60th Birthday Bash at Mario's

We had a great group on September 25th. Luba did such a fine job coordinating the affair that we just might ask her to do it again in the dead of winter when we are all looking for a break after the holidays. We will keep everyone posted. Attendees were:

Marianne Munier
Rosemary McCartney
Susan Pape
Kathy Martello
Phil Martello
Ken Swatt
Jerry Appaluccio
Rae Ellen DeBlasi
Charlene Quintavella
Barbara McCarthy
Luba Shagawat
Joanna Jervis
George Blasko
Barbara Mol
Jack Coco
Frank Skettini

A guest photographer had a little trouble getting everyone in on one table so there are a couple of shots of the same group.

Please send in any photos or news items that you would like to share with the class on our blog.

Best regards to all.

Ken Swatt

Sophia and Andrew Farmiga

Sophia and Andrew were recently spotted in a local hot spot - the Brookdale ShopRite in Bloomfield. 41 years and counting. Apologies for the poor quality of the cell phone snapshot.

So Charlene says to Luba........

Charlene Hinkle was in touch with Luba recently and lamented that she was sorry that she missed the reunion. The result was an impromptu dinner at Mario's in Clifton attended by the following:

Barbara McCarthy (Sholz)

Joan McTighe

Barbara Mol (Meade)

Joanna Jervis

Patty Jo Tripp (Grochowski)

Charlene Hinkle

Phil Martello

Jerry Appaluccio

Rae DeBlasi (Van Blarcom)

Luba Shagawat (Pukalak)

Joan Swatt

Ken Swatt

We hope this will be the first of many little get togethers for those of us who are local. Please email Luba (luba11@aol.com) and she will put your name on the list to be notified when and where the next impromptu event is scheduled. Does anyone have a yacht???

Best regards to everyone.

Ken












C

Luba - Reflections

Dear classmates;

Several alumni have written about their interesting life journeys, their impressive accomplishments, who they have become and who they have lost along the way. I've read each with great interest, some sadness and even with pride in their accomplishments, simply because we shared a common social and educational history. I was a bit surprised to find that I felt this vicarious gratification just because I shared four short years with capable, talented and spiritual people, some of whom I never even had a conversation with:-). Then It dawned on me, that in some miniscule way, we have each contributed toward the development of who we are today. In some way, like it or not, we are all connected!

To be honest, when I first received the notice that Marianne was planning our 40th reunion, I was rather indifferent about the whole thing. After all, those were only four short years that took place a long, long time ago. I'm not even the same person! Time has changed us all. Did I really want to spend an afternoon meeting people that I once knew, but don't really know anymore?

In spite of myself, I decided to go. What the heck, I thought, it's not like another 40th reunion will come along again, right? So I decided to go. That day, I dressed in whatever was most slimming:-) applied some make-up (to hide as many years as possible) and off I went.

To my surprise, as I entered the room I felt transformed, as well as transported to a time long passed.

A time when skirts above the knee were prohibited; gym clothes were intentionally hideous; confusion prevailed and the future was still ahead of us. A time when the "British invasion" had everything to do with music and nothing to do with war. Although we never thought it, it's quite possible that we were the last generation to experience an age of innocence. It was innocence that I felt when I entered the reunion room.

First, I noticed an easel displaying photos, perfectly placed at the entrance of the room, and noticed a picture of myself with my friend Joanna. In the picture, we were holding our school books and talking intently. I haven't seen her in 20 years! A tiny tear appeared. Then, as if by magic, she approached me with her open arms and threw them around my shoulders; the flood gates opened. (Ken Buzzi, Marilyn Grecco and Charlene Parisi can attest to that:-)

The rest of the afternoon was what could be described as "a basking in what used to be". I didn't need to know what anyone did, where they lived or how may children or grandchildren they had. I didn't want to share my own personal accomplishments. It was "simply being there" that mattered. I was, for a little while, taken back to a time that's passed, and was given the opportunity of re-experiencing a small part of my history with those who just happened to have been there with me. What a gift!


Luba Shagawat

Julianne Roszczewski Dayer

On the streets of Chester UK

My daughter, Angele (top right) in the cast of Love's Labor Lost ( LA-Dec 2008)

At the statue of football (soccer) phenomenon, Stanley Matthews in Hanley UK

Here I am at Chatsworth Manor, Derbyshire UK, Sept 2008

Julianne's UK Diary

Saturday, Sept 6

Clouds at LAX...cheese and egg sandwich on the plane...saw movie: What Happens in Vegas

Arrived in Newark with rain...listened to Mudcrutch and the Ting Tings...ate Beef with Vegs, roll and fruit

Sunday, Sept 7

Arrived in Manchester...green grass and clouds...

Ate oatcakes and cheese and a cheese sandwich

Monday, Sept 8 clouds

Shopping in Tunstall, bought boots for Angele and shoes

Ate a salmon sandwich

Tuesday, Sept 9 rain, clouds and sun

Shopping in Market Drayton

Ate British chicken

Wednesday, Sept 10 clouds and sun

Toured Chatsworth Manor -- ate sausage roll and pizza with mushrooms and olives

Rode through Peak District

On TV: Lost in Austen

Thursday, Sept 11 clouds and sun

Saw movie: The Duchess in Newcastle under Lyme

Friday, Sept 12 drizzle

Visited Moorcroft Pottery Museum and Trentham

On TV: The Tudors

Saturday, Sept 13 clouds and sun

Visited Paul, Irene's husband at Keele University Hospital

Ate fish and chips, watched the last night of The Proms on TV

Sunday, Sept 14 cloudy

Walked along the walls of Chester and saw the racecourse, had English McDonald's Happy Meal

Monday, Sept 15 cloudy

Visited Paul in North Staffs Hospital

Visited Irene's daughter Sharon and grandson, Tristan

Ate pizza with chips and salad...packed

Tuesday, Sept 16 cloudy

Read Sword of Shame on plane from Manchester to Newark

Angele picked me up at LAX and we opened pressies from England at home

Wednesday Sept 17...back to work!

Coach Olivola has passed away

The man we affectionately called Joe"O" passed away last week. The obituary was in the Bergen Record.

The great kiss of 1945

Joan and I were at our place in Sarasota over the Christmas Holidays and decided to do an historic reenactment of that great kiss of 1945. The statue is a landmark on the bay in downtown Sarasota.

Best regards to all,

Ken

Patti Grover (Belsky)

Patty emailed the following update on 1/22/2009

I have four grandchildren. My son, Tim has twins, Kyle and Kayla who are 8 years old. My oldest son, Chris, has two children, Gavin who is 2 and Annabelle who was born 1/4/09. My youngest son, Jonathan, went to be with the Lord on 5/11/05 at the age of 25. He died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. To any fellow classmates who may have lost a child or have one who may be going through addiction, please know that tough love can only go so far and that my prayers are with them.

I am a legal assistant for a law firm in Port Charlotte, Florida and married to my wonderful husband, Jeff. We just celebrated one year. Third time is a charm!

I wish I could have made the reunion, and hopefully we can get together again. The economic times do make it difficult for extra trips, etc., but just being able to see former classmates via the internet is a good thing.

I gave Mary Lou Nosal (Neumann) the blog website, so she may be contacting you as well.

Blessings

Patricia (Patti) Grover, a/k/a Patricia (Patty) Belsky