Montclair High School
Class Of 1960
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Welcome to the MHS '60 Website!
November 26, 2024
Warren Ross attended Dennis McHugh's funeral in Georgia on November 16. He offered this eulogy in memory of his old friend.
DENNIS MCHUGH EULOGY – NOVEMBER 16, 2024
Offered by Warren Ross
Where do I start in telling you about my 70-year-long friendship with my buddy Dennis McHugh?
Let’s start at the beginning: We met in 1954 when I joined the Mtc YMCA swim team. My family had just moved to Montclair. Dennis had lived there a long time and knew everyone at the “Y.” In fact, Dennis used his young charm & salesmanship to somehow get a key to the Y. So when we became friends, we would swim before school, then walk a mile to Montclair High and then back again after classes to work out with the swim team. During the cold New Jersey winters, our hair would frequently freeze as we walked to school and then melt & drip all over our shoulders while we sat in class.
Dennis was a great athlete – I have to say that since he beat me in most swim races. Besides swimming, he was excellent on the trampoline. I remember holding the cords to his harness as he practiced on Sunday mornings when the Young Mens Christian Association was officially closed – ahh…using that key again!! He was so good on the trampoline that he was asked to perform on television – I saw him do that & I think it was American Bandstand!
From the start, I was impressed by Dennis’s enthusiasm for life, his contagious smile, his reserved laugh & his love for people. My current golfing buddies who had met him thru the years, all remembered him well and truly enjoyed being with him. Speaking of golf: Dennis was unlucky at golf. When I told my good friends about his passing, they all said “Oh, Dennis, the guy who got hit by an errant golf ball in Scotland – He did anything for attention.
We grew up without cell phones, computers, color TV, YouTube, etc. Dennis & my teenage entertainment was going to his apartment after swim team and secretly reading his sister Betsy’s mushy love letters from her boyfriend who was away in the Navy. We giggled hysterically at what today would be rated “G”. Speaking of movies, there was once a movie that we badly wanted to see but the Catholic Church had it on their forbidden list. So Dennis went to early Mass that Saturday ..confessed…………. then we went to see it.
We lost touch during our college years. He was distracted by his Pittsburgh University roommate Mike Ditka!! Dennis later shared many hilarious stories about him. He left college and enlisted in the Navy to avoid being drafted and possibly going to Vietnam.
After the Navy, he met & fell deeply in love with Norma Jean. We just had to celebrate that… so we held a grooms day at the Jersey shore. Sadly it rained all day. So we went to the Osprey Bar in Manasquan, NJ, billed as the world's longest bar. It was around noon and there were 8 of us. When the bartender asked what we wanted to drink, the first groomsman said Bloody Mary. After making that drink, the second groomsman said he’d also like a Bloody Mary ... then the third and so on. But by the time the 8th groomsman got his Bloody Mary, the first one had finished his and asked for a refill… and so on…I’m sure you get the picture. The result was we were at the Osprey Bar for about 5 hours and that good-natured bartender made Bloody Marys nonstop!!! We had about 80 toasts to Norma Jean & Dennis’s marriage and that is why it lasted all these years!!
I was in their wedding party and we spent such a special marriage weekend!! I remember it very well... the backyard Friday dinner, the fun wedding itself and then swimming at a nearby lake on Sunday while the bride and groom left for their honeymoon.
When they returned & feeling confident in his sales abilities (remember that Y key) Dennis sold Amway products. I remember specifically when he called me a month later. I thought he wanted to tell me about his honeymoon or just to catch up…but no, he wanted to sell me Amway products… at least I was in his thoughts.
We stayed in as close touch as you can over the years. I lived in New Jersey while Dennis & Norma Jean moved to Kalamazoo and then to Smyrna. I visited then several times in Smyrna. Dennis & I went twice to the Masters Golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. He came frequently to NJ since Norma Jean still had family there. We always got together during those times. He stayed at our home when we had our high school reunions. I felt very proud of our lasting friendship.
Whenever we met or talked by phone, Dennis would proudly update me first about what was going on in Norma Jean's life, then Kirin & then Patrick & Katie. Soon he added MacKenzie and then Caymen. He so deeply loved his family. So much so that his talking about his Bonzai trees, 15th Street Pizza & Pub, St. George Island, and his MG came afterwards. Speaking of 15th Street Pizza, I always pictured Dennis like Norm in the tv show Cheers ... sitting at the end of the bar chatting up all the patrons ... Patrick, am I right?
As I just said, Dennis loved people & people loved him. His charming smile and positive outlook. I’ll miss our visits and phone calls … I truly believe that Dennis lived his ideal life – with a loving family, close friends, success in his business adventures, enjoyable hobbies – all topped off with a little green MG sports car.
God Bless You Dennis McHugh!! We all miss you but are thankful to have had you in our lives.
Warren Ross
wk.rossjr@gmail.com
Obituary for Dennis James Michael McHugh
February 17, 1942 - August 22, 2024
Mr. Dennis James Michael McHugh, age 82 of Smyrna, Georgia passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024. A celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, November 16th at 10:30 a.m. with a reception to follow.
Mr. McHugh served in the US Navy and was later employed by IBM in sales. After retirement, he co-founded 15th Street Pizza with his son and daughter-in-law in 2004. 15th Street Pizza is continuing on to this day. He is survived by his wife of over 56 years, Norma Jean McHugh, daughter Kirin McHugh, son and daughter-in law Patrick and Katie McHugh, sister Betsy Johnston, granddaughters Mackenzie and Caymen McHugh.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions to JDRF at breakthroughT1D.org
Bobbye Stoeber Greene pays a visit to Dennis at 15th Street Pizza last year.
If you would like to post your own tribute or memory of Dennis on this website, click on In Memory (5th item from the top in the blue sidebar of this home page.) Then click on Dennis's name, scroll to the very bottom of his In Memory page, and click "Post Comment." Write your message in the empty box. Click "Submit" at the bottom. If you have trouble posting a comment, remember that you must be logged into the website.
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John Wells
September 19, 1942 - September 19, 2024
I am very sorry to report that our classmate John Wells passed away recently on his 82nd birthday.
Jonathan, as he preferred to be called later in life, was well-known as a research biologist, author, teacher, and especially as a challenger of the theory of biological evolution known as Darwinism. He was also an avid advocate of a system of thought about the origins of life called “intelligent design.”
You can read about John’s career on his website http://jonathanwells.org and see him in a casual YouTube interview at https://evolutionnews.org/2024/09/from-puzzles-to-prison-jonathan-wells-in-his-own-words/. You can also read several online tributes to his life and work (see links below).
Here is a summary of Jonathan’s life and work, taken and adapted from a number of lengthy online tributes:
John was born in New York City in 1942 and grew up in New Jersey. He graduated form Montclair High School in 1960, serving as president of the National Honor Society and parliamentarian for the school's Student Faculty. He studied geology at Princeton University on a full scholarship, but dropped out in his junior year. Following a brief stint as a taxi driver, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and spent two years on active duty in Germany.
After his discharge in 1966, he resumed his studies as a transfer student at the University of California at Berkeley where the movement against the Vietnam War was in full swing. By this time, John's views about the war had changed significantly, and when he was called back to military service by the Army, he refused to report for duty as he felt he could no longer in good conscience serve the country nor wear its uniform.
As a result, he was arrested and sent to the Presidio Stockade in San Francisco where he remained in solitary confinement for four months. He was then jailed at the federal military penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon his release from prison 18 months later, John returned to Berkeley where he completed his undergraduate studies with a major in geology and physics and a minor in biology.
In 1974, Wells joined the Unification Church of the United States, founded in 1954 by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon. While earning a master’s degree in religious education at the church’s Unification Theological Seminary in 1978, John became convinced that he should devote his life to “destroying Darwin’s theories of evolution.” With the financial support of the Unification Church, he entered the graduate program at Yale University, focusing his work on the “root of the conflict between Darwinian evolution and Christian doctrine.” He earned a PhD in religious studies from Yale in 1986.
In 1994, Wells earned a second PhD, this time in molecular and cellular biology from the University of California, Berkeley. As an anti-evolution activist and biology teacher, he continued to write articles critical of Darwinism and its "survival of the fittest" philosophy.
In 2000, Wells published his book Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth, in which he maintained that “much of what we teach about evolution is wrong.” His goal was to “expose serious inaccuracies in how evolution has been taught in contemporary science textbooks” and show that “many of the most commonly accepted arguments supporting evolution are invalid.” The book offered 10 examples of illustrations in biology textbooks that were “grossly exaggerated, distorted, or patently false,” forcing textbook publishers to correct their work.
Wells had to contend with much criticism for his writings, and his views on evolution were widely rejected by the scientific community. Nevertheless, he persisted in disseminating evidence that supported his thinking. Over the years he authored more books including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design, The Myth of Junk DNA, and Zombie Science: More Icons of Evolution.
More recently, Wells became recognized as one of the nation’s leading proponents of the theory of “intelligent design.” He served as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Science and Culture of the Discovery Institute, a think tank that advocates for the concept of Intelligent Design and aims to permit the teaching of anti-evolution, intelligent-design concepts in public high school science courses.
Although Jonathan endured much criticism for his scholarly work, his colleagues praised him for his meticulous research and the clarity of his writing, his adherence to truth, his unflappable temperament, his humility, his dogged persistence in advancing his research, and his “immense intellect.”
For an engaging interview with John, see “From Puzzles to Prison: Jonathan Wells in His Own Words” Scroll down to enjoy a You Tube video “Jonathan Wells: Biologist, author of Zombie Science, and Ex-Con?” https://evolutionnews.org/2024/09/from-puzzles-to-prison-jonathan-wells-in-his-own-words/
Here are additional articles from Evolution News and Wikipedia about the career of Jonathan Wells:
Farewell to Jonathan Wells, Iconoclastic Scientist by David Klinghoffer, Sept 24, 2024. https://evolutionnews.org/2024/09/farewell-to-jonathan-wells-iconoclastic-scientist/
Remembering Jonathan Wells, a Key Figure in the Intelligent Design Movement, September 27, 2024
Jonathan Wells (intelligent design advocate)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Wells_(intelligent_design_advocate)
More about Jonathan’s books, articles, and videos are available at:
https://www.discovery.org/p/wells/
If you would like to post your own tribute or memory of John (Jonathan) Wells on this website, click on In Memory (5th item from the top in the blue sidebar of this home page.) Then click on Jonathan Wells' name, scroll to the very bottom of his In Memory page, and click "Post Comment." Write your message in the empty box. Click "Submit" at the bottom. If you have trouble posting a comment, remember that you must be logged into the website.
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Rick Boschen
May 11, 1942 – April 6, 2024
Sadly, we have received this message from Rick's family.
"I wanted to let you know that Rick went to heaven last week after being in Jupiter Medical Center ICU for a week. He treasured all of his high school friendships and loved the reunions. Susan."
Rick was one of our class's most energetic organizers -- always eager to send out hundreds of postcards to encourage classmates to come to reunions and get together with old friends. The newspaper clippings that Rick posted to our website told of his involvement in community activities and worthwhile causes, and reminded us that there are plenty of good ways to spend our time.
You can see many photos of Rick at:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/port-st-lucie-fl/richard-boschen-11759414
Here is Rick's obituary, provided by Aycock at Tradition Funeral and Cremation Center.
Richard Edward Boschen Jr., age 81, of Port St. Lucie, Florida passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024.
He is pre deceased by his parents, Richard E. Boschen Sr, and Geraldine Bennet Boschen as well as his Sister Elizabeth Boschen Thomas. He was married to Susan Cohen for 24 wonderful years. He leaves behind 5 children: Richard E Boschen III (Amy) and their Son Warren, Kyle C Boschen (Mary), Robert B Boschen (Erin) and their daughters Kaylee and Cora, Jon B Voigtlander (Kim) and their sons Jack, Tyler, and Jonny, and Stephanie J. Searles and her son Sam. And a niece and nephew Lenny and Beverly Thomassen.
Rick graduated from Bloomfield College with a Bachelor's degree, and then went to work on Wall Street in New York. In 1999 he became a Realtor in Stuart, Florida and moved to St. Lucie West in 2004. He was an active member in the Martin County Realtors Association and loved to play golf to help the fundraisers for Habitat for Humanity. He loved watching the NY Yankees as well as the NY Giants.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to one of the following organizations in Rick's name: Treasure Coast Food Bank -- Habitat for Humanity -- Tunnel to Towers
Gathering of Friends and Family
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2024
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
at AYCOCK AT TRADITION
12571 Tradition Parkway
Port St. Lucie, FL 34987
Friends who would like to share a memory or thought with Rick's family, should please send it by email to sbcmouse@msn.com
If you would like to post your own tribute or memory of Rick on this website, click on In Memory (5th item from the top in the blue sidebar of this home page.) Then click on Rick's name, scroll to the very bottom of his In Memory page, and click "Post Comment." Write your message in the empty box. Click "Submit" at the bottom. If you have trouble posting a comment, remember that you must be logged into the website.
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Ralph Barnes Davidson
November 29, 1942 — February 20, 2024
Ralph Barnes Davidson, 81, of Bozeman, MT died unexpectedly on February 20, 2024. He was born in Glen Ridge, NJ, the son of John and Charlotte (Barnes) Davidson, III. He grew up in Montclair, NJ, graduating from Montclair High School in 1960. In 1965 Ralph earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Delaware with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. After college he joined the Peace Corps for Education and Teaching in West Cameroon, Africa, 1965-1967. He was very passionate and proud of his work in the Peace Corps. Returning home from Africa he attended graduate school at the University of Southern California, receiving a Master’s Degree in Education in 1969. It was at USC where he met his future wife, Nancy. They were married in 1968 in Los Angeles.
Ralph spent 40 years in education, teaching high school and middle school science, math and chemistry in California, New Hampshire and West Cameroon, Africa. One of his hobbies was woodworking and that gave him the opportunity to be a Woodshop Teacher, sharing his skills with campers at two New Hampshire summer camps over a span of 20 years. Additionally, he used his creative skills to make beautiful wooden accessories and furniture for his home and family.
From an early age Ralph enjoyed running. While living in California, he completed four marathons plus other running competitions. He loved the outdoors, exploring, hiking, camping, cross country skiing, all with his wife and family. In retirement Ralph found his love for genealogy. He devoted hours to researching and documenting family history. Preserving and sharing family stories was a passion.
He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Nancy Davidson (Brooks) of Bozeman, MT; a daughter and her husband, Karen and Eric Cale of Bozeman, MT; a granddaughter Janna Elizabeth Cale; two sisters, Joan LaMonica of Harleysville, PA and Doris Anne Davidson Snyder of South Glastonbury, CT; three nieces, Jill Kuiken, Laurie LaMonica Derr and Lindsay Sandoval.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. Donations may be made in memory of Ralph Davidson to the Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP) - https://www.peacecorps.gov/donate
https://www.dahlcares.com/obituaries/ralph-davidson
Friends who would like to share a memory or thought with Ralph's family, should please send it via email to his sister at dorisinct@gmail.com
If you would like to post your own tribute or memory of Ralph on this website, click on In Memory (5th item from the top in the blue sidebar of this home page.) Then click on Ralph's name, scroll to the very bottom of his In Memory page, and click "Post Comment." Write your message in the empty box. Click "Submit" at the bottom. If you have trouble posting a comment, remember that you must be logged into the website.
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Several years ago, Ralph wrote to our website about his interest in genealogy and the stories that he had discovered about his ancestors.
"I have been into genealogy and family history since retirement 11 years ago. I have written hundreds of pages for my family and others. A lot of great stories. Elizabeth (Libbie) Bacon Custer (wife of General Armstrong Custer) is my one claim to 'celebrity fame.'
An online website says, "George and Libbie Custer made a handsome and glamorous couple."
I researched an ancestor from the American Revolution. I succeeded in gathering all the evidence needed for proving to the DAR our family descendency (from one 'Eljah Ward') to make it possible for for my sisters, 1st cousin, and female children of all to be eligible. My sister, Joan, is now in a very large DAR chapter in the Philadelphia area.
My approach to studying family history is different from what others often do. There are those who go after large amounts of data in order to find as many people as possible. They like elaborate trees and lists. My goal is to dig for interesting stories. I frequently use lineage lines in my writings but not large trees. Readers understand much better about their ancestry with this approach. My goal is to make history interesting.
PLEASE NOTE: This home page was getting way too long and unwieldy. So I have moved some of the existing articles and information to new pages listed on the blue sidebar of this home page. For help finding your way around, scroll down to "Navigating the Website" on this page, just after David Appleton's new story On Bikes and Jim at Le Mans.
Paul Stephanus announces his new book, published last October.
Howdy,
People can easily find my book "Chasing Fire In Steel" on ebay.com and see sample pictures, more information and reviews.
"Chasing Fire In Steel" by Paul Stephanus, P.O.Box 985, Cortaro, AZ 85652. pstephaus@aol.com. Hard cover, 254 pages, 330+ color & B&W photos, $49.95 & $8.00 mail in USA only. Available worldwide on ebay, with sample pictures and more info.
Regards,
Paul
"For the benefits of efficiency and lower cost, the world’s railroads replaced the steam locomotives with diesel and electric locomotives. If you were a person who was fortunate to see steam locomotives in action in your community, perhaps you will remember how these fascinating machines seemed to be alive. They seemed to be the closest we could come to having a breathing machine appear to have a life of its own when it was working. However, if you want to see a working steam locomotive today, you have to go to a museum or tourist railroad or sometimes see a main line railroad excursion.
Author Paul Stephanus, growing up in New Jersey up to the early 1960’s, missed out on seeing the last Big Time Steam locomotive operations in the USA except for a few locations. Paul defines “Big Time Steam” as seeing three or more steam locomotives working in one location. After high school, Paul joined the US Army as a photographer in 1961 and was assigned to Europe. Based in Germany, Paul spent all his free time and Army assignment time traveling all over Europe photographing the remaining thousands of steam locomotives still operating. For Paul in 1961 to 1964, that was “Really Big Time Steam!”
In late 1966, after doing photography work in New York City, Paul left United Press International to travel to Viet Nam on his own. He photographed the war in Viet Nam and its effect on the people from 1967 to 1969. He was published in many major publications around the world, including Trains Magazine on the Viet Nam Railroad. To return home, he went by way of Hong Kong, Thailand, India (did Trains Magazine article on its steam locomotives), Israel, and through Europe again for a trip around the world.
In 1972, Paul still wanted to photograph more steam locomotives in the world before they would be replaced by diesel and electric locomotives. So the obvious thing he thought he should do was to take another trip around the world. Going west on a one-way trip, Paul flew to Japan, Hong Kong, Viet Nam again, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand again, Burma (Myanmar), Bangladesh, India again, then overland through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, to Lebanon. He then flew to Egypt, then down through Sudan, Kenya, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and South Africa. Next he flew over to Brazil, then overland through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and finally flew home after one year of traveling.
Chasing Fire in Steel chronicles Paul’s journeys with over 330 photos made in 22 countries on three continents. To his and our amazement, many of the steam locomotives look and perform like the locomotives that used to swarm all over his homeland prior to his youth. This is because many of these locomotives were built in North America. Also, many of the foreign-built steam locomotives were very similar creatures.
For your enjoyment and reflection, this world traveler has captured and compiled the excitement and splendor of steam locomotives alive and in action. Paul encountered many dangers and went into many exotic locations where many railroad enthusiasts would never have ventured. Also, Paul wrote about being a railfan while living and working in Viet Nam during the war. If you, the reader, had missed out on these experiences of seeing Big TIme Steam in other countries, in the pages of Chasing Fire In Steel you can pretend you are traveling with Paul."
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PLEASE NOTE: This home page was getting way too long and unwieldy. So I have moved some of the existing articles and information to new pages listed on the blue sidebar of this home page. For help finding your way around, scroll down to "Navigating the Website" on this page, just after David Appleton's new story On Bikes and Jim at Le Mans.
Here's a new memoir from David Appleton
On Bikes and Jim at Le Mans
A Memory
By David Appleton
On June 11, 1955 a horrific crash occurred during the famous 24-hour automobile endurance race at Le Mans, Sarthe, France. Driver Pierre Levegh’s Mercedes went out of control and crashed into the stands filled with a crowd of spectators in the stands and blew up. The carnage was unspeakable. 82 people were killed and over 180 were injured.
Aftermath of 1955 crash at Le Mans
At the time, I was an 8th grade student in George Inness Jr. High School in Montclair, NJ., and something of a car and auto racing enthusiast, as many young boys were at the time, probably still are. So, I was appalled by this news but allured to it as seems to be human nature… we rubberneck to see the horrendous wreck on the highway while being simultaneously drawn to look and to avert our eyes. And, of course there’s the attraction of NASCAR…. but that’s another story. So, I was drawn to find out all I could about the lurid details of the Le Mans tragedy and read all I could find about this event. But then a few days later I got a letter from brother Jim, who was in the Army and stationed in France. Jim had made it his business to see as much of France as possible while stationed there.
So, whenever he got leave, or a weekend pass, he would hop on his newly purchased Stella, a French touring bike with eight derailleur gears, and peddle off on some new adventure.
His letter described some of his adventures and some of the corny stuff brothers would write to one another. But at the end he announced his destination for his next ride on his personal “Tour de France”: Le Mans and the 24-hour race.
I can’t describe my horror. I was shaken and sickened. My imagination put Jim at the crash.
My brother Jim was my idol. Though 10 years apart in age, we were close. We were our only two siblings. I think I was closer from my point of view since I was probably more of a burden (read “pain in the ass”) to him. When I was born both my parents worked; Dad was a factory worker-machinist-model tool and die maker for Union Carbide Corporation, and Mom was a telephone operator for New Jersey Bell Telephone working mostly nights. So for the first year of my life, my German-speaking Grandmother, Anna Bordt, who lived with us, was my caretaker most of the time. When she passed away, the task of “David Watch” fell to Jim. He was about 11 or 12, my age at the time of this Le Mans letter.
When Jim wanted to play baseball with his friends, he’d often have to take me along in my stroller or whatever. We lived on Park Street in Montclair NJ at the time, across from the Watchung Erie Train Station not far from Watchung School where Jim was enrolled. Occasionally Jim would wheel me over to the Watchung School playground to join his friends in a baseball game. I’m told I would sit and watch with something like enthusiasm. Jim’s best friend, Bob Crane, called me “Sheik” for as long as I knew him ... probably because of the attention I seemed to require or that Jim bestowed. So, my bonding to Jim was beyond brotherly love and bordered on adoration, kind of like what a faithful dog feels toward a worthy attentive master.
So, the news of his intention to go to Le Mans to see the race was beyond devastating. I spent a few weeks in abject depression awaiting news. The longer the absence of mail from Jim, the more I mourned.
But an aside on Jim and Bikes….
In France he bought one of the finest touring bikes available, a Stella.
Stella was a French bicycle manufacturer founded in 1909. The company sponsored Louison Bobet a French professional cyclist. Bobet won the Tour de France in 1953 and 1954 while riding Stella bicycles similar to this. Knowing this, and Jim’s impeccable taste for fine things, predicted his choice in bicycles as well as in many other things. Jim’s Stella looked something like the one pictured here, but it was actually a touring version with fenders and a carrier frame on the back and a few other accoutrements that were not on the lightweight racing version.
Jim’s passion for bicycles continued throughout his life. It seemed genetic, somehow related to our father’s (Charles J. Appleton, Jr.) passion for cars (Dad bought Chryslers regularly every 2 years from Charley Burett at Decozen… soon as ash trays were full). [ ... ] Jim enjoyed competition as in this photo snapped during a “Make-a-Wish” competition 9/21/91 in Maryland.
Here's Big Jim going for it at age 60.
But I digress, back to Le Mans and my fears.… I finally got a letter from Jim relating how he had been there during the race and the horrendous crash and had been watching from directly across the track from where the carnage occurred…. WOW!! Other than that, he never talked about it, at least not in my hearing. And I did not press him on the issue. It must have been a terrible thing to see.
My relief was enormous, as was that of our parents [….]
But back to the Stella; when Jim got back from Europe, finished with active duty and ready to move on to other things — like pursuing Eleanor (later wife) vigorously, and designing a Monkey House for the Philadelphia Zoo… (an Architecture Major thesis project at U Penn which was rejected. I considered the whole idea a triumph of wit.) Anyway, he told me he had arranged to have the Army deliver his Stella to our house on Park Street in Montclair, and that he was giving it to me….. Delirious Joy!!!
After many weeks of wondering where the bike was, even suspecting it was lost in chaos of US Army shipping, a large tractor/trailer truck pulled up in front of our house at 190 Park Street. A couple of guys pulled out an enormous seemingly bulletproof wooden crate with US Army markings… and addressed to me. They wheeled it on a hand truck to near the front door and we attacked the box with crow bars and hammers undressing the package to reveal The STELLA.
It was truly a marvel! … a beautiful red Stella Touring Bike (similar to the one pictured above) featuring 8 speed derailleur gears, an innovation of French cyclery engineering advanced for the time, which turned many scratching heads in Montclair in 1956. My previous bike was a Rudge English touring bike with 3 speeds internal gears encased in the hub of the rear wheel hub. These English bikes were especially popular with the kids and adult riding enthusiasts of Montclair, and I dare say most of America at the time.
They paled in comparison with The Stella. There was nothing like this marvel of French innovation. I rode it with pride for many years, in town from the Montclair High/George Inness JHS complex to Woodman Field, to the Watchung Plaza flagpole, to Bonds ice cream parlor in Upper Montclair where folks rode bikes and cars to boast about their rides in the parking lot, to all over Essex County. My Stella with the derailleur gears never failed to draw attention, even awe mostly. Heads turned when I rode by. I smiled with pride as I explained the derailleur concept.
Jim, now gone, bequeathed his last bike to his Grandson-in-Law Jon ... a few years ago…. I was there, a quiet witness to the transaction. I hope Jon is enjoying it exploring mountain roads of Colorado ...
Jim got to sail his own boat with his great grandson, Levy, at the helm a few years ago…. Jim radiated pride.
Levy & Big Jim cruisin’ Rehoboth Bay, circa Summer 2011
Our Family has enjoyed vignettes like this for years. I put pen to paper here to codify them into something like the germ of a Saga. Perhaps you’d like to contribute your own memories. Memories are flawed and subjective so I’ll not argue the pristine validity of what I recount here. These are my memories. I own them with dubious accuracy. I’d welcome the chance to read yours.
Love, David
****** NAVIGATING THE WEBSITE *****
PLEASE READ before going any farther.
Our home page was getting way too long. In order to make space for future contributions, I have consolidated and rearranged some existing articles and information. Here's a summary of the changes to the items on the blue sidebar on the left side of the home page. If you notice navigtion errors, please let me know so that can fix them.
NEW CONTACT INFORMATION - 4th item from the top of the blue sidebar.
This page includes new addresses, phone numbers, or emails for any classmate who requests that I make their contact information public. I will not post any contact information in this space unless you ask me to. (But please keep me informed about changes to your contact information so that I can keep our database up to date.)
IN MEMORY - 5th item from the top.
Recent notices about the passing of these classmates have been moved to the "In Memory" section of this website: Andy Widmark, Dickie Ross, Rita Levedag, John Wharton, Chris Philips, Joan Bookhart Malloy, Shelley (Rochelle) Caggiano Schait, Jenny Kelsey, Stephen Holzel, Patricia Payne Wallace, Ron Philpott, Frank Rubino, and Sandy Toth Guido. Click on "In Memory," then click on the classmate's name.
To add your own tribute, anecdote, or memory, scroll to the very bottom of the classmate's In Memory page, then click "Post Comment." Write your message in the empty box. Click "Submit" at the bottom. If you have trouble posting a comment, remember that you must be logged into the website. Go to the gray box in the upper right corner of the home page. Click on "Sign in." You should get to a "Log In" page where you provide your email address and password. Then click the blue "Log In" box. You can also check the "Keep Me Logged in" box so you don't have to go through this again. (If you don't know your password, back up and click "Forgot Password?"). If you have trouble, just let me know. Linda.andre@verizon.net
TLC - CARING for Our Classmates - 6th item from the top.
Do you know a classmate who is facing a hard time, either because of illness, loss, or unfortunate circumstances? If you think they might enjoy a kind thought or if you yourself need someone to commiserate with, please send me a brief note and I will add it to this space. ( Linda.andre@verizon.net)
* NOTE: If you are writing about another classmate, please first make sure that they are willing to have the information made public.
STORIES FROM DAVID APPLETON - 7th item from the top. On Bikes and Jim at Le Mans is a memoir of David's older brother Jim and a favorite French touring bicycle. Navy Racks tells of David's athletic feats as a young Navy sailor aboard the USS Courtney back in 1964. In Dry Ice Bomb, we join David Appleton and his band of co-conspirators in a Montclair sewer. In My Insurance Imbroglio, David tells how a deer strike alerted him to deficiencies in his insurance coverage. In Aunt Elsie Reed and Miss Ardella Watts Bondurant, we meet two important women from David's youth. In Edmund Fitzgerald's Grave David Explores the site of a shipwreck immortalized in a ballad by Gordon Lightfoot. In Spit Valve Humiliation, we see David auditioning to play the trumpet in the Watchung Elementary School Band. In Patsy's and the Allure of New York: Bringing in the '60s, we join David and his buddies on a drinking expedition to New York City. In Good Humor Man Career we drive with David on his ice cream truck.
GOOD WORKS - 8th item from the top
Read about Carol Gaylor Patterson's involvement with water management in south central Texas, Dick Loomis's anti-malaria Mosquito Abatement project in Mali, and Rick Boschen's fund-raising for Habitat for Humanity through organizing golf tournaments. Learn also about Ben Ritter's service to people with disabiltites in Tampa, and his wife, Alder Allensworth's children's video about Alzheimers disease.
ARTS and ARTISTS - 9th item from the top
Articles about Charlotte Gerber Turner's photo website, a mysterious photograph by Michael Brodie, paintings by Janet Kipp Tribus, and more paintings by 18th-century landscape painter George Inness at the Montclair Art Museum.
To see galleries of photographs by classmates, see:
10th item from the top: Michael Brodie's Gallery of Photos
11th item from the top: Sanford Sherman's Gallery of Photos
REMEMBERING MONTCLAIR - 12th item from the top
You'll find Roxine Clark Garriss' fond memoir of Montclair, especially her neighborhood around Glenfield School. There's also a photo of Richard Yaeger, Jerry Brown, Otto Mills, and Pete Snyder talking after school, and another photo of the entire 9th grade class at Mt. Hebron Jr. High School. You'll also find information about the current feeder system of the Montclair Public School system, and an article about Martin Luther King's visit to MHS band room.
CLASS PHOTOS: PHOTO GALLERY -13th item from the top.
When you click on "Class Photos: Photo Gallery" in the blue sidebar, you'll come to a list of 28 "galleries." Scroll all the way down until you see a lot of square pictures with paperclips in the corner. Each photo gallery has up to 12 photos per page, and there may be multiple pages in a gallery, so be sure to check for additional pages. If you need help telling who's who, just hold your mouse over the photo and a caption may appear. Click on the photo if you want to enlarge it.
The Gallery topics start with "Ourselves" followed by "Family Photos," "80th Birthday Photos," "Our Houses," and "Vacation/Travel." Then there are quite of few galleries of Reunion photos from 2016, 2010, 2002, and 1995. Finally, there are galleries entitled School Class Photos, Teachers, School Sports and Teams, Concerts and Candids, Old Albums: Growing Up in Montclair, Local Views and Montclair Landmarks, and Favorite Photos by Classmates.
Do you have photos to share? If you want to post your own photos, click on the place at the bottom of any gallery page where is says, "Create Your Own Photo Gallery here." You should see instructions that tell you how to upload your own photos.
If you'd like me to upload your photos for you, that is fine. Just send them to me and I will be happy to post them on the website for you. (Linda.andre@verizon.net)
Don't like your picture? If you would like me to remove a photo of you from our website, just let me know which one, and I'll be happy to get rid of it. (Linda.andre@verizon.net)
CLASS PHOTOS: 60s IN COVID MASKS - 14th item from the top.
Photos of classmates wearing masks at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
CLASS PHOTOS: SENIOR YEARBOOK -15th item from the top
Our senior yearbook photos from page 22 to page 72 (Bruce Adams through Corinne Zungoli)
GENEALOGY - 16th item from the top
Larry Robinson, Jack Brigham and Ralph Davidson report on their research into their family histories. If you do your own genealogical research, you are invited to share it here.
FAMILY and FRIENDS MEMOIRS - 17th item from the top
Brad Stark offers a memoir of his father. Please feel free to write about someone important to you in this space.
DAVID and JACK'S FAVORITE SONGS - 18th item from the top
Revisit favorite songs from the past with this list from David Appleton (128 songs) and Jack Brigham (20 songs).
GENE MAZZOLA'S RESEARCH - 19th item from the top
Gene discusses double vision, right-handedness, left-handedness, and hair whorls.
CONTACT - 20th item from the top
Send a Message to Linda Linnard Andre, Site Administrator:
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PAUSING ZOOM IDEA
In the Announcement Section at the very top of this page, I explained that at present, there doesn't seem to be enough interest in organizing class Zoom sessions to justify moving forward with that project. However, some classmates who completed the Zoom survey suggested topics that they would enjoy discussing with classmates (see below). There's nothing to keep us from discussing those ideas right here on this website. If you would like to share your ideas on any of the following topics, just send you thoughts to me and I will be glad to post them here. linda.andre@verizon.net
Topics Suggested by Classmates
Yourself: How are you holding up? How do you spend your time? Do you have hobbies? Volunteer activities? What are your day-to-day challenges? What kind of work do/did you do? Do you enjoy retirement? What are you proud of (or not proud of)? What helps you to thrive at 81? Have you experienced ageism (discrimination because of your age)?
Friends and Family: What do you learn from your kids or grandkids? Have you grieved the loss of a loved one?
Travel: Do you have advice about where to go and how to get there?
High School memories: Would you like to be a high school kid today?
Challenging topics: What do you think of the state of the world, free speech, religion, death, elder care, retirement comunities, developments in science and technology?
Special Interest groups: Would you like to share ideas with classmates about photography, writing memoirs, music, art, or other areas of interest?
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Thanks to Michael Pecherer for sending this photo from his Watchung School class.
Michael writes, "Look what I found. ... I got a kick out of the faces and the way we dressed."
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81st Birthdays
Do you have an 81st birthday photo to share? Or do you have advice on how to thrive at 81? Just send your picture and/or thoughts to me at Linda.andre@verizon.net and I'll be delighted to post it on this website.
One more thing ...
This is a "mini-notebook" that we gave out at the 2016 reunion so that everyone would have a place to jot down a name, address, or email address during the evening. It is about 3-3/8 by 4-1/4 inches and fits easily into a pocket. There are lined pages inside. We have about 20 left over. If you would like one, let me know and I will send it to you. Be sure to send me your correct address!
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HOW TO SEND MESSAGES THROUGH THIS WEBSITE
We'd like to hear from you!
If you'd like to send a message to the whole class:
1. Go to the "What's New" page at the very top of the blue margin on the left side of this page.
2. Look for the gray box on the top that says "Post a Comment to the Class."
3. Write your message in the box that says "Share Your Thoughts with Classmates."
4. Include a photo or video if you like (that would be great!)
5. Click on the blue "Post Message" box.
If you'd like to send a private message to a Classmate:
1.Go to the classmate's profile page. (Click on "Classmate Profiles" near the top of the left-hand blue margin on this page.)
2. Click on the envelope icon directly under the photo box where it says "Send [classmate's name] a private message."
3. When you get to the message screen, type in your subject and message in the boxes.
4. Click the blue "Send private message" box. That's all you have to do! It's easy!
Guest Members on this website
It is now possible for a member of another MHS class to join our website as a "Guest Member." Guest Members will be able to have their own profile page and they will be able to send and receive messages through the site. They will be able to remain guest members as long as they do not harass any class member or post objectionable material. If a member of another MHS class wishes to become a Guest Member, he/she should contact me directly to request guest membership and I will enter his or her information in the site's database and provide information about how to sign up. Nobody will be able to join the site without going through that process. If you have questions or concerns, please let me know. (Linda.andre@verizon.net)