Jerry Dailey (1960)

Phil and Barry, good to see a few of us still active and enjoying our travels!  I will turn 80 next month and celebrate with great friends from England on a cruise from Barcelona to Tangiers.  Got to spend time in Paris so I could show my wife things I had talked about for years. Got to see several of our classmates at a couple reunions,  the last one I was able to attend was in San Antonio and was glad for the few days I was able to reconnect with Dick Williams.  I do still respond to those I knew by acknowledging birthday announcements and sadly those who have passed.  Until I shuffle off this mortal coil, we choose to continue our travels, so long as our health permits.  So, continued good health to both you and yours.

Jerry Dailey. PAHS Class of 1960

Barry McCloskey (1960)

Jerry, sir, thanks for the kind words. I hope you have a great birthday cruise. Sounds like it should be fun. And, yes, the herd is thinning. Time has flown by. Seems like just yesterday that I stepped off the bus at PAHS and asked where I might find Mildred Linck. She was, shall we say, an interesting person. And, a few run-ins with her probably didn’t help her attitude towards me. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to live with it.

I too will be joining the Octo-club next month. The only thing good about it is that I have been given the opportunity.

Passe un bon anniversaire.
Barry

William John "Bill" Murphy (1953)

   Our graduation class of 13 in 1953 went our separate ways, but the memories are vivid. PAHS was located in a 3 story home at 53 Rue de Faidesandrie (close enough) and our home room was in the "attic". We lived in Fountanblieu and commuted on an AF bus the 120km round trip each day. We graduated and I left the next day to enter the Naval Academy. I remember every face in my graduating class and will never forget the times we had together. 

Pat Brady (Thurman) (1960)

Hi Paris Pirates!

Just catching up on unread Pirate Chat and had to say how much sweet pleasure the conversation and memories gave me!  Loved Barry McCloskey's travel notes and reference to "Out of Africa", which I recently re-read.  Checked my 1959 yearbook and found Barry and Tom ("Tarzan") Knudsen on the same page, along with so many other familiar faces (and comments!)  So, this is also to Phil Davidson who "Doesn't hear a word from the class of 1960."  1959 was one of the best years of my life!  I couldn't stay to graduate with all of you, as we were transferred to England that summer.  I landed at Bushy Park for my senior year.  That too was a great experience.  But I left my heart in Paris.  Our neighborhood, Croissey-sur-Seine, was amazing in that not only were we actually living on the banks of the Seine, which of course flooded at one point, sending our family of four scurrying back to the pension, Le Cedre, where we stayed when we first arrived in Paris.  But the neighbors!  Oh yes, the neighbors; Marcel Morceau a few doors away and Pierre Balmain, as well as Gene Kelly relatively close, though we never saw him.  Then there was the German architect who used one-person WWII German submarines as lawn sculpture!  Perhaps not the most politically correct thing to do that soon after the war, but it was interesting!  Of all the schools I attended compliments of the USAF, Paris was my favorite.  I hope all of you remember the Junior Prom.  I do!  Enjoy recalling all the great times we lived through and keep on writing to keep them alive!

Pat (Brady '60) Thurman

Barry McCloskey (1960)

Thanks for the kind words, Pat.  I went to two Proms.  One at the Hotel George V, on the Champs-Élysées, the other at some place in the Bois de Boulogne.  Can't remember its name.  Both were really cool events.  The good old days.  Dances (sock hops??) were held in the PAHS auditoriun, if memory serves.  No bands that I recall, just a couple of kids setting up a record player behind the curtains and playing all our favorite songs.  I also remember 'trying' 45's and LP's at the Bel Manoir PX, in their music department.  But only after hearing the songs earlier on the BBC.  The good old days, for sure.

Barry McCloskey (60)

Peter Sadow (1958)

Does anybody else remember the prom for the class of '57?  My class, '58, put on the event.  It was held on a Bateau Mouche cruising the Seine.  We had dinner on the boat then danced.  I remember our teeaher/chaperones having a fit when the waiters tried to take orders for wine with dinner.  The event was quite special.  The '58 prom was held in the gym.  Nothing to remember except for my wonderful date, Marge Killian, '59. 

Does anyone remember that Queen Elizabeth made a state visit to France in 1956?  I saw her car twice: once when it passed on the closed Autoroute de l'Oeust by Petit Beauregard.  The gendarmes let us watch by the side of the road.  The second time was when I was on my bike on the way to shool and traffic was stopped when her car made a left turn toward Versailles.  I saw her a third time when she sailed on a special Bateau Mouche down the Seine in a glass enclosed throne.  All of the major monuments were lit up for her.  She could easily have become queen of France by popular vote.

Robert Barry O'Neil (1957)

Thanks very much for mentioning the "57 Prom on the Bateau Mouche. A memory that had a greeat influence on my life. Thanks to the class of '58, who put on a spectaculr prom night with that great dinner dance floating down the Seine through the center of Paris. Genie Bowman was the Queen, and I lucked out to be the King of the evening. Suh memories are burned in my brain and affected me for the rest of my life. I still cherish the view of sailing slowly by Notra Dame in its grande, well lit majesty towering aove us. Thaks again.

G. Carolyn Vincent (Molloy) (1958)

 BHELLO, BARRY,

I TOO REMEMBER THE PROM ON THE BATEAU MOUCHE ,57! THIS IS CAROLYN VINCENT-MOLLOY,LOOK UP MY PICTURE ON CLASSMATES, YOU WILL SEE YOURSELF DANCING WITH MIKE MEYER! SUCH FUN TIMES TO REMEMBER! HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL, WE ARE IN ATLANTA NOW, JUST GETTING OLDER. BEST WISHES  CAROLYN

Donna Gardner (Howell) (1957)

Like Peter, Barry, and Carolyn, the '57 prom on the Bateau Mouche is a special memory of my PAHS days.  Dan Brown was my date and I remember, after the prom, a group of us spent the remainder of the night partying and enjoying Paris until the early morning hours.  As the years go by, I find memories like this are even more special.  I am still living in Davidson NC, (just 20 miles north of Charlotte) and aside from the normal "aging" ailments (oh my aching back, where did I put my glasses, could you speak up please?) - life is good. Hope you are all well.  Take care.  Donna

John Truesdell (Truesdell) (1958)

All-I especially recall Pat Anderson (little sis of Kay) standing romantically on the bridge bearing her ample bossom to the wind when she was hit in the chest by a huge goober spat from an unknown origin, and it slid slowly down her front out of sight...no one is invulnerable, especially on the Seine.

Johnny Truesdell, 58

David Hohman (1957)

Like others, I also remember the celebrated Bateau Mouche prom.  In fact, my wife, Judy Stuart ('58), mentions it every time the subject of a prom comes up - she's quite pleased about her role in helping to organize it - it seems to have involved a lot of bake sales.  (Somehow a prom in the gym just wasn't going to cut it, although the one our class put on - Midnight in Manhatten - was pretty nice.)  My date was Pat Scott and I'm sure we must have been part of the after party Donna describes.  Judith (no longer Judy) and I live part of the year in Alexandria, Virginia, and part in Palm Beach Gardens, near West Palm Beach, in Florida.  We were in Paris last month - lots of wonderful memories.  

Frances Walker (Swisher) (1959)

I too remember the Bateau Mouche prom.  I returned to the States for my senior year.  Attending prom wasn't on my to-do list that year.

Bobby Locke (1959)

Yes....  I was there in 1959........does anyone know what happened to Molly Box or   Toni Herbes?

Love to get contact information.

I was known as Bobby Locke back then.

Today it is General Star Locke           starovertexas@aol.com   

Im on face book as Star Locke        and running for Governor of Texas           

contractor builder     savethedream.net   also

361 558 5221

Bobby Locke (1959)

Yes....  I was there in 1959........does anyone know what happened to Molly Box or   Toni Herbes?

Love to get contact information.

I was known as Bobby Locke back then.

Today it is General Star Locke           starovertexas@aol.com   

Im on face book as Star Locke        and running for Governor of Texas           

contractor builder     savethedream.net   also

361 558 5221

Gerie Bledsoe (1960)

Here's my best story about SHAPE Village. During my sophomore year at PAHS (1957-58), I dated a Patricia Anderson, who lived in the Village. Her father was a general in the U.S. Air Force. My dad was a Air Force NCO stationed at Camp des Loges.. (Yes, that dating arrangment was a bit unusual those days.) Anyway, one night at the Village teen club, I was approached by a Italian teenager named Silvio Berraduchi. He wanted my help stopping the new German guys who, he said, had become the club's bullies. I discussed his request with my American schoolmates in the Village, who concurred that the Germans were a problem. I also discussed it with guys in my community, Petite Beaureguard. We agreed to intervene, which we did two weeks later on a Saturday night otside the Village club. The fight did not last long because the Germans were surprised and out-numbered, they retreated and reportedly never tried to push anyone around again. As my reward, Berraduchi invited me out on a double date with his beautiful younger sister sister, Silvana. He picked me up at the teen club in his family's car and the four of us went "parking" in the moonlight. It was a great evening, my first adventure in the backseat of a car, except I was not accustomed to kissing someone who just ate garlic for dinner.  Oh, well.can't win them all!

And then there was the story abut a teenager in the Village who showed up one night with a motorbike, which was quickly identfied as belonging to a police officer in St. German-en-Laye  Ooops!

Bart Bartlett (1957)

What a marvelous treat to see so many of my class leaving notes here on the Pitate Chat Room. This is BART BARTLETT, also class of '57 and do I ever remember our fantastic prom on the Bateux Mouches! It seems I was showing off a bit and split my trousers righ up the back side! But my date, Deede Thurston saved the day. Her mom obviously taught her well, as she had a needle & thread and after quickly retiring to the gent's room & handing my trou outside, Deede sewed them up - with PURPLE THREAD!

It is really great seeing all our classmates doing well, Barry, Carolyn, Donna and Dave. It has been a very long time but our time together in Paris is one of my most cherished memories. Barbara (PAHS '67) and I have been back several times and will be doing so again next year. Yes, we will be having dinner on the Bateux Mouches again. Thanks Carolyn for all the pictures. I had completely forgotton the one of Deede and me - not bragging but I think we looked mighty smart for a couple of American teens living in Paris!

Dave, yes I well remember the Prom we put on for the class of '56 in the auditorium. "Midnight in Manhatten" was a real effort. I remember cutting out yellow construction paper to look like lights in buildings. As I recall we also strung lines across the room and used crape paper streamers to simulate a dark sky. It certainly was not on par with our prom on the Seine but it turned out to be a great evening and we did it up right!

Barry, I remember you and Genie as our royal couple & Carolyn is absolutely on targete - great couple dancing while cruising.

I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity few others had - living in Paris and experienciing a world few Americans had the opportunity to experience. I am sure those years have had an influence on all of us - I know they are among my most cherished memories. I guess that's why we keep going back as often as possible.

Pat Brady (Thurman) (1960)

Wow!  What great memories surfaced from the (Famous) '57 Bateau Mouche Prom!  If you want to further relive that adventure, check out the classic movie, "Charade" with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant.  (SPOILER ALERT!)  There is a scene late in the movie where they are on the Bateau Mouche cruising right by Notre Dame.  Actually, the whole movie will make you homesick for Paris.  It even shows the American Embassy, where we used to go for lunch, ending with Chou a la Creme for dessert!  

And another note to BarryMcCloskey:  The '59 prom was at the Pavillon Dauphine in the Bois de Boulogne.  I was there with Ronny Lapin.  Later, a group of us went to "The Blue Note", a jazz "boite", in Paris proper.  Ronny missed the last metro and had to walk home!  

Pat Brady Thurman

Barry McCloskey (1960)

Thanks, Pat.  Much appreciated.

Bill Blake (1956)

I posted this message in another location, but thought it was worth repeating.  I am from the class of 1956.  As others, are  class trip was to England doing many of the same things, with a slight twist.  One night in London, some of us wanted to visit a jazz cave.  One of the chaperones, Vice Principal kermit Hardin agfreed to take about 3 couples. We really enjoyed ourselves listening and danicing to music.  

Shortly after we got back to school, I received a note in one of my classes to report to the Vice Principal's.  I was not too concerned because Kermit was always a friend to students and we were from the same area in the states.  He even loaned me his car once to take myself and a couple of other players who missed the bus to the gym for practice.

Upon arriving in Kermit's office he asked whether I had told my parents about our visit to the jazz cave in London.  I said no.  He said that he preferred that I didn't and handed me a copy of a Life Magazine with a story about the opium dens of London.  The featured club was the very one we visited...photos and all. 

I saw Kermit a number of times when we returned to the states.  When I first retured for college my parents were still in Paris.  Kermit would stop by to see if things were alright or if he could do anything for me.  We continued to stay in contact for many years.  I often threatened to tell all about his taking impressional teenagers to an opium den.

Kermit Hardin was a great man.  Unfortuantely, he passed away a few years ago.  His obituary in the Faculty Section is an interesting story about his life.

Randall Bowie (1962)

Thanks, Bill, for posting the information and 

comments on Kermit Hardin.

Kermit was truly a great man.

Randall Bowie, Brussels 

PAHS '62; UI@C-U '70; U of Stockholm'73

Barry McCloskey (1960)

A follow-on the Pat Brady's last posting ---

Pat mentioned that Ronnie Lapin missed the last Metro home the night of the Prom in the Bois. After the Prom ended, she and Ronnie and a couple of other kids had went on to a Jazz club (boite) and apparently stayed later than expected. Not an unusual Prom night outcome, I suspect. It was Paris and a lot of us had long leashes. But, Ronnie had to walk home.

One bus ride has stayed in my memory all these years.

I had stayed in Petit Beauregard late enough that the next military bus going to Paris was the last of the day. As it happened, I caught that bus and rode it from Petit Beauregard to the Etoile where I would catch the first of two French city buses to my home. That night I got off the military bus and walked to the corner where I would catch the city bus. Already waiting was a lone woman, maybe in her late 20’s or early 30’s. I stood on the curb a few feet from where she was standing and almost immediately sensed that she was afraid. Very afraid. She hadn’t said or done anything that could have made me sense her fear. She kept her back turned until the bus arrived, maybe 5 or 10 minutes later. It was all very surreal. I could palpably feel her fear, which didn’t stop until she was on the bus.

It’s never happened again.

Peter Sadow (1958)

Barry, that was  great story.

While still a student, maybe in early 1958, three of us decided to visit a strip club in the Pigalle area. We couldn' afford the admission, which included a drink, so we bargained and got in much cheaper without the drinks.  We did this a 3 clubs.  Good shows, but I had already been to the Casino de Paris with my parents, so no big surprises.  In 2014, I took my second family and adopted daughter to Eiurope.  We camped for almost two months all over.  In Paris, we stayed in an Air BNB apartment.  One evening, my wife stayed in and my 17 year old daughter and I went to Pigalle.  There were many bands playing in the streets and we both had a wonderful time.

Pat Brady (Thurman) (1960)

Barry, I loved your bus stop story!  It feels like the beginning of a good novel.  

Pat Brady Thurman '60

Yolanda Blank (Layser) (1969)

Response to msg #99:  She's adorable!

Michael Coe (Coe) (1962)