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| Adams, Susan | Battle, Robert | Beverley, Jim | Bobrowsky, Kim | Caporale, Rich | Carrington, Malcolm |
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| Cimino, Alphonse | Della Valle, Jacqueline | Dempsey, Patricia | DePalma, Ralph | DeSantis, Diane | Dudek, Luke |
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| Emerman, Gary | Flynn, Judith | Friedlander, Debra | Gruber, Larry | Haladun, M. Donna | Hasbrouck, Charles |
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Hausbach, Samuel |
Hazen, Barbara |
Heydecke, Mark |
Howard, Gary |
Jeydel, Rick |
Kelly, Jean |
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Manzi, Karen |
Matthews, Wendy |
Mayerik, Nancy |
Molinaro, Dan |
Morahan, James |
Nord, Kenneth |
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| Peck, Darwin | Roach, William | Sari, Ellen | Schnell, James | Sherman, Alice | Siegel, Barbara |
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| Trivigno, Dennis | Wallace, Margaret | Woodhall, Ashley |
Comments from your Classmates
Sam Hausbach ws my friend from the next street. We lived on Westminster Drive and Sam and his family on Oxford Drive. We share many fun times together, particularly as elemenary and middle school kids. These were simple but treasured memories when kids played around the neighborhood building forts, having acorn fights, sleigh riding, going to Saturday afternoon movies, having sleep-overs and just enjoying life. Oh the fun we had back then knowing that our only obligation was to be at our respective dinner tables at the sound of the six o'clock whistle. Sam was always a kind and genuine person. I lost track of Sam after high school but remember him and his family with unwavering fondness. I wished our paths would have crossed at the reunion but that was not to be. Sam, I am glad that you were my friend.
Larry Fieber (4/3/09)
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There are so many wonderful stories to share when remembering those who have passed, but I think all of us can agree that they will always be in our thoughts, our hearts and our prayers...
Rick Rixton (7/21/08)
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Margaret Wallace! That smile! That laugh! That HUGE heart and lovely disposition! My story involves a very black day in the life of a 16-year-old whose wardrobe was not always perfectly in style. I was mocked while walking to school and I sat across the street near the woods by St. Philomena's Church and cried. Several classmates passed me without speaking, but Margaret left her group of girls to cross the street and console me. She walked me to school and I sat at her lunch table that day. From that moment on, she and Jeanne Coull were my early morning beacons. As I grew into adulthood, that small act of kindness always served to remind me of the positive impact we can have when do the right thing. My regret is that I didn't get to tell her in person. Her grace and compassion remain etched in my heart.
Dede (Del Cioppo) Lichtig (4/1/08)
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It's very difficult to look at these young, beautiful faces and realize that they are gone. For me, they will always be high school students as I lost contact with most after they left LHS. Some were in my homeroom, others were in my classroom. All were precious. Jim Beverly - so handsome, talented, and bright. Ralph DePalma - what a character. Ellen Sari - a beautiful, lovely child. Wendy Matthews, who became a teacher in the Livingston school district. Bill Roach and Dennis Trivigno, kids who favored things other than social studies but were perfect, respectful gentlemen in my class. I look at these faces and I think what might have been.
Fraida Yavelberg (3/21/08)
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As Louie says, this is the serious page. I am motivated to write something today about some of my old classmates because a friend of mine walked into a remote area of the Napa Valley yesterday and took his life. We never know when it will be the last time we will see our friends. I did not keep in contact with any of the people on this page but I think it is nice to remember them. Somehow they will know we still care:
Ricky Caporale and Jim Morahan: Ricky and Jim were present when I had my big fight in 8th grade with Kenny Smith behind the Temple (thank God I didn't throw a punch otherwise I might be on this page). Ricky and Jimmy teased me about the non-fight fight all through high school. But we became friendly after graduation and I remember them coming over to my house for a beer or two on several occasions.
Ralph DePalma: He was sOOOoooOOOooo damned funny. I remember him pulling down his pants while walking (we were all running) the 100-yard dash in gym class. I will never forget Ralph bursting into a room singing Everybody Loves My Body Sometimes. What a beautiful free spirit he was.
Mark Heydeke: Last year I showed my granddaughter how to make the "water drop sound." This was Mark's invention and I thank him for showing me how to do it.
Karen Manzi: I had a big crush on Karen. After high school I wrote her love poems about holding hands. She said she adored them -- the poems, not her hands. She had such a cute and wonderful smile.
Jim Schnell: Our Algebra II class was called "Rappaport's Follies" or "Rappaport's Mystery Hour" mainly because no one had a clue what Mr. Rappaport was trying to teach us. He would assign seating arrangements according to how well you did on your test scores. First row was reserved for people with the best scores -- last row was reserved for the lowest scores. I usually sat in the last row. Jimmy always sat in the first row, which meant he averaged four correct answers on a test that had 25 questions. Last row usually averaged 1.5 correct answers. Jimmy was chosen to teach the class on student-teacher day. He was hysterically funny doing Rappaport imitations. But -- I actually learned some Algebra that day. Thanks Jim!
Barbara Siegel: Barbara was my very first girlfriend. She was the prettiest girl in 8th grade. My goodness she had the cutest dimples in the world!
Ashley Woodhall: Bruce Adler and I would be walking down the hall and Bruce who was (and still is) incredibly big and strong (but a very gentle giant) would spot Ashley and good naturally yell out to him "Heyyyyyyy Ash" -- Ashley would look at Bruce, sneer and say: "Fuck You Adler." Every time Ashley said it, I would burst out laughing. I miss you Ashley!
David Mitchel (3/15/08)
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The hardest part of coming to the LHS68 website is seeing those we have lost. Some I knew casually, some were good friends. The first time I came to the website, I was shocked to see that Ellen Sari had passed away. We had kept in touch off and on for about 20 years. It really upset me to know that we had lost touch, and now, she was gone. I want to thank G.J. for being such a good friend to her. You always were one of the best! I never knew about her son or her divorce. I'm so glad that she had someone she felt she could talk to. As we all come together for our 40th (can 40 years really have passed?!), let us all take a moment to remember those we have lost. If you are thinking about contacting one our classmates, do so. All my best to everyone in the class of 1968.
Ellen Flint Baubles (3/10/08)
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I'll tell you what I find interesting here. Please, nobody take this the wrong way. This is "the serious page" of our website, and it's needed for the outpourings that are here. I've lived every twist and turn of this reunion process. I've loved almost every one of those curves. The reality of our losses has been difficult to reconcile. Fact of life. Reality. The way it is. All matter-of-fact terms we all need to apply to so many circumstances in all of our lives. We miss them all. They were our friends and an everyday part of our younger days. So what do I find interesting? There are so many of us that at least in participation of the written word, pass by the other areas of this website. Peoples' own bios and photos missing. Blogs that beg comment and fun. "The Wall," a relatively new forum to share our past in a free-form setting. September is approaching. Please, continue to remember, to think of, and write your thoughts here of those departed. My hope and desire for us all is to also remember the living. Contact your friends, now only a click away in so many cases from e-mail addresses available in our classmates listings. Enjoy this wonderful experience.
Lou Fink (3/10/08)
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It's very humbling to read over the list, stare at their faces and wonder how life could have been taken prematurely from them, but not me. It makes you get up to each new day we have, no matter how difficult your struggles may be, and remember that we have that luxury to life that was already taken from them. Margaret Wallace, one of the first to die, was a dear friend of Diane Hall and me. I will never forget the day Diane called to tell me about her passing. A mother of four, how could this be? And Jim Beverley, a former boyfriend, also one of the earlier deaths. A great guy, young daughters when he passed, so much to live for. Karen Manzi, Robert Battle, Ellen Sari, freinds I lost touch with but remember dearly. We can drive ourselves nuts trying to get answers. "Why me" is wasted energy. We all need to be grateful they were in our lives, cherish our memories of them, and let this continue to remind us to make the best with what we have while we have it.
Ellen Lenox Smith
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The following is inscribed on my wife’s gravestone. It’s an obscure Edgar Allan Poe poem. Her name was Carolyn. I thought it might be appropriate for this memorial page:
We only part to meet again
Tho mighty boundless waves may sever
Remembrance oft shall bring thee near
And I will with thee go forever
And oft at midnight’s silent hour
When brilliant planets shall guide the ocean
Thy name shall rise to heaven’s highest star
And mingle with my soul’s devotion
Sandy Schantz
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I remember most of those who passed on from the year book, not from personal contact. However, Gary Howard was one of the first of our classmates to pass on at a very young age. He and I were from Newark, and we went to Mt. Vernon grammar school together. That is the same school that had those tragic murders last summer. I wrote about my opinion of that event in the Star Ledger. Gary was a funny likeable guy, and I had a hard time accepting his death. I still remember the dream I had about Gary, after he died. I spoke to him, and asked how I could see him since I had heard he passed on? I guess it was my way of saying goodbye. My philosphy since then has always been to make the most of each day. Don't ever go on vacation with me, because you will have a hard time keeping up. In the last three years I have lost half a dozen good friends from where I worked, and it is never easy to say goodbye.
Donald Davidson
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As I look over the members of this collection of our classmates, I can't help but be saddened by it all. Earlier I shared some recollections concerning Rick Jeydel, but I wanted to take some time to share some communcations I had with Ellen Sari. I'm not sure how I got connected to her, but it must have been Classmates.com. I shot off an email and she responded. I only knew her from her association with Jimmy Synder as they were sweethearts in HS. She caught me up on her life since HS and since she was a teacher, and my son was also studying to be a teacher at the time, she helped provide some insights for my son. Ellen's life after HS had some difficulties concerning her immediate family. She mothered two boys, one of whom developed a very severe drug habit. Then her husband divorced her. I only remember her as being such a sweet person, and she shared as well that she always thought that she and Jimmy Synder would be married. But that was not to be. I couldn't imagine how someone as loving and caring as a parent and teacher would have so much hardship. She was reluctant to come to our next reunion, but I promised her in my email that I would escort her to it. I think if she were alive today, she would have allowed me to do that. I emailed her from time to time just to check in on her and to let her know I was going to keep my promise. She shared that she had found someone who truly cared for her and was transporting her to her doctor for normal checkups, etc. But at one of these checkups, cancer was discovered. I don't know if this someone helped see her through these difficult times. I truly regret that she is not here and that I will be unable to escort her to our reunion. I think she would have liked to connect back to a time when things were simple, our future was before us, and we all still had our innocence. I wanted to share this with whomever else is close to Ellen and to let them know that she is not forgotten. I hope that she will be looking down on us from above on Sept 20th and that what she sees will bring a smile to her face. I also want her to know that all of us from LHS 68 love her and miss her.
G.J. Semler
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It always pains me to see additional pictures on this part of the website and it reminds me how short life really can be. I remember several of these dear friends from my years at LHS. Barbara Hazen was a member of my group of friends and we lost her very early in our high school years. She was the sweetest person you could ever hope to meet. We, as very young teens, were faced with suddenly losing a dear friend. However, it wasn't the first time for us. We had lost another friend at Mount Pleasant Jr. High who would have gone on to be one of our classmates at LHS. Her name was Sue Boxer. She was so brave throughout her battle with cancer. I remember them both with love and affection. On this page, there are familiar faces to me, Kim Bobrowski, whom I sat next to in Mr McGinity's Spanish class. Diane DeSantis, my gym class buddy, Patty Dempsey, one of the girls who used to cruise around with Lynne, Lynn and I in West Orange, Sue Adams, one of my best friends in high school. Sue was unique in so many ways. We both spent many great days in Mr. Battito's art classes. Sue loved art, surfing and high fashion. Who could forget her Twiggy haircut and that deep laugh of hers? We would lose touch and then get together once in a blue moon over the years. One time, Nancy (Bonnett) and I had a lunch date with Sue and got to hear all about what was happening in her life, shared our stories and pictures and then we went our separate ways again. I read of Sue's passing in the newspaper a short while later (maybe it was a year?) and called Nancy. We were both so shocked and saddened by this loss. Yes, there are faces here that I remember from high school, a person from my homeroom, people from the hallways, people from the lunchroom. People I shared a smile with. On this page, there are quite a few people that I personally knew in high school. It was a very big class, so I am pretty shocked that so many on this page were people I actually had a connection with. It sure puts life into perspective. I did not know Luke Dudek, but when I read names on 9/11 reports, I recognized his name and realized that we had walked the same halls together at the same time. A nation of broken hearts and one person just a little bit closer to me than all the others. My heart goes out to all the families of these dear, departed classmates.
Marilyn Gaffney Heavener
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Each time I come to this page, it humbles me.. It makes me realize how grateful I am for every breath I take ... every blue sky I witness and every laugh I experience with friends. I am saddened to see those who have left us, but trust that they are with us in a spiritual sense. I remember their faces and how I related to them as a 17-year-old young woman. I am so saddened they will not be with us in the physical sense in September, 2008 but know they will live in our mind's eye forever.
I hope that all who can come will make it to this reunion that has been planned with love and that somehow they will recapture a time in their lives that was forever innocent.
Best, Barbara Schillin-Birkitt
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As I have been collecting, cataloging the data, this particular area brings real meaning to life! The faces of classmates, friends for whom I will no longer have the opportunity to say hello to, how have you been, so nice to see you after so many years. The stories they had to share are now lost, along with the joy, laughter and sorrow their telling would have brought. So it is here that perhaps we can share some of those stories and celebrate the joy, happiness and successes that these people have brought to the world before their untimely passing. A chance for the rest of us to catch-up with the memories seemingly lost.
My personal story is short and isn't particularly a testament about a person, but rather the circumstances of his passing and how hard it hit home. Perhaps others felt the same way. I have been living in the midwest since leaving for college. It was September 2001, I was sitting in my family room watching the World Trade Center memoriam telecast. Sort of monotonous 'Bong... Luke Dudek.... Bong...' "Son of a Bitch" I said... "I went to school with him in High School." Now if that whole tragedy wasn't enough... it hit me like a ton of bricks. Just the thought of it all, was he a personal friend, not really, but he was someone with whom I shared part my life, and now his life gone, instantly, in a most horrific way.
"No man is an island, ... do not ask for whom the bell tolls for it tolls for thee." A moment for reflection, thought, prayer for all our fellow classmates that have passed on before us. Your lives brought us sorrow, joy, happiness and helped us understand the meaning of life and we are grateful.
Elmer Nicholls
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