Happy Easter everyone!  

Greetings Class of '70!

I wanted to share the impact of Chuck Robert's suggestion that we share what's going on in our lives.  When he posted that, a notice was sent out to everyone.  The traffic on the website shot up!  Below is a chart of the activity for your review.  There are a lot of folks that don't post, but they read.  We are still in touch!  Thanks, to all who participate.  I think this is a nice way to continue our friendships.  

Happy Easter to all!

Theresa

Happy New Year everyone!  

I remember sitting on my front lawn with friends when I was about 8 or 9 years old, and we would talk about our future.  We would always comment on how we imagined the year 2000!  At that time, it seemed so far away.  So here we are now, about to begin 2024. 2024!!!!  If you had to list all the things we have witnessed in our lifetime, it would fill a page.  Who would have thought?  

Last month, there was a memorial for Coach Leese.  Some of our classmates attended and Mike Shanahan spoke at the event.  I cannot tell you more because I could not go.  It was held at the High School in the auditorium.  This is a link to the ceremony that his daughter provided:  

Link to ceremony    

Please click on the additional pictures located on the left side of the website:  Coach Leese Memorial.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.  Thanks to those that made Christmas wishes on the website.  It’s always nice to get those comments!  Much appreciated.

Be well, my friends!

Theresa

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and always brings back childhood memories of mouth-watering food, family games, and delicious pie. 

May this year be full of hope and faith for you. Wishing you blessed times with your family and friends and wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Please comment on something you are thankful for.  I'll go first.......I’m thankful to have a family who takes eating as seriously as I do.  Of course, I'm also thankful for many serious reasons, but let's make this fun!  Looking forward to seeing the responses!

Be well, my friends!

Theresa

Hello, Class of 1970.

It is with great sadness that I report to you that Coach Leese has passed away. 

https://www.sax-tiedemann.com/obituaries/john-leese-jr

Sharing some "Words of Wisdom" sent to me by Dennis Valentino.  Many will "hit home" and make you think and laugh.  My personal favorite is #21.  Enjoy!

WORDS OF WISDOM… 

1. Between 60 and death. It's time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don't just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital.
2. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.
3. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don't feel bad spending your money on yourself. You've taken care of them for many years, and you've taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter, and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.
4. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well, and get your sleep. It's easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you're feeling well. Stay informed.
5. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.
6. Don't stress over the little things. You've already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don't let the past drag you down and don't let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.
7. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: "A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection."
8. Be proud, both inside and out. Don't stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.
9. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.
10. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You'll be surprised at what old friends you'll meet.
11. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideas as you, but they are the future and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday's wisdom still applies today.
12. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time.
13. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it'll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you feel older and harder to be around.
14. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live by yourself
15. Don't abandon your hobbies. If you don't have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a kitchen garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf.
16. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven't seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a park. Get out there.
17. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are.
18. Pains and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of life.
19. If you've been offended by someone – forgive them. If you've offended someone-apologize. Don't drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn't matter who was right. Someone once said: "Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die." Don't take that poison. Forgive, forget, and move on with your life.
20. Laugh. Laugh away your worries Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life.
21. My valued friends, enjoy peaceful life at this point in your life ...Don't worry... be happy. 

Merry Christmas to the Class of 1970 and their families!  Over a year has passed since our reunion, and it’s been wonderful reading the messages that have gone back and forth in our “Memory Lane Comments” section.  

I was going to just write a message wishing you the best holiday, EVER, but decided to give you a challenge.  I’d love for you to share your favorite holiday memory with us.  I was talking with Ron (my fiancé) and we shared our memories with each other and had some good laughs.  It warmed our hearts to relive those times.  So, I’ll go first……my favorite memory is when I was about 6 years old.  My brother, Jimmy was 4.  We woke up in the middle of the night on Christmas because my parents made so much noise putting our gifts out.  We were listening to the noise going on in the living room and wondered if it was Santa!  My father heard us and came into our room (yes, we shared a room).  We told him we thought we heard Santa.  He said he had just left and that we should look out the window and see him flying away!  We ran to the window and my brother says “I SEE HIM!!!  I SEE HIM!!!”.  So, I’m looking out the window, too and I say, “I DON’T SEE ANYTHING!”  My father tries to convince me, but I hold my ground.  It's a great example of who I have been my entire life.  I always tell the truth.    Anyway, after sharing this story with Ron, I called my brother and he and I laughed so hard on the phone.  He vividly remembered this event and remembered my Father’s frustration at not being able to convince me.  Can you think of a better example of believing?  Jimmy believed so hard in Santa that he saw him flying away.  I just love that!  

Again, please share your favorite memories?  I hope you’ve enjoyed mine and look forward to reading yours.  Here is a picture of me and Jimmy at Christmastime.  

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy and healthy New Year!  

PLEASE post your memories!?  

Attention District 84 (Franklin Park), North School, South School, East School & Main School former students:

I'm sure we all fondly remember the BBQ days that were held at our school during lunch.  The PTA Room Mothers cooked these sandwiches up and served them to us while we sat in our classrooms to eat.  Well, there is an event on November 19th at Passow School (Franklin Park) where you can get one of these sandwiches! If you attend, please let us know how it was!?

Please see the announcement below:

Hello, everyone!  

Once again, Dennis Valentino has shared something with our class.  This is a link to a YouTube video featuring the presentation of a letter to our beloved Coach Leese from the 50th Anniversary of East Leyden's Football Championship.  It's heartfelt and emotional.  Thanks, for sharing, Dennis!

https://youtu.be/aVAtLarJvyA

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!!  Please share pictures of your family gatherings?  

Best,

Theresa

Dennis Valentino submitted this letter to be shared with all of us.  There is no indication of the author's name, but we really don't need to know.  I believe it really explains why I continue to receive notes/emails from our class regarding the reunion and also the ability to connect through this website. Even though it's more than a year that we gathered, it has left positive impressions on everyone.  Feel free to share your comments!

Thank you, for sharing, Dennis!  

A Class Reunion Letter from a 1964 East Leyden Graduate

Later that night, on the long drive home, I talked about how the reunion was so unlike what I expected.

“How so?” my wife asked.  “Didn’t you expect it to be happy? . . and sad?”

“But not so much,” I said.  “In either regard.”

I simply underestimated the human bond, the credential that would stand always by our names.  I decided it must go something like this:  We were born at the same time, in the same place, and we grew up in the same classes and schoolyards and soda fountains.  We heard the whistles of the same mills, watched the smoke from the same locomotives, and smelled the fragrance of the same apple blossoms.  Our popular songs, radio broadcasts, newspaper stories, and giddy fads touched our contemporaries in a thousand other towns, but never just the way they touched us, because we were different, not just singly, but different together.  Now, still tramping through the vast complexities of human life and death, we stay forever imprinted and linked by who we were, and in gathering together we have reconfirmed our identifies.  These well-lined faces are glad to see me.  I am glad to see them.  We must have loved each other better than we knew.

Happy Halloween classmates!!!!!  The old "reunion" website has now been officially taken down.  Please log in to this site so let me know that you can access it?  They were supposed to transfer everyone over and I want to be sure that they did.  Place a comment in the "Memory Lane" section so I know you are "in".  Thanks, to all for your participation and have a wonderful and safe, Halloween!!!