5th Reunion - 1968

 Allan Brandt sent this to me - the letter about the 5th reunion in 1968.  Did you attend?  It was held at Casa Continental on Davisville Road.  The live entertainment was The Saints of Ives.  Fun night!

This was the band

58TH Reunion - Together Finally!

 

FINALLY - we were able to get together in person for our 58th reunion.  This year it was held on November 6 at Phil's Tavern.  Sam Paone graciously offered to pay for our meals.

Due to other commitments and illness, a few of our "regular" attendees were unable to join us.  But for those there, we had a great time.  Denny Johnson brought along some of his paintings for those who didn't get one at the 56th reunion.  Sam pulled out his guitar (who knew?) and led a sing-along.  Tina sent me videos of him singing and playing and I'm going to try to get them posted here.  Lots of laughs and stories, great food - and hugs!  Of course, everyone attending was fully vaccinated.

I'm going to just post the pictures that have been sent to me and identify the classmates.  

This is a golden bear that John McDonald found - he'll be joining us at all our future reunions!

Our fantastic host, Sam Paone

Peggy Tull, Ray Roberts, and Sam.  Somehow Peggy's husband, Gary Addy, got chopped off this picture.

The never-aging Tony Pileggi, Karen West, and Allan Brandt

Nancy Telmosse, Lynda Wildermuth, Joyce Argue, and me

Gary O'Hara, Shirley Bolmarcich, Bonnie Mills, and her fella Tom Goodnow

 

Jeff Hassinger, Betty Hassinger, Denny Johnson, Stew Ackerman, John McDonald, and Tina Hollingsworth

Linda Colbeck, Don Buehler, Carole Lehman, Doris Weiler, and Judy VonGerichten

Same group, plus Egil Nilsson and minus Judy - she must have been up taking pictures!

Here's Gary Addy with Peggy and Ray

Jeff and Betty

John and Egil

Linda and Don - they became a couple after the 55th reunion

Doris and Carole

Nancy and Lynda

Joyce, Shirley, and me

Jeff, Betty, and Denny

Bonnie and Tom 

Mrs. and Mrs. O'Hara - Gary and Shirley

Allan - smile - you won half of the 50/50!

Denny - you should be smiling too - you won the other half!

Sing for us, Sammy!

Egil brought 3 pictures of our class right before graduation.  These were published in The Daily Intelligencer on June 3, 1963. See how many you can recognize!

I have a video scan of the reunion and 3 videos of Sammy singing, but I can't figure out how to get them posted here.  I'll keep trying! Where are the tech-savvy kids when you need them??

Oh wait, a little more.  Judy and Carole came up a couple days early and stayed a couple days past the reunion so they could spend time with some of us.

Spending an afternoon with Tina and John at their antique booth in Quakertown

Sunday lunch with Sandy Granato

And Sunday dinner with me!

Now, some important dates to mark on your calendars:

OCTOBER 8, 2022 - 59TH REUNION

OCTOBER 7, 2023 - 60TH REUNION

Times and Locations will be set at a later date

Looking forward to seeing EVERYONE at the next reunions!

Update on 58th Reunion

 As I'm sure you all know, Covid and the Delta variant are in full swing around here.  Montgomery County is in CDC's sustained range, which means that everyone should be wearing masks indoors.  

I really want to be able to get us together again.  But, like I said before, I refuse to put anyone at risk.  So I'm waiting until the beginning of October to make a final decision.  If things look better Covid-wise, we're OK.  If things look like they're getting worse, I would cancel the reunion.

So for now, I'm just playing things by ear.  Checking the Covid case numbers.  Hoping that EVERYONE will get vaccinated.  And praying that this horrible virus starts to die out.

58th Reunion

 

UMHS Class of 63

58^th Reunion

We have suffered through this past year and a half with the Covid quarantine, the mask mandates, the isolation from friends and family. Now that the pandemic seems to be tapering down and the mask mandate in Pennsylvania has been lifted, it's time to get back together again. I'm so looking forward to seeing dear classmates again.

My only REQUIREMENT is that everyone attending is FULLY VACCINATED. Some people may not agree with this, but I have my reasons. I have seen Covid close up and have had to deal with the pain of losing my husband to this horrible disease. I refuse to put anyone at risk. The vaccines work and I trust them completely to keep us safe. And so, since I am putting this reunion together, I get to make the rules.

Our 58^th reunion will be held on November 6, 2021, from 12:00-4:00 pm. We will be at The Phil's Tavern, 931 Butler Pike, Blue Bell. For those not too familiar with the area, the restaurant sits right next to Broadaxe Tavern at the corner of Butler Pike and Skippack Pike.

Our own Sam Paone owns this restaurant and has offered to pay for the reunion meal. We will only be responsible for drinks at the bar and gratuity for the staff. We will be ordering from the attached menu. For any who need a gluten-free meal, I'm sure you can order from the gluten-free section of the main menu.

What I would like to do is collect $15 from every person to handle the staff and give a little back to Sam. You can send a check with your RSVP. We will also do a 50/50 as we have done in the past, with the winner getting half of the money collected, and we'll give the other half to Sam. He has been so generous to make this offer, and I would like to make sure that he is reimbursed for some of the cost.

I would like to have the RSVPs returned no later than October 1, so that I can give Sam a good count. We will have our own room, but he will need to know just how to set up the space. You will order your meal at the reunion – you do not need to choose now.

Looking forward to seeing all of you!

Lynne McGhee

Avery's Ahi Tuna Wrap

Fresh Ahi tuna steak Cajun style with lettuce, tomato, avocado, roasted red peppers and spicy wasabi sauce

Katie's Turkey Club Wrap

Fresh sliced turkey breast with lettuce, tomato, bacon and mayo Cheese Burger or P.T. Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Choice of lettuce, tomato, or onion

Jason's Chicken Salad Wrap

Homemade chicken salad with roasted red peppers, romaine

lettuce and Swiss cheese

Jake's Salmon Burger

Fresh grilled salmon on a toasted Kaiser with romaine lettuce and shrimp remoulade

Veronica's Portabella Sandwich

Large Grilled portabella mushroom with roasted red peppers, and fresh mozzarella cheese

St. Tropez Salad

Crisp romaine lettuce with fresh grapefruit, avocado, almond

slices and jumbo lump crabmeat with a side of red wine vinaigrette and olive oil

Vic's Caesar Salad

Grilled chicken with romaine lettuce, roasted peppers and

parmesan cheese

Carnegie Filet Sandwich

Sliced filet mignon on a toasted garlic Kaiser Roll with mushrooms and Asiago cheese

Chicken Parmesan Dinner

Served with linguini

All sandwiches include French fries and coleslaw

($18.99 per person) Includes soda or iced tea

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UMHS Class of 63

58^th Reunion

RSVP

I WILL _______ WILL NOT ________ be attending the 58^th reunion on November 6, 2021.

___________________________________________ (name)

If attending, names of those attending:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Please include your check for $15 per person to:

Lynne McGhee

420 S. York Rd., A130

Hatboro, PA 19040

Make check payable to me and put UMHS 63 in the memo line.

Please return this to me no later than October 1.

RIP Dan Peck

Judy (Miller) and Bob Reinmiller

 

Bob and I first knew of each other in 10th grade and we would talk.  By 11th grade we started dating and he would always remind me of how we walked all over the place during our junior class picnic.  We were both very busy with sports but managed to be together more and more our senior year.  I even gave up my sports uniforms for a prom gown and we were a real couple.  Life was good.  From that time on I knew we would be together forever. After graduating from high school I went off to Lock Haven to become a physical education teacher and Bob went off to Williamson Trade School to learn the masonry trade.  The separation between us was so hard but we remained faithful and a couple.  We were engaged over the summer of 1965 and life was good for us.

Bob finished his 3rd year trade school education and then joined the Navy Seabees for 2 years.  The separation would be even harder.  I was finishing my senior year at Lock Haven and he was in Rhode Island.  Bob found out he was headed for Vietnam in June of 67. We both decided we wanted to get married before he left - so on March 18, 1967 we became Mr. and Mrs. Robert Reinmiller.  Judy Neill was my maid of honor and Bob's twin brother was his best man.  It was a perfect day and a perfect wedding held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Hatboro.  It was the happiest day of our lives. Bob went off to Vietnam and I graduated from Lock Haven and stayed at home in Willow Grove, working in Abington School District and saving money for our new house which we moved into in August of 1968. Bob worked for Miller & Son Paving as a mason for 48 years.  I continued to work as a PE teacher for Abington Jr. High and then Klinger Jr. High for 4 years.  I loved the work - Klinger kids were the best. My 9th grade class gave me a baby shower in my own house without me knowing a thing about it.

In 1971 our first daughter was born.  Life was good.  Terri would become an excellent competitive year round swimmer.  She would go on to Penn State and now works for Rothman in the Physical Therapy department.  Our second child Todd was born in 1973.  He of course became one of the best wrestlers in the area and attended Moravian College on a wrestling scholarship.  He is now a software design engineer for Cerner, the biggest medical records company in the US. Our 2nd daughter Tami was born in 1975.  She was a multi-sports kid playing hockey, track and lacrosse and also got a scholarship to Widner University where she majored in nursing. She worked for Abington Hospital in the intensive care unit, then went on to work for Datascope Monitoring Company as an educator and now works for Agility in sales and education.

After the kids were born life became very hectic and we needed more money. Bob saw an article in Popular Mechanics Magazine on becoming a chimney sweep - which would be seasonal we thought. So he decided to become The Soot Slayer Chimney Sweep.  It worked great with his masonry background.  He picked up lots of repair work.  He loved meeting new people and was quite a sight in his top hat and tails.  People loved seeing him.  So with his plan and my help we turned this into a 35 year business.  He taught lots of helpers about responsibility and hard work.  So our plan worked. He would make the money and I would do everything else.

In 2014 Bob suffered his first stroke - so no more driving or climbing on roofs. After Abington Hospital he went to Moss Rehab in Elkins Park and recovered pretty well.  Things were okay.  We even traveled to our favorite vacation destination in Vermont (Basin Harbor Club on Lake Champlain) with our kids and 3 grandkids and had a wonderful time. Then 2019 rolled around and Bob had a second stroke. This one was tougher and he rehabbed at Moss in Doylestown Hospital. He then came home with physical therapy in the house.  Things were going okay with the use of a walker and a lot of help from me.  But that's okay - we made it work and it was great to have him with me.

In May of 2020 (just when Covid arrived) Bob had trouble breathing - so off to Doylestown Hospital for a week.  At the end of the week he was sent home on hospice because of a mass in his lung. At that point he was bed-bound. We had many good caregivers and Bob was always pleasant. I'm glad he was home - he got to watch all the cowboy movies he wanted and look out our back sliding doors and watch the grandkids swim, help blow out the candles for my 75th birthday on July 4 and hear the horns beep out front for his 76th birthday on September 28. I was to be inducted into the UMHS Sports Hall of Fame in October 2020, but because of Covid it was postponed until January 2021. On November 3, 2020 he passed away with myself and our kids by his side. I am just lost.  He did so much for us - was the best husband ever and the love of my life. Every day I pray that I will see him again soon.

To all of UMHS friends - make every day count.

Love, Judy

RIP Bill Burgher

 

RIP Karen Keller

 

Donna McDowell

 OK, here's another one that I missed.  I guess my head isn't on too straight right now.  This is from Donna McDowell.  She didn't include any pictures.

Lynne, thank you for a great job with the reunion book.  I have not contributed any info thus far, but I love reading what everyone is doing.  I have been married to my wonderful husband, Scott, since 1973.  We have two daughters and one son.  All are married and have children of their own.  The oldest grandchild is 18 years and the youngest is 3 years.  The current love of my life is our small black poodle named Peaches.  We got her from the animal shelter about five years ago.  She is a wonderful companion, playmate, and is willing to take long walks anywhere.  Since she weighs only 15 pounds, she gets carried a lot.  Thank you again.  Donna McDowell Paist

Sorry I Missed These, Denny

 Denny Johnson sent me 3 pictures of his fantastic artwork for the 57th Reunion.  Somehow, I missed them and they didn't get posted. 

So here they are - better late than never!  Sorry about the mix-up, Denny.

These are Denny's dogs Hattie Rose and Mona Leigh

Some geese who roamed onto Denny's property

This was sold by Denny at an on-line exhibit recently

RIP Bob Reinmiller

 

57th "Virtual" Reunion

 2020 has been one hell of a year. The annual reunion had to be put aside because of Covid and the restrictions that caused.  Damn Covid!

But, instead of a physical get together, I came up with the idea of a "virtual" reunion so we could still stay in touch. I reached out to the class to send me pictures and stories. Unfortunately, not too many responded. But that's OK. I have posted the things that were sent to me. I appreciate the time you all took to get things together for me.

But next year - 2021 - God willing, we'll be back together again for #58. And what a grand time we will all have!

Until then, please stay safe! Covid is not a hoax. It is real and not pretty. Wear your masks, wash your hands, and keep your social distance.

Now read and enjoy! And ignore any typos!

Lynne and Jim McGhee

 

UMHS, probably around 60 years ago...

Jimmy and I dated off and on in high school.  I was crazy about him - he didn't feel quite the same.  Oh well.  Those were the days when girls couldn't be the aggressors, so he never knew just how I felt.  After graduation, he went his way, I went mine.

Jimmy met a girl, got engaged, went in the Navy for two years, came home, and got married in 1968.  He had joined the Willow Grove Fire Company while still in high school, and continued his service to them for many years. He had various jobs, including a tour bus driver for Hagy and later formed his own lawn care service.  He wound up back at Upper Moreland School District, retiring in 2010 as the Transportation Manager for all the UM schools.  He and Valerie had two children, Scott and Heather, who presented them with four grandchildren - Ryan, Kaitie, Alyssa, and Melanie.  Valerie died suddenly in early 2013.

As for me, I flitted around, dancing in clubs with my shiny white go-go boots.  I put the boots away in 1970 when I married Dominic, a salesman/musician from Ambler.  We had two daughters, Susan and Donna.  We moved to Northern Kentucky in 1977, and a few years later moved again to the Atlanta area.  I went back to school and became a Registered Nurse in 1995.  I became a grandmother in 1990 to Shelby and again in 1996 to Ashlie.  My marriage wasn't the best, and we divorced in early 2014.

Jimmy and I met again at the 50th reunion in October 2013.  We both felt little sparks, but attributed them to remembering old feelings from high school.  

I flew up to Philly in January 2014 to scout out a location for the 51st reunion and spent much of the weekend with Jimmy.  Those sparks started again, and by the time the reunion came around in May, they were ignited into a full fledged fire. 

 

The fire continued to burn brightly and in March 2015, I moved up to Philly so we could be together full time.  We moved into our home in July of that year.  And finally, on July 22, 2018, we made it official.  Hello, Mr. and Mrs. McGhee!

Life hasn't been too easy.  Jimmy was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2009.  His condition progressed slowly until April 2019 when Mr. Parkinson threw a big punch and knocked the hell out of him.  And if that weren't enough, he contracted Covid in August 2020.  Although he fought as hard as he could and had the best possible medical and nursing care, this was just too hard for him.  He passed away on September 15, 2020. Jimmy had a well-deserved military funeral and was interred at Washington Crossing National Cemetery.

But the story of Mr. and Mrs. McGhee didn't end with Jimmy's death.  We vowed to each other to love forever - that was our "special" word.  I know my love for him will continue forever, and I am certain that his love for me continues even now.

Carole Lehman

 

After graduating UMHS, I spent a summer working for my sister in Ocean City, NJ, and then headed to Adelphi University, four of the best years of my life - President of my class to President of the SA, recognized for my choreography, May Court, Homecoming Court and Lantern Honor and Service Honorary. I got an assistantship to start my masters at George Washington University, but did not like it so I transferred to UNC at Greensboro where I received an MFA in 1969. Started the Dance Department at Delta State University in Mississippi and then moved back to NC to marry John Lindsey. Started the City Arts Program for the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department which became the largest public arts program through P&R in the country in the 80's. Just after our second anniversary, my husband John went to Ocracoke Island with a friend to celebrate getting his PhD in Psychology while I was opening the summer stock theater. He was pulled out in a riptide and I lost him, he was only 25. I liked my job so I stayed with it, developing the program which grew to 11 full time and over 100 part time employees. To celebrate the Bicentennial, I founded and directed the Razz-Ma-Tazz Musical Review Company which presented original musical revues developed by my music director and myself. We toured NC every year and in 1978 we started a major tour every year. Over its 25 year existence, we did 7 European tours, and we did tours of the Southeast, Northeast, West, Eastern and Western Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand. I met Chip, my husband, in 1985 when he auditioned to play bass for our revue. In addition to being a talented musician (guitar, bass, sax and others), Chip spent his working years as an engineer, We married in 1987, and 10 months later at the age of 41 I had my first child, Dianna. Gregory came along 2 1/2 years later when I was 44. In 1968 I was diagnosed with state 3 lung cancer. I am blessed that I made it through that and have been cancer free for 22 years now. I retired from the city in 2002 and went to UNCG to become the program administrator for the Women's and Gender Studies Program. I was there for the next 10 years. Since retiring from UNCG, I have volunteered on boards (Relay for Life, Hospital Volunteer Program, Friends of Women's and Gender Studies, and the Greensboro Ballet. I also layout, edit and write articles for our neighborhood newsletter (4 times a year, 28 pages for print and web). I am a timer for swim meets at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, one of the premier swim complexes in the US. I volunteer for admitting at Wesley Long Hospital and I knot chemo caps for the cancer center and also warm hats for the Homeless Day Center (hundreds of hats since 2014). And finally, we travel, a lot, over 70 cruises in my lifetime, plus visits to our kids including Norway where my daughter is a PhD fellow at the University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. Her research is in bi-lingual acquisition. My son is moving back to NC. He is a luthier (Lynne's note here - so you don't have to look up luthier - it's a maker of stringed instruments). Life is never dull!!

Carole and Chip on a cruise

Carole, Chip, Dianna and Gregory