Eric Melgaard

I'm truly bummed to be missing out on our reunion weekend. Please know that I will be reliving all the great memories all weekend long.  Have fun and enjoy. 

Marc Zolotor

I'll add my voice to regrets at not being able to attend. In this case, due to medical issues. Ah, the joys of getting less young. And you even went out of your way to make sure there were no stairs involved so that we could have easy access for our now creaking bones. Sigh. Anyway, for those attending, please enjoy to the max. And to all of our other classmates, isn't it wonderful to have connections that run so deep in our lives and keep us connected to our roots.

Bridget Witcher (Peck)

Hi all, would love to be there and see all your smiling faces. Due to health issues, I unfortunately won't be able to make it.  I have a very rare neurological disorder that I inherited from my Dad. (Spinocebellar Ataxia). It affects my vision, speech and most of all my balance. I use a walker 100% of time and just now transitioning to wheelchair. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful pictures. Have fun! I will be there in spirit.

Roberta Bentley (Rogers)

Celeste White

Hi, everyone, and heartfelt thanks to those who have worked so diligently to make this reunion a reality.  Though I have missed many previous reunions, I was hoping to attend this one. But, as with other classmates, the continued circulation of COVID makes it problematic for me; my husband has underlying conditions that make him high risk and the last three years have been fraught enough that we are being cautious. I am really sorry to miss it. And I apologize for being so out-of-touch in general since graduation. Turns out I’m not so good at staying in touch. But I cherish the memories I have of all of you and am deeply aware of how very lucky I was to be able to attend Southwest during its glory days, crammed full of so many outstanding people. To those of you I have been friends with on FB, a hacker obliterated my account and FB’s system was so inept from start to finish that I no longer feel comfortable sharing information on that platform. So I won’t be returning. I’ll miss having that contact with everyone that way, though, and am sorry my departure was so abrupt. I’ll try to make better use of this platform to stay in touch with high school friends. Anyway, very very best and fondest wishes, and BTW, Robyn Black, you are too, too awesome. Your home state is in my prayers; I know only too well the horror of wildfires.

Patricia Wurst (Cichy)

My husband and I are unable to attend -- I accompanied (on piano)  7 of my students this morning at RI Solo and Ensemble Festival (6 oboes and 1 bassoon).  They all played well, and then my husband and I went kayak/fishing.  I am really excited to see any pictures, and am so sorry we were unable to participate.  But I'm sure you are all having fun!  I have been able to reconnect with some people on FaceTime, and am also excited to hear about the Marlborough Elementary School reunion occurring tomorrow!

Pat (Wurst) Cichy                                                        

Terry Greenberg (Krause)

Dear all.

Sorry to miss this event of a lifetime. I KNOW it was just unforgettable, and that it checked every imaginable box and satisfied all the senses! Does anyone remember which teacher gave us "tenacity" as a vocab word and defined it as "stick-to-it-iveness?" Well THAT'S what it took to make this reunion happen. Congratulations to everyone who didn't give up, even when it looked impossible. Wishing good health and a speedy recovery to all who need one.

Please post photos as soon as you have them.

Love to all. Terry

Jadie Ingram (Trageser)

How I wish  I could be there with everyone, but health issues will keep me from traveling and mixing in large crowds.  Please post lots of pictures and have a wonderful time!

jadie ingram trageser

Chris Mahley

So sorry I missed the "50+1" reunion! Looks like all had a great time. I'm remiss in not getting my contact info. updated but am doing so now.

Take care,

Chris

Lee (Lelia) Harris (Fischer)

Michael Levitt

To those who attended Hale Cook, John Taylor, who does not use the internet, aked if anyone knew who their 2nd grade teacher was. Dan, Richard, Drew, David, Steve? Anyone else from Hale Cook who may know, just post a response and I'll get it back to  Dr. Taylor. Thanks. 

Drew Hause

Was it Mrs. Livingston? Or was she our 1st grade teacher? Mrs. Johnson? I'll bet Susan Hadley would remember.

BTW: there is a Hale Cook Elementary Alumni site now

https://www.classmates.com/places/school/Hale-Cook-Elementary-School/17470661 

Dan Kaufman

   If you were in the split class - 2nd and 3rd graders - it was Mrs. Phillips.  I think Livingston was the other 2nd grade teacher.  

Dennis Tyrl

Danny N and I think it was Mrs Griggs

Chuck Sharp (Sharp)

I was in the split class with Mrs. Phillips and I have no idea who else taught 2nd grade but there were probably 2 others not just 1.

Ron Lindsey

I had Livingston for first grade and Mrs.Griggs for second. I think Miss Thralls was also a second grade teacher. Usually, there were three teachers per grade.

Maggi Noll (Freeman)

Drew Hause

What Maggie said. Mrs. Griggs was not a happy person, but we survived. I'd forgotten about the coat closet time out. In contrast Mrs. Erickson, our 3rd grade teacher, was wonderful. And the external door of the classroom opened onto the "big kids" playground, with monkey bars and a roundabout we'd go flying off of...on the asphalt - how many broken arms did our class have?!

Michael Levitt

Well, this inquiry generated a lot of memories and names for sure. John Taylor got back to me with his teachers at Hale Cook. Starting with 1st grade.   Kay Thralls, Eleanor Grigs, Helen Erickson, Dorothy Jones, Stella Jacoby and Donna Hunter for 6th Grade. John recalled having breakfast with Miss jacoby years later and years ago, and noted she passed away a couple years after that at 103. And while I attended Border Star, it seems the character and make up of grade school teachers was eerily similar as the stories told here from the experience at Hale Cook.  I think there must have been a teachers handbook with a section on 'coat closet discipline' as I spend a considerable number of hours during 5th and 6th grade in the room coat closet at Border Star! LOL! 

Debra Luke (Singer)

As a graduate of Hale Cook I wanted to answer even though I have nothing really to contribute. I don't remember much of anything except Ms Swick for Kindergarten and Ms Thralls for first grade who wanted to know why I couldn't be more like pretty Joan Meyers. It was fun to read your messages. 

Linda Bitner (Sugerman)

Anyone from Hartman remember these teachers?  I think I have this correct.

First Grade:  Mrs. Lott, Second Grade: Mrs. Mulligan, Third Grade: Mrs. Flood, Fourth Grade: Mrs. Casey, Fifth Grade: Mrs. Ayers; Sixth Grade: Mrs. Schultz

Terry Greenberg (Krause)

With tremendous sadness I inform you of the passing of Shelli Rashbaum Frimer, today in Israel. I learned of the terrible news from David Magence, her late sister Gloria's husband. Cause of death was prolonged pneumonia (she was hospitalized for the better part of a year), as a complication of myotonic dystrophy. She is survived by an older sister, Jackie, as well as her husband, children and grandchildren. May her memory be for a blessing. If I receive an obituary over the next few days, I will post it.

Sandy Aguirre (Mayer)

Oh my God. That is awful. I can't believe that sweet girl passed so soon after our dear classmate Gloria. I went to Hale Cook with both and they were the most loving sisters I had ever seen. I am so so sad to hear this!

Alyson Handy (Olson)

Ed and I had our tickets to attend my 50+1 Southwest HS reunion after we had attended his Army reunion in Gettysburg the previous week.  Unfortunately I came down with Covid and was soooo disappointed I would be unable to attend.  I really would have liked to have visited with everyone.  I have to live vicariously through the photos posted and hope we'll all be there for the next one.  Cheers to all!

-Alyson-

Gladys Sabates (Mabry)

It is difficult to be the bearer of heart breaking news when my own is 💔a dear friend and classmate Sara Bufton-Rosen passed away very peacefully early yesterday morning (01/25/2023) surrounded by all her family. Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. I will update post once we know of any obituary or service. Your memory will aways be a blessing to me♥️🙏🏼♥️