The Last Forty Years…

So, whatcha been doin’
(for the last thirty forty forty-five years…?)

All people smile in the same language.
Anonymous

Timeline: 07:31h July 26, 2008

OK, I’ll go first here.  Please don’t leave me hanging, folks…

Where have I been for the last thirty years?  Well, it seems to have passed in the blink of an eye, and yet it was an entire lifetime.

Here’s the short version:  in 1986 I met the girl of my dreams (literally) while working my first real, professional job—book publishing—in NYC.  The elevator doors to her floor opened a bit too suddenly, there she was, and there I was:  picking my nose.  She smiled, and politely pretended not to notice.   Sometime shortly thereafter (incredibly) we made a lunch date, and the rest is, as they say, history.  My wife and I have been happily married ever since, and our life together still has something of a magical, dreamlike quality about it, every single day (Fairytales can come true, you know…)

We have one daughter, and my sun does in fact rise and set with her.  She’s about to enter college, and to say she’s been my pride and joy during the last seventeen years is a vast understatement.

Professionally I remain extremely undistinguished in almost every way, having dabbled in everything from book publishing, to direct marketing, to the international maritime industry, to commercial real estate.   It is abundantly clear to me now that fame and fortune are not to be mine in this lifetime.  Not even close.

I missed the 10^th reunion (I think I still lived with my Mom and Dad at that point).  I made the 20^th and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I know the 30^th Reunion will not disappoint.  I very much look forward to seeing all of you there.

OK – I’ll be brave here… (see how things change?)

It definitely doesn’t feel like it’s been 30 years – I still feel like I’m in my early 20’s – ok, that’s pushing it but, it could be because my daughter is 21 now and I just look at her in total awe. Although her dad and I split, she’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

I pretty much stayed local most of the time – I tried Houston for a while since my parents moved down there back in ’82. The natives didn’t care much for “Yankees” so I came back home.

I’ve been with Pepsi since 1985. I never thought I’d stay 5 years let alone 23. Most of that time I was taking care of benefits, compensation, and stock options. Now I work for 3 ex-secret service guys who were hired after 9/11. One of which was Clinton’s bodyguard and actually looks like him. You can imagine the stories I hear!! I have 6 more years (and counting!!!) until I can retire and move on to something else.

Can’t wait to see everybody in November!!!

Lisa Donnelley
September 19, 2008

Well, I have been married to my best friend (Fern) for the last 23 years. We have two kids, Bethany 17, and Justin is 12.
Fern is a teacher in Yorktown and we own an RV Service Center in Gardiner NY.
We have lived in Hyde Park, NY for the last 21 years.
We are avid RVers and travel as often as possible.  We are roller coaster addicts and NASCAR nuts as well.
Still can’t believe that 30 years has gone by!
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion!

Rich Michel
October 28, 2008
Len-Rich RV
PO Box 242
Gardiner  N.Y. 12525
www.len-richrv.net

How to sum up the last 30 years?

It’s hard to believe this much time has gone by.

I’ve been married for the last 21 to my husband Ed and have two sons, Ari 18 and Daniel 12.  We’ve lived in Princeton, New Jersey for 19 years and love the area and our involvement in the community.

I’ve been working as an occupational therapist with children since I graduated from college in 1982.  I have spent many years developing programs and teaching in a variety of organizations in our community.

My husband and I bought a local business a few years ago and I have found myself in the role of hiring and managing our employees.

Life has had its share of ups and downs as I am sure it has for all of us.

Having the chance to work on this reunion has been one of the ups.  It’s been really wonderful finding old friends and classmates and corresponding with many of you.   I look forward to seeing you at the reunion and to staying in touch through this exceptional website.  Thank you to Richie and John and to everyone who has contributed; and to the technology for making it possible for us to click onto these amazing photos and memories.

Lori (Starkman) Simon
October 29, 2008

As I sit here reflecting what has happened over the past 30 years in my life I can’t help but remember all the people from Elementary school through High School who influenced how I look at life and who helped prepare me for the great things this world has to offer.

After High School I went to Albany State and graduated with a degree in Computer Science.   Having loved spring breaking in Ft. Lauderdale, upon graduation I packed my bags and moved to the Sunshine state (where I still am today)!  I found a job at American Express, which offered great growth opportunities.  I took full advantage and ended up with my Masters Degree and as Sr. VP of Technologies supporting Computer Ops Worldwide.

At 27 I married my first husband and had three wonderful children with him.  I am now married to my second husband (Pat) who rocks my world!  In 2004 I got burnt out with corporate America (too much travel & headaches!) so my husband & I started a Marine Construction business and we have been going strong ever since.  (anyone need a dock??)  I wish I had become an entrepreneur right out of college but you live and you learn!!  Our passions are our children, family, friends and travel.

I have a stepson Dustin (22) who works for our company, a daughter Kaitlyn (20) attending Western Carolina University, a son Robert (19) attending Palm Beach College and my youngest Eric (17) in his Sr. year of high school.

I am really looking forward to partying with all of you and rocking to all the tunes from our high school years.  Bring it on!

Donna (Duchene) Isham
November 4, 2008

My husband Bill and I moved to Redmond, Washington in 1995. Our son Shane is 14 years old, and our daughter Andrea is 10. I am truly blessed with a wonderful family.

We love living in the Northwest. Before we left New York, I worked as an illustrator for a package/advertising design studio in White Plains for about ten years. I stopped working to raise our two children, and now I am painting again – mostly watercolors and acrylics. I just launched my website: www.susanderrick.com.

I am sorry to miss our reunion. I’ve enjoyed looking at all the now and then photos – a great trip down memory lane.

My warmest wishes to all. Thank you! Have a great time at the reunion.

Susan (Olson) Derrick
November 17, 2008

After working in Manhattan for two years I decided to move West and settled into Southern California. I joined a company called the Capital Group, which is the parent company for a mutual fund family called The American Funds. I’ve been with them for 23 years.

The best part of my decision to move west was that I met the woman of my dreams, Anita. It was love at first site, at least for me, she needed a bit of persuasion. We have been married for twenty years and have two terrific children, Madelyn is 14 and is into fashion design and movie making. Olivia is 12 and is a super soccer player and protector of all living creatures, especially turtles.

My career took us to Geneva, Switzerland for two years where the travel bug bit us. We thoroughly enjoy our family time traveling, skiing, and watching movies. With the exception of our time in Europe we have lived in Virginia Beach since 1992 . Keep us in mind if you ever head this way.

Andy Ward
November 18, 2008

Timeline:  12:18h 07 March 2010

Maybe I’m looking back through rose-colored glasses, maybe I have some of the names and dates wrong, but I think Panas High drew from, was comprised of, some pretty cool neighborhoods. It was a different era, I know, but still…
For a period of time, say 1967-1975, it seemed like I could walk down my street and find 15 to 20 kids, all ready to play something, anything: kickball, army, ring-a-levio, flies-up, running bases, baseball, football, basketball, street-hockey, ice-hockey, wiffle-ball, fort-building, toad-hunting, tree-climbing, day-camping, swimming, fishing, bike riding, tobogganing, etc.
There were no particular rules of engagement, no pre-planning phone calls. Nothing was necessary to set up the situation. One just wandered down the street, and as though subject to some kind of silent siren call, other kids would gradually appear (if they weren’t already there).
Depending on the season (spring = street hockey + baseball; fall = football + street hockey + basketball; winter = ice hockey + basketball + sledding; summer = everything), I could wander outside and find Eddie Clark, Ralph and Richie Carfagno, John and Paul Gilbert, Craig Salzman, Jay Kolmar, and Tommy Russo shooting hoops. The Cancelleri brothers, the Vallorosi brothers, Mike ‘Beef’ DeStefano, Paul DePaoli, Steve Corradina, Jack Behan, Joey Gerace and Richie Collins playing street hockey. The Sally boys, the Hatchers, the Miskells, and Chris Maguire preparing some “older kid” kind of mischief; and Ralph Fasano involved in any and/or all of the above (or crashing his motor-cross bikes in the woods that ringed the entire neighborhood).
Sometimes our sisters and their friends would watch and/or get in the games (I always tried harder when girls were around). We were graced with the presence of Sue Olsen, Karen Boyle, Karen Russo, Jean and Diane Cancelleri, Linda Corradina, Sue Miskell, Lynn and Donna Denike, Lori Gerace, Julie Drake and Sue Sally, to name but a few.
We played ball all day long, breakfast-to-dinner, (nobody ate lunch). Then we ran back out as fast as we could, ignoring our mother’s cries after wolfing down their labor of love.
I thought our gang was the best around. I saw many of them perform truly incredible feats of athleticism. Eddie Cancelleri was a lefty who moved up from the Bronx with the rest of the “New Development” kids. He could hit anything that was thrown at him and practically run out into the field and catch it simultaneously. We used to have epic wiffle ball games in his back yard, every one seemingly decided by a dramatic walk off homer hit well into the woods, just as it was too dark to see anymore.
One day Eddie arranged for a match baseball game against another neighborhood gang, friends of his from high school. They were from some faraway place I never heard of: Continental Village. We practiced and practiced and practiced, and after much agonizing put together our very best squad. We were positive we were going to cream them.
It felt like the World Series and the All Star game all rolled into one for me (I was in 7th grade). We rode our bikes to a neutral field (Lincoln Titus, I think), and faced off against these guys that Eddie knew but I had never seen before: the Fortier brothers, Larry Soronen, Nicky Sotis, Mark Bolte, Mike Savarise, the Bobolia brothers, and the Dini’s were all there, as well as several others.
They crushed us, in a perfectly nonchalant sort of way. They laughed at us, because we took it so seriously. Not only that, but they were drinking beer and smoking cigarettes while they did it (oh, those Village boys!) I remember being utterly deflated, confused, and surprised: my world was kind of turned on its head.
That’s OK, because that very winter Eddie arranged for a street hockey game against another neighborhood gang. Now, understand this: street hockey was OUR game. We had the very best goalie in the world (Paul DePaoli); we had the Vallorosi’s and the Cancelleri’s, who could do amazing things with a hockey stick. Beef was solid on defense, and Steve Corradina was our captain and elder statesman. We were gonna crush them, whoever they were, for sure.
We were to play these guys from a faraway place I also never heard of: Buttonwood Avenue. They had this amazing set up: the keys to an indoor gym! We could play rain or shine. Unbelievable! (I think it was the Villa Maria or Villa Santa Regina seminary or nunnery or some such. Now, I’m told, there are condos up there.)
Anyway, out trotted Andy and Bobby Ward, Roy and Gary Renza, Raymond Boyle, Bobby DeLuca, Ray Glashoff (I’m pretty sure it was him, and that he lived over there, even though he was a Hen Hud star);  et.al.
And they made us look like, well, schoolboys. It was men versus kids. Bobby DeLuca was a wunderkind, scoring at will. I remember one of the Renza’s put a move on me that made me trip on my own stick and fall down. They embarrassed us, and laughed while they did it. Again, I was utterly surprised.
That’s OK, because Eddie arranged for this football game against a group of guys from…and, well, you get the picture?
I soon came to realize that there were similar neighborhoods, far yet not far away, all over the place. All ringed by woods, with streams and fields to play in. Apparently they were all filled with kids who played ball, each and every day, all day long. And they were every bit as good at it as we were, usually better.
It wasn’t until I got to high school that I first heard of this legendary Shangri-la of neighborhood athletes. From this relatively small streetscape came some of the best ball-players that Panas ever had. This place was up on a hill, and though it was only a couple of miles from my neighborhood, it was like another country entirely. The children were apparently born with lacrosse sticks in their hands. Even the name had a mystical, Tolkien-esque ring to it: “Evergreen Knolls”.