Good News!

The Trigger

We are all sad to hear of the passing of an old friend. One day Dick Tarver reported that Connie Barczewski was getting married again and going to spend her time between Minn. and FL. Good for her! It occurred to me that there is more good news than bad.

The Reaction
Joan Avakian had this to say: “Thank you, Angus. I hope our classmates send you other news too.........  marathons they walk or run and great grand children born; new marriages and other great risks they've taken on;  travels and honors  and dreams come true.  Whatever.... not to deny losses we've all had and will have,  but to live and love through them. “

Thelma Stoddard wrote “I guess that we should remember that many more of us are still around, and in pretty good shape.  It does make me want to make the most of the time I have, and I suspect that you feel the same way....

More Good News
- Thelma Stoddard (and Mr. Moyer, of course) celebrated their 52nd anniversary in June by going out west to visit Yosemite Nat'l Park, Lake Tahoe and Reno. It was a great trip. They are going to be great-grandparents in February!

- Gene Hodge bought a cabin in the Adirondacks this spring and his extended family is enjoying it this summer.

- Angus Reynolds says: "I couldn’t stand retirement and went back to work. I love the “game” of business. A true copy cat, I bought a cabin on a wide spot in the Pecos River called Sumner Lake and we have gone there every weekend since. (Tell Ed Nejman I caught a 3 ½ pound bass.)"

- Steve Wainger (a member of our class because he started kindergarten with us but graduated sooner) is still working. We talk on the telephone and argue about politics.

- Peter Johnson,the is the former BIG BAD BIKER of the NTHS Class of '54,Two years ago, we "downsized" from a traditional New England colonial "homestead", that I had for 30+ years, to a new condo in an active adult community in Millis, MA & a new condo in a gated golf community in Palm Coast, FL.  Palm Coast is between St. Augustine & Daytona Beach & not only do we go to enjoy Daytona events such as NASCAR Speedweeks, Biketoberfest & Bike Week but last June was my 55th Laconia, NH Bike Week, out of the last 56-years. He says "& its been a great "ride" so far!"

- Vincent and Marlene Budka celebrated their 50th anniversary at  'Lanzi's on the lake.' The party was given by their children. 

- Terry Morinelli (Madden) and husband Patrick Madden (NTHS '53) celebrated their 50th anniversary on a three week cruise of the Mediterranean and a family trip to Niagara Falls, given by and with their children.

- Maureen Furlong (Burger) "My husband Bob and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in January 2007 with a dinner hosted by our children and in the summer the entire family went on vacation together to the north shore of Mass. to Gloucester.  The weather cooperated, lots of fun and lots of seafood.  We all came home speaking to each other so I guess it was a success."

- Chet (Buster) DiLallo CBA "54  "Dear Angus, Though I am not truly a member of the NTHS class of 1954, I do appreciate receiving your very interesting and informative newsletter. I guess I might be considered a "54 wanna be!" The pictures from Franklin School are priceless.  I can still remember when you came to Franklin, and I still remember where you lived on Van Vranken Ave. Though it seems like an infinite number of years have passed since we parted scholastic ways, I hold dear to my heart the memories we created  as  a group of Goose Hillers. I am saddened to read of the loss of so many of our elementary and junior high class mates. Please keep up the good work, and know that I am always an NTHS '54 guy in spirit. Fondest regards, Buster

-  From Thelma Stoddard. "I do have some good news!  Our first great-grandchild arrived just a month ago!  She's adorable and lives only about two and a half hours from here, so she's "within reach".  We were there for her birth and they'll be here for Easter, so, next weekend, we'll get to see how much she's grown in the first month.  It's fun to have a  baby in the family again.  We have eleven grandkids, but the youngest is almost ten years old!"

- Bob Czub had his other knee replaced and is doing well. Bev says he is now doing the therapy thing. 

- Phil DuMond reports: "We now own two beautiful homes a mile apart in Star, Idaho.  The barn is finished and the horses have come back home after being boarded for 2 years.  After 3 hip surgeries due to a little horse mishap in 2005, my trail riding will be another adventure this year.  Now that Mary and I have survived five annual 16 day rides across the State of Washington we are looking forward to the 1-2 hour variety.  Would love to hear from everyone at phil@dumond.us"  

- Tom Vetter just returned (summer 2008) from a trip to China with the Rochester Oratorial Society during which they gave four concerts in Beijing and one on Singapore.  Hard to imagine that Tom (and the other 70) were invited by the Ministry of Culture to participate in a choral festival just prior to the Olympics.

- Angus Reynolds and wife Emiko returned from a trip to the Alps including Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, and Germany. The trip included a visit to the South Tirol Anthropological Museum in Bolzano Italy. That is where Otzi the ice man from about 3300 BC is kept under refrigeration. They will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in October 2008.

- Connie Barczewski (Young) reports that she had a great time on a tour of ancient sites. "It was special," she says. "I staarted in Athens, hit 3 of the Greek Islands, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Spain - a very memorable trip. It was wonderful. One almost unbelievable memory - It was rush hour in Cairo. We had recently left the pyramids. I was looking out of the bus window at 6 lanes of traffic. Lo and behold outside my window came a camel with 2 men riding on it!!!! Sure wish I had had my camera ready."

Some good news from Beverly Rainone (Czub). Friends of theirs are building a home on the Saint Lawrence and they are only 2 hours away  from their summer place in Champlain, NY  So Bob has been invited to go fishing summer 2009. He will keep us informed of any cataches. Bev likes to fish also. 

-- 2010 --

Connie Barczewski has some too. Her entire family got to celebrate Christmas/New Year together here for the first time in quite awhile. "My oldest son and his family were here from Albuquerque and my youngest daughter and her family were here from Spain. The middle 2 live nearby here in FL. We were 19 in all and so happy to be together again. My heart overflows. Good health and happiness to each of my classmates and their families."  


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