David Fetzer

John Young:  what a compact and clear snapshot of the essence of a person's soul. I didn't know Joel, but I'm certain your memory of him has added to his legacy. 

A Graduation Memoir

We graduated from Central High School on Friday night, June 5th, 1965. The date and time were selected after a local soothsayer predicted that 8pm on that date would be the hottest and most appropriately humid moment to crowd 1,500 or so people into the un-air-conditioned auditorium of West Scranton High School. The site was selected by - God, who knows?

Once the fire doors had all been propped open with bricks, the show began.

The musical prelude was not the touring company from the Mormon Tabernacle choir. It was in fact made up of the 405 graduating seniors of CHS, amateurs all, rehearsed and rehearsed by Harold V. Harhison in his beloved annual tradition; he wore a clean suit for this annual event.

His choice of choral music was not Auld Lang Syne, nor was it anything anyone had heard performed anywhere near Scranton in the previous 50 years. IHis choice was Sanctus, a holy tone poem by Charles Gounod. I had never heard it before and I haven't heard it since.

But on this night, after at least 30 rehearsals, the 1965 graduating class would sing it. So sing it we did! There would be a good chance that Gounod would not have recognized it.

Later that evening, many of us erased it by doing The Twist, of which all of us already knew the lyrics.

The stage was packed with assembled dignitaries, including every member of the class, many of them being recognized with an award. After all, this event was the culmination of four years of hard academic work and striving for success on the athletic fields.

But that wasn't even the highlight of the event. That honor was reserved for the much bally-hoo’ed annual speech by Richard F. McNichols, Scranton’s long-time superintendent of schools. He was known for being quite the orator, lacking only charisma.

We all breathed in lungfuls of clammy air in anticipation. Since his speech came at the end of 90-plus minutes of foreplay, everyone was in need of some fresh air and cool refreshment. We were certain that the end was in sight.

But we were wrong. Dr. McNichols had something to say, and he was going to say it, come hell or high water.

Twenty minutes or so later, he was still saying it. Then, like all great orators, he paused for a rhetorical question. Like all rhetorical questions, this one was presumably intended to be answered only in the solitude of an interminable traffic jam or in the quiet contemplation of night-time devotions.

Nor does every question demand an answer, but apparently, to Steve Daniels (CHS ‘65), this one did. He immediately knew the answer and bravely blurted it out: “You really got me by The Kinks.”

Everyone in the first 15 rows heard it and apparently loved it as well.

Cackling pandemonium immediately engulfed everyone who heard the deliciously perfect wisecrack. After about four separate waves of hilarity, Principal Emil Hordesky rose to the mic and slowly wrenched back decorum, thanked everyone for their attendance, and that . . . was that. High school ends with an unforgettable quote and a high note. Buddy Hackett or The Kinks themselves could not have done it better.

Class was DISMISSED.




Regards,

DF

dfetzer926@gmail.com

Chick --

I remeber you fondly from our many hors at SSJRH rehearsing and doing performances. I played clarinet, alto and tenor sax, and oboe. You were the best string bass player I ever made mmusic with. Pat O'Hearn has been a life-long positive influence on me.

Let me know what you're up to and we can trade war stories (figuratively speaking).

I hope you are well and happy.

I'm not at all surprised that Jeff has been so well-regarded in his trade and admired by his boyhood and lifelong friends. He fulfilled my private observation that he was "going somewhere.". I've never met anyone else who has so thoroughly fulfilled his potential. A whole lot of people are missing him. 

So many people she loved and helped will miss her and love her memory forever. 

I did not know Paul well, but always enjoyed being with him. I am grateful that he was a part of my journey through CHS. 
 

Paul's profile photo is a telling record. One could not have that expression on his face without having enjoyed the arc of his own journey. I am sad for his family and friends for their loss. Hover, anyone who could contribute as he did to the production and enjoyment of fine wines has a preferred place among the angels. ????????

Unlike Barry and others, I did not know Luther well. What I did know about him I admired. 

 I admired his friendliness. I admired his positive approach, his intelligence, his talents. And now, I am able to admire his talent and skill at his art. 

Somehow, I am comforted in knowing that his closest friends treasure his memory and the pieces of life that they shared.