Bob Kemmler located our group with the help of Jerry Schmitt:

Hi,
my name is Bob Kemmler, class of 62 Sachem High. I know of no blogs for the Alumni . I live in Maryland and visit L.I. about once a year. I've asked a few class mates if our class is going to have a 50 year reunion, but so far there doesn't seem to much interest. If you hear of anything please contact me at r551@verizon.net. Maybe if a few classes hold a reunion all at the same time, just a thought.

Enjoy the coming summer....

Bob

Jerry Schmitt:
(Jerry is helping our group locate Sachem Alumni who may be trying to find our group through Facebook. Jerry posted the following article.)

If you are not sure who I am,I left in August 1959 when I joined the US Navy.I lived on Hawkins Avenue in Lake Grove near Moriches Ave.I had been very active in the school chorus and nothing much else !Am presently living near Niagara Falls ( City of Tonawanda ).I can see the Niagara River out my back window.My house is almost 90yrs old but certainly doesn't look it! We have 8 kids ( 7 girls & 1 boy ) all married and 19 grandchildren. Three of the girls live in California, the rest near us. My wife and I are retired and we try to get to Ca. once a year. We are presently waiting for spring weather which usually doesn't get here until early May !

Jerry


HOME PAGE: reunion98.blogspot.com
email: davis.park@yahoo.com

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Deanna (Giardina) Mauch:






Hi,

I have been reading the Sachem High School Alumni Gazette and would like to hear from Class of '63 grads. As I've mentioned to Rich Williams, many of the last names from the first graduating class in 1959 belong to the sisters and brothers of those who graduated in 1963.
*
I am Deanna Giardina Mauch. Bob and I were married in 1966 and have two daughters and three grandchildren. We lived on Long Island until 1998 when we sold our home in East Moriches and retired to Sarasota, Florida to an area known as Palmer Ranch.
*
We enjoy the lifestyle here, the natural beauty and wildlife and, of course, the beaches. We walk, bicycle ride and kayak, go to the gym and we often explore Florida on day trips. We have annual passes to several theme parks. We also are fond of visiting NASA at Kennedy Space Center and have witnessed a shuttle launch.

My sister graduated with you in 1959. She is Joan Giardina Mathieu. Joan lives in Colorado Springs. She is mother of a son and daughter and also has three grandchildren.

Lydia Martino Virgilio lives about 45 minutes north of me. She is closer to Tampa.

I retired from Westhampton Beach Schools and Bob retired from Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services.

Deanna Mauch

John Cassese:

Hi, I remember Deanna's sister Joan. More and more people are finding the blog. It's so nice to open the blog and see that yet another of our Sachem classmates has sent a message.

John

Bill and Arlene Monteverde:
Hi,

Who knows the where abouts of our signed Sachem Reunion banner?

Well we do!!!!!

Our Sachem Banner has traveled from Florida to Phoenix and then to St. Thomas and St John .

Crafted by George and Jill LaCorte (refer to Sept 2007) and presented for all to sign at the 2001 reunion hosted by Pat Prince Rath.

Joan Whitty Stawicki and Joe Singler arranged for its safe passage to Phoenix Arizona for our 2003 reunion.

Arlene and I have been the guardians since 2003. All who participated in our 2005 reunion adventure have also re-added their signatures.

Your Sachem banner has ample space for your name or renewed signatures.

We would love to forward this symbol to our 2010 reunion host????

Awaiting your direction.

Bill and Arlene Monteverde

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Jerry Schmitt finally found our Group:

I am now able to get the Blog, and found it very interesting, as well as memory jolting ! I hear from Judi Belden once in awhile via "Classmates". I've also been emailed from several others including John Thelman, Leslie Terry, Carolyn Fields, her husband George Tambini, Pat Prince, Carole Melton, Kathleen McLaughlin and Ann Ferlitto. I am not in actual contact with them but they signed my guestbook.
Am not able to get any email addresses as you mentioned in your mail to me in Feb., and also do not see me in the Sachem Blog as having been "found" !!! LOL
Thanks,
Jerry

Note:
Judi Beldon and I have been working and scheming, trying to get Jerry to find our Blog. Some of the "Commercial Reunion Sites" do not let email addresses, arrive at the Mail Box of a non-member.

Yep, the scheme worked, and Jerry Schmitt is now on our mailing list.

So! Please send an email to this Blog, saying hello to Jerry Schmitt!

Judy Belden Lloyd:

YAY!!! Welcome, Jerry.

Judi ;)

John Cassese:

Wow, more people joining all the time. Nice going, Ben.....

Reply from Ben:

Judi Belden Lloyd is the real recruitment officer!

Our Thanks to Google For Hosting Our Site
Also! Our Thanks to the "Gang," at Blogger for designing this program!

Fern Coste Spies just joined our group:

Hi Ben,

It has been about 50 years since I last heard or saw you, but I do remember you. However, it was a good thing to add John's name. I am a travel agent and have my own office in Holbrook known as Spies Travel Agency/ American Express Travel Service Rep. When I married George though I was whisked out of Holbrook and had to move to Bohemia but I got my kids into Sachem and they are both Sachem grads.

Quite honestly, I feel we should have the reunion somewhere on Long Island. We have a huge catering hall in Holbrook now called Villa Lombardi's and then there are the restaurants that have private rooms and all of the hotels that have mushroomed around here have ballrooms. I am sure that some of them would be willing to give us a good deal in view of the economy that exists today.

I love cruises and have been on a number of them; I love Las Vegas, my son lives there - he is police officer in Las Vegas - tough city lots of gangs and crime is rampant. However, if you stay on the strip - no problems.

My vote is to have it here on L. I. in Suffolk County. The Bavarian Inn is no longer around - it is under water figuratively.

Fern Coste Spies

Ann Venth Class of 60 found our Group:
Hi Ben,
I've been e-mailing back and forth with Ann. She and her husband, George, live in AZ, have two boys, and 5 grandchildren.
Judi ;)

Judi Belden Lloyd has been helping our group, locate Alumni, by searching on the Internet. Judi received a Classmates.com email from Ann.

Message from Ann Venth:
Thank you
It was so nice seeing some of the classmates,I really enjoyed it very much.Yes we are living in AZ, 2 and half yrs. but miss our Sons and Grandchildren very much,we would like to move back after all we lived in Medford 42 yrs,I am surprise you don't have Fern Coste.

Ann

Reply from Ann:

I don't know Fern Coste e-mail but her parents owned the car ins. in Holbrook I think Fern had a travel agency in Holbrook it was call Spheres something like that. I just want to say how glad I was that I wrote back to Judi, This is so great,I was reading alot of the Blog. I been married 45 yrs, Have two sons and 5 grandchildren 4 girls and 1 boy, Made a big mistake moving out in AZ, leaving the family, and if I could change the clock I would go back 3 yrs,and be back home where we belong. I learn one thing Family is more important.

Ann

Marylin Giove Chion:
(Click the photo to make it larger!)










Hi,

I was thinking that the reunion would be on Long Island but the suggestion to have it in Las Vegas sounds great too. Don and I are willing to attend wherever is it. It will be so nice to see everyone again.

This picture was taken in 1973 during one of our annual trips from FL to NY. (We moved to Florida in 1970) My husband, Don bought this car while we were visiting family and we drove it home to FL. He bought it because he used to pick me up from school every day in his 1955 red & white Ford when we were dating. So we parked it in front of Sachem and I took this picture of him in the driver's seat and our kids Donny & Lauren who were 11 and 7 at that time are outside. He enjoys collecting cars of the 50s and 60s. So whenever we feel like going back in time we drive one of the old cars. What a great era!

Marylin Giove Chion

Reunion Forum:

Joan Knapp Rocco asked me to convene a forum discussing ideas and suggestions for a Sachem Reunion.

Joan Knapp Rocco:
Joan was disappointed when the Second Lloyd Roberts Quintet Reunion was quenched by the caterer. Joan thinks the "Flaming Hearth," is the best choice for our Reunion, because of the nostalgia that comes with that venue. The Flaming Hearth is the new name, for the Night Club, that we knew as the Country Tavern. (located in Farmingville, New York).

Joan was not too fond of cruises in the open ocean!

Ben Vitale:
A Cruise is out for me! My wife gets seasick just thinking about a cruise!
How about a Reunion in Las Vagas? We can check the Internet for package deals! Limo shuttles are available at the Airport; we would not have to rent a cars!

Camille Pelliccia and her sister Phyllis:
I have some group class photos my sister Phyllis gave me to submit to the blog. Would love to see a reunion on long Island......Will keep in touch...
Stay well,
Love Camille

Barbara Deppe Schwinn:
Barbara would prefer a cruise from New York, but said that she may be able to make arrangements to get to Long Island, from Pennsylvania. She did mention that some of us may not be as mobile as we were when we were 18 years old!

Richard Williams:
This is our (shudder) 50th anniversary! I'm open to a Farmingville locale for a get together. It would have to be a long weekend for me; I just don't do those quick weekend runs very well anymore. Will await further news. Richard Williams. PS: I may have to make the trip alone; my wife does not get into class reunions--mine or hers.

Brenda Sichenzia:

I would like anything except a cruise.

Barbara Deppe Schwinn:
Hi everyone,
I do think las vegas is a good idea; there is a lot to do and we have the ability to do different things. All the shows, and casinos; I have never been there! It is easy to get around, and "no driving" sounds even better! I like this idea! I really want to see everyone!
Barbara

John Cassese:
I'm doing some thinking about this too, Ben. I hope we can come up with something.

Mary (Trapani) Hynes:
The Sachem area makes the most sense because it's where we all began. Any place else it's really only special to some people. I, for one, don't do cruises. Any interest in a northern getaway? I know of some wonderful natural areas, including one with great accommodation possibilities with the opportunity to be near wolves (not a zoo). How many people have mobility issues? I have a son who uses a wheelchair so I know how problematic that can be.
Mary

Ken Muzzonigro:
I would attend a reunion at any location, at any time of the year.
Ken Muzzonigro Class of 1960 Holtsville NY & Delray Beach Florida

Barbara Deppe Schwinn:

Hi

I have a mobility problem. I use a walker and braces, that is why I had first suggested a cruise. Mary, do you have a suggestion of a place to go for there are probibly more of us out ther that have such problems. we are not alone. We have to go where all of us can partisipate to the best of our abilities, and HAVE A TON OF FUN; THAT IS WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT. Don't we all agree to that one.

Barbara

Joan Whitty Stawicki:

Hi All.......Joan Whitty (Stawicki) here......Las Vegas gets my vote. It is reasonable and there are always air & hotel specials. You won't need a car unless you want to see some of the local sites ie: Hoover Dam, etc
They have a bus that runs up and down the "strip" giving you access to all the Main Hotels 24/7. Joe Singler, my sister Barbara and myself hosted a reunion here in AZ a few years ago.....what a good time we had!! Will this reunion be in 2010? I'll keep watch to see what's posted.

Gail Tierney Griffith:

Hi,

I'd rather a venue on Long Island for a possible reunion. I have no sentimental attachment to any particular place on the Island. Since it is a two day leisurely drive for us, we'd take time there to visit family and friends and spend some time in the city. We are in good health and quite mobile, but support any place chosen that fits the needs of all our classmates.

I'm wondering how many members of our class live within five or six hours of Asheville, North Carolina.

I have had something else crawling through my brain recently. How can we make this reunion less about being 17 and more about the people we have become as we approach 70! I'd like to know more about each one so that when I walk into the party, I'll have something on which to base a conversation besides, "You haven't changed!"

I'll be glad to start the conversation if you will publish it on the blog.

Gail

Joan Lalla Gerson:

Hi everyone,

About our next reunion, I think L. I. is the most nostalgic place to have it and I, for one, would love to see the Lloyd Roberts Quintet worked in somehow.

However, Long Island is pricey unless you have family or friends to stay with. It is also possible that classmates on L. I. would offer a spare room to a single person or a couple for the weekend. It would just take one or two people to coordinate this as it is done for music workshops that I have attended. Perhaps a hospitality fee could be agreed upon for all if necessary.

Mary, your idea about being near wolves is way out. Just don't know why I can't get excited about it. Actually, I would feel better if they were in a zoo! You haven't changed a bit. Can't wait to see you again.
(And, thanks for the pic's.)

If Joan Whitty is recommending Las Vegas, I would go there because Joan has a good eye for what works. The Arizona reunion was one of the best and the Homewood Suites gave her such a good price that several of us stayed on or came early. ( I think we spent 10 days and took in the Grand Canyon.)

Whatever place works best for everyone will be just fine with me. I am looking forward to seeing you all again.

Joanie Lalla Gerson

Richard Williams:

I've gotten the reunion bug or whatever--sooo I'm planning to make a trip to LI in JUN 2009. Are there any of you interested too? If there are, it isn't too early to choose a time slot period.June weekends are 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28. Father's Day is June 21st so that would be out for me; school would be out on 27-28 (I would like to take a stroll through the old school, that is, if it's still standing.) This doesn't need to be any full blown do. It would be great to see any of you who still live in the area.Please let me know if there are any major doings in the area during June that would make hotel reservations, or whatever, difficult. Thanks and hope to see some of you soon.

Richard Williams

Judi Beldon Lloyd:

Hi,

I, too, think that a visit to LI would be nostalgic and great. Fern (Coste) Spies did a great job with the Sachem 50th anniversary a few years back. Yes, our high school still stands, but now it is a junior high school. I forget it's new name. It looks the same from the outside. it was the weekend and I did not go inside. For those of you who attended Gatelot, it still looks the same, except that the hill across from it where my great uncle's home once stood has been replaced with houses (if I remember correctly). Fern is/was a travel agent so would also have some great ideas of what to do. We drove out to Montauk Point. It's become a park, and you can now go up into the lighthouse ;)

I like the idea of people attending sending in a short bio on what they have done and what they are now doing.

At the Phoenix reunion, George LaCorte took pics from yearbooks and had clip on 'badges' made of them for each of us. Really made it easy to recognize people, especially those who had changed significantly.

Judi ;)

Jerry Brandt:

Hi

I Would love to get together. I was in Lake Ronkonkoma in January visiting family. I am sure June would be much nicer.

Jerry Brandt

Eleanor Danovich (Puorro) found our group!

Hi

I'm Eleanor Danovich (Puorro) from Sachem H S. I was wondering if you know of any plans for a reunion in 2011 or who would have info.I get my email on a friends computer at aepuorro@gmail.com

Thanks Eleanor

Reply from Arlene (Owen) Monteverde

Hi Eleanor,

My Husband and I organized a reunion cruise from Florida 3 years ago. We had a group of people mainly fromFlorida and some people from Arizona. We got together 2 years before that in Arizona and also, enjoy a great weekend inSt Pete. There are many people from Classes 59 through 64 that live all over this state. We've always had agreat time together. We started off trying to get together every 2 yrs. However, since the cruise there has beenno one volunteer to host a reunion. So I guess to answer your question, I do not know of any plans for aSachem reunion in the near future.We keep in touch with people in all states through the Sachem Blog which Ben Vitale manages for us.Good Luck to You and if you should hear of a Reunion please let us know. Ben's email address is davis.park@yahoo.com

Thanks for getting in touch,

Arlene (Owen) Monteverde

Barbara Deppe Schwinn:

Hi everyone
I am having so much fun reading everyone's suggestions. We were all from the same school and that infamous first graduation class, and we all had to work together. We have grown, and now we have to work together with this reunion. Don't know how we will do it, but we did thing together in 1959, and we will do it again. I was very quiet back then ,oh how I have changed! Words from the quiet one!
Barbara Deppe Schwinn
God bless us all.

Mary (Trapani) Hynes:

1) The wolf idea was meant to get a rise (but it would be fun, ha ha)

2) I've never been to the American west so that could be fun (however I don't gamble (with money) What is near Las Vegas besides desert?

3) Long Island is OK for a reunion, but who thought there could be other things to do there? The only activity I've heard about is bothering the migrant workers.

4) Maybe Long Island has changed (besides the huge increase in population and the decrease in travel time to the city).

5) The advantage of a cruise would be that if the right cruise is picked mobility could be less of a challenge.

6) Has anyone ever mapped out where Sachem grads live live?

7) If it's summer, would you want a Caribbean cruise? Maybe something New England (or [my favorite] Canadian) would be better

8) How about Cuba? It's not very expensive, it's safer than most of the other islands and why not (thousands of Americans visit Cuba ever year)---

Mary (Trapani) Hynes

Barbara Deppe Schwinn:

Hi everyone

So nice reading all the blog comments. I am in favor of having a reunion on Long Island, where we all started. It would be important; as I read all the messages from my classmates.

When we have our reunion we should also plan to visit Sachem High School , [now junior high] and remember our days there. It is at Sachem, where we have cultivated many fond memories.

"We are all separated by space now."

Barbara

Jerry Schmitt Comments on "Facebook," and our Reunion:

Jerry wrote on your Wall:"Ben, Facebook is not very private and I don't think the membership would go for it unless they are fully familiar with it . I think the Sachem Blog is great and doesn't need a change! There are some privacy settings but I'm not sure I would trust them. However you might want to leave it up to the members.I'm sure Judi would have a stong opinion!!!

As for the possible reunion, I strongly favor Long Island. Haven't been there since my Dad died in 1990 in Patchogue.

Be back later.

Jerry"

Mary Ann Castiglione Bissett:

Hi
My name is Mary Ann Castiglione Bissett class of '60. I've been receiving the blog for some time now and love reading all the stories and comments.
My husband and I still live on Long Island, actually in the same town I did as a child. The infamous "Farmingville".
Both my children are graduates of Sachem. My grandsons are also in the district. Three generations of us.
My husband and I are both retired, he as a SC Police officer and I as a medical biller. I do work part time now as a nanny since total retirement got a little much for me.
If the reunion was held on Long Island I would love to attend. I didn't go the last L.I. reunion because I was never notified of it. I heard about it from another class mate.
Thank you so much for the blog. I really enjoy it.

Mary Ann Castiglione Bissett

What are your ideas?

Please let us know!
Send your Comments and ideas to
davis.park@yahoo.com


This Blog contains HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS that can be viewed by clicking the "ARCHIVE" DATES, on the top of this Blog, in the Right Hand Column.

HOME PAGE: reunion98.blogspot.com
email: davis.park@yahoo.com

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Also! Our Thanks to the "Gang," at Blogger for designing this program!

Facebook Caution!
We now have four of our members on “Facebook.” Facebook is just about the same as “My Space,” but frequented by older people. Facebook is a “Social Networking” site that is used to communicate with your friends. Sounds good at first; but it can be dangerous!

I joined Facebook with the intent of locating Sachem Alumni! Facebook is not private by default; whatever you say to one member of your group is sent to everyone. I believe that it is possible to direct a message to only one person, but one must first figure out how to perform this operation. I may have figured out how to direct messages, but I am not sure if this procedure is actually working! Even if you figure out how to direct messages, one slip of the mouse, and everyone knows what you have just said!

By default, anyone listed as a friend in your personal profile, can also see everyone else that is listed. There are ways to limit that but I can’t figure it out! What if your activist academic friend, found out that you were also friends with the chairman of the Republican Party? Ice and Fire do not mix! Facebook may have a facility for multiple groups of friends, but I have not figure out if that is possible!

The people at Facebook are constantly trying to find friends for you, by getting the Password to your Email Account! If you give them the password to your Email Account, they will rummage through your Address Book, looking for people that also are members of Facebook. If anyone in your address book has a Facebook account, they could receive an invitation to become one of your friends! I did not have the desire or courage to give Facebook the password to my email account. Does anyone know if I would be given the opportunity to say "No" before invitations are sent out to people in my address book?

OK! The following is a fictitious scenario, used only as an illustration. You have in your Address Book, the following email listings who coincidentally, also have a Facebook Account:
1. The IRS Tax Auditor
2. The lawn service that does not pay taxes.
3. Your Wife.
4. The local Brothel.
5. Your children.
6. Your Priest or Minister.
7. Your mistress!
8. Ha! Ha! LOL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

If you don’t know what you are doing, all of the above could inadvertently be registered as your friends. Oh well!

(3/22/2009 News Flash: Ive just learned that Facebook says that they will not store your email address or contact anyone, without your permission! Hum!!!! I would still feel a lot better if I spoke to someone who has actually gone through the process!)

I would bet that this problem would go away if Facebook added a line of text, below the "Find Friends" box that says:

By submitting your email password, we would only look through your address book for people that are eligible to join your group of friends. You will then be asked to select only those people that you want to receive an invitation to join your group. You have total control of who receives an invitation!

So everything that you type is seen by the entire group. Anything that any member of your group types, can be seen by the entire group! There are ways to limit visibility, but I feel that they are rather cryptic. I am not new to software, but I feel that it could take me a month to fully control Facebook!

I do not discourage anyone from joining Facebook; in fact, I believe that it can be fun! Please be mindful, as to who you invite, to join your group; that is, until you learn how to control FaceBook access.

I have heard of a person that was inadvertently exposed as a Bi-Sexual because of a mistake made using FaceBook.

OK! Please be careful! Facebook is a lot of fun, but it is also the same as the AT&T Party-lines, that we had in the 50s! Everyone knows all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PRIVATE MESSAGES! USE EMAIL.

Jerry Schmitt:
Just read your blog in the "Gazette". I'm glad you took me seriously and warning all to be cautious!

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Also! Our Thanks to the "Gang," at Blogger for designing this program!