is Lou Volpe, Judy's hubby.  Thanks for posting the picture.  I also went to Halsey School and remember the teacher Mrs. Gieser.  She, her husband and two daughters, Mary Lou and Anne used to live next to South Park on Maywood Road.  Anne was the homecoming queen at LFHS.  Mary Lou was in my class of 1958.  Mrs. Gieser lived to be 98. 

Terry McKinnon

Judy, I recall that apartment building next to South Park. It was called "the Contagious Hospital", I suppose it had been used for Tuberculosis patients earliery in the 1900's.

Terry McKinnon

Bill, this is Kris McKinnon, connected to Terry! He didn't attend Halsey Schoo, but I did.

When I saw your messge, it brought back a flood of memories. Miss Lester the principal, Polly LeRoy the school nurse, and first grade (?) teacher Goldie RipleyAs well as Bernie Best, gym teacher.

I also saw your posting from last Feb. about Norm Erickson. So touching to read about him. Is he still living? I would like to send a note to him, since you were so thoughtful in providing his address. He was very even-handed with girls as well as boys, like Ray Burkhalter. Even though I tried to saw off the tip of my finger in shop!

Thanks for this trip down memory lane.

Fred Jackson

Good to hear from all the old South Parkers. South Park has had a few changes last year. The old Contagious Hospital is now a new playground. A jogging trail and Paddle Tennis courts have been added to the park. And just this year the City bought the old Joytime Nursery which be taken down and enable the park to expand. I think we had at least eight classmates who grew up in the Northmoor subdivision. Good memories. Norm Erickson is still alive. He would love to receive cards from any of you 

Terry McKinnon

Thanks Fred! Paddle tennis? Boce ball? A new era for sure...

Bill Harrison (Harrison)

Dear Fellow Classmates,

Our class web site has been active for 11 years now, and I have been paying the annual subscription fees myself, which has added up to over $1,800. Some of you have received subscription expiration notices, which means that I must extend the subscription for at least another year. If I don’t, the site management company will change to an advertising model, which means you will be subject to site ads. I do not want that to happen. So here are our options:

1. Continue paying myself for one more year ($165), or;
2. Continue with a free subscription with ads, or;
3. Continue paying and request classmate donations to help out.

My preference is 3. Pay for one more year and ask for donations. After the year is up, renew for 3-5 years using the donation funds (See below). That means $165 now and $495 more in one year, using the five year rate. This will give me a year to set up a donations page and manage donations. Without any donations, continue with ads.

Please let me know your thoughts by posting on the message forum so everyone can see them, and thank you! This will help me decide what to do. I have 30 days.