2014 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,100 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 18 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

On Larry Emmett’s Passing

I have fond memories of Larry, a very deep guy, to say the least. But he had an amazing wit. I have a vague recollection of SNL type skits that Larry created: one where he comes into an office waiting room and starts ‘drumming’ on his briefcase. In another, he spoofed something or other by singing in an operatic voice or maybe it was opera he was mocking. But of course, Larry loved classical music in general.

I remember Larry and I cramming for a German test on Goethe. We went to the public library intending to steal a synopsis of Goethe’s Faust, but someone else beat us to it.

As Larry wrote in my yearbook, “May life be to you, as German is to me … mystifying.” Yes, my friend, life is mystifying, but it was worth the trip knowing you.

See Larry’s obituary

Prez Makes Pit Stop

Marlene Taub Reinschmidt can’t believe the joint where we hung out more than 50 years ago is still going strong. How many generations of teenagers visited the Charcoal Pit? she wonders.

So here’s the answer: That’s my Dad’s table! For the last 10-15 years or more, my wife would take napkins and pat the burgers to soak up the grease. Dad would simply bite in, marvel at how the tomatoes were perfectly bun-fitting, and conjecture that the Charcoal Pit must own a hothouse somewhere in lower Del. Me? I rarely eat beef anymore, and definitely pass up on the burgers, strangely, in favor of their chicken fingers and salads. But what do I know — Dad just turned 101. When I told Dad the story today, he just chuckled: Obama made at least one wise choice and Biden finally gave the President some good advice.

Click to read full article

Goldy is a BB Legend in His Own Time

GOLDY, A DELAWARE BB LEGEND HALL OF FAMER, RECEIVING AWARD

Donald “Goldy” Goldstein makes Delaware Legends Basketball Hall of Fame. On Saturday, January 11, 2014 Goldy was inducted into the “Delaware Legends Basketball Hall of Fame” at the Ed “Porky” Oliver Banquet Hall. He was honored to join some past inductees of his era, such as Coach Buddy Clark, Nate and Pete Cloud, Tom Lewandowski, and Frank Shahan to name a few. Don states, “It was a very humbling experience.” The mission of the Delaware Legends Basketball Hall of Fame is to induct deserving members of the Basketball community based on their significant contributions to the game of basketball in the state of Delaware and beyond.

Goldy and Eddie Brown were both inducted on the same night into the Delaware Legends Basketball Hall of Fame. Ed went to Mt. Pleasant and graduated in 1960. Goldy and he knew each other growing up and played ball against each other. Ed also lives in The Villages (FL). Hometown newspaper did an article on both of them. (l. to r. Goldy and Ed).

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55TH REUNION HERE WE COME!

All together now…Let’s have a Boboski for our 55th Reunion!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

7:00 COCKTAIL PARTY DOUBLE TREE INN, 4727 CONCORD PIKE (Cash Bar)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

P. S. duPONT HIGH SCHOOL
10:00 OPTIONAL BUS TOUR – “Wilmington Then & Now”* — CANCELLED, sorry for any inconvenience.
11:30 CLASS PHOTO ON STEPS*
11:45 TOUR OF SCHOOL
12:30 SUB & SODA LUNCH IN CAFETERIA*
6:00 CASH BAR – WILMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB (Coat & Tie required)
7:00 BUFFET DINNER – WILMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB (Coat & Tie required)
*Separate costs for optional bus tour and lunch. We estimate $5 for each.
Class Photo will be a separate cost and ordered through Dick Dubroff.

***TIME TO SEND IN YOUR MONEY***

The reunion committee would appreciate receiving your check to cover the cost of dinner as soon as possible. Checks should be made payable to P. S. duPont Class of ’59 and mailed to:
Bob Rickards
11 Benton Court
Wilmington, DE 19810
Phone Bob if you have any questions 302-475-5803 or email to rbrdtr@aol.com

Rooms at the Doubletree Hotel have been reserved ($109.00 plus tax) for our out of town classmates. For reservations, go to http://www.doubletree.hilton/wilmington.com, or phone 1-800-222-8733 or 302-478-6000.

Be well, be safe, be giving!

Jürgen Thewes Annual Thanksgiving Wishes

Dear Former Classmates,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Edeltraud and I do hope that you all are in the best of health and that you will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with your families and friends. It is your most important holiday, we understand, and on this occasion most of you will be able to return home. Have a wonderful family reunion and happy hours.

55 years ago, when I was hosted by the Harry C. Watson family during my AFS exchange year, we had been invited by the Watsons’ relatives on a farm in Maryland where we enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving meal. I hadn’t experienced anything like that, and I hadn’t tasted meat of a turkey at all. The turkey was a real big one, its meat and stuffing just delicious. Even today I’m very grateful for that Thanksgiving holiday. In 1993 when we visited the United States for the second time I succeeded in finding that farm again. 34 years had gone by. However, Doug Watson’s uncle recognised me at once. He looked at me and instinctively said ‘Oh, you were the boy staying with the Watsons!’ An unforgettable moment in my life. By those relatives we learned where to find my former host brother Doug Watson and his sisters, Nancy and Gail. Already in 1992 we had searched for them, but without success. In 1993, just a day before we had to leave the United States again, Edeltraud and I met Gail and her husband Don for the first time after that long period of time. What a wonderful reunion! And that’s the reason we returned every year. Of course, we had met Trudy and my second host mother, Mrs. Anne Said, in 1992 already.

This year was an extremely busy one: A lot of friends celebrated their 70th birthday, our nephew Thomas married and had an unforgettable wedding celebration. Our niece Sabine acquired a new home pretty close to us. Our travel highlights were not only trips to Austria to live at our second home for a while, but we also experienced new forms of traveling. A combined flight and cruise led us to the Canary Islands and to Madeira. Aboard a gigantic cruise liner with 1800 passengers we started at Tenerife, were taken to Funchal on Madeira, then back to the Canary Islands. It turned out to be excursions into the world of volcanoes. After docking, buses took us into the interior of the island to watch gigantic craters or calderas. Lovely vegetation was everywhere, banana trees, all sorts of flowers and fruit. We enjoyed the cruise ship AIDAsol — nice, our cabin, and very nice hours aboard. 8 days of highly interesting sightseeing and decent weather.

Meanwhile, I’m in charge of our former teacher’s wife. That takes a lot of time and requires continuous administrative work. Fortunately, a former schoolmate and I try to manage the heritage.

At his end of May, we started for another trip to southern Italy. This time it was a combined flight and bus trip to Bari on the Adriatic Sea from where we were taken to Alberobello in Puglia (name of the province situated in the ‘heel’ of Italy). That small town is world heritage because of special kind of houses. They are built in a circle by stone plates without any mortar. Their roofs are cones (false vaults). In former times you might have considered them pretty primitive, but today they are tourist attractions. We then started for exploration of the province which is famous for its millions of olive trees. You may find walnut, cherry and almond trees as well. As to the highlights of that country, we visited wonderful cathedrals and castles. One of the outstanding monuments was Castel del Monte, an octagon which had been erected by Emperor Frederick II of Suebia in the 13th century. Having been placed on a hill, it is overlooking the landscape for about 20 miles. Not less impressive were the Romanesque cathedrals with outstanding sculptural works. I should have had much more time for photographing, but today you ask yourself ‘What for are you doing this?’

Well, during July and October we went down south to Austria again. There we enjoyed ‘Indian summer’. But the trip is quite a distance (725 miles) not to be covered in one day any longer; i. e., you have to stay some place for the night. We are always happy after our return not having been involved in long traffic jams or even accidents.

At home it’s time for clearing up our garden. That takes a lot of time, and the weather is not favourable right now. To summarize, I’ve got little time to do some writing. I do regret that I’m not able to constantly keep up contact with you.

Finally, Edeltraud and I want to send you ‘Season’s Greetings’ and all good wishes for the year to come. Perhaps we’ll make it for the 55th class reunion next year. We do hope to see you then.

With our warmest regards,

E. + J.Thewes

——

Chuck Deaton (Charles A. Deaton, Jr.) and Thelma Lee

I received an email from Chip Deaton, son of Chuck Deaton (Charles A Deaton, Jr; deceased) and Thelma Lee, also of our class, alive, but not well. Because of the private nature of the email, I will put anyone, who inquires or wishes info, in direct contact with Chip.

“A lot of people remember that as being the best time of their lives.”

Bob Clayton reflects on American Bandstand and the passing of Dick Clark 4/18/2012

Bob Clayton Reflects on Bandstand and Passing of Dick Clark