Craig Sirles

What a great story Steve B. shared about Connie V. and Margaret L.!
 

Scott Shepardson

Steve's story had me laughing out loud,and mentally driving down Pinehill Drive in a neighborhood that for me was always kind of a mythical area of our community.  Perhaps it was living on the "other" side of Woodman Road ..... 

When I think of Connie I see her wearing a blue "Villager" blouse, monagrammed with the letters CVE (or is it CEV?)., draping an ample bust which in my formative years I found to be  both fascinating and confusing.  I will leave it at that.

It is always sad to say goodbye to a classmate, and I aways wish I had done more with that person or had known them better.  I think many here are aware that Margaret League was a great friend to Connie, and it was so touching to see that relationship endured all of these years and only get stronger when things were at their toughest..  I had been in touch with Connie over the last year or two, most recently geting a reply to a card i had sent relating the story I described above. She got a big kick out of it, and knowing that she was having a difficult time I was glad to have made her laugh for a moment. 

In our communications Connie and I had been discussing "retirement" locales and she highly recommended her new neighborhood in Florida.  I told her I would see her down there one day, but for now I will have to be content driving the Pinehill Drive loop, and slowing down when I pass what will always be "Connie's" house.

Paige Kibler (Stowe)

I loved Steve’s story! What a fun time we had in high school!

Linda Buchanan (Freeman)

I originally met Connie with her blonde pigtails when we were in Mrs. Hahn’s first-grade class at Lakeside Elementary School and, like all of my classmates, was horrified when she was seriously injured by a vehicle when she was walking home from school.  Her accident happened not long after our first day at Lakeside, and it seemed like forever before she returned.  I remember how excited the class was when Mrs. Hahn announced how Connie would once again come back to us.  Connie was in Mrs. Datig’s second-grade class with me but left Lakeside ES when her family moved out of the school’s district.  I next met up and became friends with Connie when my family moved in 1962 to her neighborhood.

The summer of 1964 was a golden one for me because I spent time laughing and having fun with Connie, Margaret League, and Kay McCloud while we anticipated amazing days ahead as students of Hermitage High School.  I once again live my old neighborhood, and when I pass the former home of the Vail family, I always think of Connie and hope she lived happily ever after.  

Nelson Kennedy

I've been somewhat moved by the remembrances posted on this site due to the passing of our classmate, Connie Vail. I wasn't really friends with Connie socially, but I do have a very fond remembrance of her from our high school days.  Connie and I were in Ms. Ammerman's U.S. Government class as seniors. It's wasn't that Ms. Ammerman was not informative or boring, but let's be frank, our government's "structure" is what it is. We showed up and did the work. If in the 60's we could have been discussing politics it would have been much more interesting what with Johnson's dirty little war in Vietnam, the anti-war protests and all. But no, we stuck to the safe stuff back then. Anyway, what I remember about Connie was her most wonderful smile.  Ms. Ammerman had her class arranged so that there were opposing rows of three or four desks on each side of the room, facing slightly toward the front of the room.  As far as I know she was the only teacher bold enough (perhaps Ms. Harrison in English?) who laid out her classroom in this manner. Even though Connie and I were not aligned in the same social circles, every day when we arrived in class, she flashed me the most dazzling smile and said hello.  No matter what kind of day I was having, that smile and that hello always brightened up my day!  Possibly it could have also been that she was one of the prettiest girls in our class and possessed the attributes so eloquently described by Scott (hey, it wasn't until I grew up that I also began to appreciate women for their achievements and intellect as well!) Ms. Ammerman could drone on and on but it didn't matter, I had the best seat with the best view in the house.  Make no mistake, I was no stalker; there were 3 or 4 other girls I had my eyes on (also to no avail!). Regretfully, I was way too shy back then to attempt to carry our greeting (or others) any farther than a hello. I admit, I was sort of a mess back then; according to some folks I am still!). Reflecting back, I believe that it was partly that she and some other classmates seemed to belong to the "Lakeside Mafia" (tongue thoroughly in cheek here!), those students who were from that general area and had a real strong long-term bond in their friendships.  I lived in the small enclave of kids from west of Staples Mill Road and to the east of Broad Street. Over the years we were bounced around from district to district to balance enrollment numbers between Freeman, Henrico and Brooklyn/Hermitage. We didn't really have the continuity of lots of friends all throughout our early school years as did the majority of my Hermitage classmates (Ms. Harrison would be proud I didn't split that infinitive).

But I digress... when I saw Connie's pic in the memoriam section, a lot of memories and a few regrets came flooding back. I remember her as a genuinely nice person and am a bit sorry I didn't get to know her better. As I reminisce, there were lots of classmates I feel the same way about. I'm not a particularly religious person but I am a sailor.  Sailors never really say goodbye to one another. What they do say is "wishing you red skies at night (sailors’ delight) for fair winds and smooth sailing". So, Connie, wherever you may be traveling to now, fair winds and smooth sailing!

Margaret League (StClair)

I am so touched by all the fond memories you are all posting- In January of 2019 I visited Connie in her beautiful Florida home- she was not feeling well and had a pain while walking and was unsteady so used a walker- she spent most of the time in bed. she related to me that she was sad about dying and worried nobody would ever remember her- wish she could read this wonderful comments about her impact on classmates. 

I met Connie in Mrs. Scanlon's 4th grade classroom at Maude Trevett elementary school- her beautiful and glamorous mother , Vivian Vail brought her in  and told us what a nice looking group of students we were- I was immediately drawn to Connie and her mother, not knowing that they had moved in down the street from me on PInehill Drive!! We became instant friends and this friendship lasted 60 years- 

Our closest friends were Linda Priddy, Gail Granger, Linda Buchanan, Kay McCloud, Sharon Kelly, Nancy Ford and Teresa Turlington, Ricky Moore, Bobby Atack, Steve Buckinham and others. The adventures we all shared are too many to list and some too embarrassing to relate!! I was always up for fun and spent many weeks grounded by my parents for these escapades-

the best memories I have are of our trip to Europe to visit Genny, my foreign exchange student!! we left New York in August of 1967 and sailed out past the statue of Liberty to Southampton, England! it took 9 days and the sea was very rough- many of us because seasick and could not eat or do much but lie in bed- this student ship was small and basic- 4 of us in a tiny room with 2 sets of bunk beds- the first day nearing England we began to see birds and when I first saw land, I cried!!!  I felt a little like Christopher Columbus after a long, rough sail in the North Atlantic being tossed to and fro by the large waves!!!! 

I was so happy that Connie and I made it through customs and got on board a train for London. We stayed at the same hotel there for one week and had many fun side trips- my favorite was a boat ride down the Thames to Windsor Castle- all of the old historic buildings were so impressive- we saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and visited Big Ben, the Tower of London and Westminister Cantebury- 

after a week we took a ferry across the English Channel to Belgium and then a bus to Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and then finally France! Genny met us in Paris and we all had lunch together!! I ate a beef tongue without knowing what is was and Genny found that quite humorous- it was soo tough- never again!!! 

We stayed with Genny for several weeks and had so many fun adventures- her parents and older sister were very gracious and treated us to many fine meals. We eventually flew home ( my first plane ride) and that fall attended college- in 4 years after graduating we were in each other's weddings.

Connie and I have stayed in touch over the years and continued to make memories- We took our children to  Maymont and to malls and McDonalds and to the river to visit her parents!! Her Mom was like a mother to me and I am sure my Mom was jealous because as a child I spent to much time at the Vails.

Living on Pinehill drive gave us the opportunity to ice skate in the winter and in the summer we rowed up and down the lake in my Dad's little blue rowboat!! We spent hours in that boat and pretended we were Nancy Drew and her side kick- we used to walk to Lakeside AVenue to Hermitage Pharmacy and get cokes and coke floats! The land where we walked in now Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens- 

I visited Connie the last week of her life and tried to comfort her through her pain- I gave her a bath with our bathing suits on and helped her wash her hair- I fixed her meals and had to ask her husband not to micromanage my cooking!! He uses the microwave for everything and I cooked bacon in a skillet and made her a breakfast sandwich- although her husband Freddie was so devoted and provided excellent care, she appreciated my cooking and said the meals were very good- I was there to help but after a few days, her pain became overbearing and we had to call 911 and have them take her to the hospital- this was Saturday night and by Monday the latest scan showed the cancer had spread quickly and treatment was of no use-

so we tried to remain brave as her sons and husband made plans for the transfer to hospice- I last saw Connie on Wednesday in the hospice center and she was alert enough to recognize me- I told her I loved her and left the room sobbing uncontrolably  after hugging her two sons and her husband- I flew home the next day and she passed away that Saturday am, April 20th. I still have a hard time believing she is gone.. want to call her and check on her and to text her as we used to day daily- I do believe she is in heaven with her older sister Becky and her Dad. We will all be together again- my last thought and comment is a request for all the people reading this is to suggest that your daughters, wives and granddaughters have mammograms on a regular basis- Breast Cancer is cruel and relentless- I miss you every day, Connie!!! 

Scott Shepardson

Your post gave me a flood of wonderful memories of cola floats and ice skaing with you and other classmates during those few winters when it was cold enough to create ice.  I loved your ship trip story, reminding me of one of my favorite and relatively recent movies, "Brooklyn."  You would see the similarities.

But most of all, thanks for being such a great friend to Connie and bringing her some comfort.  Your story brought tears to my eyes!

Genny Gachignard (Casenave)

Margaret told you about her trip to Europ with Connie in 1967. We still talk about it together ! They both had so much fun : each event was a new experience and the tasted freedom for the first time far from their family.

I helped them visit Paris. We went up the Eiffel Tower and rushed through the Louvres, to see Mona LIsa and Victoire de Samothrace (it was closing).

Then we drove through Chartres, on the way to my house, to visit the famous gothic cathedral from the 13 th century, with typical blue stained glasses.

The we visited Tours, in the center of France, near the Loire castles,the nearest city from home, where I was studying law at that time. Then we stayed in the Fromenteau, in the country.

On that picture we were coming back from a picnic.

Seems so long ago, but still memories are very precise in my mind.

I am so glad Margaret let me talk recently to Connie through WahtsApp.

Miss you all

Genny, foreign exchange student who stayed one year with Margaret in Richmond attending HHS as a senior in 1965/1966

Margaret League (StClair)

Genny: thank you for putting up the pictures with captions and explanations- we had such a wonderful time in Paris, Tours, and Fromenteau!!! France is truly beautiful!! I remember your friend Alain driving us back from Paris to Fromenteau and how fast he drove- what a wonderful time we had -- fun memory of the pastry shop in Tours where we ate so many delicious treats that we felt sick afterwards!! I gained over 10 lbs in France!!!! but it was all worth it- such scrumtious food!! the French bread and camebert cheese- 

so glad we had these wonderful memories- they will always be with me- love you,  chere soeur!!! 

Linda Carnahan (Roane)