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mom( VeraMae). I shortened it to“ V” and got my head chopped off, so it’ s VeraMae from here on in. My grandson Max is almost four now and my daughter Becky and son-in-law Matt are doing fine. Nick Jr. is living and going to school in Portland and doing well. Marianna and I went down south for February and March last winter and had a great time. We rented a park model RV in the desert near Elephant Butte, New Mexico, and had 30 straight days of sunshine and hiking. We then rented a car for the next three weeks( Volvo) and visited all national parks in Utah, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. I have some stories about the Volvo, but they are for a private conversation. Utah is the most beautiful of all with the most national parks and monuments in the U. S. Big Bend in Texas was amazing. I have lived here in Ketchikan for almost four years now and it really has not snowed at all. The biggest snowstorm we’ ve been in hit in March while we were down south( almost 4 feet) and that is a big LOL. When we got back in April the snow was still piled up everywhere. We are thinking of buying an R- Pod 180 and doing the southern trips more often. Marianna says it was the best trip we ever took and I agree because it was a lot of fun.

From Gary Marlin: I am writing this note more to see how you are doing with this hurricane in Houston. Correct me if I’ m wrong, but I think you are in North Houston, so hopefully you are out of harms way. As for me, as you may recall, I have my son and future daughter-in-law living with us since the beginning of the year. Great news, they bought a house five minutes from us and should be moving in by Christmas. I have truly hit life’ s lottery by having both my children and grandkid living so close to us. Looking forward to my son’ s wedding in Charleston, S. C. We rented four houses on the beach in nearby Isle of Palm for the week, so should be great. Keeping my fingers crossed that there are no hurricanes in the area the week of Oct. 22. Again, hope you’ re safe. Take care.

From Crumb Bun: I am planning on getting the OK from my doctor at Temple to return to work sometime after my next appointment in mid-September. My plans are to work part-time at first and gradually work up to full-time by the end of the year. The doctor said I will be able to live the rest of my life with the right lung I received. My left lung has minor fibrosis and even if it progresses my right lung will be able to keep me going since it has three lobes( more capacity) and the left only has two. So the right lung was the one to get. He tells me that many people live with only a single lung and do just fine. I’ m thankful that I have the one I got and that my recovery has gone well. I don’ t think I would want to go through a second transplant anyway. My recovery has been going very well and I’ ve enjoyed my time off which has made me look forward to retirement even more in a year or two. Hope you all had a good summer and are looking forward to the cooler fall weather.

From Hag: Was great to see everyone at the Summer Scroungefest and, as usual, a good time sure seemed to be had by all. Was also glad to give the cabin rehab a trial run, the big new porch proved to be a great place to hang out, and the extra sleeping area up-stairs made the overnight stays less crowded. Would like everyone to know that I really look forward to the get-togethers, and anytime someone wants to consider planning one, be sure to speak up, the cabin’ s willing and waiting.

From Marine: In September, Pam and I will be married 40 years. We are both enjoying retirement life now. Spent some time in Myrtle Beach. All three of my children still line in Pennsylvania. Stella is five now. We plan to spend part of the winter in Clearwater, Fla. Our prayers are with you in Texas, hope you are safe.

On a final note and as a very early reminder, everyone please keep in mind that our 45th reunion is coming up in 2019, sometime toward the end of June. I am working hard to try to get a good turnout and some new fresh faces. If you have not been to a reunion since graduation, I hope that

one of those faces will be yours. If you have any ideas or recommendations for location, please don’ t hesitate to ask. At this point, unless I hear differently from the class, the current thinking is to hold this at Hag’ s again, but I am totally open to new suggestions and ideas, and more than willing to be flexible with the planning. We all want to go to the location and plan the event that will bring the largest number of our classmates together.

Later, Scrounge 7W4

stephen M. Krupa 505 Thomas Road downingtown, Pa. 19335 dadoson @ verizon. net 610-269-6480

Gentlemen,

I recently received a few emails from our fellow classmates. Got to tell you, I’ m happy I did and wish many more of you would communicate with me, especially by email. In this way, no details are lost during the communique and it makes it so much easier to produce the class notes. Besides, isn’ t it about time to let your old buddies know how you are doing nowadays? We all enjoy reading the class notes and hearing about someone from the class. How about making it you.

Received from Harry Goldy 8 / 8 / 17: I read in the Williamsonian where you were asking me about my knee replacement. Well things are progressing very slowly. One year after I had my replacement, I developed an infection in my knee. My wife took me to the hospital and they had to do emergency surgery where they had to remove my replacement and insert what they called a“ spacer” which is actually a temporary joint which is loaded with antibiotics. I had a pick line inserted into my arm where I would inject additional antibiotics into my body to fight the infection. This went on for eight weeks. I then received another replacement on Jan. 11, 2016, and since then everything has been OK. Still need to build up strength in my knee but like I said things are progressing. Now for the good news. My wife and I retired from our jobs on April 28 this year. We are enjoying spending a lot more time at the Jersey Shore. Been getting together with the Vottas. We went to Jamaica with them last February and had a ball. Sorry we missed seeing you at the last reunion, but we had earlier plans. We will try to make the next one. OK, that’ s about it. How are things with you? Well take care of yourself and if you see any of our classmates tell them I said Hi.

Harry, thanks for the feedback! Sorry to hear the bad news, but glad to hear the good news. Deb and I are doing fine here. Neither of us are retired yet. We are empty nesters. Our three sons are all living in different states. We have one grandchild( Matthew). Haven’ t run in to any of our classmates. I did talk to Mike Natale on the phone for a bit several months ago. Tell the Vottas I said hello.

Received from Al Gaspari 8 / 9 / 17: Hey, Krup, sitting here enjoying a bourbon. I’ m reading the latest Williamsonian and I thought about you and the time we winter camped up near Hamburg. My old friends Bruce and Alex were on that trip. I think you thumbed it back home for the weekend. The details are a little foggy. Let’ s get together, I can’ t be more than 15 minutes from you.

Al, I’ ve been busy as heck, but will be calling you soon to get together. I certainly do remember that winter camping trip. I was grabbing a ride with you guys on your way to camping, but was going to get dropped off at Allentown and thumb it home to Wilkes Barre. By the time we reached Allentown that night it was snowing and freezing cold, so I decided to go camping with you guys instead. I had no camping gear or sleeping bag, so I put on several layers of the dirty laundry I had in my duffle bag and sat up poking at the campfire all night long in the freezing cold. The next day you guys dropped me off at the Allentown entrance to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I thumbed it back home to Wilkes Barre in the freezing cold. When we do get together, maybe you can share that bottle of bourbon with me to warm me up from the cold.

Received from Chip Natrin 8 / 11 / 17: Hey Steve. On my way home for the weekend and catching up on my Williamsonian, thought I would drop you a line. Two years ago I got a call from Astra- Zeneca asking me if I had any interest in taking over the construction of a large project in Delaware, as the PM was retiring. I had thought I was in my final job lasting me to retirement, but after several months of discussions decided to take a chance. I was hired as a contract employee and finished that project a year later. At that point I was offered a direct hire position in their Global Engineering and Real Estate group and assigned to a large design and construction project in Dallas, Texas. I have been traveling to Dallas weekly now since December, flying on Sunday nights and home on Fridays. I love the work and plan to continue this routine through 2018. While home on weekends, I have been helping my oldest son, who is a chemical engineer at Merck, build a new house in Delaware. Really an architect designed renovation, but the only thing still remaining is the 1943 foundation, the first floor joists, and four solid brick walls. Other than that it’ s a complete rebuild. This weekend we are installing the kitchen. It’ s scheduled for move-in in October. Recently found out they are expecting our first grandchild in November, won’ t know the sex until then. An exciting time for our family. Son number 2 graduated in December and is an environmental geologist in Delaware. My daughter is a senior at Temple studying accounting and financial planning, following my wife’ s footsteps, who retired this past year. I figure another four or five years before I’ m ready.

Chip, that’ s all good news with the exception of the weekly flights to Texas. That along with helping out with the old house / new house renovation project work must be exhausting. I’ ve got to hand it to you, you’ ve got a lot more energy than I could possibly muster.

Guys, by the time you read this in the class notes, we will already have had our annual class get-together. Hope you made it. If not, plan on it in 2018. It’ s always fun to get together and catch up.

Krup

Gordon Douglas merry Heart Ministries 86 Governor Markham Drive Glen Mills, PA 19342 610-883-2972 gordoncomedy @ comcast. net www. GordonDouglasIsFunny. com

Greeting Baby Boomers!

Last issue featured some news about Garey Stathes and his late entry into sports. What amazed me the most is not that he grew over four inches or lost so much weight, but that he worked out with Richard Panczner. Rick, the unofficial governor of Ocean City, remembered for his newcaster smile. The yearbook mentions that there were days when he was“ too sore to lift.” Anyone but me intrigued by this? What did Rick do to get sore? And where was this lifting done? Since lifting weights was never my thing, I don’ t even remember a place to work out? Was it in Pigeon Palace or the main gym, or did the machinists have a secret hideaway? We need info, Rick, and an update? Do you still work out? Where do you live? Are you retired yet? Rick Trivia … what sport did Mr. Panczner participate in? Answer later!

Strange but true … Walter Erbenich’ s picture is in the yearbook, and has nothing written underneath it? That is not the strange part, Joe D, also chose to cloak his time at Willie Tech in silence. What struck me odd as I tried to find folks I haven’ t mentioned recently is that Walt’ s picture is not in alphabetical order. He is sandwiched between Greg Callahan and Paul Chadem. Why? I have no idea. Someone please help me remember some stuff on Walt, and tell me when did Williamson have a swim team? I ask, because, Strange but True, Greg Callahan has it listed as an activity? Was this training for the pigmy showers

? He was also on the Dance Committee for two years. Anyone else on the Dance Committee? I remember going to Our Lady of Angels and to Immaculate for some dances … and a few in our gym. I don’ t remember which of our classmates were really good dancers? Who got your vote?? And Gary mentioned his goal of buying land in the wilderness, building a house, and farming, or becoming president of the US. Which did you choose, Greg?

On the other side of Walt’ s pic is Paul Chadem. Paul is the most faithful at sending me news. Bill Robbins used to send me stuff, but has been silent for a spell! Paul had another hospital visit, that is like three in three years as his blood pressure gets very low. He sent this update from the last gathering at the shore home of Mike Link. Paul’ s anesthesia must not have worn off when he sent this, but besides the references to super Nova’ s and pink elephants, he wrote“… so I guess I will have to post some news of the first night- 8 guys were there: Bob Jordon, Art Noel, Dave Edwards, Mike Link, Joe Santoro, Mike’ s friend Paul, Joe D., and me. We played horseshoes and darts. Next day Marty Jeffers and Jay Comly came down and went to Cape May brewery looking for samples. We hope to get a least one member from each shop next time, and also decided to have this trip to Cape May two times a year.”

Glen Kephart’ s name appeared on LinkedIn saying he got a promotion and is some kind of big shot out in Arizona! Details, Glen, we need details. Our class is fairly high in the percentage of those who give back to Williamson and to special causes. Bob Jordan shared,“ Gentlemen, I just received this note of this news from Jay regarding his Fox Chase fundraiser.( from Jay) We made it! Huge thanks to everyone for helping reach our goal. As it turns out, the money will be used towards a new machine that is used for early detection of bladder cancer. Can’ t thank you guys enough. You’ re the best!!( I think the goal was $ 10,000 and many of you donated!!) For more on Jay’ s recovery and inspiring biking, and other updates, make sure you get on Bob Jordan’ s email list.

Speaking of greatness, this tidbit arrived in August from Art Noel. For the second time in four years, Joe Santoro and Marty Jeffers have been crowned champions of Springfield Country Club’ s 2-man, match-play golf league. End in end, it was a“ fait accompli” by the 15th hole. Over the course of the past four years it’ s become very evident that Joe( darts) and Marty( horseshoes) are multidimensional competitors. On a personal note, I’ d just like to say I’ m glad my partner and I didn’ t have to play them in the final round. Congrat’ s Joe and Marty!!

Trivia answer … Rick Panczner was in cross country for one year.

There was another wonderful gathering of classmates in Springfield. New guest was Garey Stathes who held court with some new stories and a new take on old ones like Bob Eplett’ s fall from the truck. The theme of the night was“ stuff we got away with” while at Williamson. But like Nixon’ s tapes, there is a memory lapse between a great steak and saying good night! Like the TV show Mission Impossible, the memory tape was destroyed five seconds after I left and all participants will deny any involvement in said discussion. Hey, that’ s kind of like forgiveness. After faith and confession, the Bible says“ our sins and lawless deeds, He will remember no more.” Seems like a good place to end.

There is a rumor that this issue of The Williamsonian will do an article featuring my first book [ see page 2 ]. GROWTH SPURTS & GROWIN’ PAINS( the struggles of a skinny studmuffin). Loaded with jokes and stories of best, worst, funniest, and most embarrassing moments of my life. Your support will help me keep doing what I do! My“ Hilarity for Charity” tour will take me to 15 states this fall. Forgive the shameless plug, but if your church or company ever needs a clean comedian ….

Blessings on us all! Choosing to rejoice! Gordon Douglas