I have changed this Message Forum to Member Chatter so we do not have two different Message Forum web pages.  Member Chatter is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no topics, subtopics, etc. like there is in the Message Forum web page.

Member Chatter works when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry.

Van Hill

Mary

Thanks for bringing me into the light.  I could not remember Miss Mohrhuser's name and thought the same name odd reading a previous chat.  The confusion has diminished. 

I'm in your camp politically and more than likely theologically.  It's great that you are part of the process.

I'm sorry about your friend. Its very hard to understand suffering.  It must have been something to know our teachers after high school. Judy was blessed to have you take care of her. Van

John Schmidt Jr.

I have posted the Class Picture that the photographer took at the 50^th reunion in the Photo Gallery webpage.  Glenn has completed addressing all of the envelopes for all of our classmates who ordered the class picture.  Glenn will send you the picture a long with a copy of the Video DVD for our 50^th reunion.  I have almost completed making the video DVD, just waiting on a few more pictures to add to the DVD.  We hope to get all of the pictures and DVDs in the mail within the next two weeks.  All classmates who paid to attend the 50^th reunion will receive a Video DVD of our 50^th reunion.

Toni Ricciardelli (Sim)

Happy Veterans Day to all of our Irvin classmates that proudly served our country and all veterans everywhere. While I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone at our reunion and have treasured memories, my most heartwarming moment was when we honored our classmate veterans at the dinner Saturday evening. I salute you all on this special day...God bless you...thank you for your service!

Toni Ricciardelli

Glenn Gonzalez

Toni, thanks to you and our classmates for honoring veterans everywhere - and especially for recognizing and honoring them at our class reunion.  It was a special moment for all veterans.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  Frankly, it was an honor to serve, and we would gladly do it again.  Love and blessings to our classmates.

John Schmidt Jr.

Thanks to the generosity of the class of 1966, we were able to collect $750.00 from our website donation page for the Tarpley Scholarship fund.  We recently sent the principle of Irvin High School a check for $750.00.  Below is a letter that I received thanking our class for the donation:

Mr. Schmidt,

Thank you so much for the very generous donation from the Class of 1966.  The $750.00 check has been added to the scholarship fund and will help bridge the gap for a young Rocket to attend college.

Irvin values the alumni and we as the current administration want to strengthen the bond between the school, the teachers, and all those who graduated from here.  Your Class demonstrates the qualities that we seek to instill in current and future Classes at Irvin High School.

Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future for with any requests, ideas or comments. Once again, thank you for loyalty, your generosity, and your appreciation of the school.

Once a Rocket, Always a Rocket!

MaryAnna Harmon-Giba

Principal

Irvin High School

Glenn Gonzalez

Class Picture and DVD ready to mail.  Classmates and Friends, I am ready to mail the class pictures and reunion DVDs (made by Chairman John Schmidt).  Those who ordered the class picture will receive the picture and DVD in the same envelope.  Those who did not order a class picture will receive only the DVD.  John intends for everyone who attended the reunion to receive the DVD at no cost. I have reviewed the DVD.  John did a fantastic job creating this unique record of our reunion.  I should have all packages mailed in the next day or two.  Thanks again to all who attended and those who helped make this reunion our best ever.  Hope to see you all again soon.  We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Armando Maldonado

Hi Glenn.  I hadn't taken the opportunity to extend my thanks and kudos to the committtee for the amazing job all of you did in bringining together this most memorable of class reunions.  I really enjoyed visiting with my classmates and the events were top notch. 

I wanted to know if its not too late for the class picture I would like to order one, just let me know how much and to whom I would send the money. 

Again, all of you did a great job!  I extend to you, Marge and all a very Blessed Christmas. 

Armando

Glenn Gonzalez

Hi Armando, thank you very much for your kind words.  I agree that this was a great reunion - actually the very best one for our class.  With John Schmidt's leadership and creativity, the committee did a fantastic job.  I just returned from the post office and already mailed your DVD.  However, I have an extra class picture.  I will send that to you in the next day or two.  Merry Christmas.  Thanks again for being a great friend for many years.

Armando Maldonado

Glenn, I don't want to take the picture if you have need for it, but I appreciate it.  I also wanted to let you know that our dear classmate, Luis Carrillo, has been back in the hospital since the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  The prognosis doesn't look good so I will keep you and classmates apprised of his condition.  He is in ICU at Del Sol Medical Center and is on a respirator. 

Armando

Armando Maldonado

I also thank you for being such a great friend.  Hard to believe we've know each other for 58 years.  I would still like to visit you some time soon.  It would be great to visit for a few days and have more time to reminice.

Armando
 

Glenn Gonzalez

Hi Armando, thank you for the update on Louie Carrillo.  Looks like all we can do now is pray.  Louie will appreciate that, as he specifically asked me to pray for him at the reunion.  I will surely do that.

As for the class picture, I just mailed yours this morning.  Don't be concerned.  It was an extra I ordered. .

Yes, please visit us in Hill Country.  We can extend our 58 years of friendship here.  Hill Country really is a fun and interesting place.  Come any time.  There are several Irvin grads in the area.

Have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.

Elenor Vea (Diesto)

Glenn - Received the reunion group picture today.  For those of us who were unable to attend, it is a wonderful memento.  Thank you for all that you do to keep so many of your classmates connected.  Please let me know what I owe you for this treasured keepsake.  Thank you again for your tireless efforts.

Elenor

Fred Moon

I’ve often thought about posting my thoughts on the site but just didn’t seem to get with it…but I’ve recalled the Reunion many times the past month or so and just watched and listened to John’s marvelous DVD. So pop another top and here goes. High school has always been such a good memory in my life – great classmates, good times, no worries. Then I went off to UT Austin and the Marine Corps and got distant from El Paso, and was still so after we moved back to Texas…until I got word about our class 45^th Reunion…and a business trip in Europe kept me from being there. So I was really excited to be able to plan to make the 50^th…and catch up on so many classmates the first time I visited John’s website…and was saddened to learn of the passing of many classmates. Then the Reunion came…it was so terrific! It was so wonderful to see so many classmates again and rekindle friendships and get to know some even more and meet other’s loved ones. Thanks so much to all of the members of the Reunion Committee and chair John Schmidt and “social lead” Glenn Gonzalez! You created a wonderful memory. Thanks, John, for your “labor of love” – the time you put into making the DVD is quite evident and very much appreciated. It was interesting to see that there are pockets of Alums in parts of Texas and northern New Mexico in addition to the El Paso/Las Cruces area. Hopefully some mini-reunions will result before the 55^th!  

Glenn Gonzalez

HI Elenor and Fred, thanks for acknowledging receipt of your packages.  The reunion was a fabulous event, and the committee (under John Schmidt's leadership) was motivated and honored to get our classmates together.  Like you, I felt this was more than just another reunion.  Many of us have known each other since grade school, and the 50th reunion is the most special and sentimental of all reunions.  I am glad you were able to reconnect with classmates after UT and your Marine career.  I cannot say what will happen at our 55th reunion.  However, I am confident there will more many "mini-reunions" before then.  There are several Irvin grads in my Hill Country neighborhood.  Hope to see you then.  Merry Christmas..

Steve Clemens

Armando, Tell Louie that Jen and I are praying for him.

John Schmidt Jr.

Thanks Fred for your kind words about the reunion committee and I am glad you enjoyed the DVD.  It was a lot of work for us all, but it sure was worth the effort.  I too enjoyed the reunion, a chance to visit old friends, meet new friends, and catch up on all we have done over the years.  I think you would have to agree, we have a unique and fantastic group of classmates.  Glenn and I were talking last night and I am sure we will have some mini reunions in the future.  By the way Fred, we are looking for a chairperson for the 55^th reunion.  lol

John Schmidt Jr.

Armando, it was great seeing you again at the reunion and thanks for keeping us up to date on our good friend Louie.  I too have Louie and his sweet wife Dora in my prayers.

Armando Maldonado

Glenn and John, I received the DVD and class picture which really came out great.  Thank you so much for putting in all of the time and effort into the reunion and the DVD. 

I visited Louie Saturday at the hospital, but have to say it wasn't easy to see him.  He is on a respirator, feeding tube and IV.  He was heavily sedated so he spends much time sleeping.   He did recognize I was there, but poor guy couldn't keep his eyes open to look at me.  Let's all keep him and his family in our prayers and I will continue to keep you aprised of his condition. 

Steve, thank you for your concern and prayers.  They are needed now more than ever. 

Claire Meckler

Dear Glenn, John, and the alumni committee,

Thank you all so very much for all the work you did to made the reunion such a wonderful time for all of us! Seeing the group pic and all the fun photos on the DVD made the sweet memories come back afresh--and made me realize I'd neglected to express my heartfelt appreciation in writing.  This is actually the first time I've attempted an entry on the website (old fashioned, lo-tech me!).  

So please know that every detail of your team effort is warmly remembered--from the name tags to the gift bags (am using and enjoying my Irvin water bottle!), from the variety of planned activities (historic tours, casual gatherings, and elegant last evening!)--each giving opportunity for good interactions as we mixed and mingled to get re-acquainted with old friends.  Thanks again to each of you in whatever part you played to make it all happen.

May God continue to bless you in the coming Christmas season--and throughout the New Year.

Sincerely, Claire 

Armando Maldonado

I wanted to let everyone know that Louie Carrillo is now out of ICU, but still remains very weak.  He is to begin rehabbing to gain strength and speech and to be able to eat without feeding tube.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  I will let you know how things progress.

Armando

Steve Clemens

Great news Armando !  Thx.

Glenn Gonzalez

Thank you, Armando.  Your update on Louie is promising.  We'll keep praying for Louie and Dora.

Martha (Marty) Vass (Townsend)

Mando,

    Thank you for the update on Luis.  I will keep he and Dora in my prayers.

Marty

Sherry Shutt (Reed)

I also want to thank you for posting the update, Armando, and will keep praying for Louie and Dora.

Armando Maldonado

My dear friend and our classmate, Luis Carrillo passed away this morning at 4:00 a.m.  He is now free of all the pain he endured the last two years.  May he rest in peace and enjoy the choir of angels in heaven.