Dennis Michel

I was never really fond of Miss Weber, but I guess we got along.  Afew years after her class I found myself teaching the very same subject, which in one way or another I did for most of my carreer.   I guess she really helped me earn a living.

Dennis Michel

My fondest moment in a class was when Mr. Wagner meant to say circumscribed circle.  He must have had something else on his mind because circumcised circle came from his mouth.  We were all very respectful, nobody so much as chuckled.  When I turned to look at Paul Newman he had a grin on his face larger than any I have seen before or since.  Getting out of that class semi-composed may have been the most difficult thing I did in IHS.

Carl (Scoop) Turnquist

Speaking of Mr Handler, he was certainly one of my favorite teachers. His congenial nature and anecdotal way of presenting historical topics made learning fun. Similarly, Mr Handler was a true gentleman and genuinely nice person. Many of you may not know that although he was a rather large man, nonetheless, he was very agile. He was in fact the Fencing Coach. Yes, Islip High School actually had a fencing team! While, it was well hidden in the shadows of our illustrious Basketball, Baseball, Soccer and Track Teams; it did exist. Mr Handler encouraged me to join. Well let's just say a kid with two left feet does not belong on a team that requires agility and poise. But a career of bench warming in a tight fencing suit is not as comfortable as one might imagine. Needless to say, one season was enough. As I recall there were only about 6 of us on the team. I can't recall who at this time. But Kudo's to Mr. H. for the effort. At least I was a straight A History student.

Paul Newman

Carl,

Good to hear from you!   Your are correct about Mr. Handler coaching fencing.  I was on the team, along with the Hausers and others for several years.  Alas, our priority in the athletic scheme of things was somewhat low. Our equipment was stored in a wooden casket-like box under the stage in the auditorium, and our matches were often fought on a rubber strip rolled out in front of the stage,  the gym being deemed as not for the likes of us.  Nevertheless, we did persevere, and even won a few inter scholastic matches.  The skills I learned on the team served me well, and I went on to teach fencing at Antioch College a few years later.

I wonder if you remember a trip Mr. Handler took us on one day?  A chap by the name of Oscar kolambadovich was a former Olympic champion, who had moved to the US from Hungary and set up a studio in Queens (I think).   From there he coached up and coming fencers, as well as maintained an armory from which one could purchase weapons.  We went there specifically to buy some foils. I came back with what is referred to as a Belgian pistol grip, that I loved.  

BTW, one of kolambadovich's students was the captain of the team from Half Hollow Hills., the leading team on the Island.  They were awesome.  Anyway as luck would have it, one day there they were in our darkened auditorium on our junky rubber strip, smirking and wondering how long it was going to take them to demolish us.  As captain of our team, I had the first match going up against this guy who was kolambadovich's student and clearly the top fencer on the Island.   You know that cartoon that defines audacity by showing a huge owl swooping down on a little mouse... And the mouse is calmly facing him and giving him the finger?

Mr. Handler simply said "relax,... We all know he's the best, but go ahead and see what you can do.".  I decided he was right, ... I was expected to lose, so I went at this guy with a vengeance... And somehow beat him.  I think Ken Hauser also beat one of their guys as well that day.  After the match he was clearly in a funk, even though as a team, they cleaned our clock, but he could no longer claim "undefeated.". Ah as Bruce Springfielf so elequently put it...."Glory Days".  

Best regards to you Carl.

Paul Newman

Educational Climate

Next we have the case of the Irishman teaching our English and Lit. classes, one Mr. Emmet McHugh.  Mr. McHugh , whatever else you could say, had class...gravitas.  He not only spoke eloquently , but he was an impeccable dresser.... Even possessing , as I recall, an all white suit.  Always clad in at least in a shirt and tie, he exhorted us mere mortals to the lofty regimes of English and American literature.  

I thoroughly enjoyed his classes, and learned a lot from them.  He did, however, possess one very annoying habit.

He decided that some of his students had a predilection for falling asleep in his class so he pursued a diabolical tactic to prevent that.   Even on the coldest days of the year, with snow fluttering down....HE WOULD KEEP THE TOPS OF THE WINDOWS WIDE OPEN!!!  

Admittedly, it was somewhat difficult to respond to his questions with your teeth chattering....Brrrr

Arthur Weisser

I remember practicing lunges in the hallway on,I believe, the third floor. Sore leg muscles prevailed.

Margus Muurisepp

Mr. McHugh was a real great teacher, also someone to look up to,I had him  for 9 & 12 grade English, when my kids went Islip I think he was a Guidence Councler

Becky Blau (Bleicher)

Hi folks: It's taken me a while to write this because this is difficult. You see, Islip High was the third high school I attended, and I was only there one year. Unfortunately, because of circumstances at home, I have only one slight memory of that year: Someone mentioned Sports Night on this forum, and a memory was brought to mind of me sitting on the gym floor in my pajamas. That's it! I don't know if any of you remember me or not. I have no idea of what I was even like in those days. If any of you have memories of me, I think I would welcome the sharing of them. I hope y'all understand. If you wish to communicate privately, my email is beckytecky@yahoo.com :)

I have lived in southwestern Virginia for almost 14 years. It is home! I am a Christian and feell that I have grown into a woman filled with love despite past circumstances. :) I'll be happy to get to know you guys again!

Arthur Weisser

Of course we remember you.You came to us late in the game. It is a difficult thing to start at a new school. I don't recall a sports night with a theme that would require P.J'S but that was a long time ago. Does anyone remember what that may have been?

Hopefully you will be able to join us at our next get together.

Be well.

Heather Volavka (Williams)

I loved Sports Night too and yes, I remember you Becky but I don't remember wearing pajamas. It's been interesting reading about the memories of my classmates...most things mentioned so far, I don't remember myself.  I have no memory of Mr. Handler...probably because I disliked History...never could understand why you had to learn about things that happened so long ago.  At times I've even been wondering if I was in the same classes!  I liked Mr. McHugh...didn't he wear a bow tie? 

Lynn Stensen (Maffie)

Lynn Stensen (Maffie)

BECKY....SPORTS NIGHT 1965 SENIOR CLASS

Hansel and Gretel...Stephen Porpora was the story teller to all us little kids...

Susan Giarratano (Finnegan)

Lynn, you  have  such a good  memory,  I don't remember  that  at all. 

Lillian Lehr (Kouchinsky)

I have enjoyed reading everyone's response.  Brings back wonderful memories.  I, too, liked Mr. Handler.  He was a great teacher and a nice person.  History was my favorite subject.  In fact, it still is.  I also enjoy reading about ancient history.  There is a lot to learn if you pay attention.  In many cases, by understanding what happened in the past, will help to provide answers why things have gotten to where they are now.  I also liked Mr. McHugh.  A great teacher, and I enjoyed his class.  One teacher who was a real pip was Mr. Newport who taught typing.  I remember his walking up and down the isles with a yard stick, and as he was calling out the "home key letters", he would hit the side of each desk.  It never failed that each time he walked past me, my fingers would end up sliding off the type writer keys and end up in between the keys.  It was very hard when you were learning to type and you had a teacher hitting each desk with a yard stick as he was calling out what letter you were to type.  

Paul Newman

Heather-   Yep, Mr McHugh almost always wore a bow tie.  

Lynn-   great sports night picture!   If you look closely, I think that's John Eyre, with the accordian.  ( you know the difference between an accordian and a chain saw?   You can tune a chain saw!)

Now I have a question, because I have another story... This time about Drivers Ed, but I need a name....   Who were the PE instructors that also taught driver Ed?  I think one was mr. Sal Benninotti, but who were the others?

Lynn Stensen (Maffie)

I think there was  Biangardi, Veryzer  and I think I had Rich Weil...but I don't think Veryzer ever taught drivers ed....and yes Benninotti was a instructor.  Oh and I think Weil was related to Pete Lambert...so what is the story....!

Joan Gilday (Edmonds)

Becky, I do remember you--you were a really nice, sweet girl.  I didn't recall the Sports Night with pajamas; but, that was so great that Lynn had a picture of the pajama scene. 

Mr McHugh was my favorite teacher--had him for 3 years of English.  He was a very caring teacher.

Becky Blau (Bleicher)

Thanks Lynn for a great picture!! I think I can even see the top of my head right between the two girls in the foreground wearing red! I remember the sign, too! I seem to remember working on it :) Any more memories of me?

Arthur Weisser

There are the P.J's!! I forgot all about that.

Paul,

I remember a Gary Larson cartoon...a split frame. One side had St. Peter handing out harps in heaven. The other showed the devil handing out accordians. As Lawrence would say,"Thank you boysa!"

Paul Newman

Musing on Memories

As I was thinking about some of the people and the stories from high school, I suddenly came upon something I hadn't realized before.  Almost all of my memories involving our high school experiences took place at the old high school on Main Street.  I can remember vividly all the class rooms that I have discussed, the auditorium, the gym, the cafeteria, the tennis courts, the track, athletic field, moving up day,,  even the nurse's office.

I can't, however, remember a damn thing... save my office when I was editor of the Secatogue... about the new school!  I don't remember what the classrooms were like, what the gym looked like etc.

Anybody have a similiar experience?

Thanks to all the folks...Betsy and Susan I think... who posted pictures of the old school.  I was amazed at how my memory after all these years, matched the pictures..  More amazing is that the town didn't simply bulldoze the building and turn it into a parking lot or something.

Just a thought....

Paul

.

Lynn Stensen (Maffie)

So what is the story Paul about drivers ed...I think the above comment listed the drivers ed teachers...

Paul Newman

Ok Lynn... The Drivers Ed Story.   Thanks for the names.... I believe in this case it was Mr Biangardi who was the instructor.   You remember the setup... There was the student driver in the left front, with Mr Biangardi in the right with an extra brake, and then three more of us in the back seat.  

Well one day, the was a female member of our class driving... Let's see if she remembers .... And we were heading west on Main Street, right in front of Bohacks  where there was a car in front of us stopped to make a left into Bohacks parking lot.

Now first I gotta tell you that Mr. Biangardi was a very intimidating guy... Even to male students, but the female driver in this case was especially so.   Even though there was plenty of room on the right to pass, she panicked and hit the brakes and brought the car to a swearving stop behind the stopped car and looked like .... She like to die!   Well Mr. Biangardi with a twinkle in his eye and a mock serious face, took the wheel and said..." take your foot off the break and give it some gas.  You're driving tighter than a two dollar jorgasin..... You know what a jorgasin is?".  The girl, now thoroughly flustered said..."N nnnn no.".   To which Mr. Biangardi said "Good!  Now let's go" and we proceeded around the stopped car.   As I recall, the rest of us about wet ourselves in the back seat...

And  that's how we learned to drive....

If anyone else remembers this, chime right in.

Lynn Stensen (Maffie)

Hmmmm....good one.....seems to me I do remember this or something like it, and the person....Have a good day!

Arthur Weisser

Were her initials B.P.? A very bad driver.

Lynn, Is that you sticking your tongue out at someone in the sports night picture?

We did the Civil War and land of the firebird as themes. What were the others?

Becky Blau (Bleicher)

OK Paul, what's a jorgasin?? Huh? Huh?

Oh,PS if anyone has any pictures of me in the yearbook, please post them and let me know you did. I lost my copy a long, long time ago :(