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Etiquette

Our North Quincy User and Classmate Forums and messages to classmates are intended for reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.  All of us on the Reunion Committee welcome and encourage your use of these sites to share memories and stories as well as providing updates on our lives since leaving North Quincy High School.

If you are including the name of another classmate, be sure that you are not infringing on their privacy.

Please use good judgment when posting messages.  Personal attacks, political and religious messages, as well as inappropriate language will be removed immediately.

Cathy Mc Closkey (Waterman)

Jerry Tisdell

I have lived in Florida for a long time and been through lots of Hurricanes, but none like Ian. A couple of classmates live in Sarasota just below me and they got beat up bad. The sad part is that they were lucky compared to everyplace below them south to Naples. We had 90 mph winds with lots of rain and if I told you I wasn't very concerned I would be lieing. I live in River Strand rright off of 75 at exit 220 and we never lost power or trees. Its all block and concrete with hip roofs and Palm trees. All the electric is underground and that makes a big difference. If you know someone here on the west coast of Florida please reach out to them. With what they just went through I am sure they would love to hear from a friend.

Michael J. Haskins

I have been in Key West for 20-plus years. My first hurricane happened on my 2nd year here - Hurricane Geoofrges. For the Lower Keys this one was a little more than a bad tropical storm. While areas of Key West and Big Pine Key lost power, where I am - mile marker 15 - we had no problem and power stayed on all night. I guess it's like my Irish uncle Dick said: God loves drunks, fools and Irishmen! We live in a stilt-house, 8 eight off the ground, and even below in our play area there was little dampness! My wife is mad because we spent so much time (meaning she did) prepairing and today we (meaning her) has to put everything back! Wind  damage on the jungle surrounding the house, but it'll grow back in a month! Some saloons stayed open but I saw most open this morning as I hit Winn-Dixie for medicene.

Diane T Mulcahy (Malmgren)

Carol Battles Stenmon posted this note to all classmates, but thought it should be on the Message Forum:

Posted on: Sep 30, 2022 at 10:43 am

Hello all from Naples FL. Glad to hear Cathy, Jerry and Diane are well and safe. We were very lucky in our complex, Forest Lakes @ Quail Run Golf Course. We are about 1 mile from the beach at Clam Pass. We had only minor flooding on the golf course, several small trees down and several mailboxes knocked over. The crew had prepared the pool areas and the club house was all boarded up. The wind was horrific. I know the report was 155 mph when the eye went to the west of us. We had reported 71 mph gusts in our area. Luckily we have Cat 5 windows and sliders in our unit. The sound of the wind was wild. In Quincy, we lived one house back from Quincy Shore Drive. The wind here was like a really bad Nor'easter in January/February slamming into the house. Our lanai faces east and south, so that did take quite a beating, but a small price to pay. In our area, electrical power for out for about 36 hours. Other areas are still out. Our hospital did not have to evacuate any patients. Most stores remain closed today. We lost half of our beautiful Naples Pier. The restaurants and stores along 5th Ave and 3rd Street received heavy damage. The multi-million dollar homes along Gulf Shore Blvd and Gordon Drive, facing the gulf, sustained damage from the water surge. Luckily I have not heard of any storm related deaths in Naples, yet. Bill and I are just now venturing outside our complex as the traffic lights were out and you don't want to be on the road here without the traffic lights. Take care all.

Diane T Mulcahy (Malmgren)

Glad to hear Carol didn't have more damage, although she's surrounded by destruction.

Although we were not in Florida when the storm came through, our house had no damage.  But our next-door neighbors have a lanai roof in their front yard that came from six houses away.  Many other neighbors also lost their lanais and roofs, and many trees were knocked down.  Electricity was only out for 4 days.  The Marina was destroyed, and will have to be rebuilt.  Only two boats were in the slips (one of them ours), but neither had any damage.

We were so lucky!

It breaks my heart every time I see the devestation caused by Ian.  I keep wondering where these people will live.  

The road to recovery from this monster storm will be long and painful.  Flooded roadways and washed-out bridges to barrier islands left many people isolated with limited cellphone service and a lack of basic amenities like water, electricity and the internet.  And dangers remain with downed power lines in standing water.  Alligators and a shark swimming in the streets?

Flooded houses, totally demolished homes, cars, boats and businesses.  I can't imagine how long it will take to rebuild.

I have two friends here in Squantum that have condos on Ft. Myers Beach.  One of our friend's condo was totally demolished.  The other's condo complex suffered severe damage, but they're not sure how their actual unit fared.  (There were two boats in their swimming pool.)  Right now, their concern is for their friends that endured the storm.

We've spent a lot of time in Ft. Myers Beach over the years.  Seeing the landmarks, restaurants and places we've stayed gone is so sad.  

Our community and nearby communities are organizing two trailer loads to head south with supplies for our Florida friends who were not as fortunate as we were in the Tampa Bay area.  

Thoughts and prayers for all those who lost friends and loved ones, and who lost their homes.

Diane T Mulcahy (Malmgren)

Part of The Washington Post report on the internet last week:

As Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida, images of devastation dominated television news reports and social media streams. But one image, taken from a St. Petersburg botanical garden, was striking for a different reason.

It showed about a dozen cotton-candy pink flamingos huddled in a public bathroom — a stark contrast to the images of Florida’s washed-out bridges, roofless homes and flooded roadways.

The birds were schlepped into the bathroom because Ian, forecast to become a major storm, was expected to cause catastrophic damage in the Tampa Bay area surrounding Sunken Gardens, which is home to a variety of birds and other animals.

“The flamingos are having quite the hurricane party; eating drinking, and dancing,” a post on the botanical garden’s Instagram page said.

The storm instead hit hardest farther south, making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane and bringing 150 mph winds, storm surges and major destruction.

Diane T Mulcahy (Malmgren)

Saw this today, and thought some of you might enjoy:

KNOCK ON WOOD

Three sisters ages 72, 74, and 76 live in a house together. One night the 76-year-old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells down the stairs “was I getting in or out of the bath?”. The 74-year-old yells back “I don’t know. I’ll come up and see.” She starts up the stairs and pauses. Then she yells “was I going up the stairs or down?” The 72-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says “I sure hope I never get that forgetful.” She knocks on wood for good measure and then yells “I’ll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who’s at the door”.

Phyllis Giove (Backstrom)

That was cute Di,  God I hope I never get that bad!

Marie E. Hedin (Pereto-Hedin)

I agree with Phyllis, but it is funny.

Sarah M. Whittum (Parker)

Since I have 2 sisters, it does hit close to home.

Jerry Tisdell

Gee this sort of sounds like a cabinet meeting at the Whitehouse. They ask simular questions.

Michael J. Haskins

Careful Jerry, some of our misguided classmates might not be in favor of the current White House occupancy, tho I can't figure out why!

Survived another Fantasy Fest without body paint this year! Put the ride down  here on your to-do list for next year! Not so much nudity this year, new people are in charge and don't look positively on it. Gotta point out that most of the people topless shouldn't have been.  Maybe 30/40 years ago, but not now.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Michael Haskins/ from Paradise

Thomas Burns

Hey Mike,   Anne & I will be in Marco for part of January and will take the ferry down to KW; probably an overnighted.  Would be great if we could meet up at some point!

Tom

Michael J. Haskins

Tom, the ferry takes awhile but is a good sea voyage as long as the wind is blowing right. Docks close to Schooner Wharf Bar - one of my favorite watering holes for 20+ years! A husband-wife  owner  since before I got here. She's Scanadnavian and was from Boston! He died a year ago  but Evalina still runs the place. Will gladly meet up with you there or one of the many other saloons/restarants on the island. Room rates are high but maybe the ship offers a deal? Give me a heads up before you arrive. My wife is probably off island for January, so I tell her I let the ladies know we're "seperated" . No one believes me 'casuse I am told she'd shoot me before leaving town! Look forward to catching up.

Mike

Diane T Mulcahy (Malmgren)

I had lunch with two friends yesterday, and we talked about cooking pork medium rare, which was a no no when we were growing up.  Our moms cooked pork until it was well done and cooked to a leathery toughness, 

I’m sure we were all subjected to our mother’s warnings growing up.  Here are some I recall:

Don’t eat pork unless it’s well done or you get trichinosis.

Don’t sit on cement or you’ll get piles.

Don’t sit too close to the television or you’ll go blind.  (And, no, we don't need comments about other ways you were told causes blindness.)

Don’t cross your eyes or they’ll stay that way.

Don’t read in dim light or it’ll damage your eyes.

Jean M. Morrill (DeSchamp)

Does that bring back memories. How did we all survive

Jerry Tisdell

Do any of us recall the musical productions that Ms. Goodhue put on at Central, Not sure if we ever did one on Oklahoma or not but two things stick out at me when we were still riding surrys with a fringe on the top. It was the clean smell of the wind coming off the plain. And the smell of the waving wheat when the wind followed right behind the rain. Oklahoma was a large producer of Natural gas and agricultural products. 

Is Oklahoma still there or did it go somewhere? Because if I have this right it seems that the only place we can wheat now is from the Ukraine, and there is a war there so we wont have bread? Now there is coming food shortages?  Winter is here and you guys can't heat your homes? I guess its my old age but did America pick up and leave with Oklahoma? No meat? Texas is still there isn't it?  I see lots of trucks on the road so haw can we have food shortages? Oh the gas is high....? Darn this old age, hey arn't we energy indepentent? It's just so confusing.

Does anyone remember when that girl sopped in the middle of a song to blow her nose? That was South Pacific

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas. .

Nick Rucky

Well done "T" and a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas to you and all !

Marie E. Hedin (Pereto-Hedin)

One year was something about gypsies. The star was Charlotte something. She had a lovely voice. One song I remember is "Slumber on My Little Gypsy Sweetheart." Another had something to do with Romany something, maybe "Romany Life." I think that was 7th grade. The following year was  a Rogers and Hammerstein medley. I remember trying out for Anna in the King and I. I didn't get the role but was in the chorus.

Frank M. Stewart

Hey "T" thanks for that name out of the blue. Mrs. Goodhue. If it were not for her I likely wouldn't currently be a full-time singer/entertainer here in my second life. Yup...she dragged me out of chorus one day and told me that I had a nice voice and she asked if I would sing a solo at one of our assemblies. I couldn't believe it. I was so incredibly nervous standing up in front of the student body on-stage in the auditorium at Central. Not sure to this day what I sounded like but it was the first true "singing" seed implanted in me and gave me some sadly lacking confidence. Here I am at age 76 just signing a formal contract today with NECN (NBC Boston & Telemundo) to sing 50's/60's Oldies with my band at this year's Boston First Night celebration on the big stage in Copley Square. Thus...God Bless her and thank you so very much for bringing her memory back to me from close to 60 years ago! You are the best!       Paco (aka Frank Stewart) 

Thomas Burns

On November 12, the City of Quincy honored one of own -- our classmate, Tom Kiley.   A new building, providing housing for  Veterans in Quincy Square was dedicated and named the Thomas R. Kiley Building.  This building is located at the corners of Washington St, Hancock St, and Coddington St.  The Thomas Crane Library is directly across Washington St, and the Church of The Presidents is directly across Hancock St (which used to be Temple St).

A better understanding of why Tom was the recipient of this prestigious honor can be gleened in this video of the dedication ceremony.  I am pleased to say, I was there along with Joe Boyd and another hundred plus people.  Here is the link to the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOSkgAnyCvg

I can think of no one more deserving of this honor than Tom Kiley.  Congratulations, Tom!!

Paula Kelly (Mazzone)

Thank you Tom for sending that on to us

Bette Toohey (Mathews)

Thanks for sharing that!  My husband (also from North Quincy)  and I watched the whole ceremony with great interest.  I could not help but remember 7th grade (when I first knew him) Tom Kiley; short, skinny, full of spirit and smart as a whip!  Same smile.  Congratulations to him for a life well lived!  He has made a difference!

Diane T Mulcahy (Malmgren)

Tom, thanks for sending that along.  Nice tribute.

And congratulations, Tom, for the  great honor.  Very deserving!

Marie E. Hedin (Pereto-Hedin)

Congratulations to Tom Kiley! A well deserved honor.