Paul Berns

Donna and I want to thank all our hardworking classmates for putting on such a terrific reunion.  Larry and Pat please convey our thanks!!!

Wonderful seeing everyone.  I heard from many that I am much taller than remembered.  I could say  all of you are shrinking as you get older - I am not.  Instead I will say you might have looked at two pictures of me in the yearbook for 50 years sitting down at a drumset.

All the ladies of 1963 looked beautiful!  And we men - well, we men - well, oh, nevermind.

At some point I will post a top ten thoughts on reunion moments.  Always enjoy doing that.  Oh, heck, here I go

10.  All the bartenders were worldclass

 9.  The mug and M & M's were a great idea

 8.  It was nice to be back at the Cleveland Yacht Club where I played my first (and only) game of strip poker and lost .

 7.  I spoke to band director Mr. Harlan Thomas (Mr. T) - he is still alive at age 93 and lives on Center Ridge Drive

 6.  Larry - has the greatest smile and personality- and such a terrific person (and dancer)

 5.  Someone did sneak into a 'gradeschool' reunion photo that did not go to RR

 4.  The bartenders were world class - oops, sorry

 3.  There is one particular house on the lake - we are thinking of moving into - the owners are so wonderful as is their granddaughter

2.  The cliff by RR Park has stairs to many of the homes - I used to climb up the cliff to visit my girlfriend - I only learned of the steps 10 years ago.

1.  Tootsie's dress - pretty cool.

Hope everyone stays well!  We all certainly did look happy.

LOVE to all from Indianapolis

Paul and Donna Berns

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

You and I will meet again
When we're least expecting it
One day in some far off place
I will recognize your face
I won't say goodbye my friend
For you and I will meet again
~Tom Petty
Forever in our hearts!

Larry Gilbert

Paul - You can say that again!  But seriously - it was great to see you, learn a little more about your illustrious career, and meet Donna.

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Just heard from Tom Kelley that his ex-wife, Janiece, and mother of Shawn passed away from cancer.  I do remember she was a beauty but never actually met her.  Tom and I have been in contact off and on for a bit.  Prayers to Tom, Shawn, and Janiece's family.  He said she fought it successfully for years.

Barb

Linda Peate (Powrie)

Oh, what a great weekend it was.  Like Holly, can't believe it's a memory!  It's like you anticipate & then it's "is that all there is?"  So sad for Tom Kelley's family.  Blessing & prayers to all of them.  We are too young for all this.

Paul, so nice seeing you again & Donna as well.  How nice to reconnect w/people we haven't seen in forever.  Holly, loved the burgers w/you & Sally & Marcia Fri. nite.  What a good time.  Sitting on beds to eat isn't too bad for a bunch of oldsters, right?

I hope more people will join the Message Forum so we can keep up w/what is going on.  Speaking of which, Oct. 21 will be another surgery to correct a joint that is "popping" out after I fell last summer 3 wks. after a major back surgery & did this damage.  Will be glad to be out of pain & on my way again.  Some guys were "throwing me around the dance floor" and they know who they are, so I figure any damage will be fixed anyway!  J.K. (just kidding!)

I hope a mini reunion is in the offing at some point & that we don't just fade back into our lives & forget the laughs we had. Thanks to our committee who worked so hard.  It was worth it! 

Fred Thomas

Thanks to everyone for the reunion photos and the get well card signed by all of our classmates.  I was overwhelmed and hope to make the 70th. I have finished all the treatments and I am feeling stronger everyday.  My next CT scan is in December.  I am so touched that it is difficult to come up with a full fledged rant but here is a small one:

I have a flip phone and I am talking on it constantly but I can ride my bike or walk at the same time and yet maintain an awareness of everything around me.  Why do people, including my 11 year old grandson constantly stare down at and fiddle with those stupid smart phones?  Fiddle, fiddle fiddle!!  They are completely unaware of their surroundings when they are fiddling.  Fiddle, fiddle, fiddle.  Is it a sexual thing?  Weird!  Someone should teach them to play, "spin the bottle" or "pocket pool".  They should at least have their hormone levels checked out.

When Rome burns these young Neros will be fiddling.  Fiddle, fiddle, fiddle!!.

Linda Peate (Powrie)

Ellen: Those were great pics you posted.  I guess I wasn't there! I never saw you all Sat. nite!!  Why weren't you dancing?

Nancy:  So glad you rose above your sadness to come & participate in the reunion.  Know it had to be hard.  Phyllis will live in our hearts forever tho.  Special lady!

John: Glad you sat w/us Sat. nite.  You actually are funny & no discussions of health issues by anyone! Wahooo! You look wonderful having lost that weight & keep going.  It's a wonderful thing for you!!!

Larry Gilbert

Fred, it's great to have you back, even ranting!  Hope that you are feeling stronger every day - and don't wait ten years to come back.... how about two years?  Lots of talk about a 70th Birthday mini-reunion, so come on up!  It was great of Al to think of your card, and LOTS of us were happy to be able to send our well-wishes.

Nancy Westerfield (Depew)

glad everyone is on the website-marcia pullen thought of the card and made it , one for fred,one for phyllis,so nice of her to think of it-thanks, marcia. i gave tim-phyllis,-he really liked it. he kept telling telling me phyllis really wanted to go to it,which i knew.

thanks barb for thinking of me barb.

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Lin:  Hmmmmm I was there and was "Dancin' In The Moonlight" with your sis.....

Clark Smyth

OK, gang, here are the reunion awards I've come up with.

THREE Gs AWARD: To Gillespie, Gilbert and Greenleaf and the rest of the committee for their flawless execution.

BIGGEST SURPRISES (for me): 3) Dave Meuse who I hadn't seen for 50 yrs.

                                                              2) Brian Murphy who I hadn't seen for 52  yrs.

                                                     3) Jim McEnteer who I hadn't seen for 54 yrs.

BEST DANCERS: The Pugsleys were pretty darn good, but I had to go with Rich Currier and whichever of his multiple dance partners.

BEST "STROLLER": 2) Salley Willey (remember all those practices in seventh grade in the Peate's basement?)

                                  1) Kathy Kleist, hands down.

BEST RECRUTER OF EX-COACHES: Pat Gillespie. I got to tell Don Kelly what I really thought of him (but can't repeat here). "Get in line", was his response. Then I got to explain my near-death experience to Don Chadwick who put me in at quarterback but failed to tell me he was also putting in the third line.

BEST HAT: Bruce McKelvey--Hansen was way too pretentious with that Rolls-Royce Ranch number.

BEST APPARITION ATTENDEE: Suzy Sanders. There were reports that she was in the building but I never saw her.

HAS LEFT THE BUILDING AWARD: 2) Elvis

                                                            1) DR

BEST DRESSED AWARD--Woman: Carol Walling

                                             Male: The Pirate Mascot (I assume he was a male.)

MOST MISSED AWARD: 4) Fred Thomas

                                          3) Elmore Bacon

                                          2) Tom Kelley

                                          1) All those who have recently passed away.

BEST "BLUE GHOST" STORY: 2) Larry Gilbert

                                                   1) John Pugsley

"FOR A GOOD TIME CALL ___________" AWARD: 2) Debby Murray Sloane who had signed her picture in the Beardens ladies' bathroom.          

                                                                                     3) Pat Gillespie who had signed his picture in the stall of the ladies' bathroom. WTF?

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

This was by far the best reunion ever!  Clark Smyth--after you & I did the stroll together Don Zbin gave us a 10!!  Do you not remember!

Barb

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Paul:  I remember how tall you were---tall drink of water!

PS:  Had violin withdrawals and am spending quality time with the fiddle!

Barbara Austin (Leick)

Hi Everyone! Thanks to all who came and made this reunion such a success!

My hubby, Fred  was Dave Robinson's big brother at their Chi Psi fraternity at Cornell. This is a really heartwrenching video of "Doc's" last performance and interview with the orginial 4 bancd members of King Harvest. So touching and sweet. It is about 1/2 hour long and just gets better and better. 

Please do watch, as a final good bye. 

KING HARVEST INTERVIEW.wvm Dancing in the Moonlight 2012-YouTube

Thanks,

Barb Austin Leick

Clark Smyth

Barb, thanks for posting this. It was indeed heartwarming. And sad also. But he has left us a legacy. To think that his first band was the "Travelers Three" which consisted of DR, Tom Kelley and me. And two of us faded into musical obscurity.

Linda Peate (Powrie)

I was one of Rick's partners for the stroll.  He is good & very strong.  Almost threw me down a couple times, but very good, Clark!  Barb Austin it was so great to see you.  You look absolutely beautiful.  And good to see Barb Jacobus as well.  And Sally Willey has not changed a bit, has she?  We used to dance upstairs in her bedroom to all the 50s & 60s songs.  Felt like I was right back there w/her!  

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Clark--interesting story about you, DR, and Tom Kelley.  Never knew that.  Think we all are in agreement that Kathy Kleist, Sally Willey, and Rick Currier were the best dancers, not just the stroll.  So fun to hear the old tunes again.  Such a short time and so many to see.  It was the best!  Enjoyed meeting your wife--she is a cutie!

Barb

Holly Portz (Koiro (1945-2023))

OK...Larry says send the pictures to his email.  Alan says send the pictures to him.  Is this a photo war?

So......where DO I send them?

Patrick Gillespie

I think there will be a post on our web page...Larry. And the one Alan has put together...The more the merrier!

Alan Greenleaf

Hi Holly,

Great to see you at the reunion!!

Yes we both need them.  Larry needs his for the web site.  You can send to him, and he will send to me for Picasa.  Or, you can send to Larry, and CC: to me, or to me and I'll copy him.  It really doesn't matter.  Whatever is easier.  I guess we are both asking because have only our own and some from Ellen Templar so far!

I want as many as I can get, for our Class of '63 Picasa album, where there is lots of room and ALL pics will be posted.  Anyone can download these from Picasa.  We have the 35th and the 40th there, and now the 50th!  We have had pics on our website(s) and on Picasa for 15 years.

Wherever you send them, they will be shared between the web site and the Picasa Album!  Click on the "50th" below to see what we have so far.  Thanks!

Picasa 35th

Picasa 40th

Picasa 50th

.

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

What some of your classmates do on Monday nights, guess where!

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Great to have Fred's humor back on the Message Forum--I too like to "fiddle, fiddle, fiddle," especially in the morning while getting breakfast, getting dressed, etc.  Much easier for me now that I'm retired.  Don't have to worry about being late for work!!

Barb

Bruce McKelvey (McKelvey)

Hey Gouch, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER !!!

Fred Thomas

Now that my red cell count is back to normal I am ready for a full blooded rant.  Hell, I might even get an erection again someday!

I don't understand how anyone can be bullied on Facebook  It seems like a simple matter to NOT GO ON FACEBOOK!!  Yet some people feel compelled to join the faceless crowd on Facebook and all the twits on Twitter.  It looks like a similar addiction to the fiddlers who fiddle, fiddle fiddle on their stupid smart phones.

Some kids even commit suicide after being bullied on Facebook.  Maybe we are lucky that they have self selected themselves out of the gene pool, but why did they not think of not going where those cowardly bullies are.

We used to either avoid real bullies or face them with our fists, but that was when we lived in the world of reality not in the virtual world.  

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Fred,

Sounds as though you are back!!  Glad you are feeling better.  I assume we will soon hear the rants and jokes between you and John Dawson again soon.  We really missed you at the reunion!

Barb