David Dolgin

My condolonces to Robert's family.  I did not have lots of times with Robert, but the ones I did have were full of fun and laughter.

Bob Wald

Wes --that was beautiful---RIP Bobby Keats

Mike Rubin

Anyone out there planning a 50th reunion? I would love to attend.  Please put me on your email mailing list.  Thanks, mike rubin   mrubin1124@gmail.com

I am not worried about Covid, been vaccinated.  We should have it this year and combine it with class of 70 since they did not have one.  

Jerry Piacenza

I as well would attend a 50th reunion.My e-mail is jp0953@yahoo.com  Thanks

Rose Hansen

Reuniting with friends especially after the last year sounds divine!

Alan Newton

Bob Wald

Sadly I will be unable to attend but I want to toast my peers. We made it this far and we're here!! Congratulations and rock on into the future!! Good luck to all. 

Bruce Koff

Jeff Melvoin (Jeffrey D Melvoin)

I like Bruce's idea and if I were in HP would participate.  

Who could have conceived that just a week after such a lovely, warm event in which many of us reflected how fortunate we were to grow up in HP and how beiful it remains, we would be sharing our heartbreak and outage over such senseless violence.  It appears the ballot box is our only weapon against the madness.  I'm not optmistic, but without hope, how can we go on?

Thinking of you all, praying our children and grandchildren may inhabit a better America.

Jeff

Claudia Mendelson (Bridges)

It's been 34 years since I have lived there. My house is 1600 miles from there. When asked where I am from, I say "Highland Park." It was home. A time of innocence and experimentation in sheltered safety. That image was shattered on the 4th of July. My heart aches for those who have been directly touched and those, like me, who felt the vibration hundreds and thousands of miles away.  I want to hold the hand of everyone who was affected by this and look into their eyes and cry.  This may fade, but it may take a somber walk down Central.

Nancy Cahn (Miller)

Bruce, I think this is a lovely idea and if I lived there I would certainly attend.  If you decide to do this know that I will be there in spirit with you all. xxoo

Steve Lane (Stephen I. Lane)

Bruce, I think you've got a great idea there, and I'd love to attend if it happens. I wasn't able to make the reunion because of work-related commitments, and was regretting my choice even before the shootings. We all grew up in a special place and in special times. I moved from our house in HP to Glencoe during the winter of our freshman year, but my home always was Highland Park. Friends of 60+ years are treasures. My backyard butted up against Maggi's field, and we spent our days playing freely in the streets at all hours of the days and nights. We were never afraid. We are waiting for our 4th grandchild to be born, and I feel so sorry for all of the children who will never enjoy the freedom of life we all shared. Before Covid, a group of us would get together for lunches every few months or so and share stories about where we'd been and how we've lived since HP, and the many memories we shared of our growing up. I wasn't fortunate to be there for all of high school, and still, I've always felt fully Included in our class. It was that special. I hope this gathering takes place.

David Axelrod

I moved to Highland Park when I was all of 5 1/2 years old.  I grew up in Highland Park, went to school here, and returned after college and law school to live and raise my family.  My mother still lives here.  Never, in my wildest dreams (or nightmares), did I believe my quiet (and at times, boring) hometown would be mentioned in the same breath as "mass shooting".  I love to watch the movies which are set and filmed here.  However, after these past few days, seeing the downtown area on television is no longer something I look forward to.  I heard one man say his 8-year old child no longer wants to go to parades.  I sympathize and feel much of the same sentiment.  I have always enjoyed fireworks, but I'm not sure I will ever be able to hear them again without wondering if it's a gunshot.  Sadly, I feel this past 4th of July has changed me, and not in a good way.

I think Bruce's idea is wonderful, and I will participate if it occurs.

Susan LeClair (Bohlin)

Bless you, Bruce, for your excellent idea. Like Jeff, if I were in HP I'd join in. (On my mobility scooter--the joys of post-polio . . .)

Grief and sorrow are best processed in community, not alone. We all share in the "this is absolute crazy" feeling.

My sister and I, having just disembarked a cruise ship Monday morning and seeing flags everywhere, were reminiscing together about the 4th of July parades. Our dad, the Electrolux man, always positioned himself and his festooned VW beetle last in the parade every year--he would attach a large push broom to the rear bumper as a kind of visual pun. He used to say that the 4th of July was his favorite day of the year, and we sure loved helping decorate his "float" each year.  Literally moments after we talked about our parade memories, our phones started blowing up with notifications of the shooting. It was surreal.

Saddened greetings to you all.

Sue  

Lennie Rose (Steiger)

Hi Everyone,

Might I suggest we have a Zoom healing circle? I've done one before at Equinox and I'd be happy to lead if someone can drive the Zoom. It would literally be a moment of silence with all of us sending out vibes of LOVE and HEALING to each other and to our town, as deeply and strongly as we can. Then we can conclude with a few people reading a favorite quote, poem or stanza - words that have seen them through or lifted them up.

The circle we did at Equinox: My friend is now cancer free. After each exercise class we formed a circle around Kathy.  People came just for the circle and it grew bigger. . We all held hands and in silence sent her love and healing. Did it work? I don't know. But we loved it. She loved it. And we were all better off for having done it.

John Wilheim (Wilheim)

I, too, tell people I'm "from Highland Park," although I spent barely more than 12 years of my life there.

My family moved to town from Washington, D.C., where I was born, when I was 6 1/2, about 2 weeks before the start of first grade at Lincoln School.

I left for college in September of 1971 and only came back for vacations and holidays thereafter.

But it still is the place I think of as "home."

Bruce Koff

Lennie Rose (Steiger)

One more idea. Maybe we could combine Bruce's walk with a Zoom so we can join it in some way. 

Richard Piacenza

Governor Prizker encouraged us to be angry and I'm there now. Past the denial stage and on to full blown anger.  Anger directed at sooo many evil, selfish, ignorant people in this country.

My family & had been out of the country since June 26th and arrived home last evening. The first thing we did was drive to downtown HP. Because it is an active crime scene, we could only view from outside the yellow tape. 

Count on our family to be included in the protest vehicle which materializes. 

Rick Piacenza

Steve Borenstein

I love the idea of a zoom meeting so that everyone can participate if they choose.  Perhaps another idea to consider would be to have representatives of our class place a wreath at the site from the class of 1971.   

Claudia Mendelson (Bridges)

I love the idea of a Zoom Circle. 

Jill Pollack (Feldman)

I couldn't believe hearing of my hometown's shooting. I am still so heartbroken of all the lives lost and injured. My HS friend Debby knew some of these people.
Unfortunately I couldn't attend the reunion and live in the DC area but it would be nice to reconnect on a Zoom call in remembrance.  Jill Feldman (Pollack) 

Laurie Solgon

I would also love to participate in a zoom circle. I was flying back into the country and had just landed at O'Hare around noon on the 4th when I was able to turn my phone on and what do you think was the first thing I saw? That there had been a mass shooting but it didn't say which Chicago suburb so I was horrified to see that it was Highland Park. As much as I would love to physically be there that's not a possibility so I would like to honor the victims and all who witnessed it by being at the parade by coming together with a march and Zoom. Thanks for all the good suggestions.

Karen Meldman (Finerman)

This message is from Kerry Wolfe:

#HighlandParkStrong
On Wednesday, July 13, at 7:00 p.m. the City of Highland Park will host a vigil at City Hall (1707 St. Johns Ave.) for the community to gather together and honor the memory of the victims.

Highland Park has created a landing page with information about community vigils, donation and volunteering opportunities, crisis counseling and victim resources and more at hpstrong.info.

Following a moment of silence at the July 5th Village Board meeting, Mayor Daniel C. Shapiro addressed the senseless shooting saying, “To Highland Park, our community grieves with you, we support you and we stand by you.” You can read his full remarks here.

Deerfield Police Department Social Workers Katharina Rygiel (847-794-7511) and Izzy Weintraub (847-794-7513) are also available to provide support to anyone affected by Monday's tragic event. Please reach out to them if you need to talk or would like additional resources. You can also call the Lake County Crisis Line 847-377-8088 for mental health resources or support. Crisis Counselors are available 24 hours a day to speak with you by phone. Information and referrals to other Health Department programs are also available. The Deerfield Public Library has gathered resources on how to talk to children about difficult topics. You can find it here.

To help those impacted by Monday's mass shooting, the Highland Park Community Foundation has established a July 4th Highland Park Shooting Response Fund. Here is also a direct link to the donation form. If you prefer, you may send a check, payable to the Highland Park Community Foundation, to P.O. Box 398, Highland Park, IL 60035.

A group of local interfaith clergy are hosting a “Healing and Hope” booth at tomorrow’s Farmers Market with comfort dogs. Members of the community are invited to write their fears, thoughts and prayers on pieces of orange fabric that will be woven together. Local non-profit Gratitude Generation will be hosting a bake sale at the Farmers Market with proceeds to be donated to the Highland Park Community Foundation. They will also be putting up orange ribbons for gun safety around downtown.

Joyce Rosen (Friedman)

Yes to Bruce's idea. I was sad to miss the reunion but had just been visiting at the beginning of June. I am completely undone and beyond words. I can't be there for a ''walk' but would love to zoom with people. Please let me know. Thank you for thinking of it .  joycefriedman625@gmail.com  (Joyce Rosen)