Mr. Chernoff letter
Hi ladies...
I tracked down Mr. Chernoff through PeopleFinder and gave his address to the class of 1970. They sent him an invitation to their reunion last October. Here was his response:
"I was so happily surprised to get your letter about the St. Raphael’s HS Reunion. I was in Pittsburgh last Thanksgiving and rode out to Chislett St. with my older daughter just to see the place. And while I won’t say it’s impossible, it is unlikely that I’ll be able to make it the event in October. I really appreciate being included in your planning as I have wonderful memories from my three years there.
In case anyone is interested, here’s a thumbnail of my life. Jaymie and I lived in Greece for two years right after I left St. Raphael’s. We came back to the US in 1971 and went to graduate school at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where I got a PhD in sociology and she got an MS in Regional Planning. I got a teaching job in Atlanta where we lived for four years. But I wasn’t as happy doing that as I had hoped. Fortunately, we were able to move back to Amherst, MA in 1980 (where we have lived ever since). I worked for a couple of private companies for about 23 years, mainly business development and client management for firms that provided professional services. Then about seven years ago, in 2003, I started raising money for the College of Engineering at UMass, working with our alumni. I am just transitioning to 60% time in that job, winding down a little. Jaymie and I have two daughters, 30 and 35, both living in New York City. My brother and his family and a few cousins are still in Pittsburgh, so we get there from time to time. And I remain a big Steelers fan; there are a couple of bars here where the faithful gather every Sunday.
1968, when I started at St. Raphael’s, seems a long time ago. I was barely older than the kids who were seniors that year. I remember odds bits and pieces in detail: flipping nickels with Sr. Paul (our little gambling vice); the annual NCAA basketball pool; praying for snow days; going to Mass (actually a relaxing time for me, a nice Jewish boy); the basketball team that Kathy Bodenheimier coached that got wasted by everyone they played; girls with their boy friends’ names written in ink on their hands; my running to the Carnegie Library to do research on topics I was supposed to be teaching but knew little about, just trying to stay one jump ahead of the students; endless piles of essays to read and evaluate; how silly the 9th graders could be; etc.
I would be interested to know who will be coming from the teaching and office staff, mainly to spur my own memories. I can recall some names, but certainly not all. It seems strange that my recollections are all about 15 to 18-year old girls, and now everyone is in her mid- to late-50s. Not much difference between us now. I have good friends here in Amherst much younger than all of you. At least back then I had the “authority” of my role as teacher working for me to create a little separation.
As I said, it is possible that I can get to Pittsburgh for the reunion, and I would like to, but I’d have to let you know later on. If I can find a recent, good photo of my family, I’ll send it along. Please do communicate that I look back at the three years I was there as a happy one. I had some wonderful students with whom to work. The pleasure was mine.
Michael"
I tracked down Mr. Chernoff through PeopleFinder and gave his address to the class of 1970. They sent him an invitation to their reunion last October. Here was his response:
"I was so happily surprised to get your letter about the St. Raphael’s HS Reunion. I was in Pittsburgh last Thanksgiving and rode out to Chislett St. with my older daughter just to see the place. And while I won’t say it’s impossible, it is unlikely that I’ll be able to make it the event in October. I really appreciate being included in your planning as I have wonderful memories from my three years there.
In case anyone is interested, here’s a thumbnail of my life. Jaymie and I lived in Greece for two years right after I left St. Raphael’s. We came back to the US in 1971 and went to graduate school at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where I got a PhD in sociology and she got an MS in Regional Planning. I got a teaching job in Atlanta where we lived for four years. But I wasn’t as happy doing that as I had hoped. Fortunately, we were able to move back to Amherst, MA in 1980 (where we have lived ever since). I worked for a couple of private companies for about 23 years, mainly business development and client management for firms that provided professional services. Then about seven years ago, in 2003, I started raising money for the College of Engineering at UMass, working with our alumni. I am just transitioning to 60% time in that job, winding down a little. Jaymie and I have two daughters, 30 and 35, both living in New York City. My brother and his family and a few cousins are still in Pittsburgh, so we get there from time to time. And I remain a big Steelers fan; there are a couple of bars here where the faithful gather every Sunday.
1968, when I started at St. Raphael’s, seems a long time ago. I was barely older than the kids who were seniors that year. I remember odds bits and pieces in detail: flipping nickels with Sr. Paul (our little gambling vice); the annual NCAA basketball pool; praying for snow days; going to Mass (actually a relaxing time for me, a nice Jewish boy); the basketball team that Kathy Bodenheimier coached that got wasted by everyone they played; girls with their boy friends’ names written in ink on their hands; my running to the Carnegie Library to do research on topics I was supposed to be teaching but knew little about, just trying to stay one jump ahead of the students; endless piles of essays to read and evaluate; how silly the 9th graders could be; etc.
I would be interested to know who will be coming from the teaching and office staff, mainly to spur my own memories. I can recall some names, but certainly not all. It seems strange that my recollections are all about 15 to 18-year old girls, and now everyone is in her mid- to late-50s. Not much difference between us now. I have good friends here in Amherst much younger than all of you. At least back then I had the “authority” of my role as teacher working for me to create a little separation.
As I said, it is possible that I can get to Pittsburgh for the reunion, and I would like to, but I’d have to let you know later on. If I can find a recent, good photo of my family, I’ll send it along. Please do communicate that I look back at the three years I was there as a happy one. I had some wonderful students with whom to work. The pleasure was mine.
Michael"